Shouldn’t Christians celebrate the 7 feasts of the old testament – Question from a reader

Question – Shouldn’t Christians celebrate the 7 feasts of the old testament instead of pagan holidays?

 

Answer – Good question.

Back in the day, the Jews had celebrated these holidays to remind them of their heritage, so these ceremonies were more than just religious rituals, because they were steeped in cultural history. We today can choose to celebrate them, or others as we see fit, and this should be decided based on our own individual conscience. The Bible teaches that we have certain freedoms as Christians under grace, so we can do what seems fitting with things like what we eat and drink, or celebrate as a holiday, so long as it does not stumble another person.

So for example, if my spouse had a real conviction about Easter resembling too much the pagan rituals that surround colored eggs or bunny rabbits, then I should not celebrate it around her even if I eliminated those things from our celebration of the resurrection of Christ. If I did not relate to her conviction, I could celebrate it with a clear conscience, but because it would stumble her, I would be in sin to make her do it.

If you have been convicted about a certain holiday ritual, you may decide to boycott it or to celebrate it with enthusiasm. Though it would not be necessary to think poorly of somebody else who does not feel the same way about celebrating that same holiday, because the Apostle Paul pretty much said “to each their own, so long as you’re not hurting anybody else while you’re doing it”. Please read 1st Corinthians chapter 8 for Paul dissertation on a similar topic. Here Paul says that if one is convicted that eating food sacrificed to an idol is wrong, then they should not do it, while another person could do it and would not be wrong for it if their conscience is not convicted the same way. Paul is not saying that morality is relative. He is talking about the little things like what holidays to celebrate or what food is ok to eat. These are cultural decisions with geographical and historical relevance. The morality to cultural decisions is based on the time and place the decision is being made, and so it is not universal.

Like for example, it would be morally wrong for me to go Japan, and enter into somebody’s house without taking my shoes off. That would so deeply offend the Japanese home owner that I would have sinned against him. But for me to do the same thing an an average American home would not likely be so morally offensive, because the culture is different.

All of this is to say that you are free in Christ to celebrate old or new holidays as you see fit, and so are others. We would not do well to take a doctrinal position on if you should or should not celebrate passover the Jewish way, or celebrate Christmas the American way. You can do, or not do, either one, and you can do them your own way.. Because after all, the committed believer is celebrating the birth, death, and resurrection of Christ every day anyway!