our holy days

[Deborah]

are the days we hold holy really holy?

God's Days of Worship
Since the Word of God doesn't sanction the celebration of either Christmas or Easter and condemns the pagan embellishments associated with these humanly devised holidays, how should Christians worship of God? Do annual celebrations exist that Christians should observe?

God has given us seven annual festivals, or feast days, on which to worship and honor Him. By observing them according to His Word, we can understand His ultimate plan for humanity. Let us now take note of the days on which God revealed we should formally worship Him. His festivals are far more significant than this world's holidays because they reveal His plan for humanity.

The first commanded day of worship

Leviticus 23 lists all of God's commanded festivals in order. The first of God's festivals is to be observed every week—the weekly Sabbath day (Leviticus 23:3).

In the first book of the Bible, Genesis, we find that God created man on the sixth day (Genesis 1:24-31). "And on the seventh day God ended His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done. Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which God had created and made" (Genesis 2:2-3).

The Hebrew word for "rested" is shabath and is related to the word Sabbath. Literally, God sabbathed, or rested; He ceased from the work of creating (Exodus 20:8-11).

In resting, God also blessed and sanctified the seventh day as a gift for mankind (Genesis 2:2-3; Exodus 16:29). To sanctify something means to make it holy. Since God made the Sabbath holy (Exodus 16:23; 20:11; Nehemiah 9:14), He instructed those who follow Him to remember to keep it holy by also resting (Exodus 20:8-11; Deuteronomy 5:12-15).

Keeping the Sabbath, then, reminds us that God is our Creator.

Besides making the Sabbath for rest, God also revealed that the Sabbath is a day of worship. In Leviticus 23 He told Moses: "Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them: 'The feasts of the Lord, which you shall proclaim to be holy convocations, these are My feasts. Six days shall work be done, but the seventh day is a Sabbath of solemn rest, a holy convocation. You shall do no work on it; it is the Sabbath of the Lord in all your dwellings'" (verses 1-3). Holy convocations are sacred assemblies for worship.

When Jesus Christ came to earth, He did not come to abolish or weaken God's commands (Matthew 5:17). He came to "exalt the law and make it honorable" (Isaiah 42:21). Jesus kept the Sabbath (Mark 1:21; 6:2; Luke 4:16; 6:6), as did the apostles and other members of the early Church (Acts 13:14; 17:2). Gentile believers met with them on the Sabbath (Acts 13:42, 44; 18:4).

This blessing from God, enshrined as one of the Ten Commandments, did not change. The seventh day of the week—observed from Friday evening to Saturday evening—continued as God's commanded holy day for rest and worship. Even though people later initiated a change to worshiping on Sunday, God's command was never rescinded, nor was there biblical authorization for a change to the first day of the week.

This is only the briefest explanation of God's Fourth Commandment. If you would like to discover much more about the biblical Sabbath, please request your free copy of the booklet Sunset to Sunset: God's Sabbath Rest.

Besides the weekly Sabbath, God gave His people annual festivals that correspond with the harvest seasons of Israel. These were also "holy convocations" to be observed at their appropriate times (Leviticus 23:4) and represent God's master plan of salvation for humankind.

The Passover

Passover (Leviticus 23:5) is a reminder of how God took the lives of all the firstborn Egyptian males (Exodus 12:7, 26-29) but passed over the Israelites' homes because they had placed the blood of a sacrificed lamb on their doorposts.

The blood of the lamb foreshadowed the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, which spares mankind from eternal death. In the New Testament, Christians came to understand that Christ is the true Passover Lamb (compare Exodus 12:21 with 1 Corinthians 5:7). In observing His last Passover with His disciples, Jesus explained that the symbols of bread and wine represent His body and blood, offered by Him for the forgiveness of our sins (Matthew 26:26-28; Mark 14:22-24).

Our observance of this annual occasion marking Jesus' death (1 Corinthians 11:26) reminds us that eternal life is possible only through Him (John 6:47-54; Acts 4:10-12). His sacrifice is the starting point for salvation and the foundation of the annual feast days that follow.

Feast of Unleavened Bread

In conjunction with the Passover, God instituted the Feast of Unleavened Bread (Leviticus 23:6-8). Historically it commemorates the ancient Israelites fleeing Egypt in such haste they did not have time to let their bread rise (Exodus 12:33-34).

God commanded the Israelites to keep this festival by removing leaven (yeast) out of their homes for seven days. The first and last days of this week-long festival were specifically set apart as holy convocations—days devoted to rest and assembly for worship.

During His earthly ministry, Jesus identified leaven as a symbol of sin (Matthew 16:6-12; Mark 8:15; Luke 12:1). Thereafter members of the early Church continued to observe this festival by putting leaven out of their homes for the week as a symbol of the clean minds and attitudes God desires of His people (1 Corinthians 5:6-8). After accepting Christ's sacrifice for our sins, we must follow His example in practicing righteousness.

The Feast of Pentecost

The third annual feast day is the Feast of Weeks, or Pentecost (Leviticus 23:16-21; Acts 2:1). This festival, which corresponded with the first harvest of the season, was the day God miraculously granted His Spirit to the New Testament Church (Acts 2).

Pentecost continues to remind us that God is the Lord of His harvest, choosing and preparing the firstfruits of His coming Kingdom by granting them His Spirit (Matthew 9:38; Luke 10:2; Romans 8:23; James 1:18). God's Spirit empowers us with the love of God, the motivation to obey Him, and a sound mind to discern His truth (2 Timothy 1:7; John 15:26; 16:13). Only those led by God's Spirit are called the Sons of God (Romans 8:9, 14).

The Feast of Trumpets

The next feast day is the Feast of Trumpets (Leviticus 23:24-25). Ancient Israel understood that trumpets were used as a way of announcing special messages (Numbers 10:1-10). The New Testament reveals a great event to be announced on this day with the sounding of a trumpet: the return of Jesus Christ to earth (Revelation 8:2, 11:15). This day also pictures a time when the dead in Christ will be resurrected to life (1 Corinthians 15:52; 1 Thessalonians 4:16) to reign with Him for 1,000 years (Revelation 20:4-6).

The remaining feast days describe steps in the establishment of the prophesied Kingdom of God on earth and judgment of humanity after Christ's return.

The Day of Atonement

The Day of Atonement is the next holy convocation (Leviticus 23:26-32). Observed by fasting (verse 27, compare Acts 27:9), refraining from eating or drinking (Esther 4:16), this day represents humanity's need to be reconciled to God through the forgiveness of sin.

At the return of Christ, Satan will be bound (Revelation 20:1-3) so the nations can be reconciled to the Father through Christ. Luke referred to this observance as "the fast" in Acts 27:9.

The Feast of Tabernacles

The seven-day Feast of Tabernacles (Leviticus 23:34) represents the next step in God's master plan. This festival pictures the 1,000-year reign of Jesus Christ (Revelation 20:4-6) known as the Millennium.

Isaiah describes this period as a time of peace when God's law will go out to all nations from Jerusalem (Isaiah 2:2-4). Fierce animals' natures will change (Isaiah 11:6; 65:25), the earth will become highly productive (Isaiah 35:1), and, most important, "the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea" (Isaiah 11:9). With Satan's evil influence removed, all of humanity will at last learn God's ways.

This perfect environment will be designed to offer all people the opportunity to repent of their sins and come to God the Father through Jesus Christ. The Bible shows that Jesus attended this important festival (John 7:2, 10, 14).

The Last Great Day

The final step in God's plan of salvation for all mankind is represented in a feast day at the conclusion of the Feast of Tabernacles (Leviticus 23:39). Called the eighth day or the Last Great Day (John 7:37), this festival pictures the great judgment of humankind described in Revelation 20:11-13. During this time all people who have died not knowing God's plan for them will be resurrected to life to be given an opportunity to respond to God's call.

Our Creator wants "all men to be saved" (1 Timothy 2:4) and is "not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance" (2 Peter 3:9). Through this wonderful plan everyone will have an opportunity to know God's truth, repent and receive salvation.

The Church of the first century followed Jesus' example of observing these days. Peter and John urged the brethren to walk in Jesus' steps (1 Peter 2:21), to "walk just as He walked" (1 John 2:6). They followed Christ's command to teach converts to "observe all things that I [Jesus] have commanded you" (Matthew 28:19-20).

Obedience or idolatry?

Observances that are rooted in paganism break the first two of the Ten Commandments. Is God pleased when people claim to worship Him by adopting celebrations of pagan gods and goddesses in man-made holidays while they ignore His commanded days and ways of worship?

Celebrating the birth of the sun god or adopting fertility rites to other gods and goddesses violates God's clear instruction: "You shall have no other gods before Me" (Exodus 20:3).

Inventing religious feasts to replace those given by God contradicts His teaching: "You shall not make for yourself an idol ... You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God ..." (verses 4-5, New International Version). Substituting pagan customs and practices for what God has commanded—regardless of how well intentioned it might be—is idolatry.

Why would anyone choose to reject God's instructions and His marvelous feast days, especially since God gave them to us to reveal our ultimate destiny? To discover more about these magnificent festivals and how to observe them, be sure to request your free copy of the booklet God's Holy Day Plan: The Promise of Hope for All Mankind. You will find further proof that Jesus and the apostles observed these days and learn much more about their significance in helping us understand God's master plan for all of humanity.

Following the instruction and example of Jesus Christ, the apostles and the early New Testament Church, members of the United Church of God continue to observe these annual days. We welcome all who wish to join us in worshiping our Creator on these great festivals of hope. We invite you to contact our nearest office to locate a congregation near you.

http://www.ucg.org/booklets/HH/godsdaysofworship.htm

[Felgar]

Hi Deborah, nice to hear from you again.

Are you saying then, that you agree with this entirely?

For me personally, I think there's a fine line to walk here. Romans discusses a righteousness that is by faith and not by the law. And it is made very clear that we are not held to eat only certain foods nor to be circumcised as the law held. So arguments about things like "we should worship on Saturday instead of Sunday" make me feel quite uneasy. I'm personally reminded of the pharisees and how Jesus rebuked them for their legalistic attitudes and their hearts not for God.

I think ultimately we are to be guided by the Holy Spirit through our conscience. If an entire congregation loves the Lord and worships on a Sunday with a clear conscience (or celebrates Christmas to commemorate His birth) then I feel that this is very much in line with the Righteousness by Faith that is described throughout the New Testament.

Now if this particular church is made of those who feel guided to worship on Saturday, then by all means, they should do that.

[Deborah]

the problem is I have no idea what to think.
Except as christians we should aim to do as Jesus did while he was on the earth. What makes me uneasy is NT scripture that seems to back these days of worship.

[Felgar]

the problem is I have no idea what to think.
Except as christians we should aim to do as Jesus did while he was on the earth. What makes me uneasy is NT scripture that seems to back these days of worship.

It's simple really. Love God with all your heart, soul, and mind. That is your mandate. An argument that you need to worship only on Saturday (or whatever) is clearly legalistic and in my mind rejects the concept of loving God wholly. If we truly loved God then every day is a day of worship.

These arguments remind me exactly of the Pharisees who accuse Jesus of healing on the Sabbath or picking grain on the Sabbath. You're familiar with those passages?

[Deborah]

Yes.
But is Christmas stemmed from a pagan festival? did god command us not to celebrate those? Why do we celebrate the birth of jesus at christmas when he was probably born around September or October?
My concern is would this anger god?
Perhaps this is part of the reason the world is in the mess it is in.

Christmas - Is it a Christian Celebration?


Christmas is traditionally a time of festivity, gift-giving and family get-togethers. In the southern hemisphere it is a time for holidaying, taking a break from work and getting refreshed at the beach. It is a time when businesses close, and very few remain open on Christmas Day.

In New Zealand there are many that make Christmas day one of their few pilgrimages to Church, to remember the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ. But for many more, it is the "high day" of their regular attendance, rated along with the Holy Days of Good Friday and Easter Sunday.

What is Christmas?
The word Christmas is derived from the combination of two words: Christ and mass. The word Christ is a Greek word, meaning 'anointed'. We hear the phrase 'Jesus Christ' so often that we may think that it was Jesus' second name. But it is not a name, but a description. The verb 'anoint' has the following meanings:(1)

1 To apply oil, ointment, or a similar substance to.
2 To put oil on during a religious ceremony as a sign of sanctification or consecration.
3. To choose by or as if by divine intervention.

The anointing of Jesus was not with oil, but with the Holy Spirit.

"You know the message God sent to the people of Israel, telling the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all. You know what has happened throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached-how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him." Acts 10:36-38

You may well be familiar with the equivalent Hebrew word for anointed - messiah.

The second part of Christmas is mass. In its religious application, the word has two applications.(1)
1. a. Public celebration of the Eucharist in the Roman Catholic Church and some Protestant churches. b. The sacrament of the Eucharist.
2. A musical setting of certain parts of the Mass, especially the Kyrie, Gloria, Credo, Sanctus, Benedictus, and Agnus Dei.

It is in the sense of the first definition that it comes to form part of the word Christmas. It discloses the fact that the Christmas celebration is founded upon the Roman Catholic practice of Mass, and Protestant churches have continued the same practice without any change.

In summary, Christmas-as defined within the word-is of Roman Catholic derivation, and has little to do with any information derived from the Bible itself.

The Date
Jesus Christ was born about the year B.C.4,(2) or B.C.E 4(3). The narrative of Jesus' birth is provided in Luke 2.

"And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger." Luke 2:8-12

The climate was mild, and to keep their flocks from straying the shepherds remained overnight in the field with them. However, in the latter part of October or the beginning of November, when the cold weather commenced the flocks were taken indoors. It is clear that Jesus was born well before December, for at that time it was cold, especially in the high and mountainous area about Nazareth. God does not reveal to us the date of Jesus' birth.

However, we can approximate the time from the details of his period of preaching.

"Now Jesus himself was about thirty years old when he began his ministry." Luke 3:23.

He preached for about 3½ years, and was put to death on the 14th of Nisan, corresponding with the end of March and beginning of April. This would suggest that he was born about the months of September or October.

Christmas Day has been observed on the present mid-winter date of 25 December for over sixteen hundred years-a date that is inconsistent with the Bible record. The earliest record of the recognition of 25 December as a church festival is in the Philocalian Calendar (copied 354 but representing Roman practise in 336). Soon after the end of the last great persecution, about the year 330, the Church in Rome definitely assigned 25 December for the celebration of the birth of Christ. For while, many Eastern Churches continued to keep other dates, but toward the end of the fourth century the Roman custom became universal.

No official reason has been handed down in ecclesiastical documents for the choice of this date. Consequently, various explanations have been given to justify the celebration of the Lord's nativity on this particular day.

It would appear to be more than co-incidental that Constantine selected this date as a suitable one when he attempted to harmonise the traditions of both Pagans and Christians. There remains then this explanation, which is the most probable one, and held by most scholars in our time: the choice of 25 December was influenced by the fact that the Romans, from the time of Emperor Aurelian (275A.D.), had celebrated the feast of the sun god (Dies Natalis Solis Invicti; the Nativity of the Invincible Sun) on that day. The 25th of December, when the sun was the lowest in the sky-and the day period the shortest-was called the "Birthday of the Sun," and great pagan religious celebrations of the Mithras cult were held all through the empire. What was more natural than that the Christians celebrate the birth of him who was the "Light of the World" and the true "Sun of Justice" on this very day? The popes seem to have chosen December 25 precisely for the purpose of inspiring the people to turn from the worship of a material sun to the adoration of Christ the Lord. This thought is indicated in various writings of contemporary authors.

A Christian Festival?
In view of its origin, Christmas has been viewed as a 'Christenised pagan festival'. Such a description is undoubtedly true. The apostles and disciples knew nothing of such a celebration, for nothing even approaching a celebration of the anniversary of his birth is noted in the New Testament,(4) nor in the writings of the 'Early Church Fathers' of the next few centuries. In fact, it is the very absence of such a celebration that leads to a complete lack of information regarding an exact date. It was in the absence of such a date that the winter solstice was selected as appropriate for 'reclassification' as a Christian Festival or Mass - Christmas.

Does it do harm to celebrate Christmas if one does so as a Christian, and not as a pagan?

Almost all Christians would say that its Pagan origins are centuries in the past and are no longer relevant to today's celebration. Just as 'Sunday' is no longer treated as 'Sun' day-a day devoted to the worship of the sun-or 'Thursday' no longer treated as a day for worshipping the Greek god, Thor; so Christmas is in our time the genuine celebration of worshipping of Jesus' birth.(5)

A Bible Lesson
There is a relevant and valuable lesson contained in the Old Testament record concerning the lives of the early Israelites. These people had been in captivity in Egypt for 400 years, and Moses had been raised up to rescue them from their bondage under the hand of an oppressive Pharaoh. The story of their deliverance from Egypt and their 40-year journey to the Promised Land is narrated in the books of Exodus, Deuteronomy, Leviticus and Numbers-particularly the book of Exodus. The New Testament writer, Paul, makes the following comment regarding their abysmal wilderness behaviour:

"These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the fulfillment of the ages has come. So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don't fall!" 1 Corinthians 10:11,12

Despite their servitude to a cruel Pharaoh, the Israelites looked back on their suffering in a new light when they were faced with the harsh conditions, dry heat and barrenness of the Egyptian desert through which Moses was leading them. They pined for the comparative luxuries of their former circumstances.

So when their leader Moses was absent at Mt. Sinai receiving the Ten Commandments from God, the people became rebellious.

"When the people saw that Moses was so long in coming down from the mountain, they gathered around Aaron and said, "Come, make us gods who will go before us. As for this fellow Moses who brought us up out of Egypt, we don't know what has happened to him." Exodus 32:1

The narrative relates how their deputy-leader Aaron asked the people to pass to him all the gold jewellery that they had acquired from the Egyptians, and from this he moulded a golden calf. Now the people were familiar with this calf for it was a favourite and powerful god of the Egyptians-Apis, the Bull-the god of fertility.

"He took what they handed him and made it into an idol cast in the shape of a calf, fashioning it with a tool. Then they said, "These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of Egypt." When Aaron saw this, he built an altar in front of the calf and announced, "Tomorrow there will be a festival to the LORD." "So the next day the people rose early and sacrificed burnt offerings and presented fellowship offerings. Afterward they sat down to eat and drink and got up to indulge in revelry." Exodus 32:4-6

It is important to note exactly what Aaron had done-he had taken a pagan object from Egypt, wrapped in a new appearance by erecting God's altar in front of it, and had celebrated a feast.

Was God pleased? Allow the narrative to explain the situation.

"Then the LORD said to Moses, "Go down, because your people, whom you brought up out of Egypt, have become corrupt. They have been quick to turn away from what I commanded them and have made themselves an idol cast in the shape of a calf. They have bowed down to it and sacrificed to it and have said, 'These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of Egypt.' "I have seen these people," the LORD said to Moses, "and they are a stiff-necked people. Now leave me alone so that my anger may burn against them and that I may destroy them." Exodus 32:7-10

Fortunately Moses interceded for the people, and they were not destroyed.

Remembering Paul's words that these things happened to the Israelites and were recorded for the express purpose of warning us, then we have a valid and sobre reason for examining our attitude towards Christmas.

Christmas is demonstrably a pagan festival that has been adapted to Christian practice. The process of its inception has precisely paralleled that of the golden calf. Is Christmas therefore any more acceptable to God than was the celebration of the Israelites? Doubtless the Israelites were sincere in their worship, adapting the pagan symbol for their own use. But their sincerity was of little use-God required pure, unadulterated, worship.

Christmas and Christianity
It matters little how long ago the conversion of a pagan feast took place-time alone does not annul a sinful practice.

Nowhere in the New Testament are followers of Jesus Christ called upon to commemorate his birth. Rather are we asked to commemorate his death-and resurrection.(6)

Nowhere does the Bible specifically identify the date of Jesus' birth. Nor was it of consequence to know the time. If it had been, God would have preserved the record of it. Matters of importance are clearly revealed. Those things that God regards as of no importance are concealed.

It would be wise therefore to avoid the wrath of our Heavenly Father, and put Christmas aside from any occasion of celebration. Celebrate with the death and resurrection of Jesus by all means, for this is a Biblical command. In so doing, one is showing one's love toward their Saviour who endured a cruel excruciating death on the stake, that we might have life.

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him." John 3:16,17

Jason Young

All quotations have been taken from the New International Version by permission.

(1) The American Heritage Dictionary
(2) The reason why he was born about four years 'before Christ' lies in the fact that the person who originally developed the system was about four years out in his calculation. He was born at the time of Qurinius' first census (Luke 6:2) and he officiated from B.C.6 to B.C.4.
(3) The abbreviation "B.C." means "Before Christ", and the more recent abbreviation "B.C.E" means "before the Christian Era".
(4) It is recorded that there was much celebration by the heavenly angels at his birth, but not on any subsequent 'birthday'.
(5) Despite the inclusion of pagan customs associated with candles, trees, etc.
(6) Luke 22:19; 1 Corinthians 11:24,25.

[Felgar]

We would be celebrating a pagan festival if we kneeled before our Christmas tree and prayed to it. (Kinda funny but remember that the Jews did that with a golden statue of a calf)

But of course we don't; rather, we kneel before God in thanks for His Son - the time of year doesn't matter, as far as I'm concerned. So I guess I'm saying that by recognizing God we have discarded the pagan festival in favour of the Lord. I don't see how God could have a problem with that.

[Deborah]

We would be celebrating a pagan festival if we kneeled before our Christmas tree and prayed to it. (Kinda funny but remember that the Jews did that with a golden statue of a calf)

But of course we don't; rather, we kneel before God in thanks for His Son - the time of year doesn't matter, as far as I'm concerned. So I guess I'm saying that by recognizing God we have discarded the pagan festival in favour of the Lord. I don't see how God could have a problem with that.

I hope your right there.
any scriptures would help me emensly lol