Question: I have one question that can be split into many parts. I have already found certain answers to them, but am interested in where Christianity finds their answers. My question is this: Why do churches today celebrate days and feasts that are no where commanded in the Bible and are as well derived from pagan sources, yet forsake the ones that God himself commanded (note: Calling them HIS days and not only the Jews’ days). When the Israelites came into the land of Canaan, did God tell them to dwell with the Cananites and just use the Canannite religion (with a few minor changes as it done today) to worship God? No! He told them to destroy the Canannites and have nothing to do with their religion! The Sabbath is a commandment, plain and simple (and Sunday, when it is examined closely, was not the resurrection day of Christ). Please write back the scriptures that tell the Christians today to observe Christmas, Easter, Sunday, etc.. because if they are not of God, then they are of man, and Jesus himself told us that if we substitute man’s traditions for God’s doctrines, then we are worshipping him in vain (Mark 7:6-9).

Thank You!

Ryan

Answer: Dear Ryan,

Yes, you do have one question with many parts. Essentially your question concerns why and how the old covenant has been superceded by the cross of Christ. Here are a few thoughts for you to ponder.

1. The idea that Christians cannot celebrate days and feasts that are not commanded in the Bible springs from the idea that: a) we must celebrate/obey everything commanded in the Bible (old and new covenant). I think you realize this is untenable for a Christian, as surely the cross of Christ meant something. The question is for this option, what does the cross mean? and/or: b) we must not keep/celebrate/do anything that we do not find in the Bible. Surely this option as well must be challenged, for we drive cars, eat processed foods, use computers, etc. – all of these things have been and are challenged by some who see that we should not do these things, and they claim biblical authority.
2. We have a number of questions on our Plain Truth Ministries website about Easter, Christmas, and the Sabbath – see the Sabbath and commandments category. These answers will speak to the issues you raise below.
3. What all did God himself command Israel to do? Well – there are the sacrifices, the land Sabbath, the judgements and civil laws, dietary laws, purity laws, etc. God himself commanded all of those. Upon what authority does any human being not obey some of those, or all of those? Upon the authority of God himself, who in the person of Jesus, the second person of the Godhead, died on the cross and "cancelled the written code, with its regulations…" (Colossians 2:14) The entire book of Colossians is helpful on this topic, as is Galatians (see 4:8-10 specifically). See also the book of Romans, 2 Corinthians 2-4, as well as the entire book of Hebrews that clearly explains the superiority of the new covenant, of Christ, over the old covenant. This is a long study, but you cannot begin to understand this topic without reading what the Bible itself (God inspired) says. Only God can superceded, or in this case fulfill the law and the covenant. He did.
4. Yes, God called these days, in the old covenant, his days, and he called Israel his people. But the fact also remains that he gave these days to a specific people and not the rest of humankind – and above and beyond that fact is the reality that when Jesus atoned for our sins on the cross, he did once and for all – and that there is no need for us to play out the old covenant ritualistically. IF individuals choose to keep these days, they are free to do so (see Romans 14) BUT they are not free to observe/keep old covenant days thinking that God requires them to do so for salvation. These days have no divine meaning, no significance, and no holiness.

The problem that some who wish to have some observance on these days have is that some then say that they are the only true Christians because they are keeping these days (which are fulfilled by Christ, according to the new covenant, see all the passages above). This concept is also unbiblical – and the height of ego to say that exclusive relationship with God depends upon rigid obedience to the old covenant (or parts that are chosen, as opposed to parts that are not chosen). By the way, the picking and choosing about what parts of the old covenant to keep usually is done by a humans, man or woman, who uses their authority/revelation, insight, etc. to proclaim that they have "the truth" (please see the passage in Mark 7: you quoted about worshipping God in vain, following men, not God).

God also told the Israelites to worship him and him only, that he was the one, and that there is no other god beside him. Over and over again, the Israelites fell into idolatry. Interesting that many who insist on old covenant days are polytheists, believe that the Father and the Son are two gods, and some even believe that the destiny of humans is to become God! Wow! Perhaps another look at the first commandment, and all of the old covenant, as well as the new is in order.

The story of Easter and Christmas is one that we have a few website questions on, and we stock several books on these topics written by a man who once thought Easter and Christmas were pagan, but now God has shown him otherwise. If you are interested, you can write me back and I will give you details. By the way, you can be a Christian and not "keep" Christmas or Easter, but I do not believe that you can be a Christian and ignore the fact that God came to us in the flesh for our salvation, that he was born (on one of 365 days of a year) and that he was bodily resurrected from the tomb.

Hope this helps, Ryan. You have a huge topic here which no e:mail response can do justice to. I hope that you will look at the passages I recommended, as well as the other answers we have on our website. If you would like further information, if you have further questions, please don’t hesitate, for I know how difficult this topic can be.

In Christ,

Greg Albrecht