Letter From the Editor’s Desk: Does God Approve of Christians Celebration and Holidays?
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The Bible commands God’s people to celebrate several holidays. These Holy Holidays are a way for Christians to remember and celebrate the important events in God’s plan of salvation.
However, there is some controversy over which holidays should be celebrated today. Some people believe that Jesus Christ fulfilled the law and that it is no longer necessary to celebrate these holidays.
Others believe that these holidays are still important for Christians to observe.
Some believe that history declare them pagen holidays or they were not in history so therefore they are not to be celebrated. In this letter, I will examine this often-debated question.
Below are biblical holidays or observances that are commanded by God in the Old Testament. Many people in different regions observe today in accordance to the Torah Law.
Many of these Jews do not accept Jesus Christ and are not considered Christians. Christians are believers of Jesus Christ, Whose death reconciled us to God and gave salvation to all who accept.
God commanded holidays. Jesus did not do away with Holy Holidays he only changed how they were to be observed -without judgement.
Before Jesus, if Holy Holidays were not observed in the strictest of sense -death was the penalty. Jesus came to give life. He commanded:
Colossians 2:16 KJV 16Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an Holy day, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days:
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Biblical holidays or observances that are commanded by God in the Old Testament
- Passover: This holiday commemorates the Israelites’ exodus from Egypt. It is celebrated on the 14th day of the first month of the Hebrew calendar.
- Feast of Unleavened Bread: This holiday is celebrated immediately after Passover. It commemorates the Israelites’ haste to leave Egypt, during which they did not have time to let their bread rise. It is celebrated for seven days.
- Firstfruits: This holiday is celebrated on the first day of the week after Passover. It commemorates the Israelites’ first harvest.
- Ascension: Ascension celebrates the ascension of Jesus Christ into heaven. Jesus ascended into heaven to be seated at the right hand of God the Father.
- Pentecost: This holiday is celebrated fifty days after Passover. It commemorates the giving of the Holy Spirit to the disciples of Jesus Christ.
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Biblical holidays or observances that are commanded by Jesus in the New Testament. Jesus new covenant is celebrated in the sacraments of Baptism and the Lord’s Supper.
- Baptism – A religious ritual ceremony that immerses a person under water. Baptism was performed before Jesus was born. Jesus was Baptized by John the Baptist.
1 Corinthians 11:26 KJV “For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come.”
Two very important Christian Holidays not commanded by God are Christmas and Easter. Christmas celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. He came to earth to save us from our sins.
Easter celebrates the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ He died on the cross and rose from the dead, so that we could have eternal life and the forgiveness of sins.
Jesus’ resurrection is the proof that His sacrifice on the cross was successful. It shows that death could not hold Him, and that He has power over sin and death.
In observing these holidays remember that it is good to praise the Lord and celebrate in honor of the great good he has done.
People celebrate each other birthdays, why not celebrate the Lord?
Psalms 150:6 KJV “Let every thing that hath breath praise the LORD. Praise ye the LORD.”
- Christmas – Birth of Jesus Christ celebrated around the world. Jesus Birthday.
- Easter or Palm Sunday – Celebrates the death of Jesus Christ. Salvation to the World. Many people announce the death of love ones as celbration of life as death is a passage to the Kingdom of God and everlasting life.
- Good Friday: Good Friday commemorates the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. It is the Friday before Easter Sunday. Jesus died on the cross to pay the penalty for our sins. He died during the passover and is referred to as “The Lamb” the last sacrifice needed to be offered for sin.
Luke 19:40 KJV 37And when he {Jesus} was come nigh, even now at the descent of the mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen; 38Saying, Blessed be the King that cometh in the name of the Lord: peace in heaven, and glory in the highest. 39And some of the Pharisees from among the multitude said unto him, Master, rebuke thy disciples. 40And he answered and said unto them, I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out.
The Bible does not explicitly say whether or not God approves of celebrating man holidays. However, there are several passages that suggest that God does approve of celebrating holidays.
Especially weddings, birth of a baby. The first miracle that Jesus performed was turning wine into water for a wedding.
Celebrating the birth of a baby is celebrating life. All life is from God. Jesus is life.
For example, in Exodus 23:14, God commands the Israelites to celebrate the Feast of Unleavened Bread. The Feast of Unleavened Bread is a holiday that commemorates the Israelites’ deliverance from Egypt.
In Deuteronomy 16:16, God commands the Israelites to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles. The Feast of Tabernacles is a holiday that commemorates the Israelites’ wandering in the wilderness.
These passages suggest that God approves of celebrating holidays that commemorate important events in His plan of salvation. The main reason is so the people do not forget what he has done for them.
However, the Bible also contains passages that warn against the dangers of false worship. For example, in Deuteronomy 12:30, God warns the Israelites not to worship false gods. He says, “You must not worship the LORD your God in their way.”
This passage suggests that God does not approve of celebrating holidays that are not based on His Word. For example: Holloween. Holloween is a pagen holiday and celebrates the occults that do not obey God.
- The King James Bible does not specifically mention birthdays. However, there are a few verses that could be interpreted as having something to say about celebrating birthdays.
- Ecclesiastes 7:1: “A good name is better than precious ointment; and the day of death than the day of one’s birth.” This verse suggests that the day of death is more important than the day of birth. This could be interpreted as meaning that we should not focus too much on celebrating birthdays, but instead focus on living our lives in a way that will make us worthy of a good name.
- Matthew 14:6-12: This passage tells the story of Herod’s birthday party, where his stepdaughter danced for him and he promised to give her anything she wanted. She asked for the head of John the Baptist, and Herod gave it to her. This passage could be interpreted as warning us against the dangers of putting too much emphasis on birthdays. When we focus on celebrating our own birthdays, we may be tempted to make selfish requests or demands, as Herod did.
- Romans 14:5-6: “One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind.” This verse says that it is up to each individual to decide how they want to celebrate birthdays.
Romans 14:5 KJV “One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind.”
This author has a personal testimony about celebrating my own birthday recently. As I was writing this letter in advance of publication, I kept running into the same reading.
Deuteronomy 6:12 KJV “Then beware lest thou forget the LORD, which brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage.” The next day, I read in an inspiriational book, Put God First,
Has there ever been a time in your life that a blessing became bigger in your eyes than God? Then again the third day, Proverbs 3:6 KJV “In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.”
The ole saying. ” When you see things in three’s, God is trying to tell you somelthing. I prayed about it. I could not think of anything or anytime that I did not put God first.
Then I realize my birthday was in a few days on a Sunday. I know how excited I get about my birthday and the fact that I scheduled this topic two months ago was key that the warnings pertained to my birthday.
So when my birthday came, I made sure that I brought it in around midnight with communion and prayer and praise. Of course, me and my family went to church.
My birthday was so wonderful, as always gifts, presents, kind words, and dinner. I have always celebrated my birthday since a child. I never missed one.
It is exciting because my family and friends would plan it and suprise me. I never planned it. I accepted whatever came.
After my recent birthday, the next day, I was still pondering on the words that I had read. Did I miss something? Then all of a sudden, I remembered a birthday that I had on a Sunday,
My husband (now deceased) gave me a birthday party at our home. It was great and we partied until the wee hours of the morning.
The alarm went off and it was time to go to church. I said, It is my birthday and I was going to miss this one Sunday. I just did not want to get up.
Instantly I knew that was the warning. “Don’t let your blessings be bigger than me” . “Keep me first in everything you do”. I love praising God in his house. So I love going to church.
It takes wild horses to keep me away but that day was “this is my day and I am sleeping in”. God does not approve of those type of birthdays. It may have been different if that was not my normal thing.
Guidance is why we should read the word daily. God’s Holy Spirit guides us. We don’t learn everything from other people. The Holy Spirit is real.
He knows us and will remind us of God’s words, if we want to hear them. Allow your study time and praise to make a transformation in your life.
Many religions do not celebrate birthdays because people celebrate their birthdays with fornication, adultry, stealing, spending bill money, excluding friends,
mad at others when they do not receive what they think they should get or want. This should not be so. In everything you do, remember to love and obey God first and you will be find.
Some people may choose to celebrate birthdays, while others may not. There is no right or wrong answer, as long as we are not judging others for their choices.
In addition, that we are always putting God first in everything we do and obeying his commands.
Ultimately, whether or not to celebrate birthdays is a personal decision. All celebrations should begin and end giving glory to God and not to indulge in what the Lord finds offensive – sins.
In conclusion, the Bible does not explicitly say whether or not God approves of celebrating man holidays.
However, there are several passages that suggest that God does approve of celebrating holidays that commemorate important events in His plan of salvation.
However, the Bible also contains passages that warn against the dangers of false worship.
Christians should be careful to celebrate holidays that are based on God’s Word and that do not lead them to worship false gods or commit grave sins such as: robbing, murdering, fornication or adultrey, worhipping oneself
or wanting things that will cause others to fall or things that would cause a sense of worship. Celebrating God is always a good thing. He demands our praise.
Praise comes in many forms. Jesus said that if we do not praise him he will make the rocks cry out.
If you celebrate each other, should you not celebrate our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ? Do you honestly think that giving him glory in his eyes is a bad thing?
May the Peace, Love and Truth of God go with you,
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A CALL TO SALVATION:
John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
Romans 10:9-10 9That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness, and with the mouth, confession is made unto salvation.
John 3:5-6 5Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. 6That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7
