"So let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or Sabbaths, which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ." {Colossians 2:16,17} We understand that the apostle Paul wrote these words to a Jewish audience whose members needed to understand that the special days observed under Moses' Law were no longer valid because that law had been nailed to Christ's cross. Do we celebrate special religious days in our time?
In our country, and most others, people are busy observing the holiday season referred to as Christmas. This time of the year always generates debate and discussion concerning the relationship that Christians can, or should, have with such a holiday. Numerous brethren have written articles containing their views regarding the Christian's observance, or lack thereof, of the Holiday Season. I've searched out a number of these articles and am publishing them in this month's issue. Please read them with an open mind. Below, I include a few of my personal comments regarding my understanding of our observance of the Christmas holiday .
No Scriptural authority to celebrate as a religious holiday. "And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him." {Colossians 3:17} According to the Bible, Christians are authorized to keep only one religious day-the Lord's Day. There is no Biblical authority for the religious observance of Easter and Christmas. Yet, both days honor Biblical events-Christ's resurrection and His birth. Much of what is said and written about the two events can be found in the Bible. Why then is there a problem with celebrating them as holidays? The problem lies with the fact that God has not asked or commanded us to do so. You might ask, "Didn't these events have great importance in our Lord's life?" I would not deny that both events are part of His story. But that isn't the issue. The issue is: did God authorize us to remember these two events above any others in Christ's life? No, but there was an event that He wants His people to remember.
Observing Christ's death by partaking of the Lord's Supper. "For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death till He comes." {1 Corinthians 11:26} God desired and commanded us to remember His Son's death EVERY Lord's Day. He wanted to be certain we didn't forget the price paid for our salvation-it did not come cheaply. People tend to be forgetful, and this is the one memorial God wanted us to celebrate. All others-including Christmas-were created by men. People cannot fathom my being a preacher who doesn't engage in a religious celebration of Christ's birth.
Dear readers, we must be honest about handling God's word. Please read these articles carefully. Let us not bind our opinions and convictions on others. Each must be convicted in his own mind. Thank you for reading.