Here is a bit of excellent writing.
go here and see what you think.
4.17.2006
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6 Comments:
Me thinketh he hath a good bit of writing.
Me agreeth with Stacey although I didn't read quite all of it.
And what pray tell is communion all about Madam? Also, why do we not take it the one day that we say we are celebrating what it calls us to remember?
that comment was to bj
I think the guys article, after skimming it, is more about the celebration of holidays in public worship than in private worship. He uses the regulative principle, even in his "So what?" section, to validate his points.
However, the regulative principle is only applicable to public worship. So I agree that there is no warrant for churches to do anything different on Christmas or Easter. But it would be hard to justify condemning someone for celebrating them privately. I would however say: "We celebrate Christ's life, death and resurrection every Sunday, why do we need a specific day? And why do we add so much of our own desires (giving presents, other holidary themed activities) to these unnecessary celebrations?" That's said, I don't whether or not I will celebrate Christmas and/or Easter with my kids. And if so, how will I?
I don't have time to go into this on a point-by-point basis. But I have to say I disagree with some of their conclusions. Perhaps if I offer a couple of points it'll help you understand where I'm coming from.
The first thing is that the author seems to have an impression that observation of "holy days" is a legalistic system instituted by the church ("legalistic" in the sense that the author seems to think that those who observe such days consider it a sin for a believer to not observe them). I have never gotten that impression from any of the churches that I've attended (I don’t know his background), but rather one of "let's use these ‘holy days’ as a time set aside to focus our attention on the events they are about. Ex. "Let's corporately focus on celebrating the birth of Christ/the severity of the cross/the joy of His resurrection today more than we do on other days.” (side note, it’s not about focusing on them because we don’t on other days, but more so than we do on other days).
Second, the connection the author tries to make between Old Testament practices of worship under the Law (where forms of worship are strictly laid out, often due to having a symbolic meaning that ultimately points to Christ) and worship by the church under the New Covenant (where forms of worship are not strictly laid out for us) seems tenuous at best. It doesn’t help the author’s case any when he consistently uses the King James (at least, I presume that’s the KJV) for scriptural references and not something more accurate to the original text. Then he takes Paul’s point about the Law in Galatians out of its historical context. The letter to the Galatians is largely a response to the Judaizers, who taught that Gentile believers must obey the Jewish law in order to be saved. Again, I reference my first point above that I see no connection between this and observing so called “holy days”, assuming you’re not preaching that the observation of such is required for salvation.
Third, take a look at Romans 14 (yes, the whole chapter). Especially look at verses 5-6. While Paul seems to be primarily talking about observation of the Sabbath, I think the point applies here too. If you aren’t causing a brother in Christ to stumble by doing so (and preaching it legalistically would count as that), then go ahead and observe those “holy days.” By that same point, if you are convinced in your own mind that you shouldn’t observe them, then go ahead.
Fourth, I find it downright hilarious that he tries to connect the dates we celebrate Christmas and Easter on with pagan rituals. Easter just-so-happens (how do you spell coincidence?...G-O-D) to coincide with Passover, so we celebrate it at the time of Passover. Yes, the bunnies do have a connection with a pagan ritual, but they didn’t choose to celebrate Easter then because of those pagan springtime festivities. Moreover, would it be so out-of-character for our God to take something lost and redeem it for His own Glory?
Ok, that was way longer than intended, but I think you get my perspective. BTW, I love how he cites Sola Scriptura principles and uses an awful lot of non-Scripture sources for those block quotes…
P.S. Josh, on your comment to BJ above. It is traditional for churches to hold a "Maundy Thursday" communion service during "holy week" to celebrate communion on the night of passoever week where it was first instituted, so I fail to see how we are not celebrating it as you say.
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