Updated Aug. 2004
(This item appeared in the December 1989 issue of The Words of Life--Hal)
Although this question has been asked from time to time by people seeking to please God, this question clearly illustrates how certain days and seasons pose problems for Christians.
We can properly answer this question, and there are many things we can learn from studying to answer this question.
What Does It Mean?
First, it would benefit us to spend a short time considering the word “celebrate.” What is meant by it--a formal religious ceremony?
If this is our understanding, without a doubt, the Bible does not permit (or authorize) us to elevate to divine status any religious ceremony that has originated with man (Col. 2:14-18).
A Question of Authority
In Matthew 21:23-27, the question of “authority” was raised by the elders and scribes of the temple. When they considered the question Jesus asked about John’s baptism, they realized that “authority” (the right to act with approval) in religious matters come either from men or from God! And in religious mattersm we must follow God and not man (Acts 5:29).
In fact, whatever religious things we do “in word or deed” (Col. 3:17), we must do by divine approval—otherwise, anything that we may do is vain, particularly if it is prescribed by men (Matt. 15:9-10) and not by God.
Do It All, But Only
No doubt we should do ALL that God prescribes in His Word, but we must also do ONLY what the scriptures authorize. We are cautioned to not go “beyond that which is written” (1 Cor. 4:6). And the apostle warns about adding to or taking away from that which is written (Rev. 22:18-19).
Probably no one else stresses these things more than the churches of Christ, yet we try to place emphasis where the Bible emphasizes things—the birth, death, burial, and resurrection, for this is the core of the gospel (1 Cor. 15:1-6).
These topics are studied often by faithful congregations; however, we must all understand the means of observing (or “celebrating”) those events.
Baptism
For example, baptism quite vividly keeps the death, burial, and resurrection before us. In Rom. 6:3-4 & 16-18, the inspired apostle writes that we are “buried” with Him by baptism “unto His death” where He shed His blood for the remission of our sins (Matt. 26:28).
The Lord’s Supper permits is a continually recurring weekly celebration of His death (1 Cor. 11:23-26; Acts 20:7). We should remember that the Lord’s Supper is the time we remember His death, not His resurrection.
Benefits of His Blood
In addition to the connection of baptism and the Lord’s Supper with the blood of Christ, other references in the Bible show a connection to His blood (and thus the benefits of His death) with the things we do:
Only Twice a Year?
Since these relationships are frequent and continuous, why should anyone want to confine their thoughts about Christ’s death and resurrection “Easter” and “Christmas” only?
Before we are misquoted, we didn’t say that neither of those terms could be uttered by Christans, though it is true that both of those terms have their origins in paganism, but they have long ago lost any such connection, just as have the names of the days of the week and the months of the year.
We use terms like Sunday and Monday, as well as December and January, and we use these on nearly a daily basis without giving any thought to their original connections with pagan deities or activities involved in the worship of pagans.
We can use these terms in our everyday parlance without giving any endorsement of those origins, just as early Christians could eat meat in a non-religious setting without endorsing the pagan deities that may have been worshipped earlier in connection with the meat (1 Cor. 10:26-28).
Should the situation arise, however, that might draw us into unavoidable compromise, the our consciences require that we modify or actions to make distinct clarifications, just as the first century Christians were to do regarding idols (Rom. 14:23).
How About “Easter”?
We should note that the King James Version of 1611 does mention “Easter” in Acts 12:4, but such is a mistranslation that is acknowledged by all 21st century scholars. The original word is pascha, which is everywhere else translated “passover” and corrected in subsequent translations of the Bible. Prior to 1611, the KJV translators substituted “Easter” to reflect manmade customs that had originated by that century rather than faithfully translating the word as it was in the original text.
In closing, let us remember that there are many family and national customs connected with Easter and Christmas that Christians can do and enjoy without any religious conflict. At the same time, we may not presume a religious authority not given to us by creating artificial ceremonial observance in worship, for to do such is to invite a curse (Gal. 1:6-9).
We certainly do believe in Jesus Christ—His birth, life, death, burial, and resurrection, but we should never change, bypass, or neglect legitimate scriptural means of observing all that the Bible tells us to observe.
Communication Problems
Furthermore, we’re not so sure that we have any more trouble communicating our convictions than the first century Christians did in a world filled with pagans. Some of them had been pagans and continued to have pagan friends.
Not all their ties with pagans were broken. Some continued to live with pagan wives (1 Cor. 7). Paul even observed certain national Jewish customs, but he taught Christians that there was one God and that an idol was nothing (1 Cor. 8:4).
We Must Distinguish
As long as early Christians kept the truth of 1 Cor. 8:4 in their minds, their participation in social activities were not sinful, unless that distinction was blurred by compromise (1 Cor. 10:28-29).
We know that Jesus was born as God’s “indestructible gift” (1 Cor. 9:15), but we do not know when (day, date, or month). Since His birth is a Bible fact, teaching about it can be done at any time, even in December when others are studying it.
Teaching people the truth about Jesus when their minds are set to receive it seems logical, timely, and wise.
May be have the courage to do so.
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Created Dec. 2,
1989 Updated Aug. 2004 |