Let us take back the Holidays

[Bill]

I always found it somewhat amusing when people post about how Christmas is actually on a pagan holiday or Easter is on a pagan holiday Etc. All I can say is Let's Get the facts straight.

God created every day of the week and every week of the month and every month of the year. The truth is that the pagans have taken over God's days, God's months.

So I say the heck with those guys taking over God's days of the week and God's months of the year. Let us take back what was God's to begin with. And celebrate those days and those months and those holidays that we have celebrated as the birth of Christ and as Easter Sunday. Let us celebrate each month that no Darkness can substitute what does God's in the first place.

 

[Admon Mikha'el]

I always found it somewhat amusing when people post about how Christmas is actually on a pagan holiday or Easter is on a pagan holiday Etc. All I can say is Let's Get the facts straight.

God created every day of the week and every week of the month and every month of the year. The truth is that the pagans have taken over God's days, God's months.

So I say the heck with those guys taking over God's days of the week and God's months of the year. Let us take back what was God's to begin with. And celebrate those days and those months and those holidays that we have celebrated as the birth of Christ and as Easter Sunday. Let us celebrate each month that no Darkness can substitute what does God's in the first place.

Why not celebrate the feasts that God instituted instead?

1. The Feast of Passover (Leviticus 23:5)
2. The Feast of Unleavened Bread (Exodus 12:17)
3. The Feast of Firstfruits (Leviticus 23:10)
4. The Feast of Pentecost (Leviticus 23:15)
5. The Feast of Trumpets (Leviticus 23:23)
6. The Feast of Atonement (Leviticus 23:27)
7. The Feast of Tabernacles (Leviticus 23:34)

These are the feasts that Jesus celebrated...Jesus did not celebrate His birthday, or any other feast we think are holy. The above list are the feasts He celebrated

 

[Dylan569]

Why not celebrate the feasts that God instituted instead?

1. The Feast of Passover (Leviticus 23:5)
2. The Feast of Unleavened Bread (Exodus 12:17)
3. The Feast of Firstfruits (Leviticus 23:10)
4. The Feast of Pentecost (Leviticus 23:15)
5. The Feast of Trumpets (Leviticus 23:23)
6. The Feast of Atonement (Leviticus 23:27)
7. The Feast of Tabernacles (Leviticus 23:34)

These are the feasts that Jesus celebrated...Jesus did not celebrate His birthday, or any other feast we think are holy. The above list are the feasts He celebrated

Jesus was a Jew living under the Old Covenant, Mosaic Law. I don't remember off hand any special day as a holiday in the New Covenant, other than the Lord's Day, the first day of the week in honor of the resurrection. We have that not by command, but by example of the first assemblies of God where they met on the first day of the week.

 

[rstrats]

Jesus was a Jew living under the Old Covenant, Mosaic Law. I don't remember off hand any special day as a holiday in the New Covenant, other than the Lord's Day, the first day of the week in honor of the resurrection. We have that not by command, but by example of the first assemblies of God where they met on the first day of the week.

Just so it's understood that scripture is silent about anyone meeting on the first day of the week in honor of the resurrection.

 

[Dylan569]

Just so it's understood that scripture is silent about anyone meeting on the first day of the week in honor of the resurrection.

So? Depending on the point you are trying to make, I'll respond from two perspectives. In the New Covenant, there is NO command about what day of the week the saints were to gather for preaching, Bible study, prayer and fellowship, etc. We could meet on the 3rd or 5th day of the week for that matter. Yet, by example, we see the first gatherings of believers meeting on the day of the resurrection, the first day of the week, our Sunday:

"When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, 'Peace be with you.'” (John 20:19 NRSV)

"A week later his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were shut, Jesus came and stood among them and said, 'Peace be with you.'” (John 20:26 NRSV)

"On the first day of the week, when we met to break bread, Paul was holding a discussion with them; since he intended to leave the next day, he continued speaking until midnight." (Acts 20:7 NRSV)

"On the first day of every week, each of you is to put aside and save whatever extra you earn, so that collections need not be taken when I come." (1Cor 16:2 NRSV)

"I was in the spirit on the Lord’s day, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet" (Rev 1:10 NRSV) *If the "Lord's Supper" symbolizes the death of Christ, it is logical to view the day of the resurrection as "the Lord's Day", the first day of the week.

While it is not stated that the first day of the week, the Lord's Day, was because it was the day of His resurrection, it is a pretty good guess. Yet, again, there is NO command about what day of the week to gather together. It is certainly NOT the Old Covenant sabbath!

"Who are you to pass judgment on servants of another? It is before their own lord that they stand or fall. And they will be upheld, for the Lord is able to make them stand. Some judge one day to be better than another, while others judge all days to be alike. Let all be fully convinced in their own minds. Those who observe the day, observe it in honor of the Lord. Also those who eat, eat in honor of the Lord, since they give thanks to God; while those who abstain, abstain in honor of the Lord and give thanks to God." (Rom 14:4-6 NRSV)

"Now, however, that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how can you turn back again to the weak and beggarly elemental spirits? How can you want to be enslaved to them again? You are observing special days, and months, and seasons, and years." (Gal 4:9-10 NRSV)

"Therefore do not let anyone condemn you in matters of food and drink or of observing festivals, new moons, or sabbaths. These are only a shadow of what is to come, but the substance belongs to Christ." (Col 2:16-17 NRSV)

 

[Bill]

Why not celebrate the feasts that God instituted instead?

1. The Feast of Passover (Leviticus 23:5)
2. The Feast of Unleavened Bread (Exodus 12:17)
3. The Feast of Firstfruits (Leviticus 23:10)
4. The Feast of Pentecost (Leviticus 23:15)
5. The Feast of Trumpets (Leviticus 23:23)
6. The Feast of Atonement (Leviticus 23:27)
7. The Feast of Tabernacles (Leviticus 23:34)

These are the feasts that Jesus celebrated...Jesus did not celebrate His birthday, or any other feast we think are holy. The above list are the feasts He celebrated

I do not know your church, but in mine we celebrate all of those

 

[Dylan569]

I do not know your church, but in mine we celebrate all of those

If your church celebrates those, your church is NOT a New Testament church! It is a Judaizing, apostate gathering.

As to celebrating the 6 of the 7 listed out of Leviticus, it is clearly stated in the last verse of Leviticus the following:

"These are the commandments that the LORD gave to Moses for the people of Israel on Mount Sinai." (Lev 27:34 NRSV)

Those are NOWHERE commanded to be celebrated by the NT church. As to the #2 from Exodus:

"You shall observe the festival of unleavened bread, for on this very day I brought your companies out of the land of Egypt: you shall observe this day throughout your generations as a perpetual ordinance." (Exod 12:17 NRSV)

Was your church brought out of the "land of Egypt"?

 

[Admon Mikha'el]

If your church celebrates those, your church is NOT a New Testament church! It is a Judaizing, apostate gathering.

As to celebrating the 6 of the 7 listed out of Leviticus, it is clearly stated in the last verse of Leviticus the following:

"These are the commandments that the LORD gave to Moses for the people of Israel on Mount Sinai." (Lev 27:34 NRSV)

Those are NOWHERE commanded to be celebrated by the NT church. As to the #2 from Exodus:

"You shall observe the festival of unleavened bread, for on this very day I brought your companies out of the land of Egypt: you shall observe this day throughout your generations as a perpetual ordinance." (Exod 12:17 NRSV)

Was your church brought out of the "land of Egypt"?

Dylan are you saying we don't need to follow Old Covenant? Jesus did tell us how to do that.

Matthew 22:37-40 37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.​

38 This is the first and great commandment.


39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.


40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

 

[Dylan569]

Dylan are you saying we don't need to follow Old Covenant? Jesus did tell us how to do that.

Matthew 22:37-40 37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.​

38 This is the first and great commandment.


39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.


40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

"...because Abraham obeyed my voice and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws.” (Gen 26:5 NRSV)
*The commandments of God and his laws existed at the time of Abraham, 400+ years before Moses lived.

"You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against any of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the LORD." (Lev 19:18 NRSV)

The underlined is quoted not only by Jesus, but in the New Covenant by Paul in Rom. 13:9 & Gal 5:14; and James quoted it in James 2:8.

1. God's law, his commandments existed at the time of Abraham for sure, 400+ years before the Old Covenant exited as in Gen. 26:5 above.

2. Loving our neighbor as ourselves is for the New Covenant believers because it is quoted for us in the New Covenant, Rom 13:9; Gal 5:14 & James 2:8; not because it is found in Leviticus in the Old Covenant.

3. Loving God is found in John's epistle - "By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments. For the love of God is this, that we obey his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome, for whatever is born of God conquers the world. And this is the victory that conquers the world, our faith." (1John 5:2-4 NRSV)

 

[rstrats]

I don't remember off hand any special day as a holiday in the New Covenant, other than the Lord's Day, the first day of the week in honor of the resurrection.

Where in the New Covenant was the first day of the week reffered to as the Lord's Day in honor of the resurrection?

 

[rstrats]

So? Depending on the point you are trying to make

The only point I'm making is that scripture says nothing about anyone assembling on the first day of the week in recognition of the resurrection. I mention it in case there are some here who may think that it does.

 

[rstrats]

In the New Covenant, there is NO command about what day of the week the saints were to gather for preaching, Bible study, prayer and fellowship, etc. We could meet on the 3rd or 5th day of the week for that matter. Yet, by example, we see the first gatherings of believers meeting on the day of the resurrection, the first day of the week

First example - "When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, 'Peace be with you."

This was right after the crucifixion and they were assembled for fear of the Jews. They probably thought they could be next. Nothing is said about them being there for a worship service or a day of rest. And it couldn't have been in recognition of the resurrection because at that time they didn't even believe that the resurrection had taken place.

Second example - "A week later his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were shut, Jesus came and stood among them and said, 'Peace be with you."

Most translations say after eight days or eight days later. So, one day later would be the second day of the week, two days later would be the third day of the week, three days later would be the fourth day of the week, four days later would be the fifth day of the week, five days later would be the six day of the week, six days later would be the seventh day of the week, seven days later would be the first day of the week and eight days later would be the second day of the week - not the first day.

Third example - "On the first day of the week, when we met to break bread, Paul was holding a discussion with them; since he intended to leave the next day, he continued speaking until midnight."

Nothing special said about that day except for Paul being there who wanted to talk to them. And The "breaking of bread" can simply be saying that the disciples got together to eat a meal. The phrase, "to break bread", does not have to refer to a religious service - unless it is specifically stated - but to dividing loaves of bread for a meal. "It means to partake of food and is used of eating as in a meal...... The readers [of the original New Testament letters and manuscripts] could have had no other idea or meaning in their minds" (E.W.Bullinger, Figures of Speech Used in the Bible, pp. 839,840.

But even if the breaking of bread mentioned always did refer to the Lord’s Supper, it had nothing to do with placing a special emphasis on the first day because Acts 2:46 says that they broke bread every day.

Fourth example - "On the first day of every week, each of you is to put aside and save whatever extra you earn, so that collections need not be taken when I come."

But 1 Corinthians 16 does not say that the Corinthians met together on the first day of the week. The text merely says that everyone should "lay by him in store" on the first day of the week. The Wemouth reads: "Let each of you put on one side and store up at his home". Ballantine's Translation reads: "Let each of you lay up at home". The Syriac on this passage reads: "Let every one of you lay aside and preserve at home". And the New Catholic Edition of the Bible reads: "....let each one of you put aside at home and lay up whatever he has a mind to". The Aramaic Bible in Plain English reads: "On every Sunday, let each person of you lay aside in his house and keep that which he can, so that when I come there will be no collections". The Lamsa Bible reads: "Upon the first day of every week, let each of you put aside and keep in his house whatever he can afford,so that there may be no collections when I come." The Darby Bible reads: "On [the] first of [the] week let each of you put by at home, laying up [in] whatever [degree] he may have prospered, that there may be no collections when I come." The Tyndale Bible of 1526 reads: "Vpon some sondaye let every one of you put a syde at home and laye vp what soever he thinketh mete that ther be no gaderinges when I come."

 

[rstrats]

While it is not stated that the first day of the week, the Lord's Day, was because it was the day of His resurrection, it is a pretty good guess.

Example five - "Who are you to pass judgment on servants of another? It is before their own lord that they stand or fall. And they will be upheld, for the Lord is able to make them stand. Some judge one day to be better than another, while others judge all days to be alike. Let all be fully convinced in their own minds. Those who observe the day, observe it in honor of the Lord. Also those who eat, eat in honor of the Lord, since they give thanks to God; while those who abstain, abstain in honor of the Lord and give thanks to God."

Nothing said here with regard to the first day of the week.


Example six - "Now, however, that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how can you turn back again to the weak and beggarly elemental spirits? How can you want to be enslaved to them again? You are observing special days, and months, and seasons, and years."

Nothing said here about the first day of the week.


Example seven - "Therefore do not let anyone condemn you in matters of food and drink or of observing festivals, new moons, or sabbaths. These are only a shadow of what is to come, but the substance belongs to Christ."

Nothing said here about the first day of the week.

 

[Admon Mikha'el]

"...because Abraham obeyed my voice and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws.” (Gen 26:5 NRSV)
*The commandments of God and his laws existed at the time of Abraham, 400+ years before Moses lived.

"You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against any of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the LORD." (Lev 19:18 NRSV)

The underlined is quoted not only by Jesus, but in the New Covenant by Paul in Rom. 13:9 & Gal 5:14; and James quoted it in James 2:8.

1. God's law, his commandments existed at the time of Abraham for sure, 400+ years before the Old Covenant exited as in Gen. 26:5 above.

2. Loving our neighbor as ourselves is for the New Covenant believers because it is quoted for us in the New Covenant, Rom 13:9; Gal 5:14 & James 2:8; not because it is found in Leviticus in the Old Covenant.

3. Loving God is found in John's epistle - "By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments. For the love of God is this, that we obey his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome, for whatever is born of God conquers the world. And this is the victory that conquers the world, our faith." (1John 5:2-4 NRSV)

Its so sad. You do all this work to show how smart you are and all you do is demonstrate what happens when you read the Word without listening to the Holy Spirit who is trying to teach you. The law was given through Moses.....Simply put...God spoke His instructions to Abraham and Even as Abraham believed God, and obeyed, it was accounted to him for righteousness
All of those words 'commandments, law, statutes to Abraham, all simply mean...God's Word to Abraham

 

[Bill]

Ladies / Guys, one of the reasons it is so important to recieve, learn and use the Gifts of the Holy Spirit is discernment. It is in God's discernment we can understand what is God's message and what is false. Just because a person uses scripture to prove himself. It does not mean his message comes from God. Remember, even the devil used God's Word to defend his position while tempting Jesus in the desert.

 

[Bill]

If your church celebrates those, your church is NOT a New Testament church! It is a Judaizing, apostate gathering.

As to celebrating the 6 of the 7 listed out of Leviticus, it is clearly stated in the last verse of Leviticus the following:

"These are the commandments that the LORD gave to Moses for the people of Israel on Mount Sinai." (Lev 27:34 NRSV)

Those are NOWHERE commanded to be celebrated by the NT church. As to the #2 from Exodus:

"You shall observe the festival of unleavened bread, for on this very day I brought your companies out of the land of Egypt: you shall observe this day throughout your generations as a perpetual ordinance." (Exod 12:17 NRSV)

Was your church brought out of the "land of Egypt"?

You should at least celebrate passover, it is Psalm Sunday in modern times.

I think you are confused, as those feast days from the Old Testiment are Incorporated into the feastdays that are celebrated today.

There is another problem you are having, but i can understand why as many things are not passed on when a church splits or a person feels they have no need to belong to any church. In these things, people are in error.

Simply, it has to do with the fabric of God, who is eternal. No beginning and no end. Unlike humans who measure existance using time. God's past is His present, and God's future is His present. All time to God is present.

 

[Dylan569]

Where in the New Covenant was the first day of the week reffered to as the Lord's Day in honor of the resurrection?

Where is no direct reference, but the comparison of the phrase is hard to miss:

"When you come together, it is not really to eat the Lord’s supper." (1Cor 11:20 NRSV)

The Lord's supper symbolizes the death of Jesus Christ on the cross, the bread his body, the wine his blood. If the death of our Lord has a phrase such as "the Lord's supper", to honor it, certainly the triumph of His resurrection could reasonably be seen as "the Lord's day":

"I was in the spirit on the Lord’s day, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet" (Rev 1:10 NRSV)

"The Lord's supper" phrase is used only once, likewise "the Lord's day" is found only once.

 

[Dylan569]

Ladies / Guys, one of the reasons it is so important to recieve, learn and use the Gifts of the Holy Spirit is discernment. It is in God's discernment we can understand what is God's message and what is false. Just because a person uses scripture to prove himself. It does not mean his message comes from God. Remember, even the devil used God's Word to defend his position while tempting Jesus in the desert.

The devil quoted out of context to give a different meaning to the word of God. That is seen done today by the children of the devil when they quote scripture out of context, or violate standard rules of interpretation. The rules of reading comprehension and interpretations must be followed to know the meaning.

 

[Dylan569]

You should at least celebrate passover, it is Psalm Sunday in modern times.

I think you are confused, as those feast days from the Old Testiment are Incorporated into the feastdays that are celebrated today.

There is another problem you are having, but i can understand why as many things are not passed on when a church splits or a person feels they have no need to belong to any church. In these things, people are in error.

Simply, it has to do with the fabric of God, who is eternal. No beginning and no end. Unlike humans who measure existance using time. God's past is His present, and God's future is His present. All time to God is present.

It seems that the confusion is on your part. There is no command to celebrate a "Palm Sunday" in the Bible anywhere. The Passover was for the Jews:
"The Passover of the Jews was near, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem." (John 2:13 NRSV)

Christ is referred to in illustration, as our Passover lamb:

Get rid of the old leaven and then you will be a new batch of unleavened dough. Indeed you already are, because Christ our Passover lamb has been sacrificed. (1Cor 5:7 REB)

We celebrate the Lord's Supper, not the Passover. Matthew Poole on 1 Co. 5:7

For even Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us; for though the feast of the Jewish passover be ceased, and you be tied to none of those Levitical observations, yet you are under as high an obligation; for Christ, who is the true paschal Lamb, is slain or sacrificed for us, and your old man should be crucified with him, and you no longer serve sin.

 

[Admon Mikha'el]

Where is no direct reference, but the comparison of the phrase is hard to miss:

"When you come together, it is not really to eat the Lord’s supper." (1Cor 11:20 NRSV)

The Lord's supper symbolizes the death of Jesus Christ on the cross, the bread his body, the wine his blood. If the death of our Lord has a phrase such as "the Lord's supper", to honor it, certainly the triumph of His resurrection could reasonably be seen as "the Lord's day":

"I was in the spirit on the Lord’s day, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet" (Rev 1:10 NRSV)

"The Lord's supper" phrase is used only once, likewise "the Lord's day" is found only once.

Wow...just Wow....Talk about studying the Word while ignoring the Holy Spirit! Search for words like "Sabbath" and such Do a proper study and LISTEN to the Holy Spirit when He talks to you. He is the teacher...not you