As we come to the celebrations of festivals like Easter or Christmas, there are always good intentioned people who ask us as Christians, if it is scriptural to participate in these events. Off course, it is usually around these “holy” seasons that we are bombarded on every side about the validity of these festivals. On one hand, this would be about the time the mass media will be questioning the validity of the resurrection of our Lord (and during Christmas season the very birth of our Lord).  On the other hand, cults and detractors of the gospel go overboard with the idea that by celebrating in these festivals we are actually pagans!

 

Certainly we must be guided by the Scriptures and the Holy Spirit in making wise decisions with regards to these festivals. To some extent we also understand how the New Testament church and the early church fathers, dealt with such situations. And then in being Biblically faithful to the revealed word or in the absence of a direct word, we can, in scope of scriptural context and in the spirit of Christian liberty of conscience, come to an understanding of what would be best in the given situation.

Reading from the Pauline epistles, we find that Paul addressed such questions in a very broad way. We read in: Col. 2:16 “So let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or sabbaths.” And again we read in  1 Cor.14: 5 One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind. I think these words are appropriate guidance in the 21^st century as well.

 

Should we keep these festivals? No, for there is no Scriptural mandate from either our Lord or His apostles as to these festivals. (Neither did they mandate some of the others things we unquestionably do) No, we are not under any obligation to keep these annual festivals. The Biblical mandate for us as Christians is that every week we assemble together on the Lord’s Day and remember the resurrection. And while we do not neglect gathering on the Lord’s Day, there is no harm if we celebrate His resurrection.  And certainly, we do have the liberty to use a season approximate to the time when Christ was crucified, buried, and raised to celebrate this event. We can celebrate it as a personal affirmation of our faith or strategically for evangelism. Why not use this event as a tool to witness to the non-believers the death, the burial and the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ?  We can and we should use any opportunity to proclaim the resurrection of our Lord. While we do not know precisely when Jesus was born, we can ascertain that Jesus was crucified and raised in the springtime, during the annual celebration of the Jewish Passover.

 

Our celebration has nothing whatsoever to do with toy spring bunnies, chicks, eggs or candy, but celebrations of praise and worship to our Lord. We also draw attention to others what the true meaning of the resurrection is all about and do all we can to edify the believers and win souls through evangelical thrust (Resurrection play etc) and use every opportunity to bring glory to God. (Ephesians 5:16 NIV) states, “making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.”