Should Christmas, Easter, Lent, Pentecost, and other traditional Holy Days be observed in the corporate worship of the church? What about other Christian traditions that have developed during the history of the church? Where do we go to decide?
Christ in his parting words to the disciples instructed his disciples to make disciples and to teach 'them to observe all things that I have commanded you.' This means that in our teaching, the church is not to teach less than Christ commanded, but it also means we are not to teach men to observe more than we find in Christ's word. We are not to go into all the world and teach the traditions that we have made up, regardless of how old they are or how helpful we think they might be.
For hundreds of years, most of the churches tracing their decent from the Second Reformation in England & Scotland (Presbyterian, Congregationalist, Baptist) held to this principle, and as a result, Holy Days like Christmas were not observed in American Presbyterian, Baptist, and Congregationalist churches. This changed in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. But was the change biblically warranted?
Please Note: This Sermon was not preached as an attack on the practice of those churches that do observe Christmas and Easter, rather it is a biblical explanation and defense of our own practice of non-observance.
PS: To access the paper on Holy Days mentioned in the sermon, click on the link below -
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“ Great Sermon! ” Thank you for this sermon brother, I too wish to have nothing to do with the worldly holiday of Christmas. To God be all Glory given wholly by his son Jesus Christ, let us not ever doubt the holy spirit, amen.
Jerry (12/8/2005)
from NC
“ Great Sermon! ” This was a take on Christmas that I didn't expect but found very intriguing. I also didn't know that the pilgrims and many of the founding fathers didn't celebrate Christmas till I heard this and read the essay. I guess I'll be thinking more about whether this really is something I should do at church.
I was converted out of paganism and the occult in 1993 and while I was initially Charismatic/Arminian in my theology, I became Reformed and Presbyterian through bible study and the influence of ministries like Ligonier. After teaching in local bible studies, and taking seminary...
