SHOULD CHRISTIANS OBSERVE HOLIDAYS
SHOULD CHRISTIANS CELEBRATE HOLIDAYS
By Rev.Michael Benson Ajayi
Galatians 4:9-10 AMP "Now, however, that you have come to be acquainted with and understand and know [the true] God, or rather to be understood and known by God, how can you turn back again to the weak and beggarly and worthless elementary things [of all religions before Christ came], whose slaves you once more want to become? You observe [particular] days and months and seasons and years!"
The debates on whether Christians should celebrate holidays even personal birthdays is that which has engendered a sense of confusion and guilt in many a believer in Christ. We shall approach this from both scriptural and logical perspectives in other to give a balanced understanding of the subject matter.
Firstly, our salvation is all encompassing , nothing missing and nothing broken, the scriptures say in Hebrews 7:25 AMP "Therefore He is able also to save to the uttermost (completely, perfectly, finally, and for all time and eternity) those who come to God through Him, since He is always living to make petition to God and intercede with Him and intervene for them." you see our salvation is perfect,complete, final,and has a validity that tends to eternity. Therefore, whether we celebrate a holiday or not, it makes no difference .
Secondly, it is worthy of note that the modern day calendar is of pagan origin , and based on the concept of salvation by grace through faith as established in the scriptures human traditions are not expected to override biblical doctrines especially when it against the principles of salvation . It is against this backdrop that emphasis is should rather be on the meaning of an event not the date.
If date where to be considered then the time of the event would become an issue, for example if Jesus was born by 12:00 GMT and we were to mark the date globally to the exact time then it will mean, while it is say it is noon in Jerusalem on Saturday, it is probably Sunday somewhere in the far east. Thus, a crisis of meanings is often created whenever issues on the observations of days arises.Therefore, the meaning from a scriptural perspective is to be followed that's why as christians we can convert a shrine or a night club into a worship Centre : same property but different name and meaning.
In Matthew 28:18-20 all authority has been given to christ and in Luke 10:19 this authority has been given to His Church and our dominion transcends dates and cultures , and we have a mandate to establish God’s kingdom in every facet of life. We are to place the seal of Jesus' lordship upon the culture and creatures of the earth. The scriptures declares all things as ours ( 1cor 3:21-23) and the world can't tell me how to use what's mine . The world is mine in Christ. Therefore, it is what I declare a day to be that counts be it easter or Christmas day the scriptures says in 1cor.3:21-23 "So let no one exult proudly concerning men [boasting of having this or that man as a leader], for all things are yours, Whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas (Peter), or the universe or life or death, or the immediate and threatening present or the [subsequent and uncertain] future—all are yours, And you are Christ’s, and Christ is God’s.
Psalm 24 says the earth and it's traditions and cultures belongs to God and John 1. 12 says God's license of ownership has been given to anyone who receives Jesus as lord. Jesus made all things including the dates and material from where idols or gods are made. The will of God is that Christmas be celebrated everyday however on the 25th of December we give it a global status against the backdrop of the increasing number of those who would wish Christianity and all that symbolises salvation is annihilated. The law of liberty in Christ under the dispensation of grace. "All things are legitimate [permissible—and we are free to do anything we please], but not all things are helpful (expedient, profitable, and wholesome). All things are legitimate, but not all things are constructive [to character] and edifying [to spiritual life]." 1 Corinthians 10.23 "Therefore let no one sit in judgment on you in matters of food and drink, or with regard to a feast day or a New Moon or a Sabbath. Such [things] are only the shadow of things that are to come, and they have only a symbolic value. But the reality (the substance, the solid fact of what is foreshadowed, the body of it) belongs to Christ. Let no one defraud you by acting as an umpire and declaring you unworthy and disqualifying you for the prize, insisting on self-abasement and worship of angels, taking his stand on visions [he claims] he has seen, vainly puffed up by his sensuous notions and inflated by his unspiritual thoughts and fleshly conceit, "And not holding fast to the Head, from Whom the entire body, supplied and knit together by means of its joints and ligaments, grows with a growth that is from God. Colossians 2. 16-18 under the dispensation of grace no man has the authority to judge your decision to celebrate Christmas, Easter or not . Let everything be done to the glory of God. May you never lack joy as you celebrate Christ.
Prayer / counseling +2348098536911, +2348035536911
Email :Michaelbensonajayi@gmail.com
By Rev.Michael Benson Ajayi
Galatians 4:9-10 AMP "Now, however, that you have come to be acquainted with and understand and know [the true] God, or rather to be understood and known by God, how can you turn back again to the weak and beggarly and worthless elementary things [of all religions before Christ came], whose slaves you once more want to become? You observe [particular] days and months and seasons and years!"
The debates on whether Christians should celebrate holidays even personal birthdays is that which has engendered a sense of confusion and guilt in many a believer in Christ. We shall approach this from both scriptural and logical perspectives in other to give a balanced understanding of the subject matter.
Firstly, our salvation is all encompassing , nothing missing and nothing broken, the scriptures say in Hebrews 7:25 AMP "Therefore He is able also to save to the uttermost (completely, perfectly, finally, and for all time and eternity) those who come to God through Him, since He is always living to make petition to God and intercede with Him and intervene for them." you see our salvation is perfect,complete, final,and has a validity that tends to eternity. Therefore, whether we celebrate a holiday or not, it makes no difference .
Secondly, it is worthy of note that the modern day calendar is of pagan origin , and based on the concept of salvation by grace through faith as established in the scriptures human traditions are not expected to override biblical doctrines especially when it against the principles of salvation . It is against this backdrop that emphasis is should rather be on the meaning of an event not the date.
If date where to be considered then the time of the event would become an issue, for example if Jesus was born by 12:00 GMT and we were to mark the date globally to the exact time then it will mean, while it is say it is noon in Jerusalem on Saturday, it is probably Sunday somewhere in the far east. Thus, a crisis of meanings is often created whenever issues on the observations of days arises.Therefore, the meaning from a scriptural perspective is to be followed that's why as christians we can convert a shrine or a night club into a worship Centre : same property but different name and meaning.
In Matthew 28:18-20 all authority has been given to christ and in Luke 10:19 this authority has been given to His Church and our dominion transcends dates and cultures , and we have a mandate to establish God’s kingdom in every facet of life. We are to place the seal of Jesus' lordship upon the culture and creatures of the earth. The scriptures declares all things as ours ( 1cor 3:21-23) and the world can't tell me how to use what's mine . The world is mine in Christ. Therefore, it is what I declare a day to be that counts be it easter or Christmas day the scriptures says in 1cor.3:21-23 "So let no one exult proudly concerning men [boasting of having this or that man as a leader], for all things are yours, Whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas (Peter), or the universe or life or death, or the immediate and threatening present or the [subsequent and uncertain] future—all are yours, And you are Christ’s, and Christ is God’s.
Psalm 24 says the earth and it's traditions and cultures belongs to God and John 1. 12 says God's license of ownership has been given to anyone who receives Jesus as lord. Jesus made all things including the dates and material from where idols or gods are made. The will of God is that Christmas be celebrated everyday however on the 25th of December we give it a global status against the backdrop of the increasing number of those who would wish Christianity and all that symbolises salvation is annihilated. The law of liberty in Christ under the dispensation of grace. "All things are legitimate [permissible—and we are free to do anything we please], but not all things are helpful (expedient, profitable, and wholesome). All things are legitimate, but not all things are constructive [to character] and edifying [to spiritual life]." 1 Corinthians 10.23 "Therefore let no one sit in judgment on you in matters of food and drink, or with regard to a feast day or a New Moon or a Sabbath. Such [things] are only the shadow of things that are to come, and they have only a symbolic value. But the reality (the substance, the solid fact of what is foreshadowed, the body of it) belongs to Christ. Let no one defraud you by acting as an umpire and declaring you unworthy and disqualifying you for the prize, insisting on self-abasement and worship of angels, taking his stand on visions [he claims] he has seen, vainly puffed up by his sensuous notions and inflated by his unspiritual thoughts and fleshly conceit, "And not holding fast to the Head, from Whom the entire body, supplied and knit together by means of its joints and ligaments, grows with a growth that is from God. Colossians 2. 16-18 under the dispensation of grace no man has the authority to judge your decision to celebrate Christmas, Easter or not . Let everything be done to the glory of God. May you never lack joy as you celebrate Christ.
Prayer / counseling +2348098536911, +2348035536911
Email :Michaelbensonajayi@gmail.com
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