ASK DOUG ANYTHING

Question
Why don't Christians celebrate the God-created holy days and festivals of the Bible?

Doug's answer
The Old Testament holy days and festivals you refer to would include the Feast of Unleavened Bread, The Passover, The Feast of Ingathering, the Day of Atonement, the Feast of Tabernacles and the Year of Jubilee.

All of these festivals and holy days foreshadow the coming and ministry of Jesus Christ. Jesus is our unleavened bread, a metaphor for purity and holiness. Jesus is our Passover. Jesus sent the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost. Jesus is our Sabbath (this does not mean that we shouldn't set aside a day for rest, though. It is wise to work six days and rest on the seventh according to the creation week. However, this day of rest does not have to be on the seventh day – see Romans 14:4-10). Jesus is our atonement. Jesus is our dwelling place. Jesus is our Jubilee – our freedom! All of these feasts point to the coming of Christ. Now that Christ has come, we are not required to keep the feasts and holy days as Israel was mandated to do.

Paul addresses this issue in his letter to the Colossian believers. They were being led astray by false teachers who said they needed to observe Old Testament holy days and festivals in order to be saved. Paul makes it very clear that our right standing before God comes through Christ alone. We are complete in Christ (Colossians 2:10). Paul then explains how Christ did this (Colossians 2:11-15). Paul then says, "Therefore let no one act as your judge in regard to food or drink or in respect to festival or a new moon or a Sabbath day — things which are a mere shadow of what it is to come; but the substance belongs to Christ. Let no one keep defrauding you of your prize . . . and not holding fast to the Head” (Colossians 2:16-19a).

We are not required to keep such feasts and observe days (this would be like going back to elementary school even though we have graduated from college – see Galatians 4:9-11). Also, if we are required to observe these feasts, would that mean we would also need to perform animal sacrifices as Old Testament Israel did? Christ is the fulfillment of all the animal sacrifices as well.

Yet, having said this, there is wisdom in remembering and celebrating what God has done. If a Christian wants to set apart a day or some days that coincide with Israel's feasts, that would be fine. But we must never make it obligatory for ourselves or others.

Return to Doug's Virtual Office