Observing Religious Holidays

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Observing Religious Holidays

• What is allowed / forbidden in the observance of
  religious holidays?

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Many Religious Holidays
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Three Views

• Nothing Wrong
• We can observe them just like denominations do
• Personal Choice
• Not a church ritual
• But each individual can choose to observe as they
  choose
• All Observance Forbidden
• We must not acknowledge the day in any way

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Apply the Principles

• What does the Bible teach on this subject?
• Not a direct command in NT
• But we must apply the principles of NT
• Two Passages touch this matter
• Galatians 49-11
• Romans 145-7

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Galatians 49-11

• 9But now after you have known God, or rather are
  known by God, how is it that you turn again to
  the weak and beggarly elements, to which you
  desire again to be in bondage? 10You observe days
  and months and seasons and years. 11I am afraid
  for you, lest I have labored for you in vain.

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Examine Galatians 49-11

• Addressed to Jewish Christians
• Dont allow yourself to be enslaved with rituals
• DAYS Atonement, Sabbath
• MONTHS New Moon feasts
• TIMES Passover, Pentecost, Tabernacles, annual
  feasts
• YEARS Sabbath year, Jubilee year

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Examine Galatians 49-11

• Here is the message of these verses
• IF YOU CONTINUE TO OBSERVE ALL THESE JEWISH
  FESTIVALS TO WHAT WERE YOU CONVERTED?
• YOU HAVE RETURNED TO THE LAW OF MOSES AND AWAY
  FROM THE FREEDOM IN CHRIST

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Romans 145-7

• 5One person esteems one day above another
  another esteems every day alike. Let each be
  fully convinced in his own mind. 6He who observes
  the day, observes it to the Lord and he who does
  not observe the day, to the Lord he does not
  observe it. He who eats, eats to the Lord, for he
  gives God thanks and he who does not eat, to the
  Lord he does not eat, and gives God thanks. 7For
  none of us lives to himself, and no one dies to
  himself.

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Examine Romans 145-7

• Addressed to Gentile Christians
• Be assured in your mind
• You cannot bind on others
• They cannot bind on you
• Meat vs. Vegetarian Eat vs. Fast Observe vs.
  Ignore

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Examine Romans 145-7

• All of us bring along some baggage
• Each of us has different backgrounds, cultures,
  family customs, traditions
• What matters most is Is God praised in your
  actions?

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Examine Romans 145-7

• NOTE
• We are not alone in this life
• Consider each other feelings, background,
  customs, traditions
• DONT
• Force your views on others
• Allow others to force their views on you

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Conclusions

• Both Jews and Gentiles are condemned
• PRINCIPLE Do not bind on others what God has not
  bound!
• PRINCIPLE Individual liberty is allowed
• It must not conflict with NT teaching
• You may blow out candles, send cards, decorate
  trees, give gifts, have family for dinner, eat
  sloppy joes, sing songs, read the Bible, take a
  day off work

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Conclusions

• PRINCIPLE What these passages forbid is the
  BINDING
• Forcing others to observe your rituals
• Elders, deacons, song leader, minister
• OBSERVATION There are two dangers facing the
  church today
• Some seek to make rules that God did not make
• Others seek to ignore the rules that God did make

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Where are you?

• Some questions to ask yourself
• Do you demand that others observe your rituals,
  customs, or traditions?
• Do you make sure that God is glorified in how you
  observe each day of the year?
• God is the only one who can BIND His rules on
  you.
• Are you bound to obey the rules of God?