HOLIDAYS AND THE CHURCH

Traditionally, the churches of Christ do not incorporate cultural festivities or man-made religious holidays into the worship service. In order to maintain the church’s first-century identity and biblical authority, the churches of Christ do not go “above [beyond] that which is written” (1 Cor. 4:6). The church only includes those actions in worship that God has ordained in Scripture because the worship service is not about what Christians want to offer God; it is about what God has asked of His followers to offer (Col. 3:17; John 4:23,24; Rev. 22:18,19). Worship is about what God wants, and not about Christians trying to modernize and entertain the masses in order to bring in a huge crowd and look successful to all the other churches in the community. When believers become entangled in the worldly image of success, they forget what the church is really about and often start incorporating activities and themes that distract from the true purpose of the church, which is bringing glory to God in the way He has commanded (1 Sam. 15:22; 2 Tim. 4:3–5; 1 Cor. 11:17; 1 Cor. 14:23–24; Eph. 1:6).

One of the ways in which churches allow the world to distract them from the focus of worship is through the incorporation of cultural, religious holidays. Church leaders are put under a lot of pressure to do what all the other churches in the community are doing when certain holidays come around, like Easter, Christmas, or any cultural holiday that the world has given a religious theme. The community and sometimes the congregants expect social activities and worship themes hosted by the church that focus on the holiday at hand. Christians want to bring their friends, grandkids, children, relatives, etc…. to these events. Many use these events as a way to encourage their family and friends, who wouldn’t normally come to worship, to visit the church. So, when the church fails to hold such events and services, the members may feel let down or even annoyed. – While the elders and church leaders are not under any mandate to please the masses or do what all the other churches are doing, the temptation and pressure is still there.

Certain questions need to be asked when deciding on certain holiday-related actions because if the questions are not asked it can be easy for churches and individual Christians to lose the biblical focus of the church.

Firstly, do we understand the nature of a holiday?

The word “holiday” is actually a combination of two words, “holy” and “day.” The meaning of “holy” is often defined by the culture in which a person lives. However, the ancient Biblical culture gives us a very specific perspective on this unique word. The word “holy” is used several times in Scripture, and if one is using the same word God used, then it would be defined as to be set apart for a specific purpose (Jeff Benner, Ancient Hebrew Lexicon (College Station, TX. Virtualbookworm.com Publishing Inc., 2005), 433. chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5653860ce4b0a1d6c2d24e2a/t/57d351fb03596e4e5be088c6/1473466881397/ahlb.pdf). There are times when aspects of moral righteousness or Godly devotion are connected to the meaning of “holy”. Nevertheless, on its own, the original usage of holiness does not refer to piety or perfection.

Using the definition as established, observers can now safely say that their homes contain a few holy objects. If someone owns a tea pot that is only used for guests––it is not for coffee nor for everyday use––by definition, the person has a “holy tea pot.” A special day of celebration set apart for someone’s birthday or anniversary is technically considered a holiday by the original usage of the word. When the church has a special day each month to host a fellowship meal, or singing night, that day/event is a holiday by definition. If the church sets aside a week each year for a gospel meeting, tent meeting, or summer series, then that event is a church holiday or a religious holiday, at least in the way God would use the term.

This is why God calls the church his “holy nation;” Christians are a “peculiar” or special people called out away from the world to be reserved for God (1 Peter 2:4–9).

Secondly, is it Scriptural for Christians to participate in holidays?

Paul explains to the church in Colosse, “Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days” (Col. 2:16). The first century Christians had the right to keep their cultural “holydays,” so long as they understood that such observances were not to lead them away from the truth and spoil them “through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ” (Col. 2:8). They had to understand that observing their cultural traditions, even if it had religious undertones, would not save them or make any difference to their salvation. Many Christians converted from cultural backgrounds associated with Judaism or paganism. As such, most Christians felt a conscience pull to maintain certain activities, and God gives them the right, so long as they are not led back into the sinfulness of Judaism or paganism (Gal. 4:8–11).

These holidays can be fun-family traditions and enjoyment for the whole family, but they should never become something that leads people to sinfulness. If hunting Easter eggs leads Christians into idolatry, then don’t have one. If dressing up for Halloween in a fall festival leads Christians into Satanism, then don’t do it. If having a Christmas party leads members into false doctrine, then don’t have one.

Christians have a biblical right to esteem certain days above another whether birthdays, religious holidays, or anniversaries (Rom. 14:5). They may create these special days or they may choose to participate in cultural traditions. However, the activities associated with those esteemed days should never be sinful or cause one to be pulled away from Christ (Rom. 14:6).

Christians often say, “We don’t celebrate Christmas and Easter as religious but we observe it as secular.” They mean that to create special/holy days in order to highlight God’s teachings is fine, but to say that God consecrated a specific day as holy, and He wants us to celebrate it, then you need Scripture for it (Col. 3:17).

Does the activity cause divisions in the church?

While Christians have a right to participate and celebrate cultural, family fun days, they do not have the right to bind the observance on others (1 Cor. 8:9–13; Rom. 14:1–4). Christians are not suppose to judge each other for participating in holidays or not participating in holidays, so long as the activities are not inherently sinful or causing people to be led into false doctrine and sinfulness. However, some Christians are offended by such observances, and they may not understand why or even be able to explain it, but it bothers their conscience. Sometimes people are so bothered by cultural traditions or holidays that they will leave the church if they see the congregation start to participate in it.

Don’t divide the church over something as silly as an Easter Egg hunt (Rom. 14:15). If the congregation as a whole has no problem with filling plastic eggs with candy and hiding them in the grass for children to find, then go for it! However, if the eldership decides that participating in the activity is not good for the congregation as a whole, then Christians need to be understanding about it and don’t talk bad about the church’s eldership or go on Facebook throwing a hissy fit.

If wearing a Christmas tie is going to cause divisions in the church, then don’t do it. If wearing red on Valentine’s Day or green on St. Patrick’s Day is going to cause divisions in the church or lead new converts into denominationalism, then don’t do it. As Paul reminds Christians, “So then let us follow after things which make for peace, and things whereby we may edify one another. Overthrow not for meat’s sake the work of God. All things indeed are clean; howbeit it is evil for that man who eateth with offence. It is good not to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor to do anything whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak” (Rom. 14:19–21 [ASV]).––Don’t upset the church and create divisions just because you want to take a stand against those in the congregation who are offended by putting up a Christmas wreath in the church lobby.

If a brother or a sister is offended by what the elders or the collective body has done in a church event or worship service, splitting the church or attacking people without taking the time to consider the situation is not the way to handle the confrontation. The offended must give his/her brethren the benefit of the doubt (1 Cor. 13:5), treat them with kindness and love (Matt. 5:44), take time to go to them and hear them out with the true intent to understand their thinking and action (Gal. 6:1–2; John 7:24). Follow the pattern Christ laid out in His teachings for conflict resolution (Matt. 18:15–17). Understand that with what judgment one bestows, the same will be measured back to the aggressor in judgment (Matt. 7:1–2; James 2:13). Whether the offended approaches publickly (Gal. 2:11,14) or privately (Acts 18:25–26), he/she must always stay humble remembering that the goal is to restore and reconcile (Col. 3:13; Col. 4:6; Titus 1:13; James 5:19–20).––No one is above misunderstanding or being wrong. Just because someone is offended doesn’t mean he/she is right.

Is the specific activity in violation to the Law of Christ?

Is there anything inherently sinful about painting eggs? No. Is there anything fundamentally sinful about decorating a tree? No. Is there anything intrinsically sinful about putting candles on a birthday cake and blowing them out? No. Is there anything innately sinful about dressing up as Elvis and going around asking for candy? No. So why do these things bother certain Christians? It is because of people’s personal association with these actions on certain days. They associate painting eggs and decorating trees with paganism, denominationalism, or perhaps some other source of worldliness. They may associate Halloween with Satanism, St. Patrick’s Day with Catholicism, etc… Essentially, they have a “scruple” (Rom. 14:1 [ASV]).

Scruples are not opinions. People get to choose their opinions, they don’t choose their scruples. Sometimes, because the way a person was reared or their cultural background, they can’t help but associate certain actions with certain ideas. They cannot dis-associate dressing up for Halloween with Satanism. They cannot dis-associate Christmas trees with paganism. It is not in their conscience to separate those two things. Thus, a scruple.

Paul tells the church in Corinth not to eat the meat that was offered to idols, not because there is anything wrong with eating meats offered to idols but because doing so is offending the babes in Christ who see the action as supporting idolatry (1 Cor. 8). The Christians who converted from idolatry in Corinth could not dis-associate buying meats that were offered to an idol from idolatry.

Again, if the action leads people into sinfulness or offends their weak conscience, then don’t put that action in front of them, but if the action doesn’t offend the church and the action is not a violation of the Law of Christ, then people have no right to forbid the action on the church.

Does the church maintain its separation from worldliness?

Paul wrote to the church in Corinth explaining that the Lord’s church must maintain their distinction from the world. God doesn’t want Christians sounding and acting like all the other false teachers in the world. Paul wrote,

Be not unequally yoked with unbelievers: for what fellowship have righteousness and iniquity? or what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what portion hath a believer with an unbeliever? And what agreement hath a temple of God with idols? for we are a temple of the living God; even as God said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore Come ye out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, And touch no unclean thing; And I will receive you.

2 Corinthians 6:14–17

Does this mean that if denominations go through the door, then Christians have to go through the window? No. If God gives Christians the authority to certain actions, then they can do them. If there is nothing inherently wrong with the secular activities, then the church should not fear losing its identity. Christians can have an Easter Egg hunt and a Christmas party and still teach the plan of salvation that is nowhere else taught in Christendom. However, if the church is being led into liberalism and false doctrine, then maybe it is time to start re-evaluating those cultural activities.

Let’s remember that most people in the church have no idea where certain holiday traditions started. Honestly, most Christians don’t care about the origin of the holiday, they just want to have fun with their families. They want their kids to do the same fun activities they did as kids. These traditions often act as bridges for the generation gap, pulling people together for fun activities no matter their age. For many Christians, these traditions have nothing to do with paganism, idolatry, or denominationalism. They are in no danger of falling into paganism or denominationalism. Just because a holiday has pagan roots or was started by some denomination, does not mean that Christians are in danger of becoming pagans or denominationalists for their participation.

Cultural re-appropriation is very real in American society. Many things in American society has pagan roots. Research things like wedding rings, the names of the days of the week, fairy tales, and one will find many roots in paganism and worldliness. However, through the years, society has taken these things and made them into something else. No longer do these things lead Americans into paganism, but they are simply enjoyed as American traditions. They have become a part of the society’s cultural heritage. Most people participate daily in activities that have pagan and denominational roots, but have no idea because society no longer makes those associations.   

Not all churches around the world do fellowship meals or host Friends and Family Days, but being in the American South, it has become a cultural tradition. Many churches in different denominations practice such activities. In fact, most all church buildings in the South have fellowship halls. Does this mean that the church has lost it’s separation from worldliness because it participates in a cultural tradition? NO!

It is possible to participate in the holidays while maintaining a mindful separation from worldliness.  

Is the church using entertainment to convert the lost?

It wasn’t uncommon for Paul to capitalize on cultural traditions that emphasized Christian values as a way of reaching the lost (1 Corinthians 9:20–23).

Individual congregations may have traditions and fun family events that they do every year that bring no offense to anyone in the congregation, and they use them to bring people today in hopes that they can invite friends and family to the church as a stepping stone before they come for worship service. Sometimes having fun together with people can relax them and help them feel more comfortable around the church, so they will study with the church and visit the church for Bible class and worship service.

Paul does something similar to this in his mission trips and in teaching the brethren how to reach the lost. Luke records in Acts 16:3: “Him would Paul have to go forth with him; and took and circumcised him because of the Jews which were in those quarters: for they knew all that his father was a Greek.” Paul circumcises Timothy so that Timothy wouldn’t be rejected by the Jews in their assembly. He encourages Timothy to conform to cultural practices when trying to reach out to the Jews. Paul likewise writes,

But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God. Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonoureth his head. But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered dishonoureth her head: for that is even all one as if she were shaven. [vs. 16] But if any man seem to be contentious, we have no such custom, neither the churches of God.

1 Corinthians 11:3-5, 16

Paul advises the Christian women in Corinth to cover their heads as was the cultural tradition to do so in that city so Christians could reach out to people in the city without offending them.

Paul only did this when the situation called for it. At other times, Paul came down hard on the Jewish Christians for trying to bind their religious cultural traditions on the Greek Gentiles. He refused to circumcise Titus because the Jews in that area would have interpretated his actions as binding the Mosaic Law (Gal. 2:1–3). Sometimes Christian must consider the situation at hand before participating in cultural traditions. In some situations, it may do more harm than good in trying to reach the lost.

Christians should not use entertainment to convert people; evangelists are commanded to use the Word to convert people (1 Peter 1:23–25). However, the church can use cultural traditions and social activities in order to meet new people and help the community socialize with the church members. Many non-Christians think that if they step into the church’s building Christians will start damning them to hell and throw snakes at them. Some will not come to a worship service, but they might come to a fish fry, or they might come with their kids to an egg hunt to observe the actions of the church and see how friendly the brethren will be to them. Christians want their community to see friendly people who just want to study the Bible with them.

Brethren using the building to get together for a cultural egg hunt to help the community socialize with the church is no different than the brethren using the building to host a birthday party, anniversary, family Thanksgiving meal, baby shower, bridal shower, Rotary meeting, Al-Anon meeting, fish fry, fall festival, pot luck, crawfish boil, etc…––The church is using cultural activities to help the community socialize with the brethren.

Can we incorporate secular holidays into the worship?

When worshippers start including commandments and traditions of men in the worship service as if it is doctrinal and part of God’s commandments, then they make worship about themselves, and it stops becoming about God.––Matthew 15:9: “But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.”

The worship service is about what God wants and not about what the worshippers want to offer. Christ explains, “But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth” (John 4:23–24). God demands that Christians worship “in spirit” (from their emotions in sincerity) and “in truth” (John 17:17: “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.”).––Christians worship from what God said in the Word and from a sincere heart.

It didn’t work out too well for Nadab and Abihu in Leviticus chapter 10 when they offered up fire before the Lord “which he commanded them not” (Lev. 10:1). God never said they couldn’t offer up that type of fire, but God didn’t command the fire that Nadab and Abihu offered up before the Lord, so God killed them for it.

Christian teachers can preach on lessons and Bible verses that may be on people’s mind during certain times of the year. Worshippers can sing spiritual songs that may be situationally relevant to the members, as long as it is biblical, and they “let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord” (Col. 3:16).

Christians can use the acts of worship that God commands to focus on cultural situations, but they cannot add or take away from the acts of worship that God commands!––Learning this difference is part of studying the Bible! As long as the church is not changing the worship service into what they want, violating God’s law, or offending people, then they can do it. In all situations faithful followers must consider the context, if what they are doing is putting more focus on the holiday than on the commandments of God then worship becomes about what they want and not what God said.

If the congregation brings something into the worship that distracts from God and His commandments because it is fun and holiday forward, then they make worship about what they want rather than what God said.

REMEMBER NADAB AND ABIHU, just because God didn’t say we can’t do it, doesn’t mean He wants it offered up to Him in worship!

God judges the heart, so WHY you set aside certain days and WHY you bring cultural aspects into the service is the determining factor in how you will be judged (1 Sam. 15; 1 Cor. 5:10).––Is it truly a matter of expediency? Are you trying to be like the worldly churches around you or are you changing worship just because you like it better? (1 Cor. 6:12).

Christians do not have the biblical authority to institute religious holidays that all churches MUST observe officially (Matt. 28:18; Col. 3:17). If God does not authorize the celebration or activity as something that is to be observed religiously, then Christians cannot force churches and their brethren to observe the holiday (1 Peter 4:11).

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