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| Volume 26 Number 4 April 2024 |
Page 16 |
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| Volume 26 Number 4 April 2024 |
Page 16 |
Louis Rushmore, Editor
At different times, readers of Gospel Gazette Online (www.GospelGazette.com) asked the following but related questions: “Can a Christian celebrate Easter?” and “Can Christians celebrate Christmas?” First, members of the Lord’s church agree that Christians ought not to observe religiously man-made holy days; Scripture is the basis of such a conviction. For instance, all that a child of God does religiously must be authorized by the Word of God. “And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him” (Colossians 3:17 NKJV).
Compare “open up in the name of the law” with “do all in the name of the Lord Jesus.” Assuredly, the former expression means to “open up by the authority of the law,” and the latter, biblical phrase, likewise, means “do all by the authority of the Lord Jesus.” Additional passages also confirm that “in the name of” refers to the authority of Jesus Christ. “But we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ…” (2 Thessalonians 3:6). “My brethren, take the prophets, who spoke in the name of the Lord” (James 5:10). Our Lord acknowledged that He possesses “all authority… in heaven and on earth” (Matthew 28:18).
Admittedly, however, our brethren disagree about a Christian’s acknowledgment of holidays (holy days) in a non-religious, secular way. Aside from the humanly fabricated religious origins and traditions attributed to Easter and Christmas, as national or international secular holidays, they are very much about Easter eggs, Easter bunnies, as well as Santa Claus, reindeer, gifts and giving. My late wife Bonnie grew up in a non-religious environment, and their only appreciation of Easter and Christmas was completely secular, along with all the commercialization that they enable. Easter and Christmas were for her family, and increasingly for many families, on par with New Year’s Eve, New Year’s Day, Valentine’s Day, St. Patrick’s Day, the 4th of July and Labor Day, among others. As such, they and many Christians, too, participate in the secular aspect of those occasions; my family does. We are no more drawn to the religious nature ascribed to Easter and Christmas by others than are we drawn to the historical origins of the named days of the week. “The names of the days of the week have a fascinating history, originating from a combination of celestial bodies and the deities of various mythologies…” (AI on the Internet).
I’m of the number who is not troubled by the secular observance of Easter and Christmas any more than I am troubled by the paganistic and historical background for the names of weekdays. Yet, I respect fellow Christians who differ with me in this matter and will conscientiously try to avoid offending them (Romans 14:20-21).
