Bringing traditions under the lordship of Christ

By J. Michael Feazell

We're nearing the start of a new cycle in our annual worship pattern. And as we do, we rejoice that our reasons for celebrating on these particular occasions are entirely different from what they were in previous years.

Our annual worship pattern includes festivals with historic roots in the worship forms and promises given by God to Israel. These festivals were given to Israel for Israel and never commanded for Christians.

Yet, the new covenant does not limit Christian worship to any specific days. This fact means that Christians are free to worship Jesus Christ anytime, anyplace--including on days given to Israel under the old covenant, as well as on any other day of the year.

It is helpful for us to understand that our history of celebrating certain of the festivals of Israel was rooted in a misunderstanding of what God requires of Christians. We believed that the festivals were commanded for Christians, which affected our approach to observing them.

We believed that we should strongly teach others that the festivals were commanded, so that they would not ultimately be punished for failing to keep them. We believed that people who called themselves "Christian" but did not keep the festivals were false Christians. We even believed that no person would finally be saved and allowed to enter the kingdom of God unless he or she at some point would begin to keep the festivals.

That belief kept us from understanding the true meaning of the gospel, which Paul called "the power of God for salvation for everyone who has faith" (Romans 1:16). It caused us to think that faith in Jesus Christ was not enough for salvation--that God required, in addition to faith in Christ, the observance of the old covenant days, which Paul said "are of no value in checking self-indulgence" (Colossians 2:23), before he would finally save a person.

The Holy Spirit has brought us to see that we must shed the legalism of our former practice. This can be done either by totally abandoning the festivals or by bringing the festivals totally under the lordship of Christ. In other words, we can either stop assembling on the festivals altogether, or we can use these traditional times of assembly as voluntary occasions for celebration and worship of our Lord and Savior.

We believe it is better for us to bring our traditions under the lordship of Christ.

Of course, shedding the legalism of our previous misunderstanding of the annual festivals requires some important changes in the way we look at the festivals. Let me list a few:

1) We need to keep firmly in mind that the festivals are not commanded for Christians. They are entirely voluntary.

2) We need to emphasize what the festivals actually foreshadowed: the grace of God revealed in the life, death, resurrection and return of his Son.

3) We need to abandon the idea that keeping the festivals makes us more faithful than not keeping them. That means we must not put guilt trips on members who do not attend the festivals.

4) We need to use the festivals first and foremost as opportunities to celebrate salvation through faith in Jesus Christ.

5) We need to realize that the plan of God--ordained from the foundation of the world--is his plan of human redemption and eternal life through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ (Ephesians 1:3-14; 3:8-12). Understanding that, we are able to see the weakness with our former idea that "only those who keep the Holy Days know the plan of God."

Observed as optional opportunities rather than as required assemblies, the annual festivals can be meaningful occasions to celebrate God's free gift of redemption and salvation through his Messiah, Jesus Christ our Lord, whom Paul calls the end, or fitting conclusion or goal, of the law of Moses (Romans 10:4).

The festivals of the old covenant were designed by God, after all, to find their fullness and completion in Jesus Christ (Colossians 2:16-17; Galatians 3:24).

Our annual worship cycle begins this year on Tuesday evening, April 2, when members will gather for the Lord's Supper (the New Testament Passover).

There are some similarities and parallels between the Lord's Supper and Israel's old covenant Passover meal. The Lord's Supper, however, is a unique new covenant institution introduced by Jesus. He shared it with his disciples the evening before beginning the ordeal of his arrest, trial, scourging and eventual crucifixion (1 Corinthians 11:23).

In our fellowship, we have chosen to partake of the Lord's Supper once a year on that same evening. Based on Jesus' commands, our memorial service includes taking bread and wine that we might abide in him and he in us (John 6:56).

Following the Lord's Supper, we celebrate our new life in Christ's resurrection (Colossians 2:12) in our Festival of Unleavened Bread. God gave the Festival by this name to Israel to remind them of their deliverance out of Egypt (Exodus 12:15-20; Numbers 33:3). We employ Israel's pattern of assembling on the first and seventh day of this Festival (Leviticus 23:7-8).

During the festival of Unleavened Bread we review its historic roots in Israel's national history. We note the parallels between the miracles God worked for Israel in the exodus event and the miracles of our deliverance and redemption through Jesus' death and resurrection.

The events in the history of the chosen nation of Israel vividly foreshadow how God would, by grace through Jesus Christ, call men and women of all nations and races to salvation (1 Corinthians 10:11).

A tradition we have incorporated in rehearsing these parallels is a special meal on the evening at the beginning of the first day of Unleavened Bread. We have called this evening the "Night to Be Much Observed," based on the phrase in the King James Version of Exodus 12:42: "It is a night to be much observed unto the Lord for bringing them [Israel] out from the land of Egypt: this is that night of the Lord to be observed of all the children of Israel in their generations."

This is the evening God commanded Israel to eat the Passover. (This year it falls on April 3.) This Passover meal should not be confused with the Lord's Supper, which we partake of the previous evening. The Lord's Supper, though related to the old covenant Passover, is a new observance. Christians are not bound to eat the old covenant meal. In the church today, assembly on the night of Israel's Passover, or the "night to be much observed," is entirely optional.

Decades ago the Worldwide Church of God decided to gather on the evening of Israel's Passover for a communal meal. At certain times, entire congregations gathered in one place. I remember the years when most members in the Pasadena congregations, together with the entire Ambassador College student body, gathered on the college tennis courts for a potluck meal. It was an exciting, fun evening with an outdoor meal and fellowship.

As the gathering grew too large for the tennis courts, the celebration was moved to small groups gathered in members' homes. In recent years, members have met in homes, restaurants and meeting halls for potlucks or catered meals.

We now realize that assembly on this night is not commanded for Christians. Members who wish to continue the practice, however, can use it as another opportunity to celebrate our salvation in Christ, noting the parallels with what God did for Israel on this historic night.

A careful study of the events surrounding Israel's exodus from Egypt shows that Israel kept the sacrificial lambs until the 14th of Nisan, the first month (Exodus 12:6a). The lambs were killed late that day (Exodus 12:6b). Israel then roasted the slaughtered lambs into the night beginning the 15th of Nisan, eating them later the same night.

At about the same time as Israel killed their Passover lambs, Jesus gave his life as a sacrifice for us (John 19:31-34). Later that evening, as the 15th began, the slain Lamb of God was laid in his tomb (John 19:31, 42).

On the night of the 15th, God had directed the death angel to "pass over" Israel's homes (Exodus 12:12-13). In the late hours the same night, early in the morning before sunrise (Exodus 12:22; Deuteronomy 16:1), God led Israel to begin her triumphant journey out of Egypt.

The blood of the slain lambs painted on Israel's doorposts was symbolic of the blood of Christ that delivers us from an eternity of death (1 Peter 1:18-19). Moreover, Israel's exodus foreshadowed the deliverance we have through Jesus Christ out of the worst slavery of all--slavery to the dominion of sin and death.

In other translations of Exodus 12:42, the "night to be much observed" (KJV) is called "a night of watching unto the Lord" (Jewish Publication Society), "a night when the Lord kept watch" (New Berkeley Version), and a night when "the Lord kept vigil" and therefore "all the Israelites are to keep vigil" (New International Version, see also New Revised Standard Version).

This was a special night in the history of the nation. It was a night in which God "kept watch," acting on their behalf in a dramatic way. Israel was to "keep watch" as well, remembering what God had done for them that night and during the ensuing day (Exodus 13:3).

For those who choose to gather for a meal on this "night of watching" to remember what God did in delivering Israel and, above all, to rejoice in what Jesus, our Passover, has done in saving us, we offer the following suggestions to expand and refine our tradition, making the evening a more appropriate and fitting Christian celebration:

* Celebration meal. Options include gathering in a home for a potluck or catered meal. Others may choose to assemble in a private room in a restaurant or together as a larger group in a rented hall. Though the forms may vary, the goal is to make this a special meal in a relaxed and joyful setting.

* Reaching up. It's appropriate that the groups gathered that evening feel free to participate in worshipful activities to honor God and heighten the celebratory mood of the evening.

As redeemed children of God, we naturally appreciate and enjoy the chance to celebrate the salvation we have in Jesus Christ. The group could join in singing hymns of praise. Scriptures celebrating our salvation in Christ and recounting God's deliverance of Israel could be read aloud. Prayers of thanksgiving could be offered by one or more volunteers.

A particularly meaningful tradition some have followed on this night is taking time during dinner to recount how God entered our lives and brought us to saving faith in Jesus Christ. This is a wonderful tradition.

And this is an especially good opportunity on the evening just following the Lord's Supper for us to share our stories of how Christ came into our lives, redeemed and changed us, and in so doing to honor and praise our Lord and Savior.

(As you know, it is surprising how many of us tended to recount how we came into "the truth" by explaining how we came to the knowledge of the Sabbath, the Holy Days and Mr. Armstrong, instead of how we came to saving faith in Jesus Christ.)

* Reaching in. As we celebrate on this evening or anytime, let's remember the value of celebrations and traditions for our children. Their enjoyment of the night can be heightened by letting them take part in arranging special decorations, including them in the singing, having them perform short dramatic presentations relating to biblical events and providing them with favorite foods and small gifts.

Let's also remember those not able to share the meal with us. Food from the meal could be taken to home-bound members in the area.

* Reaching out. This is also a night for reaching out to those who are not members of our fellowship. Jesus died for all, and this night is an opportunity to extend the hand of friendship. We can invite nonmember mates, family members and friends who might enjoy gathering with us.

Having a celebration dinner the night following the Lord's Supper, on the eve before our first Unleavened Bread worship service, can be a joyful way to enhance our celebration of Jesus' victory over sin and death (1 Corinthians 15:57).

He is the Lamb of God (John 1:29). Jesus died for us and is now alive, living in us and making intercession for us (Hebrews 7:25). We have so much to rejoice in, and this tradition provides another opportunity for us to do so together.

Have a joyous festival season!

J. Michael Feazell is Church Administration director.

Copyright © Worldwide Church of God,1996