Proving God's Holy Days

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Proving God's Holy Days

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Christmas. Easter. Saint Patrick's Day. Halloween. Palm Sunday. Lent. Saint Valentine's Day. Devil's Day. Good Friday. These are some of this world's annual holidays and observances. While many of them began as mainstream Christian practices, in time they evolved to a point where they are generally accepted throughout all of society. Some of them are even based on half-truths synthesized from the Bible, but upon closer examination, we find they are infested with elements of pagan worship and the influence of Satan himself.

Today, God blesses Christians by gifting us the understanding that we are to worship Him on the days He appoints, as a part of His Holy Day Plan (for more information and a descriptive list of these occasions, please read God's Holy Day Plan: The Promise of Hope for All Mankind). But how can you defend God's Plan in a vast and enormous world that seems bent against Him? Do you know where to look in the Bible? What evidence can you provide? Can you prove God's Holy Days?

Commanded by God

The simplest response we can give when asked why we observe different days than the world is to plainly say that God commands that these days be kept. We can also add that the holidays of this world, like Christmas and Easter, are found nowhere in the Bible. Of course, it is good to know where in the Bible this command is made.

The following is recorded in Leviticus 23:1-2: “And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 'Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them: ‘The feasts of the Lord, which you shall proclaim to be holy convocations, these are My feasts’” (NKJV, emphasis added). You might point out that God says these are His feasts, not solely Jewish or obsolete! Verse 3 mentions the Sabbath, which we are also to keep, and the remainder of the chapter tells us of God's annual Holy Days. Notice in the final verse, where God again affirms they are "the feasts of the Lord" (v. 44). Like Him, they are eternal.

The Example of Paul

Upon bringing up this evidence, many following mainline Christianity will argue that the Law was "done away with", and thus we have no need to keep these "Old Testament" days (for more on this topic, consider read The New Covenant: Does it Abolish God's Law). To avoid getting into a very in-depth, detailed, and gritty debate discussing the validity of this claim, you can instead simply cite the example of the early apostles, and even Jesus Himself – all written down for us in the words of your Bible!

Paul stated clearly in Acts 24:14 that he believed "…all things which are written in the Law and in the Prophets." This includes the Holy Days of Leviticus 23! Paul's statement is repeated in the next chapter, saying he did not offend at all "against the law of the Jews" (Acts 25:8) His fervent observance of what much of modern Christianity considers "Old Covenant" continued on to the Holy Days. Paul speaks of his strong desire to keep these feasts with the brethren in Jerusalem (Acts 18:21, Acts 20:16). Finally, Luke, the author of Acts and a gentile, references the Day of Atonement as "the Fast", as observers afflict themselves with fasting on that day (Acts 27:9).

The Messiah Keeps the Holy Days

What about the very Son of God? We find that Jesus Christ Himself kept these days! Luke 2:41-42 tells us that He kept the feast of Passover - not Easter - from His youth. He did this more than once, twice, or three times, but "every year"! The apostle John gives Christians a stunning account of Christ risking His own life to travel to Jerusalem for the fall festival where, during the middle of that Feast of Tabernacles, He stood up to teach at the Temple (John 7:1-19). Much later, John encouraged early Christians to "walk just as He [Jesus] walked" (1 John 2:6). If we are to be true followers of Christ, then we should imitate Him in this too, and keep His feasts.

It is good for Christians to be prepared to answer the questions and concerns of others, and to offer a defense of one's beliefs when called upon. Jesus comforts those of us in such a situation with these words: "When you are arrested, don't worry about how to respond or what to say. God will give you the right words at the right time" (Matthew 10:19, NLT). Being arrested surely brings more stress than questions from friends, teachers, or coworkers!

Remember God's special feasts, their meaning, and how God commands that we keep them. Recall the inspiring examples of Christ and His early followers as they worked to keep these days. Pray to God to ask for guidance in what to say and to calm your anxieties. He will be with you, and with Him, you can prove God's Holy Days.