Dear brethren,

Why do the churches of this world reject the festivals of the Bible?  Not only are the feasts of God rejected, but pagan holidays have been instituted from ancient times as a counterfeit of the truth.

Scriptures clearly show the Holy Days in Leviticus 23, and the example of Jesus keeping the feasts is part of the Biblical narrative.  The apostles and the early church kept the Passover, Feast of Tabernacles and other holy days.  Even so, mainstream religion has turned a blind eye to what the Bible has instructed.

The apostle Paul shows the human tendency in Rom. 8:7 "Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be."

The problem stems from carnal human nature which causes the typical person to reject God.  Most do not by nature obey God, and that has been the way it has been since Adam and Eve.

In the Garden of Eden Adam rejected God's leadership and chose to decide for himself what was right and wrong through experimentation. (Gen. 3:4-6)

When Israel came out of Egypt God gave them His holy laws.  However it simply wasn't in them to obey because they lacked the Holy Spirit.  Deut. 5:29 says, "Oh, that they had such a heart in them that they would fear Me and always keep all My commandments, that it might be well with them and with their children forever!"

The history of Israel was of a people who only obeyed God for a short time. They would turn from God and face sore trials, and then call out to God for help.  Many times God would rescue them by sending a judge to lead them.

 Ultimately Israel rejected God as King over them and wanted a king like all the other nations around them.  During the time of Samuel God said, "And the Lord said...Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee: for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them."  (I Sam. 8:7)

Later, after the death of Solomon, his young son Rehoboam became king. He unwisely threatened to place heavier tax burdens on Israel.  Israel split into two nations,  Israel to north with Jeroboam as king, and Rehoboam ruled the southern kingdom of Judah.

One of the first royal decrees King Jeroboam made is to change the keeping of the Feast of Tabernacles to the 8th month when God had commanded it be done the 7th month.  Jeroboam was afraid if people traveled to Jerusalem for the feast their hearts would be turned back.  Once again what God commanded was rejected and Jeroboam turned to his own humanly devised festival.

In NT times when Jesus came He chided the Pharisees by saying, "And in vain they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.' (Mat. 15:9)

I asked the question at the beginning, "Why do the churches reject the feasts."  

In reality we shouldn't be surprised humankind rejects God laws. (Rom. 3:10-11)  Unless a person's mind is opened, they cannot see the truth, and the majority of mankind are in this state.. (II Cor. 4:3-4, I Cor. 2:14)

The reason we see and want to keep the feasts is because God the Father drew us to Christ. (John 6:44) Our minds were opened to see the light of the glorious gospel.  The annual festivals reveal God's beautiful 7-Step plan of salvation for all mankind. 

Only those who are led by God's Holy Spirit will accept the truth God's festivals reveal.  Those who have surrendered to Jesus Christ are able to receive the converted mind of Christ.  We are challenged in scripture to have the "mind of Christ."  (Phil. 2:5, I Cor. 2:13-16)

We can be truly thankful for the mercy God has showed to us that we aren't resistant to the laws of God, but we want to walk in His ways!  We strive to follow  the example of our Savior Jesus Christ. (John 5:30, Mat. 7:21)

Please have a wonderful Sabbath!                          

Your friend and servant,                                                                     

Jim Tuck