Keeping the Biblical Holidays is Worship (The Best Reason to Celebrate the Biblical Holidays)

In this post we will talk about the primary reason that Bible believers today are called to keep the Biblical holidays such as Passover, Shavuot, and Tabernacles. These are holidays that were created by God and given to his people in Scripture passages such as Deuteronomy 16, and Leviticus 23. Christians should take part in these for one very compelling reason.

In the past we have talked about many reasons to take part in the feasts and holidays. Reasons like the Bible says so, Jesus did, the Disciples did, and that they can be very spiritually enriching are all legitimate and worthy reasons to stop and remember and celebrate these special times...but they are not the full story. There is more.

What is the best reason to celebrate the Biblical holidays?

It's because keeping the Biblical holidays is worshipping the Living God.

There is no better reason to take part in them. Each holiday is a time when we are collectively called, as the community of God's people, to join together in worship, as we remember the faithfulness of YHWH. We are called to remember his mighty acts that took place on the Bible holidays.

At Passover, the Messiah laid his life down for us. And thousands of years earlier, God freed the Israelites from slavery in Egypt. Taking part in the Bible holidays is about remembering these saving acts (along with many others!) and giving thanks for them. We take part in the holidays to remind ourselves that YHWH does miracles and cares for us. We worship at these times, because he is worthy.

Yes, worship is something we should do daily. But Scripture specifically calls - even commands - us to do so especially during the Biblical holidays. By taking part in Passover, Unleavened Bread, First Fruits, Shavuot, Trumpets, Yom Kippur, and the Feast of Tabernacles we show our allegiance and obedience to God. This is worship.

It's worship to center our lives around the times YHWH says to.

It's worship to take time off work and to step back from household duties to have time to remember the miracles God has done throughout history.

It's worship to gather with others in honor of the Messiah, to give thanks for what he has done in our lives.

It's worship to make plans and prepare a special meal when the Bible says to.

It's worship to read Scripture and to bless God and to sing praises on the Biblical holidays.

Part of what it means to bear God's image is to celebrate the things that he does, and he celebrates these holidays!

Bible holidays are for Bible believers...because Bible believers are called to lives of worship.

More about the Biblical holidays:

Why the Biblical Holidays are for All Believers
Why I Started Celebrating the Biblical Feasts
The Beginner's Guide to the Biblical Holidays
Why You Should Keep the Biblical Holidays

Syncretism - What the Bible Says about Mixing Beliefs

Today we are going to be talking about syncretism. Do you know what this is? Syncretism is defined as: 

-the amalgamation, or the attempted amalgamation, of different religions, cultures, or schools of thought
-the combination of different forms of belief or practice
-incorporating pagan customs into the faith of the Bible

Just reading the definition of the word may be like flipping on a light switch for you. For most of my life it had never really crossed my mind that faith practices or beliefs could be combined, never mind that my own beliefs might be mixed with ideas not found in Scripture. Syncretism is mixing the word of YHWH with anything besides it. This is a big problem for us because while YHWH gives life, nothing else can.

What does Scripture say about mixing beliefs?

"You are not to worship YHWH in the way those nations worship their gods." -Deuteronomy 12:4

"Do not learn the ways of the nations." -Jeremiah 10:2

"When you pray, don't do so like the foreigners." -Matthew 6:7


These passages show that YHWH doesn't want us picking up ideas, customs, traditions, or beliefs from anyone besides himself. No matter how popular or 'nice' the practice may be, if it is not found in Scripture we are told not to take part. Unfortunately most sects of faith claiming to be based on Scripture have mixed in many customs and practices of foreign origin. (Please note that 'foreign' is used to denote things foreign from Scripture, not your nationality or traditions.) Examples of this would be mixing the ancient and ungodly customs of Christmas with the Biblical story of the birth of the Messiah. Or moving Sabbath worship and rest from the seventh day of the week to the first. Or using an image or statue as part of a worship service. Indeed there are a host of ideas not found in Scripture being welcomed into the Christian church today. We are expressly told not to combine YHWH's instructions on how to live with customs from other cultures. This mixing has lead many people away from the truth.

Mixing worship of the Living God with things he said not to do is syncretism and it is wrong. We are not allowed to worship however we please (see for example, the trouble the Israelites got themselves into with the golden calf incident), and that still applies to us today. The Messiah taught this with his words in Matthew telling us not to pray in the customs of other religions. It is important that we take these instructions seriously, and honestly evaluate our habits, beliefs, and practices in the light of Scripture. Are my beliefs consistent with what Scripture says? Do my daily life choices - from how I treat others, to what I eat, to what holidays I celebrate - reflect how Scripture says I should be living? Or does my lifestyle have more in common with the culture around me? Am I intentionally living in a way that honors YHWH's word? These are hard questions, but they are worth asking so that we can make the changes we need to. We are to be completely obedient to following his ways. In John 14:15 the Messiah tells us that if we love him we will keep his commands. Not his commands mixed with the ways of the nations.