should Christians celebrate the Feasts?

[DeanZF]

Without looking very far (always a dangerous thing to do), it seems that Helena's list is mostly accurate as to feasts. And Dave's comments are as always evocative and bring extra light to the subject.



Dave's comments in a different post include the title of one book that talks very well to the issue: calls them "Biblical Feasts". Pretty apt description. I like it!



Many feasts in the Jewish year are celebrated because of events found within the Word, but not all were established by the Lord. Purim & Hannukkah (in all of its varied spellings) are great examples of commemorative holidays. These could truly be called feasts of the Jews, where the Lord was rather specific about commanding the pilgrim feasts and noting that they were HIS feasts. And there are indeed the couple of corporate fasts, but I don't think that He designated those as "HIS fasts".



Speaking of commorations, one smarty-pants 5th grader asked me this year, "Does England have a Fourth of July?" Well, yes, of COURSE they do. Every country using this calendar has a Fourth of July, but they don't celebrate it as the Americans do. In the United States, that's when we celebrate our "Independence Day". God did not establish that commemorative holiday, but it is still very important to our culture and most of our citizens. Same with Purim & Hannukkah for the Jews world-wide.



The Sabbath is indeed one of the Lord's appointed feasts. First one on the list in Lev 23, actually. God's idea, not man's. And in a sense, these are feasts where God commemorates His actions. His first day of rest was on the 7th day, the Sabbath. He passed over the obedient, observant (and thus SAFE!!) Jews while they were in Egypt. He gave the Law and commemorates the giving with Shavuot or Pentecost. And of course, the fall feasts. The blowing of the horns, the day of atonement, and finally Sukkoth or Tabernacles. There are seven, but most get lumped together. That's another post or a google search. 8^)