Critical Analysis of the Holidays by various writers.
Edited & Emphasis by Jarvis Windom

WCG's Comment:

Bob Thiel wrote:

"WCG wrote: We have come to see that the Christian festivals are designed and geared to celebrate the life and saving work of Christ, while the seven annual festivals were designed and geared to celebrate the deliverance of Israel from slavery in Egypt.[1] Choices about symbols, order of meeting, styles of music and prayer forms, and choices about seasons and days, must be the responsibility of the local congregation under the pastor's guidance within the broad and general guidelines provided by the denomination and the regional offices. [2] A Christian annual worship calendar must...focus on...the incarnation, death, resurrection and return of Jesus Christ. [3]

None of these statements are supported in their respective articles by scripture. The "Christian festivals" are designated by WCG as "Easter and Christmas" [2] (though sometime they are referred to as "Resurrection Sunday" and the "Incarnation" [3]). Many of the symbols commonly associated with Christmas and Easter are never mentioned in the New Testament.

The Bible does, however, specifically condemn hot cross buns in conjunction with ancient Easter worship (Jer 7:18-note that the footnote in The Nelson Study Bible, p.1238 identifies that the "cakes for the queen of heaven" are for Ishtar), the religious use of decorated trees (Jer 10:2-4), and eastern sunrise worship (Ezk 8:15-16). When the religious leaders of Jesus' day said there were different ways to honor God regarding one of the commandments, Jesus did not concur, "...you have made the commandment of God of no effect by your tradition. Hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophecy about you, saying: 'These people draw near to Me with their mouth, And honor me with their lips, But their heart is far from Me. And in vain do they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men" (Mat 15:6-9).

When one takes a commandment or identified Holyday and make a "manly tradition", Christ calls you a Hypocrite.  A person can pollute a Holyday by giving it a Traditional Name with Ancient Customs.  The bible warns against following a Babylon led religion.

Worship on Christmas and Easter was never specifically enjoined in the Bible, so who "designed" these days? Christmas and Easter are of Babylonian origin [4,5]. The Bible warns against following a Babylon led religion (Rev 17-18). The Babylonia goddess Ishtar (from whence we derive the term Easter) was known by the name Astarte in the Semitic lands [4]. Christmas is essentially the Roman holiday of Saturnalia (which originated in Babylon) with other religious practices added to it [5,6]. To state that they were "designed and geared to celebrate the life and saving work of Christ" is without biblical or historical foundation. The choices of the days and the symbols associated with Christmas and Easter were originally incorporated into professing Christianity "within the broad and general guidelines provided by the denomination" as a political compromise [5,6]. Should this non-biblical practice continue?

Although there certainly are messages in the annual holy days which are "geared to celebrate the deliverance of Israel from slavery in Egypt", to state they were "designed" for this is not biblical. The New Testament clearly show the fulfillment of at least two of them points toward Jesus Christ and the Church. "For indeed Christ our Passover, was sacrificed for us. Therefore let us keep the feast, not with the old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth" (I Cor 5:7,8; NKJ throughout). "Now when the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place...And they were are filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance" (Acts 2:1,4). It should be noted if the holy days were "nailed to the cross" then Pentecost could not have "fully come". In addition, it appears that even Lot may have kept the Days of Unleavened Bread over 400 years before they are mentioned in the Book of Exodus, "Then he made them a feast, and baked unleavened bread" (Genesis 19:3). No he didn't make cakes for the queen of heaven.

WCG wrote: It was agreed and decided that the Worldwide Church of God will provide increased flexibility in worship by accepting the incorporation of the traditional Christian festivals into its annual worship calendar...A number of U.S. congregations have expressed their desire to celebrate only the Christian festivals and to no longer meet on the seven annual festivals...Celebration of any particular festival is not mandatory for membership, of course, Mr. Tkach continued. [1]

Agreed, it is not mandatory to celebrate any festival to be a member of the Worldwide Church of God. But what about being part of God's people who are spiritual Israel (Rom 9:6-9)? 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...For any person who is not afflicted in soul on that same day, that person I will destroy from among his people." (Lev 23:1-2,29; NKJ throughout).

It should be added that incorporating practices associated with pagan worship are condemned in the Bible, "do not inquire after their gods, saying, 'How did these nations serve their gods? I will do likewise'. You shall not worship the LORD your God in that way, for every abomination to the LORD which He hates they have done to their gods" (Deut 12:30-31). Some are condemned for making a pretence of honoring God while continuing in non-biblical worship, "They feared the LORD, yet served their own gods--according to the rituals of the nations from among whom they were carried away. To this day they continue practicing the former rituals; they do not fear the LORD, nor do they follow their statutes or their ordinances, or the law or the commandment which the LORD had commanded the children of Jacob...However they did not obey, but they followed their former rituals" (II Kings 17:33-34,40). Are not Christmas and Easter remnants of former non-biblical rituals?

Jesus kept the festivals of Lev 23 (Luk 22:7,15, Joh 7:37). Paul kept the festivals (I Cor 5:7,16:8;Acts 18:21,20:16, 27:9). Paul also wrote, "Therefore I urge you, imitate me" (I Cor 4:16). By not meeting for the  annual festivals, those congregations are not imitating Paul nor following Jesus. Some have heard but not understood..."Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever."  Paul wrote it in Heb 13:8.

WCG wrote: The fact is, some of our members worship on the annual holy days given to Israel for the wrong reasons: they believe it is a sin not to observe them. Many of these also believe it is a sin to worship during traditional Christian festivals. [2]

Of course many who follow the Bible would believe it is a sin to worship "during traditional Christian festivals". To imply that Christmas or Easter are biblically enjoined upon Christians is not true. But should a Commanded Holyday fall on a "traditional Christian Festival, is what could happen.  Notice that, "Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they have the right to the tree of life, and may enter the gates of the city. But outside are dogs and sorcerers and sexually immoral and murders and idolaters, and whoever loves and practices a lie" (Rev 22:14-15).

If Christmas was to be observed, wouldn't it seem that God would have at least told us what date Jesus was born? What is sin? "sin is lawlessness" (I Joh 3:4). "He who says, 'I know Him", and does not keep His commandments, is a liar and the truth is not in him. But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him" (2:4-5). "For the LORD will again rejoice over you for good as He rejoiced over your fathers, if you obey the voice of the LORD your God, to keep His commandments and His statutes which are written in this Book of the Law, and if you turn to the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul" (Deut 30:9-10).

Although traditions of men say that Jesus condemned the Pharisees for keeping the law, the opposite is true (click here for a related article about the Pharisees). Jesus said to them that "inside you are filled with lawlessness and hypocrisy" (Mat 23:28b). Actually, the Pharisees professed that they believed the Bible, but taught that their understandings (hermeneutics in modern terms) were more important than the literal commands in the Bible (Mk 7:8-9). This problem exists even to our day.

WCG wrote: God loves the worship of his people regardless of its cultural flavor and style. Our congregations do not need to have the same songbooks, the same musical instruments, the same style of body movement or even the same days on which we worship in order to united in Christ. [2]

"Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment" (I Cor 1:10). God loves the worship of His people in accordance with the truth, "the true worshiper will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship Him in spirit and truth" (Joh 4:23-24).

Cultural differences are acceptable (I Cor 9:22) if they do not include false/pagan worship practices (Deut 12:30-31). In much of the world, it is culturally easier to celebrate Christmas and Easter than it is to celebrate God's holy days. Such as Passover, Waive Sheaf Day, Feast of Weeks, etc.  But notice Jesus' words, "Enter in by the narrow gate; for wide is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it" (Mat 7:15). While most "traditional Christians" are aware that in I Cor 5:7b it teaches that "indeed Christ our Passover, was sacrificed for us", they do not seem to literally observe the verse that follows. "Therefore let us keep the feast, not with the old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth" (I Cor 5:8). Paul did not provide a "loophole" if it was not culturally convenient. The implication that the subject of the actual days to meet is a "cultural issue" (as opposed to a doctrinal issue) is not correct, nor is it consistent with biblical teachings or practices. Hence we can easily understand how to confuse the day Christ was resurrected and the day of His ascension, which are not the same day.  It would then be just as easy to Ignore the day,  the Holyday mentioned in Lev 23:9-14, because it might picture Christ the firstborn of many, or rather the firstfruit of firstfruits.

A similar argument was made in the same publication regarding weekly worship services last year [7] ; however, since this has already been discussed in September 25, 1998 issue of The Journal and can be accessed from www.thejournal.org/articles/issue8/thiel.html it will not be discussed further here.

WCG wrote: The traditional seven annual festivals may be celebrated on the nearest appropriate weekend. [3]

It is good then that Pentecost comes on Monday, because the Holy Spirit did not appear until that day was "fully come" (Acts 2:1). Jesus is coming on a day with a trumpet sound (I Thes 4:17), this may not be a weekend. The angel of God will bind Satan at the time God wants (cf. Rev 20:1-2), which also might not be a weekend.

Genesis 1:14 states, "Then God said, 'Let there be lights in the firmament of the heavens to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs and seasons, and for days and years' ". The Hebrew term translated as seasons does not mean Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter--it means religious festival seasons [8]. This word is used 2 other times in the Bible [8]: in Lev 23:4 where it is followed by the listing of the Holy Days and in Ps 104:19 which says God "appointed the moon for the seasons"--the Holy Days are marked by the moon (Lev 23), whereas Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter are determined by the sun. Since God appointed the moon for the purpose of determining the Holy Day seasons before creating humankind, how can anyone say it is acceptable to change them for convenience or cultural reasons?   Even Thiel makes the statement that the Holydays of God follow the moon.

Interestingly, the WCG does not say that the "Incarnation" [3] (also known as Christmas [2]) is to be celebrated on a weekend, which seems peculiar since much less is known regarding the precise day of Jesus' birth than which time to celebrate the Feasts of God (cf. Luk 1, Lev 23). On the other hand, it is interesting to note that although the resurrection did occur on a weekend, it did not occur on Sunday [9] (so naming it "Resurrection Sunday" seems peculiar). If they wanted to become more accurate, they would call it "Ascension Sunday".  Furthermore, in Deuteronomy 4:15-19, God tells the children of Israel He did not let them see Him so they would not have any reason to create any image of Him for worship purposes; similarly does it not make sense that since the Bible does not tell us to celebrate the birth of Christ, nor even give the date, that God does not want us to celebrate it?

WCG wrote: Annual worship calendar: Is there only one right way to worship God? [2]

This is the title of one of the WCG articles. However, "There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death" (Pr 12:12). "Do not learn the way of the Gentiles" (Jer 10:2). "And in vain they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men. For laying aside the commandment of God, you hold the tradition of men...All to well you reject the commandment of God that you may keep your own tradition" (Mk 7:7-9).

Christmas and Easter are of pre-Christian origin [5,6], they are not commandments of God; they are ways of the Gentiles which have become traditions of men. No one in the Bible ever is shown to have celebrated Christmas or Easter.

The only scriptural quotes in the Worldwide Church of God articles cited herein are from Romans chapter 14. What is Romans 14 about? Verses 1-4 are about vegetarianism and that even though Christians can eat meat, they should not judge those who do not. Verses 5-12 are about not being judgmental regarding personal fast days. The observance of holy days is not discussed.

Jude warned that, "For certain men have crept in unnoticed, who long ago were marked out for this condemnation, ungodly men who turn the grace of our God into licentiousness and deny the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ" (Jude 4). To be licentious means to be "unrestrained by law or morality, lawless...disregarding rules" [10]. Doesn't this suggest that Jude specifically warned that some men will talk about grace as an excuse to disregard God's rules? Might this also include those who want to be "unrestrained" from following God's annual worship calendar? Interestingly, Paul wrote, "for not the hearers of the law are just in the sight of God, but the doers of the law will be justified" (Rom 2:13). Paul, himself, was a holy day doer (I Cor 5:7,16:8;Acts 18:21,20:16, 27:9), "I must by all means keep this coming feast" (Acts 18:21).

Which are the annual worship days are commanded in the Bible? Obviously, the biblical holy days. Although much more could be said about them, the holy days picture God's plan of salvation. Many annual holy days point to Jesus Christ. Since Christmas and Easter were clearly designed by peoples who had no knowledge that there even would be a savior, how can it be stated that they were designed "to celebrate the life and saving work of Christ"? It is reasonable to conclude that they honor the traditions of men.

Should we set our own "annual worship calendar"? Well haven't we?  Or do we use the traditional Jewish Calendar?  Is the pocket calendar "the inspired calendar"?  Who are we to listen to? Since the word of God is profitable for doctrine (I Tim 3:16), perhaps we should learn from Peter and the other apostles' response to the religious leaders of their day, "We ought to obey God rather than men" (Acts 5:29). Or perhaps, Jesus who said, "My brothers are those who hear the word of God and do it" (Luk 8:21).   Will you? "