Christmas and New Year is that time of the year when everybody's spirits the world over are uplifted (usually because of being filled with spirits'). Regardless of which part of the world they come from, people celebrate the New Year albeit on different dates based on their culture. On the flip side however in a not so recent trend, some Churches and Christian groups across the world have been calling their members and all true Christians to not celebrate New Year at all. What do we make of this?
When the Lord walked with Israel, He commanded Moses saying the following: The Lord said to Moses, "Give the following instructions to the people of Israel. On the first day of the appointed month in early autumn, you are to observe a day of complete rest. It will be an official day for holy assembly, a day commemorated with loud blasts of a trumpet. You must do no ordinary work on that day. Instead, you are to present special gifts to the Lord." (Leviticus 23:23-25 NLT)
This month was called Tishri, which falls during the months of September and October; it is also the first month on the Jewish civil calendar. It signifies the time of the year when summer was over, the harvest had been gathered and the fall season had begun. This first day of Tishri was Israel’s New Year celebration, "a memorial of blowing of trumpets, a holy convocation." Jewish tradition states that this is the birthday of Adam; many Biblical scholars agree that this was also the actual birthday of Christ, the "last Adam." So it is remarkable that on this day, as the trumpets were blown all day long in Jerusalem many years ago, little did anyone know except a few humble shepherds, that not far away in Bethlehem the true King of kings was born.
What is more interesting though is the fact that this and the other six festivals that the Lord commanded the Israelite's to observe are in fact referred to as festivals / feasts of the Lord. "Speak to the people of Israel and say to them, these are the appointed feasts of the Lord that you shall proclaim as holy convocations; they are my appointed feasts." (Leviticus 23: 2 ESV) The Hebrew word used for feasts is 'mo'edim', which means "appointed times" or "appointments." Therefore celebrating these appointments is saying that God has set up these appointments with us and so we rejoice in Him! Further, the Hebrew word for convocation is 'miqra', which means "a rehearsal". God gave the festivals to be annual "rehearsals" of the major future events in His redemption plan of mankind.
Finally, not just are we celebrating the Lord, we are celebrating the life we enjoy in Him; encouraging each other to live better lives for Him. As Hebrews tells us, "Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near." (Hebrews 10:24-25 NLT) As the world around us worsens, we desperately need to encourage and be accountable to other like-minded Christians. Considering others' needs and helping them ends up helping us. But if we don't make the extra effort to attend church services when we can, we will begin to drift away from God and to lose our motivation.
In short, festivals / feasts are good and the Lord instituted festivals in the life of Israel in order for them to cyclically remember His redemption plan for them; without getting lost in the hub-bub of everyday life. This ensured that they gathered to rejoice and celebrate the life they enjoyed in Him; all while continuing to edge each other on, to live in Him. They most importantly signify the need for emotional, spiritual and physical renewal that our creator knew we would burn out without.
Equate these facts then in the light of Colossians 2: 16 - 17 (NLT), "So don’t let anyone condemn you for what you eat or drink, or for not celebrating certain holy days or new moon ceremonies or Sabbaths. For these rules are only shadows of the reality yet to come. And Christ himself is that reality." It becomes clear that these festivals are but a shadow of the reality revealed to us in Christ. But more importantly it tells us that we are not to be legalistic in our understanding of and living out of God's Word in our lives. We as humans still have the need for an emotional, spiritual and physical renewal cyclically; we were designed that way. We need celebrations and more importantly in times such as these we need to gather as often as possible in His name. What better time than the New Year which signifies the advent of the new to do this?
So in the light of the scriptures, let us celebrate New Year by all means; only focusing on the Lord, His Word and making resolutions to lead better lives for His glory. God bless us all as we deliberate on living our lives for Him this New Year!
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