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So Why the Difference?
April 6, 2013

In writing these weekly studies, I intend for those who read to see areas of commonality and areas of difference. For instance, those who observe Sunday, Easter, and Christmas will notice that I instead write about the Sabbath, Saturday, and annual Holy Days as given to the Children of Israel and observed by the first century apostolic church. Yet there are many themes that are common to all of us. Those whose faith might also include observance of the Sabbath and annual Holy Days may find that I am able to write about themes that might typically be avoided. It is fair to ask why I am different. This past Sunday, virtually all of Christianity observed Easter. I did not as did not many of my first century apostolic church brethren. I found it interesting that my hometown newspaper included a write up of Easter with a historical analysis provided by local pastors explaining the pagan origins of the holiday. The article went on to explain how this pagan celebration was "Christianized" by the church. Those of us who are first century apostolic Christians would question this statement and rather explain that use of this holiday has "paganized" Christianity. Similar accounts would be given for Christmas, and I am sure there are those who would say the first century apostolic Christians have Judaized Christianity. With this thought in mind, I believe it is important for all of us to remember a selection from the writings of Paul.

Colossians 2:16-23
Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the Sabbath days: Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ. Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, And not holding the Head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God. Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances, (Touch not; taste not; handle not; Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men? Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body; not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh.

Paul shows we are not to allow ourselves to be judged by others in respect to the Holy Days, the calendar we use to reckon the Holy Days, and the weekly Sabbath. That's one of the reasons why while I do not agree with the observance of Sunday, Easter, and Christmas, I do not judge those who observe. I also expect that same courtesy to be returned to me. I suppose that it is possible to become so wrapped up in the observance of the annual Holy Days and weekly Sabbath and for others the mainstream Christian observances that we allow these to puff up our mind. We allow ourselves to come to a place where instead of following the teachings of God, we allow ourselves to be subject to the teachings of man. Paul alludes to this in the passage from Colossians and Jesus had this debate with the scribes and Pharisees regarding the Sabbath.

Mark 2:23-28
And it came to pass, that he went through the corn fields on the Sabbath day; and his disciples began, as they went, to pluck the ears of corn. And the Pharisees said unto him, Behold, why do they on the Sabbath day that which is not lawful? And he said unto them, Have ye never read what David did, when he had need, and was an hungred, he, and they that were with him? How he went into the house of God in the days of Abiathar the high priest, and did eat the shewbread, which is not lawful to eat but for the priests, and gave also to them which were with him? And he said unto them, The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath: Therefore the Son of man is Lord also of the Sabbath.

There is much to be learned from these types of passages from the earthly ministry of Jesus. All who call themselves Christians are reminded that the Sabbath is a gift given to humanity. It was the traditions of man and legal requirements imposed by man the made the Sabbath a burden. When the law was given to not work on the Sabbath, we can take from this passage that this was never intended to keep one from eating. Yet there were those who believed that the act of picking food to eat for oneself was the same act as harvesting the entire crop. Other passages from the earthly ministry of Jesus show that healing was considered work as well. So instead of becoming a gift to humanity, the Sabbath had become a burden to humanity. It is important to remember that the burden did not come from the teaching of the scripture, but through the tradition of man. The annual Holy Days work the same way. Though these were given as gifts to humanity, the traditions of man have made these seem like a burden. That's why to virtually all Christians, it makes sense to them to toss these in favor of Sunday, Easter, and Christmas. That's why those of us who are apostolic first century Christians observe these realizing we are in the extreme minority. And on both sides is pride, what Paul writes in Colossians as a show of worship. For most Christians is the pomp, circumstance, and pageantry of faith, and for those who are apostolic first century Christians is a different kind of pomp, circumstance, and pageantry of faith. For us it is less about the clothes and more about a man's idea that long sermons, inactivity on the Sabbath, and allowing the poor to always be poor so that the Church may grow wealthy are our form of Christianity. The pomp, circumstance, and pageantry of faith do not impress God; the works of the new commandment given by Jesus that show our faith is what is important for us. Why and how we observe the Sabbath today is a reflection we all need to make. There is so much good we can all do as we are led by the Holy Spirit.

The reality is I am different from virtually all Christians who observe Sunday, Easter, and Christmas as I am from those who observe the weekly Sabbath and annual Holy Days. I share that I work hard to not be a hypocrite; I'm not always successful and sometimes hypocrisy stares back at me in the mirror. I share with many that when I shave, I have to look at myself in the mirror, and I have to respect who I see. I'm reminded of the words of Jesus when he was teaching about hypocrisy.

Luke 6:37-49
Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven: Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again. And he spake a parable unto them, Can the blind lead the blind? shall they not both fall into the ditch? The disciple is not above his master: but every one that is perfect shall be as his master. And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but perceivest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Either how canst thou say to thy brother, Brother, let me pull out the mote that is in thine eye, when thou thyself beholdest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, cast out first the beam out of thine own eye, and then shalt thou see clearly to pull out the mote that is in thy brother's eye. For a good tree bringeth not forth corrupt fruit; neither doth a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. For every tree is known by his own fruit. For of thorns men do not gather figs, nor of a bramble bush gather they grapes. A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh. And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say? Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will shew you to whom he is like: He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock. But he that heareth, and doeth not, is like a man that without a foundation built an house upon the earth; against which the stream did beat vehemently, and immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house was great.

In the example given by Jesus, we are to examine ourselves and not judge others. We are to do what Jesus says to do, and we are to be measured by our fruit as a good person will bring forth good fruit. With diligent effort we will arrive at a destination where we bring forth good fruit and have love for one another and when we do this we are able to celebrate what is good, embrace what is good, and do what is good.

All verses are from the King James Version.
This site provided by Tom Laign. To all who may believe differently, I also extend peace and love.
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