December 25, 2024 / 2 Minute Read
serving shadows
It would be preposterous indeed for those who had reaped the benefit of Christ’s victory to put themselves voluntarily under the control of the powers which he had conquered.
F.F. Bruce
Over the past few years, I’ve published several articles detailing the esoteric history of many of the holidays we’ve come to know and love.
Only now do I realize that I was (kinda) wrong.
While I still support the historical accuracy of my previous work, I must confess that I consistently made one major mistake in the publication of the aforementioned articles.
I heavily implied, or at times, directly stated, that it was not biblically acceptable to celebrate holidays with pagan roots such as Christmas, Halloween, and Easter.
According to the Bible, this thought process is incorrect.
So let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or sabbaths, which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ.
Colossians 2:16
It’s a little embarrassing to acknowledge that I missed such a crucial concept in my years of studying the Bible.
Notice how the passage describes the Old Testament traditions as shadows.
Like a shadow, the mosaic laws are simply an image, an impression of the true law that is Jesus Christ.
When Jesus fulfilled the old Covenant, he freed us from the legalistic obligations of the law, including the requirement to celebrate the biblical feasts.
The Old Testament law had certain provisions that are done away with in Jesus, regarding such things as food and sabbaths.
It isn’t that those laws were bad; they were simply a shadow of things to come.
Once the substance – Jesus Christ – has come, we don’t need to shadow anymore.
Via: https://enduringword.com/bible-commentary/colossians-2/
I admit it, I was wrong.
And you know what?
I’m actually kind of glad!
For the past few years, I’ve isolated myself during the major holidays, fearful of incurring God’s wrath if I dared to sing a Christmas carol or attend an Easter service.
I was serving the shadow instead of the Substance.
In hindsight, my stance seems silly, but at the time it truly felt like my salvation depended on my ability to conform to the law.
I understand now that the foremost concern should be fellowship and communion regardless of the day, festival, or new moon.
My dad once told me that I’m so smart, I’m stupid.
The fact that I can write dozens of scholarly articles on history, science, and culture while failing to understand the simplicity of God’s love proves him right.
Merry Christmas.
Bye Chance.
by chance 