Christianity

Letting Jesus In

~ ForCommonGround ~ Leave a comment

Recently my daughter prayed and asked Jesus to help her to let Him in. Keep in mind, she has already accepted Jesus as her Lord and Savior. But, as all followers of Jesus know, we have to continue to pursue that relationship the rest of our lives. I think this is what her precious 11 year old heart was searching for.

In this post I would like to present a picture of what it looks like to let Jesus in. From the beginning of the relationship to the end.

The Invitation

Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.

Revelation 3:20

This powerful image shows Jesus as someone who initiates relationship, but waits to be welcomed in. Jesus never forces His way into our lives. Opening the door represents faith, surrender, and a desire for fellowship with Him.

Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.

John 1:12

Letting Jesus in means receiving Him—not just as a visitor, but as your Savior, King, and the center of your life. Believing in Him opens the door to being born again into God’s family.

If you’re like me, you have probably had to repeat this process more than once. I did at the age of 12, and was baptized. I did again at the age of 27 when my faith became of central importance. I have also had many moments since when I am disconnected and I hear Him knocking again. These aren’t salvation moments, I know I am saved and redeemed. These are sanctifying moments. Those reminders that I am not where I am meant to be in my headspace and heart. Those subtle, and sometimes not so subtle redirecting moments.

The Process

I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you…

Ezekiel 36:26

When Jesus enters your life, He doesn’t just visit—He renovates. He gives a new heart, replacing coldness or stubbornness with a heart that wants to obey and love Him.

To have found God and still to pursue Him is the soul’s paradox of love.

AW Tozer

Walking with Jesus means both finding and continually seeking Him—never settling for a distant relationship. Always wanting more. Always going deeper.

And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.

2 Corinthians 3:18

I think we can all agree that the Christian walk should be a progressive one in the sense that we are moving forward and upward and deeper. And it should also be transformative in the sense that we are more like Jesus in attitude, action, speech, and motivations the longer we know Him. Not to say that we won’t make mistakes or have our “moments”. But it should be a general upward and life altering change throughout life.

Nearness to God brings likeness to God. The more you see God, the more of God will be seen in you.

Charles Spurgeon

Every day should be a commitment to reflect on whether this is true in us.

The Commitment

I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me…

Galatians 2:20

Letting Jesus in is more than a one-time moment. It means allowing Him to live in you, shape your thoughts, and guide your actions. His presence becomes your source of strength and purpose. Letting Jesus in means surrendering to His Lordship (rulership, authority which overrides our own.) in Medieval times Lords controlled the land, your life, your freedom, your movement, your purpose. They also provided everything their vassals needed in food, land, and protection. Those were imperfect people and an imperfect system. But the analogy works in many ways. Our Lord is not a despot. His heart is for the flourishing of His people. Far too often, I afraid, we treat Jesus as a guest to be entertained or invited in when we need Him. But He is owed so much more.

For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.

Colossians 1:16-17

Jesus deserves to be the captain of your ship because He built the ship, maintains the ship, and owns the ship.

Discipleship is the process of becoming who Jesus would be if he were you.

Dallas Willard

A true walk with Jesus transforms your character to reflect Him in your unique life and context. Remember, our mission is to help bring His kingdom wherever we are and wherever we go. I tell my kids (and have to remind myself) all of the time that our sole purpose is to love God and make Him known. What better way to do that than to allow Him to steer our very motivations for life, love, purpose, relationship, and more?

Remain in me, as I also remain in you.

John 15:4

Letting Jesus in is ongoing. It’s not just a decision, but a relationship of remaining close to Him, hearing His voice, and living connected to His love every day. Abiding With Jesus is a Lifelong Commitment.

Letting Jesus in is ongoing. It’s not just a decision, but a relationship of remaining close to Him, hearing His voice, and living connected to His love every day. Abiding With Jesus is a Lifelong Commitment.

Francis Chan

There are very real pitfalls. Those of apathy…of distraction…misalignment…misjudgments…and the like. To let Jesus in is something we have to contend for, hold on to, and adamantly desire. The Christian life is just that, a lifelong lifestyle.

The Christian does not think God will love us because we are good, but that God will make us good because He loves us.

CS Lewis

It is imperative to remember that walking with Jesus is not about earning love but being changed by it. There is so much grace and so much love in the pursuit.

Peace in Christ brothers and sisters.

Equipped

~ ForCommonGround ~ Leave a comment

I don’t know about you all but I feel like I am always in preparation mode. As a parent, spouse, teacher, business owner, you name it, I am preparing and planning. Preparing to start the day, throughout the day, and in ending the day. It is an integral part of every single day of my life.

When I was an athlete, I had to train. Conditioning, technique, and strength training were all essential. My diet had to be fine tuned, I watched tape to see what I could fix, and would go to camps and tournaments out of season so I could be successful. As a teacher, I have to prepare lessons, gather materials, assess learning, reflect on student performance, plan and replan to make sure the students receive a quality education. But there is another role, the most essential role of my life, that I need to prepare for even more.

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

Ephesians 2:10

Teaching and sports are great things, but they aren’t THE thing. We are God’s workmanship, His children, His image-bearers. Just as we prepare for tasks in our daily lives, God calls us to be ready for every good work He sets before us..that He’s already prepared for us.

“Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.”

1 Corinthians‬ ‭9‬:‭24‬-‭27‬ ‭ESV‬‬

We keep our eyes on the prize (knowing Jesus and making Him known) and we don’t go about it aimlessly. Our spiritual life should reflect the intentionality and dedication that athletes at the highest level would dedicate to their trade. Let’s take a look at the training regiment.

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.

2 Timothy 3:16-17

1. The Source of Our Equipping: God’s Word

“All Scripture is breathed out by God”

Scripture is inspired by God, making it divine in origin and purpose. It is trustworthy, authoritative, and sufficient for our spiritual growth. The Bible is the most factually based book in world history. No other book in history claiming to be God’s word even comes close to matching these facts.

1. Written by 40 men over a period of 1500 years and ALL subjects, prophecies, and evidence agrees.

2. It was written in three very different languages by people who lived on three different continents.

3. The authors of the Bible lived in very different time periods, very different places, and had different occupations but ALL focused on God’s redemption of mankind.

4. Over 300 prophecies were about Jesus, made hundreds of years before he was born, and He fulfilled ALL of them exactly how they said it would happen. The odds of a single person fulfilling just eight messianic prophecies are estimated to be one in 100 quadrillion.

5. Hundreds of other non-messianic prophecies have been made and fulfilled just as the bible said. They were fulfilled exactly to the day and exactly how they were predicted and they occurred sometimes hundreds of years after they were made.

Just as a carpenter relies on tools for precision, we rely on God’s Word to shape our worldview, guide us in decision making, and know how to be in relationship with God and others. Spend time in the Word daily—it’s not optional but essential for being equipped. We should be meditating on it, memorizing it, praying through it, and speaking.

2. The Purpose of God’s Word: To Shape Us

“Profitable for teaching, reproof, correction, and training in righteousness”

Teaching: Helps us understand who God is, who we are, and His will for us.

Reproof and Correction: Reproof means to convicts us of sin and then provides the correction that redirects us to the right path. It is a mirror into the soul. Like Psalm 119:105 says, “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”

Training in Righteousness: Helps us grow in godly character and holiness. So much of the world gets their ideas of righteousness, or right living, from the culture or their own emotions. Even a lot of believers who interpret God’s will through their own emotions. That’s a pitfall from a lack of wisdom that can only come through knowing God’s word.

A sculptor chisels away excess stone to reveal a masterpiece. In the same way, God’s Word refines us. The more we know God’s word the more we should be changed by it. Let the Word challenge and transform you. Like Jesus said, “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.” Don’t just read it—let it read you.

3. The Result of Being Shaped by God’s Word: Readiness for Good Works

“That the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.” (the greek word is anthropos which means human or person of God, not man specifically)

God doesn’t just call us to good works; He equips us for them through His Word. The good works we are called to include acts of service, evangelism, generosity, and godly living. The Bible doesn’t just tell us to talk about God but do so boldly, not just to love but to love sacrificially, not just to give but to give generously and without asking for anything in return, not just to serve but to do so selflessly never drawing attention to yourself. It helps us endure hardships, be patient in trying times, hopeful in our outlook, and joyful in our spirit. To be a light, a city set on a hill.

Look for opportunities in your daily life to do good. Be ready when God opens a door. Better yet, look for the open doors, seek out the opportunities, don’t just wait for a clear “sign”. Training narrows our focus. It removes distractions that can derail us from achieving our goal. That’s exactly how we need to approach the mission God has for all of our lives. We clutter our vision (and we do so willingly if we’re honest). Remember Ephesians 2:10, God has already prepared our good works. You ever wonder how many we miss?

4. The Call to Action: Commit to Being Equipped

So where does this leave us? Just like with sports, careers, parenting, or anything else that requires training and preparation, we are all at different stages in our faith journey. But we can, and should, evaluate our time and how it’s spent. To what extent are we being intentional in applying God’s Word to situations in life? Do we pray for readiness and sensitivity to God’s leading. Do we actively look for ways to love, serve, give, and share the gospel every day. Wherever you are in your faith journey, I invite you to train harder. We can all pray more, serve more, love more, give more, empathize more, share the gospel more, meditate on God’s word more, worship more. Not to earn anything, that price has already been paid, but to better live out what you were designed and created to be…an image-bearer. The light that shines from us will only be as bright as the light we allow in us. You were made for a purpose and God has an abundant life planned for you. We just have to choose it.

Peace in Christ brothers and sisters.

This is the Way part two

~ ForCommonGround ~ Leave a comment

This is the second iteration in the series on living out our faith as a believer in Jesus, who is the Way. If you missed the first one be sure to check it out from last week. Let’s see where the Way takes us today.

Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.

Romans 12:10

In a world that often pushes us to put ourselves first, Romans 12:10 invites us into a radically different way of living—one marked by devotion and honor. It’s not just about being nice. It’s about building relationships rooted in genuine care and selfless respect.

Be Devoted to One Another in Love

The word devoted carries the idea of family-level commitment. It’s not surface-level kindness—it’s deep, consistent, and loyal. Paul is telling the church that our love for each other should look like the kind of love we see in strong, healthy families: the kind that sticks through hard times, forgives quickly, and serves without keeping score.

This type of devotion reflects God’s love for us. It’s not based on feelings, convenience, or getting something in return. It’s an active choice to love others—especially those in the body of Christ—with compassion and dedication.

Honor One Another Above Yourselves

To honor someone means to value them, to treat them as important. And Paul goes a step further: we’re to put others above ourselves. This doesn’t mean we think less of ourselves—it means we lift others up.

Imagine what would happen if every relationship was built on honoring the other person first—marriages, friendships, churches, teams. There would be less fighting, less pride, more listening, and more joy.

Paul is calling believers to a culture of humility. In a me-first world, he challenges us to be you-first people.

Living It Out

Here are a few ways to live Romans 12:10 in your daily life:

Encourage someone who may feel overlooked. Celebrate others’ wins instead of feeling jealous. Offer your time or help, even when it’s inconvenient. Speak kindly and respectfully, especially when you disagree. Pray for someone you struggle to love well.

Romans 12:10 is a simple verse with powerful truth. It reminds us that love is not just a feeling—it’s a choice to be committed to others and to honor them above ourselves. When we live this way, we reflect the heart of Jesus, who loved us completely and humbly served others.

Peace, and the deep love of Christ be with you.

A Celebration of Light and Dedication

~ ForCommonGround ~ Leave a comment

Hanukkah, also known as the Festival of Lights, is a significant celebration in Jewish tradition that commemorates the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem following the Maccabean revolt. While Hanukkah is not directly mentioned in the Old Testament, its themes of light, dedication, and divine intervention resonate deeply with the Christian faith—especially when viewed through the life and ministry of Jesus.

1. Jesus and the Feast of Dedication

In John 10:22-23, we find a direct reference to Hanukkah:

“Then came the Festival of Dedication at Jerusalem. It was winter, and Jesus was in the temple courts walking in Solomon’s Colonnade.”

The Festival of Dedication is another name for Hanukkah, and it is during this time that Jesus speaks profoundly about His identity:

“I and the Father are one.” (John 10:30)

Here, Jesus reveals Himself as the Good Shepherd and the Light of the World—paralleling the themes of Hanukkah, where the menorah’s lights symbolize God’s presence and guidance.

2. The Miraculous Light and Jesus as the Light of the World

Hanukkah celebrates the miracle of the oil that lasted eight days, despite there being only enough for one. This miracle signifies God’s provision and presence in a time of need.

Jesus embodies this same light in His teachings:

• John 8:12: “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life.”

• Just as the menorah lit the Temple, Jesus illuminates the hearts and lives of His followers, guiding them toward God’s truth.

3. Rededication and Spiritual Renewal

The story of Hanukkah is one of rededication—restoring the Temple to its sacred purpose after it was defiled by foreign rulers. Similarly, Jesus calls His followers to a life of spiritual renewal and dedication:

• 1 Corinthians 6:19-20: “Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit…? Therefore honor God with your bodies.”

• Christians are invited to rededicate their lives to God, just as the Maccabees rededicated the Temple.

4. Unity of the Old and New

Hanukkah offers a bridge between the Jewish and Christian faiths, highlighting shared themes of divine intervention, light overcoming darkness, and dedication to God. For Christians, celebrating or reflecting on Hanukkah can deepen appreciation for the Jewish roots of their faith and the fulfillment of these themes in Jesus Christ.

5. A Call to Celebrate the Light

Hanukkah is a time of celebration, hope, and gratitude for God’s faithfulness. For Christians, it’s an opportunity to reflect on Jesus as the ultimate Light of the World, whose life and sacrifice bring spiritual freedom and eternal hope.

As the menorah’s lights shine brightly during the eight nights of Hanukkah, they remind us of the enduring presence of God—both in the history of Israel and in the person of Jesus Christ.

Peace in Christ, the Light of the World.

New Year New You

~ ForCommonGround ~ Leave a comment

This isn’t your typical new year’s resolution kind of post. In fact, it is probably the exact opposite. While there’s more than enough messages this time of year promoting self improvement, not many are proclaiming that the new version of ourselves should be a whole lot less of ourselves. Christians are familiar with the often quoted 2 Corinthians 5:17. We are new creations in Christ. I see that verse used more this time of year than any other time of the year. Sermons and devotions that promote self improvement. I believe that exercise, eating better, and healthy habits are great things. But the call of the gospel on our lives is much deeper than that. The gospel life is one lived for others. It’s a life of sacrifice, giving, loving, and serving. The “new creation” is a Spirit-filled individual who cares far more for the salvation and betterment of those around them than for how they are viewed by others or even for their own needs. One of the greatest of the apostles, Paul, states it this way:

But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.

Acts 20:24 ESV

In a different letter to the church at Galatia he wrote this:

I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

Galatians 2:20 ESV

To the Philippians Paul emphasized something very similar.

Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus…

Philippians 2:3-5 ESV

And just so no one thinks this is just Paul’s message, look at how Jesus Himself phrased it.

And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.

Luke 9:23 ESV

It is easy to get wrapped up in goal setting when a new year rolls around. What I would propose is that we all focus less on the “usual” goals for the new and improved us, and make our goals more about others and how we are going to put Jesus on display this year. Instead of the new year bringing about a new you, it can bring about less of you, and more of Jesus. I invite everyone to pray that this would be the case for me. Those who know me, I ask for them to hold me accountable. We need to encourage our brothers and sisters in this life of surrender. Eat healthier. Exercise more. Set goals. But may we never forget what our ultimate goal should always be: To know God and to make Him known.

This year may it no longer be us who live but Christ who lives in us. This year may we do nothing out of selfish ambition but look out for the needs of those around us. This year may we testify to the gospel of grace. This year may we take up our cross and follow our King.

Peace in Christ brothers and sisters.

How warm?

~ ForCommonGround ~ Leave a comment

Last night at church I was really taking stock of my life in terms of my walk of faith. I caught myself going through the motions during the singing portion of the gathering, constantly distracted by my almost three year old son. I was catching most of what the message was but couldn’t stay locked in for the need of baby wipes, cleaning up messes, and making sure my son didn’t break all his colored pencils. It all got me thinking about just how much I’m investing in my relationship with Jesus. I had to ask myself if He was my number one relationship and priority. The journey of self reflection led me back to a study I did a long time ago based on a book by Francis Chan called Crazy Love. In the book, he outlines what the Bible (Jesus specifically) calls a lookwarm believer. Keep in mind, Jesus makes no room for lukewarm faith. He says it’s worse than no faith at all. They are among those who Christ says, “depart from me I never knew you.” It’s not a category I want to be in. And it’s a good jumping off point for a good inward dive into the motivations of our heart. If you’ve never seen the book I’ve included an outline of the main indicators that our faith may not be as genuine as we thought.

A lukewarm believer may…

  • Attend church because they believe it is expected of them. (Isaiah 29:13)
  • Give money only when it doesn’t infringe on their standard of living. (1 Chronicles 21:24)
  • Tend to choose what is popular rather than what is right. (Luke 6:26)
  • Don’t want to be saved from their sin, just saved from the penalty of sin. (Romans 6:1-2)
  • Moved by stories of others doing radical things for Christ yet do not act themselves. (James 1:22)
  • Rarely share their faith with friends, coworkers, and strangers out of failure of rejection. (Matthew 10:32-33)
  • Gauge how “good” they are by not being “as bad” as the rest of the secular world. (Luke 18:11-12)
  • Say they love Jesus but only allow Him to have a part of their life. (Luke 9:57-62)
  • Can’t really say they love God with ALL their hearts, minds, and souls. (Matthew 22:37-38)
  • Love others but do not seek to love them as much as themselves. (Matthew 5:43-47)
  • Serve God and others but place limits on how far they will go. (Luke18:21-25)
  • Think about the temporary, the life here on earth, far more than eternity in heaven. (Colossians 3:2, Phil 3:18-20)
  • Thankful for the luxuries and comforts that God has given them but do not think about giving away as much as they can to the needy. (Matthew 25:40)
  • Try to be “good enough” so that they do not have to feel guilty. (Matthew 13:44-46)
  • Try to play it safe and be in control of their life rather than surrendering it to God. (1 Tim 6:17-18)
  • Feel safe just because they confess their belief in Christ with their mouths even though their actions do not match up. (Matthew 7:21)
  • Structure their life so they don’t have to be in reliance on God. (Luke 12:16-21)Aren’t that different from nonbelievers in speech and in conduct. (Matthew 33:25-28)

Live in Christ…Peace in Christ brothers and sisters.

Turn up the Light

~ ForCommonGround ~ 1 Comment

Oswald Chambers once wrote that, “When becoming Christ’s my individuality remains, but my primary motivation for living and the nature that rules me are radically changed. I have the same human body, but the old satanic right to myself has been destroyed.”

Far earlier the Apostle Paul wrote, “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”

And finally, the great pastor Charles Spurgeon is noted saying, “Christ first, me last, nothing but love in between.”

Devotion in the Christian’s life certainly plays out in different ways, but one common element should be evident in us all: that we are His, wholeheartedly, and our lives should show it. The Lord promised to make us springs of living water that overflow to those around us. He said the world would know us by our love. He said we are the light of the world. Lord Jesus, turn up the light in us. Give us undivided hearts and undivided lives. Be alive in us like never before.

Peace in Christ brothers and sisters

Do you know Him?

~ ForCommonGround ~ Leave a comment

Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Peter 1:2-8 (NKJV)

Christ wants our hearts. He wants us to grow in our knowledge of Him. That knowledge produces the qualities of a follower of Christ. Those qualities show others that our love and faith is real, and in turn, that Jesus is real. It is so critical for us to relfect on our relationship with Him consistantly so that we can know in our hearts that we know Him who has called us out of the darkness into the light (John 8:12). The rewards for knowing Him are so great that we can only begin to scratch the surface. Those who have experienced Him and spend time in His presence can testify of the fullness of life through knowing Him. We have so much to gain. Such as grace, peace, godliness, abundant life (John 10:10), and eternal life (John 3:16) through this endevour of getting to know our Lord and Savior. I pray that nothing holds us back. I pray that we can take hold of the precious promises and the divine nature (spirit nature) that God has called us to. I pray that we will always put forth effort to add to our faith the characteristics listed by Peter. I pray that we will all experience His divine power so that we may not go through this life barren (useless) and unfruitful (unproductive) in our walk with Christ. I hope you are all encouraged by the fact that the One True Almighty God has called you into a relationship with Him and wants you to get to know Him.

Peace in Christ brothers and sisters.

Banners of Faith

~ ForCommonGround ~ 2 Comments

Why is it the radical faith and obedience to Jesus is criticized so much in the church? The last I checked, we are supposed to die to ourselves and live to Christ. I’m pretty sure the Bible says that we have been crucified in the life we now live we live by faith in the one who died for us. I believe that the Bible also says to be a living daily sacrifice. Doesn’t the scripture also read that we are supposed to keep our minds and hearts set on the things of heaven and not the things of earth? Didn’t Jesus commission his followers to go to the ends of the earth spreading the good news? Aren’t we to walk as he walked?

It’s an inescapable fact that Jesus didn’t sugarcoat what it means to follow him. We are supposed to be all in. We all have a cross to pick up and carry daily. Perhaps the reason why that is met with so much criticism is that complacency and comfort have exceeded conviction and our commission in the hearts and minds of so many. I feel it weighing me down so often as well. I have to fight the urge to just go about living my life, as crazy and hectic as it is, and not put the mission of Jesus at the forefront.

The Bible says that Christ is our life, nothing else. When we see people who actually live like that, we should be motivated to do the same. Paul told people in the first century to follow him as he followed Christ. Was he perfect? Not at all. But he lived sold out for the faith. Jesus was the end all for his purpose in life. That’s what being a Christian should look like. All the times I fall drastically short of this, I draw off of the examples of so many extraordinary men and women of the faith, past and present.

“If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.” Colossians‬ ‭3:1-4‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Peace in Christ brothers and sisters!

Must Gentile Christians Observe the Jewish Feasts?

~ ForCommonGround ~ Leave a comment

jesusinthefeasts

Article by Dr. Eli Lizorkin-Eyzenberg

This post was shared with me a week or so ago and I found it very interesting, full of good points. I’ve also written on the subject in the past. If you’d like to read a past article on the matter check out Celebrate Bible-Style.

There are several reasons why this topic is making a powerful comeback. The primary reason is that in the past 20 years Christian Churches around the globe, represented by almost every major Christian denomination, have become much more aware of the Jewish identity of their Savior and King. This, of course, is a wonderful thing.

The question is usually framed in a very simple way: “Must Christians observe the Jewish feasts?” I would submit to you that there are several problems with how the question is formed.

First, the assumption is that “Christians” are members of a non-Jewish movement, independent in every way from the people of Israel. Knowing what we now know about the Jewish background of the New Testament, we can say with full confidence that this is clearly not the case.

Second, the question refers to the Feasts of the Lord as “the Jewish feasts,” as if these feasts did not belong to God himself as their biblically native terminology clearly implies. Only when we adopt the biblical (rather than theological) categories, can we begin to see that we are asking the wrong question. Wrong questions, in turn, are known to lead good and godly people to wrong answers.

Third, the inclusion of “must” is problematic as well. It unintentionally advances the question in the context of the Protestant-Catholic, 16th-century divide regarding personal salvation (faith vs. works).

I would restate the question in a way that, while surely more cumbersome in Christian English (the language of our communication), is more fitting to the biblical context:

“Should the follower of the Jewish Christ, who comes from the nations and not from Israel, also mark as holy ‘the Feasts of Lord’”?

I think the answer to this question is clearly – yes. The question is not “if”, but “how” must Gentile followers of the Jewish Christ observe the Feasts of the Lord in covenantal continuity and partnership with Israel, yet with full realization of the powerful implications brought forth by Jesus’ life, death, resurrection, and ascension.

It is indeed very interesting to note that Christian Churches, especially in their Catholic and Eastern Orthodox expressions, have never claimed that believers should cease to observe the feasts of the Lord.

In fact, both Christian communities (along with most protestant ones) have regularly marked many key biblical feasts with special worship celebrations. Unfortunately, they have often observed the feasts purposely on different dates and often inventing traditions far removed (and sometimes antithetical) to the original biblical injunctions.

Gentile Christians today are called to reunite with the people of Israel through, among other things, Christ-centered observance of the Feasts of the Lord and in so doing to experience their belonging to the Commonwealth of Israel.

For more articles like these are various topics, go to the Israel Bible Center website.

Peace in Christ brothers and sisters!