As sure as the sun will rise tomorrow (if God allows it) this time of year represents a time when Christians begin to devour one another in the name of the Lord Jesus. Certain days are criticized as being of the devil, and that Christians must not celebrate them or they will be judged - primarily from other Christians who have decided they are the arbiters of all that is right holy and true.
Halloween originated as the devils holiday and therefore the modern day celebration of it should be forbidden by Christians.
Christmas is a Pagan Holiday, and symbols such as trees, ornaments, even Santa Claus should be avoided by Christians.
Even a delicious pumpkin spiced latte or White chocolate mocha peppermint coffee at Starbucks should be avoided because they give money to ungodly causes.
Principle 1 : Saved by law or grace? So first, I must ask the question. Is a Christian saved by doing the works of the law better than another Christian? Is a Christian who celebrates holidays like Halloween or Christmas or drinks a Starbucks coffee not saved, or a second class Christian? In the book of Galatians, Paul is addressing a group of people who had been bewitched by another group of people with the same ideas. They were encouraging them to become 'real' Christians by mutilating their bodies and avoiding certain types of foods.
Galatians 3:1-11 O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? It was before your eyes that Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified. 2 Let me ask you only this: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith? 3 Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by[a] the flesh? 4 Did you suffer[b] so many things in vain—if indeed it was in vain? 5 Does he who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you do so by works of the law, or by hearing with faith— 6 just as Abraham “believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”? 7 Know then that it is those of faith who are the sons of Abraham. 8 And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify[c] the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, “In you shall all the nations be blessed.” 9 So then, those who are of faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith. 10 For all who rely on works of the law are under a curse; for it is written,“Cursed be everyone who does not abide by all things written in the Book of the Law, and do them.” 11 Now it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law, for “The righteous shall live by faith"
Galatians 3:1-11 O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? It was before your eyes that Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified. 2 Let me ask you only this: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith? 3 Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by[a] the flesh? 4 Did you suffer[b] so many things in vain—if indeed it was in vain? 5 Does he who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you do so by works of the law, or by hearing with faith— 6 just as Abraham “believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”? 7 Know then that it is those of faith who are the sons of Abraham. 8 And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify[c] the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, “In you shall all the nations be blessed.” 9 So then, those who are of faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith. 10 For all who rely on works of the law are under a curse; for it is written,“Cursed be everyone who does not abide by all things written in the Book of the Law, and do them.” 11 Now it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law, for “The righteous shall live by faith"
Are Christians under the law? No. In fact, Paul says if you rely on works of the law, you are under a curse. If you fail to keep all the things under the law, having put yourself under the law, then you cannot be justified. The righteous lives by faith. Let us also consider Romans 3:
Romans 3:19-31
19 Now we know that whatever the law says it speaks to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be stopped, and the whole world may be held accountable to God. 20 For by works of the law no human being[c] will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin.21 But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— 22 the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction:23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God's righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. 26 It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. 27 Then what becomes of our boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? By a law of works? No, but by the law of faith. 28 For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law. 29 Or is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles also? Yes, of Gentiles also, 30 since God is one—who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith. 31 Do we then overthrow the law by this faith? By no means! On the contrary, we uphold the law.
Principle 2. Am I saved by deeds or by faith? Through the keeping of the law shall no one be justified in His sight. I can only be justified by His grace as a gift through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. No amount of being careful of avoiding pagan holidays, or shellfish, or mixed fabrics can gain me any favor; my favor has been obtained through a one time gift of His grace, and is maintained as a promise. It is not by doing good deeds like not passing out candy or avoiding my neighbors on one day a year. It is done by the law of faith, which is also a precious gift of God.
Does this mean that I am lawless? By no means. Just because I have been saved does not mean that I get to live a life of self-pleasing behaviors. I am not above the law; I do not overthrow it because I have been saved by grace through faith. But let us get this straight: I do not obey the law to gain favor with God, indeed, my favor with God is a gift only He can bestow on me. I obey the law because God has given me a changed nature. But the law does not include where I buy my coffee, decorate a tree, or pass out candy to children who come to my door on reformation day- even though they call it Halloween.
Romans 14 English Standard Version (ESV)
14 As for the one who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not to quarrel over opinions. 2 One person believes he may eat anything, while the weak person eats only vegetables. 3 Let not the one who eats despise the one who abstains, and let not the one who abstains pass judgment on the one who eats, for God has welcomed him. 4 Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? It is before his own master[a] that he stands or falls. And he will be upheld, for the Lord is able to make him stand.
5 One person esteems one day as better than another, while another esteems all days alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind. 6 The one who observes the day, observes it in honor of the Lord. The one who eats, eats in honor of the Lord, since he gives thanks to God, while the one who abstains, abstains in honor of the Lord and gives thanks to God. 7 For none of us lives to himself, and none of us dies to himself. 8 For if we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord's. 9 For to this end Christ died and lived again, that he might be Lord both of the dead and of the living.
10 Why do you pass judgment on your brother? Or you, why do you despise your brother? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God; 11 for it is written,
12 So then each of us will give an account of himself to God.
Principle 3: Do not Pass Judgment on One Another on matters of opinion: Judgment is a-ok in matters of church discipline, which is over clear rules found in scripture. Judgment is okay when it is done in accordance with the scripture, and is righteous judgment. All too often, the noise on Facebook is over freedoms that those of us who are in Christ have. When it comes to celebrating holidays, or just special days, or where a person buys their coffee, or whether you have a cigar and some whiskey after dinner is freedom that we all have in Christ. You cannot pass judgment on the servant of another. Now, if this person holds an office like elder, or Pastor, or Deacon...then the ruling board within your local church can pass standards that are for members and leaders within your body. But as to individuals in the body of Christ, if it is not an offense according to the word of God, you who call out judgment are just being self righteous pharisees.
I will not be giving an account to anyone on Facebook, Twitter, or out on the street. I am accountable to my wife, my family, and to my church. I will have to give a final account of myself to God. And if I were still under law, and not under grace, I would fail miserably. I cannot keep the law in and of my own devices. Since I have been saved by grace, I have the ability to observe and keep the moral law, indeed, I have a desire to do so.
So why do people pass judgment?
Principle 3: Do not Pass Judgment on One Another on matters of opinion: Judgment is a-ok in matters of church discipline, which is over clear rules found in scripture. Judgment is okay when it is done in accordance with the scripture, and is righteous judgment. All too often, the noise on Facebook is over freedoms that those of us who are in Christ have. When it comes to celebrating holidays, or just special days, or where a person buys their coffee, or whether you have a cigar and some whiskey after dinner is freedom that we all have in Christ. You cannot pass judgment on the servant of another. Now, if this person holds an office like elder, or Pastor, or Deacon...then the ruling board within your local church can pass standards that are for members and leaders within your body. But as to individuals in the body of Christ, if it is not an offense according to the word of God, you who call out judgment are just being self righteous pharisees.
I will not be giving an account to anyone on Facebook, Twitter, or out on the street. I am accountable to my wife, my family, and to my church. I will have to give a final account of myself to God. And if I were still under law, and not under grace, I would fail miserably. I cannot keep the law in and of my own devices. Since I have been saved by grace, I have the ability to observe and keep the moral law, indeed, I have a desire to do so.
So why do people pass judgment?
13 Therefore let us not pass judgment on one another any longer, but rather decide never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother. 14 I know and am persuaded in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself, but it is unclean for anyone who thinks it unclean. 15 For if your brother is grieved by what you eat, you are no longer walking in love. By what you eat, do not destroy the one for whom Christ died. 16 So do not let what you regard as good be spoken of as evil. 17 For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. 18 Whoever thus serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men. 19 So then let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding.
20 Do not, for the sake of food, destroy the work of God. Everything is indeed clean, but it is wrong for anyone to make another stumble by what he eats.21 It is good not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything that causes your brother to stumble.[c] 22 The faith that you have, keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the one who has no reason to pass judgment on himself for what he approves. 23 But whoever has doubts is condemned if he eats, because the eating is not from faith. For whatever does not proceed from faith is sin.
Principle 4: The rule of love Again, we must be very careful to understand that our freedom does not cause another to stumble. I have a right to drink Starbucks, Celebrate Halloween and Christmas, and smoke a cigar with a glass of whiskey. However, if I have a weaker brother in fellowship, and any one of those things causes him to stumble, I am not walking in love. I am commanded to walk in such a way as to benefit others. So, if my freedom causes another person to stumble, then I am no longer walking in love. A best example is someone who has been an alcoholic sees me drinking whiskey and it causes him to think he can do so as well, returning to a life of drunkenness. In the name of freedom, I have caused a brother to sin, and that causes what was previously my freedom to be unloving and sinful. The advice is to keep it between yourself and God. Do it in the privacy of your home. Do not flaunt your freedom on Facebook.
23 “All things are lawful,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful,” but not all things build up. 24 Let no one seek his own good, but the good of his neighbor. 25 Eat whatever is sold in the meat market without raising any question on the ground of conscience. 26 For “the earth is the Lord's, and the fullness thereof.” 27 If one of the unbelievers invites you to dinner and you are disposed to go, eat whatever is set before you without raising any question on the ground of conscience. 28 But if someone says to you, “This has been offered in sacrifice,” then do not eat it, for the sake of the one who informed you, and for the sake of conscience— 29 I do not mean your conscience, but his. For why should my liberty be determined by someone else's conscience? 30 If I partake with thankfulness, why am I denounced because of that for which I give thanks?
31 So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.32 Give no offense to Jews or to Greeks or to the church of God, 33 just as I try to please everyone in everything I do, not seeking my own advantage, but that of many, that they may be saved.
Principle 5: Becoming like those around us to possibly save some Jesus hung around with sinners. He did not become a sinner, but that is what the Pharisees accused him of. When you are desiring to see your friends and neighbors saved, you may be called to a Starbucks, or a Halloween party, or a Christmas party. And things may go on there that you would never participate in. But by your presence, you open doors to talk about your faith. I know lots of people who hand out gospel tracts AND candy on Halloween. I know lots of people who go into a bar to start a spiritual conversation. I know people who go to as many of their neighbors get - together's- and even host some - so that they can be with people who may be seen as sinners, but they also need an introduction to the Savior- and if you do not get off your high horse, you will not be the one to reach them.
Principle 5: Becoming like those around us to possibly save some Jesus hung around with sinners. He did not become a sinner, but that is what the Pharisees accused him of. When you are desiring to see your friends and neighbors saved, you may be called to a Starbucks, or a Halloween party, or a Christmas party. And things may go on there that you would never participate in. But by your presence, you open doors to talk about your faith. I know lots of people who hand out gospel tracts AND candy on Halloween. I know lots of people who go into a bar to start a spiritual conversation. I know people who go to as many of their neighbors get - together's- and even host some - so that they can be with people who may be seen as sinners, but they also need an introduction to the Savior- and if you do not get off your high horse, you will not be the one to reach them.
