The Adventist Way of Life

In the United States many Christians have adopted the “holy holidays”. These would be Christmas and Easter especially. In his letter to the Roman Christians the apostle Paul says that as long as the traditional days are given to the Lord the Lord is glorified.

“He that regardeth the day, regardeth it unto the Lord; and he that regardeth not the day, to the Lord he doth not regard it. He that eateth, eateth to the Lord, for he giveth God thanks; and he that eateth not, to the Lord he eateth not, and giveth God thanks.” [Romans 14:6]

Now, on the other hand, if one judges another for not keeping the holiday the judger is not being Christian. Apostle Paul goes on to say in the same chapter that these types of practices should not be the true test of ones Christian faith.

Okay, this makes sense. But what about other issues such as Old Testament laws? Well, we know that the New Testament never does away with the moral Ten Commandment laws but what about the ceremonial laws? Such as circumcision?

Issues like this came up in Paul’s day due to the fact that the early Christian church was full of converted Jewish people who were learning just where their traditions and ceremonies started and ended.

Regarding outword symbols such as circumcision and the washing of certain bowls and cups before prayer, during prayer, and the sanctioning of eating certain foods and not eating or touching certain foods such as no leaven on the feast of Passover had all been done away with as far as the Christian was concerned.

Look what the apostle Paul says to the Galatian Christians who were struggling over these types of issues; “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. Mark my words! I, Paul, tell you that if you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will be of no value to you at all. Again I declare to every man who lets himself be circumcised that he is obligated to obey the whole law. You who are trying to be justified by law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace. But by faith we eagerly await through the Spirit the righteousness for which we hope. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.”

This is very clear. How does this apply today? Perhaps we could apply it to some who think that the traditional holidays are a must for true Christian living. There are some Christians who still believe that literal circumcision is a Christian symbol also.

To accept these types of things as a necessity for salvation is not only to accept a standard of works that can never be met, but this would also reject Christ and what He has already done for us. So the next time that a fellow Christian family member or friend cannot make it for the Christmas dinner, don’t judge him!

In Galatians 5:13-15 the apostle Paul stresses the fact that we have a moral obligation as Christians to Love. Paul never nullified the Ten Commandments, he affirmed them! Paul’s point is that Christian freedom is freedom from sin, not freedom to sin. Paul teaches Christians that mere outword acts need to be reinterpreted in light of Christ’s work.

As Seventh Day Adventist Christians we agree with the apostle Paul regarding these issues. The true Christian who believes in Jesus Christ will be careful not to get caught up in legalism. True sanctification will be the process to Christian maturity, not legal works.

Written by, Eric W. King [June 5th,2007]

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