Can’t men give glory to God by creating holidays?
Question:
I am a little confused by Holiday Observances. So are we not supposed to think of religion when celebrating Easter or Christmas or holidays like that? Is it bad to associate the Bible with holidays?
Answer:
The problem is that these are not what God asked of men. Men made them up to satisfy their own desires.
"Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, For this is man's all. For God will bring every work into judgment, Including every secret thing, Whether good or evil" (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14).
"Do not add to His words, Lest He rebuke you, and you be found a liar" (Proverbs 30:6).
Question:
But aren't we supposed to glorify and praise God every chance we get, all the time, even if he did not command us to do it in a specific way? So if we relate Christ's birth to Christmas and his rising to Easter, etc. won't he be proud of us for those reasons? Are men not supposed to make anything to satisfy our needs, enjoyment, or entertainment? What about toys, audiobooks, books, computers, etc.?
Answer:
Read I Samuel 15. When you get to verse 15, realize that your argument is the same kind that Saul used.
"I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed. For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I still pleased men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ" (Galatians 1:6-10).
Religion is defined by God, not man. There is nothing wrong with celebrations like Independence Day or other festivals. You can give gifts, or whatever. But when the man-made is done in the name of God, claiming to give God glory; well, it does nothing more than glorify the man who came up with the innovation. Glory is given to God when we do things His way.
"If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen" (I Peter 4:11).
Question:
Still, shouldn't we try and do things to praise and glorify God? When we do this on Christmas and Easter it is just doing it in a special way, even though we should praise and glorify God every day, but it is just a special way of doing this on those days?
Answer:
I'm not trying to be argumentative. I'm trying to help you see that a person trying to tell God what He ought to like is backward, even when it is done with good intentions.
"Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?' And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!'" (Matthew 7:21-23).
