Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Ephesians 5:15-16
When we learn how to make the best use of our time, we use time itself as an act of worship. What we do with each moment, each hour, each day and each week. How we order our months and seasons and years, and life, and beyond. It is all an act of worship.
God prescribed to Israel how He wanted them to keep time. What can we learn from them?
It turns out, there are basically three ways for Christ’s followers to keep time.
For example, in our secular calendar, we count and celebrate anniversaries of births. In the church calendar, we mark anniversaries of deaths (martyrdom). In the Jewish calendar, we count age in years, but live in seasonal cycles.
Another example: In the Jewish calendar, months are marked by moons and seasons. As such, they are not completely accurate (they experience a “leap month” every seven years or so, as an example). In the church calendar, Christmas is a fixed date (12-25), while Easter is a fixed day of the week (Sunday), so there is some ebb and flow from year to year as to how long “ordinary time” lasts. Following the secular calendar, dates are mostly specific dates (July 4), though some national holidays are always on a Monday (Labor Day) or Thursday (thanksgiving).
God originated the Jewish feasts as a way to keep time and to sanctify it. I grew up in a Protestant/Free church, where we followed a secular calendar, using the secular calendar as a touchstone for evangelism. As a student, I learned about the cycle of worship in the liturgical calendar. All three have certain advantages, and certain challenges. But I don’t want to live with three calendars. So let’s do some comparisons.
Let’s talk about the features of each, and see what model makes the most sense for you. As a follower of Christ, which of the three calendars seems to be best for “worship?” Which seems best for “family?” Which seems best for “evangelism?” Which is best for making disciples, who will make other disciples (i.e., lead to maturity)?
THE JEWISH FEASTS
The year is built around re-enacting the great grace acts of God among His chosen people. All were initiated by God and commended and described by Him.
1. Who started it? It was ordained by God (unless you count Hanukkah and Purim).
2. When does the year begin? In the spring, when the first barley sheaves are harvested. (Passover)
3. What are the major holidays? Passover. Pentecost. Tabernacles.
4. What is the focus of the year? Re-enacting aspects of the deliverance of God from Egypt (the Exodus Event).
5. What happens with each holiday? Reenact Exodus event, gather family in home, feast, offer sacrifice.
Passover Feast: kill and eat lamb, spread blood above door, eat in haste.
Feast of Unleavened Bread: Week-long deep cleaning of house and personal life to rid of leaven/sin.
Feast of First Fruits: Offering to God the first of the harvest.
Feast of Pentecost: Fifty days after Passover, gather in Jerusalem to celebrate the giving of the Law.
Feast of Trumpets: A holy convocation and solemn rest, 10 days before Atonement.
Day of Atonement: Repent, animal sacrifice, high priest enters Most Holy Place for people.
Feast of Weeks: Five days after Atonement, live 7 days in temporary shelters, reenact sojourning pilgrims.
6. Relationship to Christ? Christ fulfills all of the feasts: Christ is our Passover lamb; Christ leads us to sincere holiness; Christ is first to be raised, and we will follow; Holy Spirit now who teaches directly; Christ will return with trumpet, Christ brings us into the holiest place; Christ will be our permanent home with God.
7. Who leads, is the focus? Father led, adult focus.
8. When do you rest? Saturdays (Friday sundown to Saturday sundown), plus the feasts.
THE CHURCH CALENDAR
1. Who started it? It has been modified by man. Old church fathers merged the Jewish calendar with ancient secular calendars to “sanctify” time.
2. When does the year begin? In late November, four Sundays before December 25. (Advent)
3. What are the major holidays? Advent/Christmas, Lent/Easter/Pentecost
4. What is the focus of the year? Solemn penitence, followed by reenacting aspects of the Christ event. Anniversaries of deaths.
5. What happens with each holiday? Assemble at church, read, sing, pray, Eucharist, bless, leave.
Advent: Read prophecies of His coming and repent in preparation for His second coming.
Christmas Eve: Solemn vigil reenacting birth of Christ, receive Communion.
Epiphany: Wise men saw the light, and Christ began His public ministry.
Ordinary time: The life and teachings of Christ are celebrated.
Lent: Starts with Ash Wednesday. Forty days of remembering Christ’s Passion through penitence. No “Hallelujah”
Holy Week: Each day focuses on an aspect of the final Passion of Christ,
Maundy Thursday: Receive Holy Communion in remembrance of the Last Supper (which was Passover).
Good Friday: Penitential sabbath honoring the Crucifixion of Christ.
Holy Saturday: Day of rest honoring burial of Christ and anticipating resurrection.
Easter Sunday: Vigil leading to early morning Communion and return of “hallelujah” and singing.
Ordinary time: Seven weeks of focus on His appearings.
Pentecost Sunday: Celebrate birthday of the church.
Ordinary time: The life of the church in Christ is celebrated.
6. Relationship to Christ? Christ’s coming was predicted; Christ came to enter into us; Christ is light of the world; Christ is the Word of God; Christ bore our sins; Christ rose from the dead; Christ led the way to heaven; Christ will return.
7. Who leads, is the focus? Priest/pastor led, believer focus.
8. When do you rest? Sundays (The Lord’s Day functions as Christian Sabbath)
THE SECULAR CALENDAR
1. Who started it? It Originates with man. Major events that affect a culture have marked the year.
2. When does the year begin? The first of January (many begin the year with the first day of school, around Labor Day)
3. What are the major holidays? New Year’s Day, Easter, Memorial Day, summer “break”, Labor Day, Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, the holiday “break”.
4. What is the focus of the year? Remembering a significant event or person(s) through feasting and purchasing gifts. Anniversaries of births.
5. What happens with each holiday? Send cards, give gifts, eat meals, indulge, sell products.
New Year’s Eve: Drinking, partying and resolutions.
New Year’s Day: Sobering up and watching football.
Martin Luther King Day: Not much, in the white community.
Valentine’s Day: Buy diamond jewelry, eat out, card.
St Patrick’s Day: Parade, green beer. Otherwise not much.
Easter/Spring Break: Go on a trip.
Opening Day: Parade, baseball game.
Mother’s Day: Flowers, church, dinner, card.
Memorial Day: decorate a grave, patriotic ceremony.
Summer Break: sports, vacations.
July 4th: fireworks.
Birthday: Gifts, cake, meal, card.
Anniversary: Trip, meal, card.
Labor Day: Day off.
9-11: Patriotic ceremony, if significant date.
Halloween: decorate home, scare people, adult parties.
Thanksgiving: extended family meals.
Black Friday: shop (for Christmas).
Cyber Monday: shop (for Christmas).
Christmas Eve: Santa Claus comes down the chimney with toys and gifts.
Christmas: Travel, exchange gifts, mail cards.
6. Relationship to Christ? None, unless you make it so.
7. Who leads/ is the focus? Families, friends.
8. When do you rest. Saturday AND Sunday, vacations, and secular holidays that provide days off.