My son asked, "Which is the most important holiday?"
I replied, "I don't understand what you mean son?"
Then he elaborated, "Which holiday is most important to God?"
As I thought about it for a minute, I had to say, "None of them. God doesn't care about these holidays. He cares about how we live every day. Are we obeying Him every day and living for Him every day? These 'holidays' are created by man and for man, based on what he thinks should be commemorated."
"That's not true!" he said. "Thanksgiving is about God and being thankful for God, so that is an important holiday."
"Where did you hear that? At School?" I asked him. "Is Thanksgiving in the Bible? Is Christmas? Is Halloween?" I told him that if he wants to know what is most important to God, then he needs to look to God's word.
I also explained how Thanksgiving came to be; that people from England came here, but the long voyage and subsequent harsh winter caused half of them to die within the first 6 months. I shared how the Native Americans living here taught them how to live off the land and grow crops, which was essential to their survival. So we acknowledge as the first Thanksgiving the autumn harvest feast they had as a result of those crops. I also of course shared how European settlers later branded Native Americans as savages, drove them from their lands, and slaughtered many of them almost to the point of extinction. Happy Turkey Day indeed!
Some might call me Scrooge and say, "Why not just say 'Bah, humbug!'? What is wrong with the boy wanting to incorporate God into the holidays?"
Well, God wouldn't have to be incorporated into something if it was from Him to begin with, right? Doesn't the fact that we have to "put God" into the holiday demonstrate that it is not His 'holy day'? Why do Christians feel the need to Christianize that which is not from God, but from the world?
As for my son, it would be a grave error to let him believe the falsehood that these days are commanded of God or are even for His honor. It would be of great spiritual harm for me to let him think that he is "pleasing God" by observing certain holidays. Such an attitude is the groundwork for a religious mindset; believing that outward performance and adherence to man-made traditions is what God is after. What pleases God is a heart yielded to Him in all things. If such is not the case, then even our holy days set apart to Him become a stench in His nostrils.
"I hate, I despise your feast days, and I will not smell in your solemn assemblies. Though ye offer me burnt offerings and your meat offerings, I will not accept them: neither will I regard the peace offerings of your fat beasts. Take thou away from me the noise of thy songs; for I will not hear the melody of thy viols. But let judgment run down as waters, and righteousness as a mighty stream." Amos 5:21-24
Did we have a turkey dinner on Thanksgiving day? Yes we did. We even went around in prayer and discussed what we were each thankful for. But such does not make us Christian nor does such make us acceptable to God. Yet for many, taking part in these days is akin to a patriotic or even religious duty. It is almost like you are unAmerican or unChristian if you do not participate. I have had women at the mall prepared to beat me down because we never lied to our children by saying Santa Clause is real. Even "holidays" can become idols to us.
Just because the world wants to reconstitute worldly celebrations as being 'of God' does not make them so. The world likes to use God when it is convenient so that He can be commercialized. We allow the world to make merchandise of us when we buy into that mindset (Revelation 18:12-13). God doesn't care whether we sit around the table with family once a year to remember why we are thankful. He isn't pleased because we put up lights around the house and decorate a tree. He is not moved because we put on our 'Sunday Best' to go to a Church service on Easter.
This is not about legalism. If you want to set apart a day (or days) in honor unto the Lord, then do so in faith (Romans 14:5-6; Colossians 2:16-17). However, don't be misled into thinking that such is what God is after. God is looking for a broken spirit and a contrite heart every day (Psalm 51:17; Psalm 34:18). It is through such vessels that He can pour in Himself and make His life seen by all. Unlike man, God doesn't look at outward appearance; God looks at the heart.
"Bring no more vain oblations; incense is an abomination unto me; the new moons and sabbaths, the calling of assemblies, I cannot away with; it is iniquity, even the solemn meeting. Your new moons and your appointed feasts my soul hateth: they are a trouble unto me; I am weary to bear them.
And when ye spread forth your hands, I will hide mine eyes from you: yea, when ye make many prayers, I will not hear: your hands are full of blood. Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil; Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow.
Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land: But if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it." Isaiah 1:13-20
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