Short Answer: Why don't Christians celebrate Jewish holidays?

Dear Apologist, why don’t Christians celebrate Jewish holidays?

For most Christians it is perfectly obvious why we don’t celebrate Muslim or Hindu holidays. However, the matter becomes more confusing when we look at Jewish holidays. The Christian faith grew out of the Judaism, therefore we renounce none of it. However, there is evidence in the New Testament itself that the first Christians were already neglecting the Jewish holy days. In his letter to the Colossians, Saint Paul assures his readers:

“Let no one pass judgment on you with regard to a festival or new moon or Sabbath. These are shadows of things to come; the reality belongs to Christ” - Col 2:16

In other words, there were Christians at the time who were insisting we still have a duty to keep observe Jewish holidays. Paul replied, “No we don’t.” The core reason why we don’t celebrate these festivals is contained in Paul statement at the close of that verse; “These were shadows of things to come, the reality belongs to Christ.”

Consider the holiday Yom Kippur, the annual Jewish day of atonement. As Christians we have a day of atonement. It was Good Friday – the original one – when Christ atoned for the sins of the world. What Christ did on the cross made Yom Kippur obsolete. What’s more, to celebrate it as a Christian today could be viewed as a statement that Christ did not sufficiently atone for our sins. What about Hanukkah? Hanukkah celebrates the dedication of the Temple in Jerusalem. Now, the Temple was the place where God's presence dwelt in a special way. But the New Testament tells us the Temple was always pointing forward to Jesus, who identified His own body as the Temple. And wouldn't you know it, Christians have analogous feasts in the form of the presentation of Jesus and the Baptism of Jesus.

How about Passover? Passover involved the sacrifice of a lamb and the eating of unleavened bread. Saint Paul says Jesus Christ is our Passover lamb and we celebrate our Passover at the Mass. [1Cor 5:7]

One could go down the list of all the Jewish holidays and do this. They were signs pointing forward to their fulfillment in Christ. The early Christians who abandoned these festivals did so for very intentional theological reasons.

Short Answer: An Analogy for Grace

A while ago a student asked me:

What is grace? What do we mean when we say that word?"

It was a great question.  Sometimes it helps to slow down and see if we actually know the meaning of the words we’re saying.

The problem is there really is no clean way to answer that question.  It’s like trying to explain the meaning of “love” or “beauty”.  Even the Bible does not stop and define what exactly “grace” is.

So today I wanted to look at the answer in the Catechism.  Then I’ll give the analogy to answer the student’s inquiry.

Short Answer: Is it OK to Kill Baby Hitler?

Dear Apologist, Recently a major pro-life presidential candidate said he would have killed Hitler as a baby.  Would that be right?

Short Answer: Are our good works really "dirty rags" before God?

Dear Apologist, I was told all of our good works are "dirty rags" before God.  What does that mean?

Short Answers: Male Priesthood and Calling Priests "Father"

Dear Apologist, Why is it that only men can be priests?  Is that rule changeable?   

Short Answers: Jesus Descended into Hell?

Dear Apologist, Why does the Apostles Creed say that Jesus “descended into hell”?

The Apostles Creed is an ancient Christian statement of belief which predates the Nicene Creed.   A Catholic is most likely to encounter it when praying the Rosary, as it is recited at the beginning.  Certain translations of the Apostles Creed say:

“[Jesus] suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried.  He descended into hell and on the third day he rose again from the dead.”  

This part of the creed is a reference to 1Peter 3:18-19, which describes Jesus dying and visiting imprisoned spirits.  The use of the word “hell” - and the prospect of Jesus going there - has confused many English-speaking people into thinking the Son became estranged from the Father and temporarily suffered the plight of the damned.

The reason for this confusion is a mixture of translation choices and the evolution of the English language.  The original Greek says that Jesus went to “Hades”.  Readers in ancient times would have been familiar with Hades being the abode of the dead, the underworld.  It was thought of as a place where the spirits of the deceased dwelt, but not a place of torment.  That word “hades” was translated into Middle English as “hel”.  This word originally had the exact same neutral connotation as “hades”.

However, over time our conception of the word “hell” changed to refer only to the place of eternal punishment and separation from God.  It would be impossible for Jesus, who was God, to experience such a thing.  Thus, some modern translations of the creed now say Jesus “descended to the dead”.  This rendition is friendlier to modern audiences and conveys the correct meaning.

Short Answers: It's the End of the World!

Dear Apologist, What is the rapture?  And what do Catholics believe about the end of the world? 

Short Answer: The Resurrection

Dear Apologist, How do I defend the historicity of Christ's resurrection?

Short Answers: Repetitive Prayers and the Intercession of Saints

Dear Apologist, I was told that Jesus doesn’t want us to pray repetitious prayers like the Rosary. Is that true?

Short Answers: The ethics of In-Vitro-Fertilization.

Dear Apologist, Why would the Church oppose invitro-fertilization if it helps married couples have a baby? 

In-vitro-Fertilization (IVF) refers to a procedure whereby human embryos are created in a lab and implanted directly into a woman’s womb.  This process is commonly used to assist couples who are struggling to conceive a child naturally.  The Catholic Church nonetheless condemns the use of IVF as gravely evil.  [CCC 2371-2379].  Many argue that since God cooperates with the IVF process by bringing a new human soul into existence, this shows divine approval.  This argument does not work.  Children can also come into existence through a variety of evil acts – (we need not list them) – but no one would argue that those acts are morally licit on that basis.   Therefore, we must look deeper into what IVF does.

There are three main issues.  First, the Church recognizes that God has created a natural order by which children come into existence in the marital act between two spouses.  Children have the right to come into existence in this way.  Second, while a couple’s desire – even desperation - to have a child is understandable, no one has the RIGHT to a child.  They are gifts from God, but the IVF industry perpetuates the attitude that children are a commodity which can be manufactured.

Lastly, and most importantly, a couple who successfully uses IVF typically does not have only one new child.  The process typically creates multiple embryos, most of which are never implanted.  Those embryos, which are living human souls, are typically kept frozen.   While the Church would certainly not cast doubt on the dignity of a child who was born as a result of IVF, recognizing the equal humanity of the children kept on ice demands that the procedure be condemned.

Two Short Answers to Pro-file Questions: "Pro-Choice" vs "Pro-Abortion", and The Case of Dangerous Pregnancies

Today I thought I'd cover two questions on the Western world's most debated issue:

Short Answer: Infant Baptism in the Bible?

Dear Apologist, How do I defend our practice of Baptizing infants from Scripture?

Short Answer: What Does the Catholic Church Teach Regarding How People are Saved?

Dear Apologist, What is the Catholic perspective on how a person is saved?

Short Answer: What is the Difference Between Divorce and Annulment?

Dear Apologist, what is the difference between divorce and annulment?

Short Answer: The Popes and Slavery

Dear Apologist, Did the Popes approve of slavery during the colonial era?

Short Answer: The Church and Just War

Dear Apologist, What does the Church teach about the justifiability of war?