Esteeming One Day Above Another

“Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations. For one

believeth that he may eat all things: another, who is weak, eateth herbs. Let not him that

eateth despise him that eateth not; and let not him which eateth not judge him that eateth:

for God hath received him. Who art thou that judgest another man's servant? to his own

master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him

stand. One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let

every man be fully persuaded in his own mind. 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.” (Rom 14:1-6)

Today, I want to use this passage of Scripture to teach concerning the tendency that mod-

ern and ancient religion has, to observe and revere holy days – days that are designated holy by

men. In the text passage, we find the Apostle Paul addressing the Roman Christians about their

religious practices – including the practice of setting up a holy or unholy day. I believe that these

verses that Paul wrote, mainly concern the Jewish holy-days, and whether or not the Christians

should observe these Old Testament Jewish holy-days. It was a question, in his time, whether the

newly converted Gentile Christians should be made (or encouraged) to indulge in the traditional

Jewish sabbaths and holy days. In reality, what is had in view here, is not a question of pagan-

ism, but a question of Judaism. I believe that paganism – and an observance of pagan holy-days

was not under consideration. Indeed, it wasn’t a question of observing pagan holy days – this

would not have been permitted at all. And yet, some use these words of the Apostle Paul as an

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excuse to participate in worldly holidays, or an excuse to exercise Christian liberty in the pursuit

of worldly and secular holidays, perhaps under the guise of some form of religion. I suppose that

we could draw some parallels with today’s Christianity, in that the newly saved Christian may

wonder whether or not he should indulge in, and observe some holy-day that may have both sec-

ular and semi-religious implications.

I want you to know today, that there aren’t any days that have any holiness attached to

them, through the virtue of those days in themselves, nor through what virtue mortal men may

seek to attach to them. Nor should there be special regard given to them, in a spiritual sense. The

first day of the week (Sunday) is the Lord’s Day, because He arose on that day, and the pattern

of gathering together as Churches has been established by Jesus Christ and the early Churches.

Other than the fact that we are expected to gather together with the Churches of Jesus Christ, and

we are expected to commemorate the Lord’s Day, we must admit that all other days, in the Sight

of God, ought to be esteemed equal. Days are days. Weeks are weeks. Months are months. Years

are years. We ought not place any higher value, or any religious significance on any day, season,

month or year – other than the fact that we should redeem the time, and use every day that the

Lord grants us, to serve Him, and give Him the glory and the praise that is due His Name. “This

is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.” (Ps 118:24)

Holy Days

Religions and societies have a tendency to establish “holy days,” “lucky days,” “unlucky

days,” and a general observance of good and bad days – with various attributes or negativities as-

sociated with these particular days. This is outside of the fact that there are typically secular days

that are observed on the civil calendars – such as days of historical commemoration of some sort

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or another; or days associated with important times or seasons in the lunar or solar cycles. How-

ever, none of these days are holy or good in and of themselves. None of these established, sancti-

fied, or instituted days, have any meritorious value, or any redeeming qualities in them.

And yet, men and women will approach certain days (such as Christmas or Easter) with a

religious fervor and zeal, which is hardly ever seen applied to the Lord’s Day, or the days of

worship and service in the Churches of Jesus Christ. “Howbeit then, when ye knew not God,

ye did service unto them which by nature are no gods. But now, after that ye have known

God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements,

whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage? Ye observe days, and months, and times, and

years. I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain.” (Gal 4:8-11)

Charles Spurgeon said, “Among the heathen, there were divers “lucky” and “unlucky”

days; sacred days, and days in which they indulged in sensual excess. They had even “holy”

months and “unholy” months. Now, all that kind of thing is done away with in the case of a

Christian: he is set free from such weak and beggarly superstitions. Among the Jews, there were

certain sacred festivals, times that were more notable than other seasons; but they also were

done away with in Christ. We observe the Christian Sabbath; but beyond that, to the true

believer, there should be no special observance of days, and months, and years. All that is a

return to “the weak and beggarly elements” from which Christ has delivered him. That bondage

is all ended now; but there are some who still “observe days, and months, and times, and

years;” and Paul says to them, “I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labour in

vain.” Every day is holy, every year is holy, to a holy man; and every place is holy, too, to the

man who brings a holy heart into it.” When we look at the pagan religions – both current and

historical – we consider their observance of particular days or months or years as “holy”, or “un-

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holy,” we think them to be nothing more than silly superstitions. And yet, much of Christianity

will indulge in the same types of silly superstitions by attaching (supposed) religious significance

to days that have no Scriptural significance or importance. I am afraid that these silly supersti-

tions war against the truth and the faith which is in Jesus Christ. “Let no man therefore judge

you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath

days: Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ. Let no man beguile

you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those

things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, And not holding the

Head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and

knit together, increaseth with the increase of God. Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ

from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to

ordinances, (Touch not; taste not; handle not; Which all are to perish with the using;) after

the commandments and doctrines of men? Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in

will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body; not in any honour to the satisfying

of the flesh.” (Col 2:16-23) Why would we observe traditions and feasts and days, which are

founded on men’s knowledge and men’s sensual desires, when none of these traditions and feasts

and days will be carried over into Heaven? These are temporal and mortal feasts, which carry no

positive spiritual implications.

Is any day better than another day, in the sense that we can experience more of God, or in

the sense that we can be more spiritual because of that day or that occasion? I believe that the in-

stitution of these holy days, by the decree of societies or religions, is only meant to attract the at-

tention of their followers, and to give them reasons to indulge in the occasions which they pro-

mote. There never was any spiritual value in these days. There never was any saving purpose to

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these days. Even in the case of the Jewish holy days, feast days, and high sabbaths, there was

only a reminder of the relationship that they had with God, and a reminder of the obedience that

they owed unto Him. (These would be done away, for the Christian, in the Person and the Work

of Christ.) In the case of the unsaved, there was absolutely no spiritual importance, and abso-

lutely no spiritual value in these days. In the case of those who were saved, these days were only

occasions where they could openly perform their obedience unto God. There were pictures and

shadows shown in these days. But, a true man of God would be serving God every day, not just

on these holy and high days. God commanded the Jews to observe these days, therefore they

ought to perform their duties. In the New Testament, the time of the Jewish sabbaths and holy

days is over; and, in their place, no new days have been given to us. We have the ordinances of

Baptism and the Lord’s Supper; and we have the public worship that should be observed on the

Lord’s Day. This is it. No other signs or holy days are assigned to us that we might observe

them. Anything else that is introduced into Christianity is far worse than even the introduction of

the Jewish holy days into the worship of the early Christians. Any other day or observance that is

introduced into Christianity, must be man-made, and is an addition to Scriptural worship, and

must, therefore be a perversion of the Word of God and of the proper worship of our Lord and

Saviour, Jesus Christ. Our allegiance and service is unto God, not unto the whims and the plea-

sures of men. “No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love

the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and

mammon.” (Luke 16:13)

Idolatry

The danger of holy days and the introduction of worldly ordinances, is that these things

will progress unto blatant idolatry. Most of the time, we think of “idolatry” as only an Old Testa-

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ment issue, or as a problem which must be dealt with by primitive or heathen societies. However,

idolatry is an attitude – a heinous sin – which is found (and is even rampant) in each and every

generation of men. In reality, “idolatry” exists wherever men and women are engaged in a wor-

ship of anything or anyone, other than the Lord God Who has made us. Merriam-Webster de-

fines idolatry this way: “the worship of a physical object as a god; immoderate attachment or

devotion to something.”

Here we are at the end of December. Here, in this time, much of Christianity is currently

engaged in open idolatry, as they pursue their all too human goals and desires, during this time

known as Christmas. However, this is a time when idolatry reigns in what is widely considered

today’s Christianity. Remember, the Lord God said in the first two commandments, “Thou shalt

have no other gods before me. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any

likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the

water under the earth: Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the

LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto

the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;” (Exod 20:3-5) Don’t try to justify

idolatry in the Sight of God. He is not deceived. He is not pleased by the blatant idolatry observ-

able in Christmas.

John Calvin said, “When certain days are represented as holy in themselves, when one

day is distinguished from another on religious grounds, when holy days are reckoned a part of

divine worship, then days are improperly observed.” History teaches us that the date of Christ-

mas was chosen by the Catholics, based upon the already existing heathen worship of false gods,

which had, as a feast day or high day, the winter solstice in the Northern Hemisphere – the end

of December. Idol (idolatry) has always been a problem with men. We, as human beings, love to

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substitute any god (even ourselves) for the One True God. In ancient times, men would observe

that the days grew shorter until the time of the winter solstice. Then, from that time forward, the

days began to grow longer. Naturally, this became a time of the year when they would worship

and praise their gods – seeking their blessings for the new year. From History.com: “The middle

of winter has long been a time of celebration around the world. Centuries before the arrival of

the man called Jesus, early Europeans celebrated light and birth in the darkest days of winter.

Many peoples rejoiced during the winter solstice, when the worst of the winter was behind them

and they could look forward to longer days and extended hours of sunlight.”

History shows us that men, peoples, societies, and religions would make gods and wor-

ship them to a greater extent at this time of year. And yet, these are all false gods, and they can-

not do any good for these poor, deceived, and wicked men and women. The Psalmist tells us,

“Not unto us, O LORD, not unto us, but unto thy name give glory, for thy mercy, and for

thy truth's sake. Wherefore should the heathen say, Where is now their God? But our God

is in the heavens: he hath done whatsoever he hath pleased. Their idols are silver and gold,

the work of men's hands. They have mouths, but they speak not: eyes have they, but they

see not: They have ears, but they hear not: noses have they, but they smell not: They have

hands, but they handle not: feet have they, but they walk not: neither speak they through

their throat. They that make them are like unto them; so is every one that trusteth in them.

O Israel, trust thou in the LORD: he is their help and their shield.” (Ps 115:1-9)

Long before the concept or the establishment of Christmas at the end of December, the

Scandinavians had their Yule logs that they offered to their false gods. The Germans had the

false god, Oden, who they especially worshipped at this time of year. The Romans set up this day

to worship Saturn, the god of agriculture, or Mithra the god of the sun. Normally the worship de-

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livered to these false gods was based on liquor, feasting, and boisterous merry-making. And yet,

when looking for a day to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, since there was not any date for

Christ’s birth given in the Bible, Pope Julius 1 chose December 25 – probably because this day

coincided with the many pagan feasts which were already being held at this time of year. (Christ-

mas may have been observed under Constantine, but Pope Julius probably made December 25th

official.)

The Lord said, “Hear ye the word which the LORD speaketh unto you, O house of

Israel: Thus saith the LORD, Learn not the way of the heathen, and be not dismayed at the

signs of heaven; for the heathen are dismayed at them. For the customs of the people are

vain: for one cutteth a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman, with

the axe. They deck it with silver and with gold; they fasten it with nails and with hammers,

that it move not. They are upright as the palm tree, but speak not: they must needs be

borne, because they cannot go. Be not afraid of them; for they cannot do evil, neither also

is it in them to do good. Forasmuch as there is none like unto thee, O LORD; thou art great,

and thy name is great in might.” (Jer 10:1-6) This passage seems to be an account of some of

the things that take place around Christmas, such as the cutting and the observing of a Christmas

tree.

I want you to know that heathen ways cannot become heavenly ways. God’s people have

always stood against the heathen ways and the idolatrous practices of the world. Conservative

Christians (such as the Puritans) have always resisted the observance of such pagan and Catholic

holy days. William the Conqueror even banned Christmas in England. The early Puritans in

America did not observe it. Christmas was not a holy day in early America. In fact, any obser-

vance to Christmas was even outlawed in Boston from 1659 to 1681. The debauchery and the

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heathenism of the celebration kept most devout Christians from an observance of it in America

for a number of years. The holy day, though, did gain in favor in the 1800’s, and in 1870, Christ-

mas became a federal holiday. Sadly, by 1870, idolatry was institutionalized; idolatry had be-

come a part of the calendar of Americans. And yet, Baptists, historically, deferred to participate

in this pagan and Catholic holy day or “mass.”

Worldly Compromise

So, we have man-made holy days leading to idolatry in Christianity. Today, we are con-

fronted with a wide-spread acceptance of these things, which oftentimes leads to worldly com-

promise in many Christians. Those who serve the Lord God have always been attacked and beset

by the wiles of the devil, and the distractions of the flesh. Satan’s greatest successes, historically,

have not been when he violently, openly, and physically assaults the people of God; but, rather,

his greatest successes – at least in our day and age, and in recent times – are when he manipu-

lates, coerces, and uses worldly influences, to shape the opinions and the practices of those who

claim to be the children of God and the Churches of Jesus Christ. Christmas is an example of one

of his successes. Sometimes, as human beings and fleshly creatures absorbed in the things of this

world, we look for spiritual or religious reasons to participate in events or happenings which

cater only to the flesh. “No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one,

and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve

God and mammon. And the Pharisees also, who were covetous, heard all these things: and

they derided him. And he said unto them, Ye are they which justify yourselves before men;

but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is

abomination in the sight of God.” (Luke 16:13-15) Christmas is highly esteemed among men.

Doesn’t it strike you as odd, and very atypical, that something holy would be highly esteemed

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among men? I challenge you to consider the nature of Christmas! Men highly esteem it – it can-

not be holy, but is an abomination in the Sight of God.

There is no spiritual value in Christmas! There is no glory that we can give to God by

participating in an event, wholly given over to idolatry, and wholly an invention of pagans! “Be

ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness

with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord

hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what

agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as

God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they

shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the

Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto

you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.” (2Cor 6:14-18)

Here is what you will see if you drive down many of the roads in our country today, in

the Month of December: You will see a Nativity scene and Santa Claus, side by side. You will

see lawn ornaments of Mary and “jesus” alongside ornaments of sleighs and toys. If you go into

a typical religious person’s house, you will find the program from the Christmas play at the local

church lying on the coffee table, right next to the flyer for the latest sales at the department store.

If you go into the church buildings and even into the shopping centers, you will hear voices

singing Joy to the World in one breath, and then Rudolf the Red-nosed Reindeer with the next.

Dear Christian Reader, these things cannot be, in any way, glorifying unto God. In fact, I believe

that we, as Christians, ought to be ashamed if we are involved in this worldly celebration.

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Our text verses reveal to us that the Apostle Paul knew that he had liberty to worship the

Lord. And, his conscience – being edified and informed in the Word and the Will of God – was

not bound to earthly ordinances and earthly holydays. Nor did Judaism any longer govern his

worship of God. And yet, he would not indulge in things or words which would be misconstrued

by those who might hear or behold him. And, he warned his readers against participation in idol-

atry or feasts set up to observe idolatry. “All things are lawful for me, but all things are not

expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not. Let no man seek his own,

but every man another's wealth. Whatsoever is sold in the shambles, that eat, asking no

question for conscience sake: For the earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof. If any of

them that believe not bid you to a feast, and ye be disposed to go; whatsoever is set before

you, eat, asking no question for conscience sake. But if any man say unto you, This is

offered in sacrifice unto idols, eat not for his sake that shewed it, and for conscience sake:

for the earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof: Conscience, I say, not thine own, but of

the other: for why is my liberty judged of another man's conscience? For if I by grace be a

partaker, why am I evil spoken of for that for which I give thanks? Whether therefore ye

eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God. Give none offence, neither to

the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God: Even as I please all men in all

things, not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved.” (1Cor

10:23-33) You may think that your Christian liberty allows you to indulge in Christmas or any

number of other earthly pleasures. But, I want you to know that Christian liberty unbounded by a

study and growth in the Scriptures, only means that you are ignorant of the truth, and that which

you condone is still sin, whether you know it (or admit it) or not. In other words, ignorance or

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blindness are not excuses to indulge in sin – and to use Christian liberty as an excuse, only com-

pounds the error, and is likely to draw others into the sin after you.

Instead, let us seek to indulge the spiritual man. Let us seek to please God rather than the

flesh. Our Christian liberty ought to draw us further into spiritual pleasures and further into the

obedience of the Word of God. “And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of

the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.” (Col 3:17) If your conscience

is convinced that you can glorify Christ and the Father by participating in Christmas, then you

can do so. But, I will tell you now, that, according to Scripture and according to the beliefs and

practices of our forefathers, you are in the wrong. The only reason your conscience may not be

offended, is because you have not studied, and you have not grown in the Lord like you should.

Conclusion

I pray that God would give us the strength to cast away the idols that attract our atten-

tions. I pray that God would give us the wisdom and the boldness to turn to Him – to proclaim

Him and His Qualities as the basis for our salvation. The world (and much of Christianity) want

to use imagery of Christ as a babe in a manger in order to attract the attentions of men. Or, they

want to use imagery of a pleading Saviour on a cross to attract the attentions of men. Or, they

want to use feasts and celebrations to attract the attentions (and the devotion) of men. But this is

not the Scriptural pattern; this is not the way of salvation.

I pray that God would give us strength to flee from idolatry and worldly compromise.

Our salvation – our only hope – is in the Lord Jesus Christ. If we trust only in Him, He will be

gracious to us; He will use us in His service; He will give us the pleasures and joys associated

with the knowledge and the presence of Jesus Christ.

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“O Israel, return unto the LORD thy God; for thou hast fallen by thine iniquity.

Take with you words, and turn to the LORD: say unto him, Take away all iniquity, and

receive us graciously: so will we render the calves of our lips. Asshur shall not save us; we

will not ride upon horses: neither will we say any more to the work of our hands, Ye are our

gods: for in thee the fatherless findeth mercy. I will heal their backsliding, I will love them

freely: for mine anger is turned away from him. I will be as the dew unto Israel: he shall

grow as the lily, and cast forth his roots as Lebanon. His branches shall spread, and his

beauty shall be as the olive tree, and his smell as Lebanon. They that dwell under his

shadow shall return; they shall revive as the corn, and grow as the vine: the scent thereof

shall be as the wine of Lebanon. Ephraim shall say, What have I to do any more with idols?

I have heard him, and observed him: I am like a green fir tree. From me is thy fruit found.

Who is wise, and he shall understand these things? prudent, and he shall know them? for

the ways of the LORD are right, and the just shall walk in them: but the transgressors shall

fall therein.” (Hos 14:1-9)

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