“Christianity Today” Advises Lent, After Acknowledging Holy Day Calendar

The inappropriately named “Christianity Today” has several articles that endorse the Catholic holiday of Lent. But one started off fairly interestingly that I would like to quote here:

While Israel’s neighbors celebrated the cycle of seasons as shadows of the realm of the gods, Israel celebrated the interventions of God in historical events of judgment and deliverance. The major feasts include Passover, Firstfruits (Pentecost), the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur), and Tabernacles (Sukkot). In commanding these feasts, God was incorporating them into his unfolding drama, anchored in his promises and their future fulfillment in Christ.

Unlike the Old Testament, however, the New Testament does not prescribe a church calendar…

Lent is a 40-day preparation for the observance of Christ’s passion and Easter. http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2010/february/15.55.html

Notice that Christianity Today acknowledges that the “church calendar” is clear in the Old Testament. And while it misunderstands the New Testament, if it would have paid enough attention to it, it would have realized that Jesus and the apostles (including Paul) observed the same “church calendar” in the New Testament.

Furthermore, since Christianity Today acknowledges that “superstitions” are attached the observance of Lent, perhaps it should have reported that even the Church of Rome did not formally adopt the 40 day Lenten observance until centuries AFTER Jesus and His original disciples died.

No forty day lenten period followed by a Sunday Easter was observed by the early Church. The biblical holy days, however, like Passover were.

Those who want more details on this may wish to check out the following documented articles:

Is Lent a Christian Holiday? When did it originate? What about Ash Wednesday? If you observe them, do you know why?
Did Early Christians Celebrate Easter? If not, when did this happen? What do scholars and the Bible reveal?
Is There “An Annual Worship Calendar” In the Bible? This paper provides a biblical and historical critique of several articles, including one by WCG which states that this should be a local decision. What do the Holy Days mean? Also you can click here for the calendar of Holy Days.
Passover and the Early Church Did the early Christians observe Passover? What did Jesus and Paul teach? Why did Jesus die for our sins?
Melito’s Homily on the Passover This is one of the earliest Christian writings about the Passover. This also includes what Apollinaris wrote on the Passover as well.
The Night to Be Observed What is the night to be much observed? When is it? Why do Jews keep Passover twice and emphasize the wrong date?
Should Christians Keep the Days of Unleavened Bread? Do they have any use or meaning now? What is leaven? This article supplies some biblical answers.
Holy Day Calendar This is a listing of the biblical holy days through 2012, with their Roman calendar dates. They are really hard to observe if you do not know when they occur 🙂