Church of God News

COGwriter

Hospital emergency rooms are preparing for this weekend:

Emergency rooms preparing for busy New Year’s Eve

Erin Allday, Chronicle Staff Writer

Tuesday, December 27, 2011

Bay Area doctors and emergency workers are bracing for what’s likely to be the busiest weekend of the year.

New Year’s Eve is typically loaded with alcohol-fueled deaths and injuries, and the coming celebration will probably be worse than most years because it falls on a Saturday, giving revelers a full day of partying and, presumably, a full day of recovery.  http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/12/26/BA0G1MFED5.DTL#ixzz1hkD6iWJY

Did you know that not only was this New Year’s eve and day were not observed by early true Christians?

New Year’s day did not become a holy day for the Roman Catholic Church until 487 A.D. when it was declared to be the Feast of the Circumcision (though it may have been also observed in the fourth century, but other sources suggest eighth century or later dates). The fact is that the December 25-January 1 period was originally a time for partying and honoring the sun and various pagan gods. Modern people seem to ignore that, just like some unfaithful “Christians” did in the third century.

The Bible, however, does explain when the year is to begin, and it is NOT in the middle of the Winter:

2 This month shall be your beginning of months; it shall be the first month of the year to you … 6 the fourteenth day of the same month… 11 It is the LORD’s Passover (Exodus 12:2,6,11).

God’s year begins in the Spring. Notice also some of the activities that are condemned in the New Testament:

12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. 13 Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy. 14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts. (Romans 13:12-14)

A night of drunken revelry is not a Christian holiday and should not be observed by the faithful.  But since most are not faithful, hospitals are preparing for problems.

Three articles of related interest may include:

Is January 1st a Date for Christians Celebrate? Historical and biblical answers to this question about the world’s New Year’s day.

What Does the Catholic Church Teach About Christmas and the Holy Days? Do you know what the Catholic Church says were the original Christian holy days? Was Christmas among them?

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.