When I was a Catholic we practiced what was called; "holy days of obligation." These were days the Catholic church said we must attend or be in danger of mortal sin. There was no sense of deep abiding love in the days of obligation.
How would you feel if someone came to visit you and began reciting a special saying, every time the same saying over and over again?
Did you know protestants and other evangelicals practice this same mentality and don't even know they do?
Many evangelicals and other Christians have their designated time of worship, usually in a gathering on Sunday. They feel insecure if they fail to get to one of these meetings on the designated days. I have even heard a preacher say; "for those who cannot worship because of this lockdown", as though the only "place" a person can worship is with a designated pastor at a designated building. This just tells us that Christians do not have an understanding of worship, it doesn't have to be in a special building nor with certain people.
Romans 14:5-6, “One person esteems one day above another; another esteems every day alike. Let each be fully convinced in his own mind. He who observes the day, observes it to the Lord; and he who does not observe the day, to the Lord he does not observe it. He who eats, eats to the Lord, for he gives God thanks; and he who does not eat, to the Lord he does not eat, and gives God thanks.”
Did you know that families practice this same mentality when it comes to holidays? Many people feel strange if they don't do the holidays that everyone else is doing. Not because they are mandated by God but because they are familiar and a big part of their tradition.
Colossians 2:8
"See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ."
There are many adult children who make sure to remember their parent's birthdays, as well as fathers' and mothers' days but, have no honor or respect for them. They do not value their wisdom, the children elevate themselves as superior over the one who bore and raised them, as though now the parent has no value in their lives.
How do we know whether there is honor or respect for parents, it quite simple, the children value and enjoy their parents all year long without a special day to do it. When we are treated with kindness, difference, empathy and appreciation that is honoring to the parent. When someone visits us out of obligation we feel it would be better not to visit at all than to be treated like a project one must finish but has no interest in. This is how God feels when we treat worship as a time to "get it over with" so that we can get on with things they really like to do.
A child who honors their parents enjoys listening to their wisdom, even seeking them out to hear their thoughts. The child who loves their parent spends time with them because they enjoy them.
To argue with parents, demean their ideas and their choices that are not sin is to devalue them is dishonoring.
The holidays today smack of the Catholic "holy days of obligation" in which people gratify themselves by doing things that enhance their own experience. It has little to do with the person for whom they are doing them. The self-righteous and superior person avoids the guilt placed on them by the culture if they were to do nothing.
All of these festive days for father's and mother's and other holidays (holy-days) were created by man in modern times, leaving a burden on those who enjoy and value their parents but have not been indoctrinated to believe these things must be done.
All the man-made holidays are a distraction from God as well as a burden to those who do not see the value in them.
A good test of this is to ask someone who practices these special days to do them on a different day from everyone else and don't call it by its cultural designated name. Most would not be able to do this, they need to be counted among the others as being a part of something.
Many are so indoctrinated into these holidays that people feel guilty if they neglect them. They even worry that someone will be offended if they forget or don't have time. Even if they show value to the parent throughout the week they sense pressure to do this one thing on this one day.
Wouldn't it be wonderful to hear our children say; "I am no longer going to send you a mother's day card, instead I am going to honor and value you every day of the year." Perhaps they would say; "I want to know your thoughts", or "what do you think about this or that."
There are many days of obligation in our culture that have no other purpose than meaningless ritual causing the doer of them to feel good about themselves but have no love.
Matthew 24:12 "12 Because of the multiplication of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold."
2 Timothy 3:1-5 "3 But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come.
2 For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy,
3 unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good,
4 treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,
5 holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; Avoid such men as these."
Verse 5 says it all: "holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power."
God wants our honor, respect, and obedience every day of our lives, not one day a week or on special man-made holidays.
Think about it!!!!
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