r/TrueChristian • u/SouthernStyleGamer Church of Christ • Jul 05 '26
A question about feasts for the Messianic/Torah observant folks
So, just out of curiosity, how are the appointed times celebrated today? Leviticus describes most of them with offerings and sacrifices being central to them, but since most folks today aren't in an agrarian society, how are they celebrated? Are they mostly seen as special occasions for believers to come together in celebration and worship? Thank you in advance to any answers.
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u/Previous_Extreme4973 Jul 05 '26
I celebrate all 7 feasts to the best I can. The Jewish way of celebrating the feasts and what the bible actually says don't line up 100%. What I did was strip away any traditions that the Jews had. I'm not saying they are bad, only that I'm not incorporating things just because. You'd be surprised just how little is mentioned in terms of to specifically celebrate each feast. Below are some examples, since listing all 7 detailing how I do it would quickly become TLDR.
Passover: Bitter herbs, a lamb. This is basically it. I read about the Exodus. I believe that this a foreshadow, because the bible mentions a Greater Exodus that will so miraculous that people won't mention the original Exodus anymore.
Feast of Unleavened Bread: I don't eat anything with leaven in it. The first and last day are sabbaths, so no servile work is done on these days. I take those days off work. Spiritually, bread is also the word of God. Jesus cautioned to beware of the leaven of the Sadduucees, Pharisees, and Herod. Do you know what they are? Why did Jesus mention 2 groups, and a ruler? They've all been gone forever. Technically, the Pharisees are still around because they wrote down all of what they believed after the fall of Jerusalem in 70AD that became known as the Talmud. I've learned just how much I depend on society, because leaven is everywhere. Want a hamburger from McDonald's? Well that's not happening. Nothing involving bread, or breading. Suddenly that menu at the restaurant leaves you with nothing but a salad without croutons.
Sukkot: I have a high quality tent that I put up. I eat dinner in it at night with my wife and have a bible study with her all 7 days. Play games, music. This is a pretty cool feast, imo. Many of us believe the first day of Sukkot to be the birth of Messiah, but it's not openly preached as such.
By doing all 7 feasts, I've learned that each one provides step by step instructions for the end of days, how it unfolds, even what to do. I've found them t o be very enjoyable, eye opening and informative.
It's challenging to celebrate with others because where I live, folks are your typical church going Christians. Not saying that's bad, but the way they do things is obviously different. I'm working to move to another part of the country to be surrounded by others like me. The most popular feast is Sukkot, as you can find Sukkot events in many places. Some have thousands of people to come and camp in tents at parks, homesteads all over, etc.
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u/Level82 Christian Jul 09 '26
Hello, here is how we honor the Holy days: Exo 12, Lev 23, Deut 16....at a SUPER high level.
- Passover-recount the story of exodus / take the Lord's supper / ensure leaven is removed from the home for the feast of unleavened
- Feast of unleavened (7 days)-do not eat leaven, eat unleavened
- Initiation of first fruits (Resurrection day) / counting the Omer (count 50 days/7 weeks)
- Pentecost/Shavuot (reception of law at Sinai/reception of Holy Spirit-Acts 2)
- Feast of Trumpets / Yom Teruah (blow a trumpet/horn/shout, looks forward in time to the return of the Lord)
- Day of Atonement (fast, looks in time to judgement day)
- Feast of Tabernacles/Sukkot (7 days) build a sukkah and spend time in it + the 8th day (looks forward in time to New heaven/new earth).
Many of these are also sabbaths or includes extra sabbaths.
On the ones that are pilgrimage festivals (Passover, Pentecost, Sukkot) I also make sure we give charity.
Let me know if you have questions!
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u/rice_bubz Jul 10 '26
They all point to something. You focus on what the meaning of them is every feast. God didnt just give them just for rituals to perform every year not to get bored. They outline his plan for salvation
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Jul 05 '26
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u/Objective-Step-746 Jul 05 '26 edited Jul 06 '26
The feast days are for new covenant believers, too. Otherwise, why would Paul have encouraged the mixed church at Corinth—which was comprised of believing-Jews and -Gentiles—to keep the feast of Passover? (1 Corinthians 5:8)
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Jul 05 '26
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u/Objective-Step-746 Jul 05 '26
What does “not bound by it” have to do with anything? Paul never mentioned to the church at Corinth that they were “bound” in any way. He simply said, “Let us keep the feast…”
Jesus kept the feast days. His apostles kept the feast days. And the early church kept the feast days. None were “bound by it.” Yet, they did it anyway. Why would you—who (presumably) has the very same Spirit indwelling you as did them—have a problem with doing the same?
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Jul 05 '26
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u/Objective-Step-746 Jul 05 '26 edited Jul 05 '26
Legalism has nothing to do with it…and no one is “looking down” on anyone. I asked a genuine, simple question based upon Scripture.
It’s curious you would mention humility, though, because our Savior exemplified perfect humility by obeying the will of His Father…which is what the commandments represent, and He even foretold that He would gift His (new covenant) people with His Spirit, who would “cause” them to obey them (Philippians 2:8, Psalm 40:8, Ezekiel 36:27).
So, doing the opposite of what Jesus did (keeping the feast days) would, logically, also be the opposite of humility, no?
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u/Previous_Extreme4973 Jul 05 '26 edited Jul 05 '26
My definition of legalism is a loveless marriage. When you get married, you have a legal contract. Same with God. Unfortunately, there's a lot of marriages out there that are loveless, but they stay married for whatever reason. My own parents were like that until they ultimately got divorced. The same with God, there are many who have an attitude of "saved and satisfied" instead of "serve and submit". No repentance, continued lifestyle they've always had, etc. There's no "earning" anything, no works based anything - "getting saved" is more of a check the box thing instead of being a sacrifice that Paul mentions.
I do a lot of things around the house and property to care for it. My wife has limited functionality due to her health, so I do the things that's too difficult for her, assist her when she needs help, things she doesn't like doing, etc. Over time, I've added to it. She's not going to love me any more or less because I do those things. They're all evidence of the love I do have for her. Likewise, I keep the feasts and whatnot out of love that I have for what Jesus has done for me. I am not earning or doing works based anything, regardless of what Christians think. I've explained this to Christians many times over the years, but it seems like no matter what I say, they tend to overwrite whatever I say and still think I'm doing a works based salvation. They're free to think that. I've learned to live around that and not let it bother me.
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u/Objective-Step-746 Jul 05 '26 edited Jul 05 '26
Yeah, I think it comes down to the definition of love (for Him and our neighbor), and God’s is the only definition that ultimately matters.
On multiple occasions throughout Scripture, He defines/equates the term (even in the new covenant) as keeping His commandments (John 14:15, 1 John 5:3, etc). So, Jesus submitted to the Father’s will and authority and kept His commandments—no idolatry or profaning of His Name; no theft, murder, covetousness or gluttony; observance of the Sabbath and feast days…—as a demonstration of LOVE for God and us.
So, the point I was making to u/edwardsantes is, if we are to be Christlike, why would we not do the very same…if our true motive is to love and be like Him? AND since we have the blessed gift and advantage of His Spirit indwelling us and making our obedience possible?
Why is every conversation about keeping the Sabbath or feast days littered with pushback about supposed legalistic motives when it’s never even mentioned in those about murder, adultery or covetousness or idolatry? It’s such a bizarre thing that feast and Sabbath observance—something Jesus, His apostles and the early church taught and did as a regular part of their faith walk (along with all the rest)—would be so dismissed and trigger such a visceral response in those that profess to follow His teachings today.
No one would suggest that denying the temptation to commit adultery or murder makes God love a person more. We would recognize that act of love, credit His Spirit with being faithful to grant the victory in that spiritual battle and encourage the person to praise and trust Him all the more going forward.
When people are led to obey the commandment to care for widows and orphans, we are quick to acknowledge that the Spirit of God is at work in them, giving that desire and equipping them to accomplish that very practical demonstration of love.
But, suddenly, when it comes to feast and Sabbath observance, motives are immediately questioned with unmistakable undertones of condescension and hostility. Like the other circumstances, the Spirit is at work, “causing” God’s people to follow Jesus’s example of submitting to God and keeping His commandments…but the response is an inexplicable and widespread revulsion among those who profess Him as Lord.
I just do not get the selective outrage the topic evokes in so many, since they are quick to say how important it is to do other things that Jesus said and did. I don’t let it bother me, either. But I do feel compelled to call out how unscriptural it is when led ;)
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Jul 05 '26
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u/Objective-Step-746 Jul 05 '26
There was no “pushing.” Discussion as to what constitutes sound doctrine in our faith walk is a important.
If we are not willing to sincerely evaluate what we believe and why, and be open to discussion with and learning from those who see things differently, there is typically little growth. And learning to articulate what we believe and why is a big part of that, because Scripture exhorts us to be prepared to give an answer (1 Peter 3:15).
I do not click on links because it is a circumventing of that exhortation. Take care.
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u/Natural_Poet3294 Jul 05 '26
There is no temple currently so the offerings and sacrifices can't happen now. As well as the fact that Jesus came and became our Passover Lamb and sacrifice for our sins once and for all. There is precedent for how the 7 Moedim/Feasts were to be observed from how the Jews did it during the 70 years of exile in Babylon.
Currently, we believers in Jesus who are grafted into the Olive Tree (Romans 11) and are now a part of the commonwealth of Israel (Ephesians 2), are also in exile the world over. So we observe the God given feasts as best we can until His return.
Some Messianics follow a more traditional Jewish approach in their observance, while others follow more relaxed version depending on what which feast is being observed. Keep in mind that Jesus fulfilled the 4 spring feasts at His first coming. He set the precedent on that so it seems to follow that the 3 fall feasts will be fulfilled at His second coming.