Holidays And Decorating Are For The Flesh, Not The Body Of Christ

(King James Bible only, Pauline right division)

Scripture never commands the Body of Christ to keep holy days or to sanctify seasons with religious decor. Paul warns the Galatians, Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years. I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain, Galatians 4 verses 10 and 11. When believers measure devotion by calendars and trimmings, they move from the sufficiency of Christ to the shadows of religion. Under grace we are complete in Him now, Colossians 2 verse 10. No date, color scheme, or symbol can add anything to the standing God has already given us in Christ.

Let us face it. Holidays and decorating set the mood and put people in a good frame of mind. You get a good feeling from the atmosphere when that joy should be coming from Scripture. Our focus should be on the gospel. Faith comes by hearing the word of God, Romans 10 verse 17. The word of Christ dwelling in us richly produces thanksgiving and song, Colossians 3 verse 16. The message that saves is that Christ died for our sins, was buried, and rose again the third day, 1 Corinthians 15 verses 1 through 4. Feelings that are generated by a season cannot replace the joy that flows from these truths believed.

Israel had feast days by covenant because their program was earthly and national. Those observances were shadows that pointed forward. Let no man therefore judge you 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, Colossians 2 verses 16 and 17. The Body of Christ does not live in shadows. Our calling is heavenly. Our worship is spiritual. We walk by faith, not by sight, 2 Corinthians 5 verse 7. Decorations appeal to sight and feeling. Grace works in the inner man by sound doctrine.

Religious decorating feeds the flesh when it shifts attention from Christ’s finished work to atmosphere and display. Will worship and show in humility are condemned by Paul, Colossians 2 verses 20 through 23. The Spirit bears witness through the word of God, the Scriptures that He has left, not through centerpieces, lights, or themed rooms. Faith comes by hearing the word, Romans 10 verse 17. The word of Christ dwelling in us richly produces teaching, admonishing, and singing with grace in our hearts to the Lord, Colossians 3 verse 16. That is God’s pattern for worship in this dispensation.

Some point to Jeremiah 10 to justify seasonal decor. The passage condemns the making and adorning of idols. A tree is cut, shaped by the workman, decked with silver and gold, and set upright so it cannot move, Jeremiah 10 verses 3 through 5. The issue is not whether someone owns an object, but whether hearts are trained to treat objects, seasons, or styles as if they carried spiritual value. The Body of Christ must refuse any practice that teaches by picture what the Bible denies by doctrine. The only object that saves is the cross where Christ died for our sins, was buried, and rose again the third day, 1 Corinthians 15 verses 1 through 4.

Liberty in Christ is real, yet liberty is not license to teach by decorations what Scripture does not teach by doctrine. One man esteemeth one day above another, another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind, Romans 14 verse 5. If a saint quietly chooses seasonal decor at home, let it remain a private matter of conscience and never be bound on others as holiness or fellowship. In the assembly, the rule is edification with understanding, 1 Corinthians 14 verse 19. The gathering of the saints is not a stage for seasonal themes. It is the pillar and ground of the truth, 1 Timothy 3 verse 15.

The Christian life is not seasonal performance but daily renewal in Christ. Present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service, Romans 12 verse 1. Reasonable service is grounded in mercies already received, not in scheduled moods produced by days and decorations. Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God, 1 Corinthians 10 verse 31. Glory is given when the gospel is preached, doctrine is taught, and saints are established in grace. None of that depends on dates, wreaths, or lights.

In summary, holidays and decorating belong to the realm of the flesh and the senses. The Body of Christ lives by faith and truth. Keep Israel’s feast days with Israel. Keep man made traditions out of the measure of spirituality. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly. Teach Christ crucified and risen. Rejoice in the blessings that God has already given in heavenly places. That is worship in spirit and in truth for this present dispensation of grace.