Celebrations For Beginners
Celebrations For Beginners
One of the ways that I tend to gage my sanctification is to evaluate how pagans do things and compare that to my own behavior. For instance, if I were a young woman, I probably would refrain from dressing like most of the females gracing the covers of magazines these days, unless I were considering a career in prostitution. Likewise, when it comes to the celebration of holy days, why would I want to emulate the world? We are here to change the culture, not to ride along with it on its downward spiral. All aboard! Next stop, as far away from God as possible. To get on the right track we must see our responsibility to be stridently counter-cultural. One of the ways to achieve this is through celebration. In this Practicum column, let me suggest to you a number of ways that we can enjoy ourselves while at the same time shine before the world.
Our family has recently started the practice of feasting on Saturday nights. After my wife read a description of this out of a recent Credenda/Agenda magazine, we have followed the writers' example much to our benefit. At 6:00 on Saturday evening our family gathers with anyone else that would like to participate for the best meal of the week. We use the best place settings, table cloth, candles, etc. with classical or Celtic music playing in the background. As people arrive at our home they aid in the final preparations. Then after the meal, we gather in the living room to sing psalms and hymns for about an hour. The entire house is filled with the voices of saints singing from their hearts the story of how we who were not a people have now become the people of God.
After closing in prayer, everyone helps with the clearing of the table and the washing of dishes. All the while, fellowshiping in the purest sense of the word. This has been such a blessing to our home and from the comments we have gotten, to all who have joined with us in this celebration. We have in essence, began a pre-holy day event culminating on the day we all look forward to each week, the Sabbath. This observance sure beats renting a movie and staying up too late the night before corporate worship.
Another family holy day that should be observed in our circles is Reformation Day. As most of you know, this is the same day as Halloween. So instead of supporting the American Dental Association, whom I suspect is behind the treat part of "trick or treat", gather several families together and tell stories of the great men and women who stood against church and state for the purity of the gospel. This is our lost heritage that needs to be resurrected. We have become a people who act as if we have no story. When in fact, we have one of the greatest stories of all time! Let Calvin and Luther and Knox live and speak again! If possible, tell the stories on the front lawn with torches burning. Invite all those little slaves of the culture that show up at your house dressed as goblins, action figures and hookers, um, I mean, as Brittney Spears, to have a seat and hear how courageous men and women lived and died by the gospel.
I also believe that children's birthdays are important. This should be an event that they look forward to every year. This should be where they receive special gifts that have as much meaning as their particular age allows. There should be festive foods and the company of their best friends. This can be a very creative celebration. For a young woman of ten to fourteen years old the party could be framed around a high tea and dinner. For a seven to nine year old boy, a campout could follow the party. But above all, the event should take a decidedly Puritan approach where the father and mother publicly extol the virtues of their child and pray God's blessings upon them.
Resurrection Day is a significant Christian holy day. While most churches have special celebrations to recall this momentous event in the history of redemption, the individual families usually do nothing, or worse, they take their kids on an egg hunt and thus confuse the meaning of the day. I would actually rather take my children rabbit hunting Sunday afternoon and have them remember that, than something about the "Easter Bunny"! And by the way, for anyone who thinks at this point that I am depriving my children of fun, I would argue that they are much more guilty than I. Children love to hunt for surprises, that is why I have made it a practice of hiding things for them to find on different occasion throughout the year. Just not on Resurrection Day. What does a bunny have to do with the resurrection of Christ anyway?! I suggest from Good Friday till Sunday morning there should be a cultivation of solemnity in the home, perhaps even the wearing of black arm bands. Imagine the person in the booth next to you at McDonalds asking your four year old about the arm band and him replying, "We are remembering the death of Jesus for our sins." Then Resurrection Sunday's dinner should perhaps be the biggest feast of the year, eclipsing even Thanksgiving.
Finally, a word about Wedding anniversaries. Guys, this should be your wive's holiday. She should look with anticipation to each year's remembrance of the day she married you. There should be flowers and wine and chocolates and a fine dinner involved. Be as elaborate and as creative as possible. Remind her, with extravagance, how special she is. Let prayer and poetry and Scripture, illustrate and describe your affection and adoration and gratitude for her. Kiss her as though she were asleep, fully giving without any thought of reciprocation. Let her read in your eyes that you are committed to her completely. That the vows you said before God and man years ago were only lip-service compared to the commitment and faithfulness you hold now. These are some ideas for you to ponder as you join us in our desire to live deliberately.