When we lived in Nepal, we watched people celebrate the many festivals of Hinduism and Buddhism. It gave us a new perspective on our own festivals. While many Hindus and Buddhists are sincere believers and devotedly celebrate the festivals, many people used the festivals to indulge in party excesses. The same is true in our country as people celebrate Christmas and Easter, sometimes sincerely and other times indulging in worldly temptations.
I Corinthians 5:8 says, “Let us therefore celebrate the festival, not with the old leaven, the leaven of malice and evil, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.” Unlike the annual Passover festival, Christ followers constantly celebrate the continual festival of the life giving sacrifice of God’s Son. Rather than using the old festival as an excuse for excesses of the flesh, our new festival is grounded in truth and righteousness.
Reluctant Retiree 