Celebration Part 1

These days, it seems like celebration is a rarity. 

And yet, as a Christian, celebration ought to be one of our main activities. As proof, I want us to explore passages in both the old and new testaments. 

First, let us look at the story of Esther. Many of you know the story, but I will give you a quick rundown. 

The story begins with the powerful King Ahasuerus throwing a beauty pageant in order to replace his old wife. All available women were obligated to participate, and Esther steals the show and the King’s heart. At the same time, the King’s right hand man, Haman, convinces the king that all the Jews ought to be killed. The King signs on, not knowing that his new wife is in fact a Jew! Knowing full well that speaking to the King could result in her own death, she agrees with her cousin Mordecai to save the Jews by speaking against the Kings commands. When Esther approaches the King and unveils the plot of Haman, the King has Haman and his whole house destroyed, and all those who were taking arms to kill the Jews, the Jews were allowed to defend themselves. This resulted in the death of many of their oppressors. To remember this moment of deliverance, the Jewish people introduced the celebration called Purim. 

This celebration still continues until this day. In fact, the next celebration is February 25-26, 2021. It is celebrated through the giving of gifts, a big meal, and the reading of Scripture. Not to mention large amounts of wine and parades! These parties are to get so full of wine that the participants will not be able to understand the difference between the Hebrew phrases “Haman is cursed” and “Mordechai is blessed”!

I feel like I should put a disclaimer that no, I am not encouraging drunkenness. I am encouraging all of you and all Christianity to stop taking yourselves so seriously! The Israelite people in this story have just been saved from annihilation and they want to celebrate what God has done for them. Should not we have the same spirit? Oh what joy we have because of what the Lord has done for us. So let us celebrate!

The second passage comes from the words of Jesus in Matthew 9:15. Up to this point, the disciples of John the Baptist question Jesus as to why the disciples of Jesus do not fast as the Pharisees do. Jesus responds by saying, “‘Can the wedding guests mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast.’” 

Jesus is saying that the disciples are not fasting because they are currently in celebration, existing presently with their Savior. 

Likewise, we are existing with our Savior as well as the Spirit of him resides in us. Does that mean that we should not be fasting? Not quite. Though we exist with him in Spirit, we still also are part of this broken world, bringing with it the need to have spiritual disciplines that will deepen our relationship with Christ. That is not to say that celebration does not deepen our relationship with him, because it absolutely does!

But the joy we are able to experience through our relationship to him is due to the separation he has caused by cutting away the old ways of the Law and instituted a freedom that only comes by being connected to him. And in that freedom we are able to rejoice!

The challenge to us today is to cut off the strappings of religiosity. It is good to have habits. It is good to have routine. But our walk with the Lord needs to contain the energy of spontaneity. We ought to be excited about our relationship with the Lord, not a mechanical obligation to preform certain tasks. The church of America has become a place where we have lost the ability to allow the freedom of expression. We have allowed the over-religious-power-hungry controllers to enter the church and convince us that Christianity is serious and doom and gloom. Sure, parts of Christianity is serious, but Christianity is supposed to be the most exciting group around. That is because the message we have, one of deliverance, is meant to bring new life to all people. Just as Purim celebrates deliverance from oppressors, we have been delivered from the oppression of brokenness and shame that we may have life abundantly in relationship to the God who made us and restores us. 

You have been delivered. Let’s celebrate!