Hello Mike,

I have a question about the “keeping of days”.  I have read the emails and responses about this subject on your site, and I agree with everything that has been said. I see the need to end participation in these “traditions of men” as I have done in the past (and I want to stop, too). It is only in the last two days that I have come to see how deep the teachings on this matter goes.

As an example, I work in an office of about 50 people and (almost) every week it is someone’s birthday. A birthday card is bought for the person (not by me) and is sent around the office for signing, and eventually it will land on my desk.

If I do not celebrate birthdays (mine or others), “observe the days”, follow traditions, “glorify the flesh”, etc., can I still write something on there like “have a good day” or “all the best” (as you could apply to any other day), or by doing this, am I (as it would appear to others) showing support for the tradition? I know we are to “avoid even the appearance of evil”, so does this mean I should pass on this totally ?

I can see that it could be taken as returning to the “beggarly elements”, even though I would be passing along regards in general terms – and not for the sake of a ‘birthday’ event.

Should I just say I don’t follow traditions any more or “esteem one day above another” and face whatever this brings? I know we are supposed to bear with our less mature brothers, but I also know we are not supposed to budge on spiritual matters.

I hope you can help me with this.

Thank you,

S____

Hi S____,

Thank you for taking the time to write to me, and thank you for your question about signing birthday cards that circulate in the office where you work.

While we are told that we are never to cast our pearls before swine, we must never use that admonition for an excuse to avoid persecution for simply doing the right thing. I feel certain from the tone of your e-mail that you already know the answer to your question.

You cannot sign your name to a tradition of men out of the fear of persecution and at the same time tell the Lord you did not deny Him and His example. You certainly are not required by scripture to invite persecution by making a scene in the office, and demanding that the card not be put on your desk. Simply pass it on to the next person. If the person who brings you the card expects you to sign it and give it right back to him or her, then simply explain that your convictions demand of you that you “esteem every day alike” (Joh 5:17-18, and Rom 14:5). Speak with humility yet with calm resolve and true conviction, and you will be given the words you need to speak at that time:

Mat 10:19 But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak.

You have not cast your pearls before swine, but you have followed our Lord’s footsteps when He refused to esteem one day above another by plucking corn on the sabbath day and telling the man he healed to “take up your bed and walk”, also on the sabbath. Christ could very easily have “prepared twice as much [food] on the sixth day” and He could easily have refrained from telling that man to “take up thy bed”, but He was setting us an example of not fearing men when obeying the words of His Father who worked on the sabbath just as if it were any other day:

Joh 5:16 And therefore did the Jews persecute Jesus, and sought to slay him, because he had done these things on the sabbath day. [Told the crippled man to “take up thy bed and walk”, verse 8]
Joh 5:17 But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh hitherto, and I work.
Joh 5:18 Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only had broken the sabbath, but said also that God was his Father, making himself equal with God.
Joh 5:19 Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise.

Galatians 4 and Colossians 2 make it clear that those who are no longer under the schoolmaster of the laws of Moses, or the law of the Gentiles, will not “observe days, months, times or years”.

Gal 4:3 Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world:

Gal 4:9 But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage?
Gal 4:10 Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years.
Gal 4:11 I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain.

Col 2:7 Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.
Col 2:8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.

“The elements of the world” of Gal 4:3 is the exact same Greek phrase as “rudiments of the world” of Col 2:8, and are to be forsaken for the prize of serving our Lord and walking in His footsteps.

1Pe 2:21 For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:

I hope these verses of scripture serve to strengthen you to “follow His steps”.

Your brother who is praying for you,

Mike