Tradition can be a two-edged sword. Many younger people dislike tradition because it sometimes feels binding and arbitrary. When tradition interferes with our plans, it's easy to become resentful. However, tradition can also serve as an effective cultural teacher. Some traditions, like the regular practice of holidays, leave a powerful societal memory that is transferred from one generation to the next.
In Deuteronomy 16, Moses conveys God's instructions about the observance of three major holidays for the Jewish people. Passover is the biggie, and it is to be celebrated for a seven-day long stretch with unleavened bread and a sacrificial lamb. Passover serves an annual reminder to the people of their miraculous deliverance from slavery in Egypt. Every generation learns anew about Passover through the annual holiday. Also included as holiday remembrances are the Festival of Weeks and the Festival of Booths. Centered around the harvest, these occasions teach the people that God's gracious providence is the source of their blessings. The religious instruction is encoded in the observance of the holiday itself!
There are many ways you could define what it means to be Jewish today. But certainly one of the major cultural markers and practices of Jews all over the world is the observance of the religious holidays. It has been over three thousand years since the Exodus, yet the Passover is still celebrated every year. This tradition serves as a binding influence (in a good way) among the Jewish people. As Christians, we also maintain several religious holidays that teach us about central moments in our faith story - the birth of Christ (Christmas), His death (Good Friday), His resurrection (Easter), the birth of the Church (Pentecost).
These days pastors sometimes bemoan the "C and E Christians." These are believers who only show up for church services on Christmas and Easter. I don't think it is surprising that, as we move into a "post-Christian society," we find remaining vestiges of certain traditions like major holidays to have cultural staying power. When everything else about the devotional practice of Christian faith fades away, people will still want to celebrate Christmas and Easter!
The question is, how might these holidays serve as touchstones or breadcrumbs to lead a lost people back to the faith of their ancestors? How can the Christian meaning behind the cultural observance of Christmas and Easter help teach people about the faith today? The Church should look for creative ways to answer these questions in a positive fashion!
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