Why don't Christians observe Passover and other biblical holidays?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This bit about cultural appropriation suggests that many on this forum are unaware that many, many Christians do celebrate a Christian Passover and that it consists of unleavened bread to represent Christ's life free from sin and wine to represent the blood of Christ...and that the Christian passover service is symbolic of the New Covenant in Christ. Some Christian passover services also include rituals such as washing of each others' feet (though I've never been in a congregation that does this) in the way that Christ washed the feet of his disciples before the last supper.

I've never heard of a Christian Passover meal being referred to as a seder though.

I think it is maybe a bit surprising to Jews that we share so much of the same "story" of our faith? I often react in the same way when Mormon friends talk about stories or verses in the Book of Mormon. Their religion has the same Old and New Testaments that my Christian religion observes, but then they have these added sacred texts that are essential to their belief system on top of what my religion believes. And then they call themselves the One True Church. They are the REAL Christians.
So, of course it sets up an odd feeling inside me of how they are "doing it wrong"...but I don't have any animosity because I do think they are sincere in their beliefs. I don't think anyone on this thread is trying to mock Jewish people for their practices or faith. We just have varying degrees of understanding about what it is that each other believes/practice.

No we all know the history. Just call it Christian Passover. Don’t act like you’re doing the same thing as us, when you’re clearly not.

Do you get that she said she's not doing a Seder, and has never heard anyone call it that? Do you get that, therefore, she's not "acting like she's doing the same thing" as you? Do you get that she literally did refer to it as a "Christian Passover meal," so it's pretty obnoxious for you to tell her to...just refer to it as a Christian Passover meal?

because “Christian Passover” is easter. What in the world do you think “Christian Passover” could be? On the one hand you do seem to distinguish it from Easter. On the other hand you are claiming it’s not actually a Seder.

It’s not correct to say that Christian Passover is Easter. Easter follows Passover.

Well, here’s your first problem: Easter doesn’t always follow Passover. For example, this year Passover ends *on* Easter.

So can you explain to me what you’re actually referring to when you say “Passover”?

Ha ha, good catch. To the extent the Catholic ritual "observes" Passover, it's that the Good Friday gospel passages describe Jesus's death as taking place on Passover. So in that sense, in the timelessness of the Catholic Church, Passover is always "before" easter (the day Jesus rose from the dead.)

Which has literally NOTHING to do with Passover as Jews celebrate it. That’s why we’re so damn confused when you all keep saying you’re celebrating Passover.

How about we all just acknowledge that we’re operating with two different views of Passover and call it a day?

Not views — literally two different holidays.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This bit about cultural appropriation suggests that many on this forum are unaware that many, many Christians do celebrate a Christian Passover and that it consists of unleavened bread to represent Christ's life free from sin and wine to represent the blood of Christ...and that the Christian passover service is symbolic of the New Covenant in Christ. Some Christian passover services also include rituals such as washing of each others' feet (though I've never been in a congregation that does this) in the way that Christ washed the feet of his disciples before the last supper.

I've never heard of a Christian Passover meal being referred to as a seder though.

I think it is maybe a bit surprising to Jews that we share so much of the same "story" of our faith? I often react in the same way when Mormon friends talk about stories or verses in the Book of Mormon. Their religion has the same Old and New Testaments that my Christian religion observes, but then they have these added sacred texts that are essential to their belief system on top of what my religion believes. And then they call themselves the One True Church. They are the REAL Christians.
So, of course it sets up an odd feeling inside me of how they are "doing it wrong"...but I don't have any animosity because I do think they are sincere in their beliefs. I don't think anyone on this thread is trying to mock Jewish people for their practices or faith. We just have varying degrees of understanding about what it is that each other believes/practice.

No we all know the history. Just call it Christian Passover. Don’t act like you’re doing the same thing as us, when you’re clearly not.

Do you get that she said she's not doing a Seder, and has never heard anyone call it that? Do you get that, therefore, she's not "acting like she's doing the same thing" as you? Do you get that she literally did refer to it as a "Christian Passover meal," so it's pretty obnoxious for you to tell her to...just refer to it as a Christian Passover meal?

because “Christian Passover” is easter. What in the world do you think “Christian Passover” could be? On the one hand you do seem to distinguish it from Easter. On the other hand you are claiming it’s not actually a Seder.

It’s not correct to say that Christian Passover is Easter. Easter follows Passover.

Oh brother. PP said "unleavened bread to represent Christ's life free from sin and wine to represent the blood of Christ...and that the Christian passover service is symbolic of the New Covenant in Christ." THAT IS EASTER. Do you honestly not know anything about Catholic/Christian theology and holy days? PP is describing maundy Thursday and Good Friday.

But yes, PASSOVER (as in the Jewish holiday) precedes Easter. Because according to the Gospel, Good Friday happened on Passover. To the extent Passover is incorporated into Catholic rites, it is part of Easter week.

Entirely separately, starting in the 70s and 80s, the Catholic Church started to try to make amends for the history of anti-semitism by creating various Jewish-Catholic interfaith groups and other steps. One trend as part of this was for rabbis to host interfaith seders. Interfaith seders are still a thing, but generally they are understood as a Jewish seder with interfaith guests. I can believe that this tradition morphed into some congregations having their own "seders" on their own.

Finally, as a matter of Christian theology and the OP's actual question: Christians are not bound to observe Old Testament rites and holidays expressly because they are part of the Old Covenant, and Jesus created a New Covenant where the old laws were not required by god anymore. That is a pretty fundamental part of Christianity, and if you can't wrap your head around it, I don't know what to say.

Sure, but for Jews, Passover has literally NOTHING to do with Easter or anything remotely related to Easter.

Yes, to clarify - I am an ex-Catholic and current Jewish fellow traveler (raising my child Jewish.) So I believe I am particularly well equipped to explain why the idea of "Christian Passover" is a contradiction in terms on many many levels!

I minored in Catholic theology and you actually seem a bit confused, but carry on.

Have you ... never read the Passion in the Gospel of John or gone to Good Friday or Holy Thursday mass? Start with John 13.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This bit about cultural appropriation suggests that many on this forum are unaware that many, many Christians do celebrate a Christian Passover and that it consists of unleavened bread to represent Christ's life free from sin and wine to represent the blood of Christ...and that the Christian passover service is symbolic of the New Covenant in Christ. Some Christian passover services also include rituals such as washing of each others' feet (though I've never been in a congregation that does this) in the way that Christ washed the feet of his disciples before the last supper.

I've never heard of a Christian Passover meal being referred to as a seder though.

I think it is maybe a bit surprising to Jews that we share so much of the same "story" of our faith? I often react in the same way when Mormon friends talk about stories or verses in the Book of Mormon. Their religion has the same Old and New Testaments that my Christian religion observes, but then they have these added sacred texts that are essential to their belief system on top of what my religion believes. And then they call themselves the One True Church. They are the REAL Christians.
So, of course it sets up an odd feeling inside me of how they are "doing it wrong"...but I don't have any animosity because I do think they are sincere in their beliefs. I don't think anyone on this thread is trying to mock Jewish people for their practices or faith. We just have varying degrees of understanding about what it is that each other believes/practice.

No we all know the history. Just call it Christian Passover. Don’t act like you’re doing the same thing as us, when you’re clearly not.

Do you get that she said she's not doing a Seder, and has never heard anyone call it that? Do you get that, therefore, she's not "acting like she's doing the same thing" as you? Do you get that she literally did refer to it as a "Christian Passover meal," so it's pretty obnoxious for you to tell her to...just refer to it as a Christian Passover meal?

because “Christian Passover” is easter. What in the world do you think “Christian Passover” could be? On the one hand you do seem to distinguish it from Easter. On the other hand you are claiming it’s not actually a Seder.

It’s not correct to say that Christian Passover is Easter. Easter follows Passover.

Well, here’s your first problem: Easter doesn’t always follow Passover. For example, this year Passover ends *on* Easter.

So can you explain to me what you’re actually referring to when you say “Passover”?

Ha ha, good catch. To the extent the Catholic ritual "observes" Passover, it's that the Good Friday gospel passages describe Jesus's death as taking place on Passover. So in that sense, in the timelessness of the Catholic Church, Passover is always "before" easter (the day Jesus rose from the dead.)

Which has literally NOTHING to do with Passover as Jews celebrate it. That’s why we’re so damn confused when you all keep saying you’re celebrating Passover.

How about we all just acknowledge that we’re operating with two different views of Passover and call it a day?

Not views — literally two different holidays.

Exactly. I have yet to hear a "Christian Passover" adherent explain exactly what "Christian Passover" is.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This bit about cultural appropriation suggests that many on this forum are unaware that many, many Christians do celebrate a Christian Passover and that it consists of unleavened bread to represent Christ's life free from sin and wine to represent the blood of Christ...and that the Christian passover service is symbolic of the New Covenant in Christ. Some Christian passover services also include rituals such as washing of each others' feet (though I've never been in a congregation that does this) in the way that Christ washed the feet of his disciples before the last supper.

I've never heard of a Christian Passover meal being referred to as a seder though.

I think it is maybe a bit surprising to Jews that we share so much of the same "story" of our faith? I often react in the same way when Mormon friends talk about stories or verses in the Book of Mormon. Their religion has the same Old and New Testaments that my Christian religion observes, but then they have these added sacred texts that are essential to their belief system on top of what my religion believes. And then they call themselves the One True Church. They are the REAL Christians.
So, of course it sets up an odd feeling inside me of how they are "doing it wrong"...but I don't have any animosity because I do think they are sincere in their beliefs. I don't think anyone on this thread is trying to mock Jewish people for their practices or faith. We just have varying degrees of understanding about what it is that each other believes/practice.

No we all know the history. Just call it Christian Passover. Don’t act like you’re doing the same thing as us, when you’re clearly not.

Do you get that she said she's not doing a Seder, and has never heard anyone call it that? Do you get that, therefore, she's not "acting like she's doing the same thing" as you? Do you get that she literally did refer to it as a "Christian Passover meal," so it's pretty obnoxious for you to tell her to...just refer to it as a Christian Passover meal?

because “Christian Passover” is easter. What in the world do you think “Christian Passover” could be? On the one hand you do seem to distinguish it from Easter. On the other hand you are claiming it’s not actually a Seder.

It’s not correct to say that Christian Passover is Easter. Easter follows Passover.

Well, here’s your first problem: Easter doesn’t always follow Passover. For example, this year Passover ends *on* Easter.

So can you explain to me what you’re actually referring to when you say “Passover”?

Ha ha, good catch. To the extent the Catholic ritual "observes" Passover, it's that the Good Friday gospel passages describe Jesus's death as taking place on Passover. So in that sense, in the timelessness of the Catholic Church, Passover is always "before" easter (the day Jesus rose from the dead.)

Which has literally NOTHING to do with Passover as Jews celebrate it. That’s why we’re so damn confused when you all keep saying you’re celebrating Passover.

How about we all just acknowledge that we’re operating with two different views of Passover and call it a day?

Not views — literally two different holidays.

Exactly. I have yet to hear a "Christian Passover" adherent explain exactly what "Christian Passover" is.

I’ve been asking for this entire thread and no one can give me a clear answer that doesn’t just read as Easter.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:PS WE EAT MATZAH BRAI DURING PASSOVER. It’s gross, so need to appropriate it.

If your matzah brai is gross, you're doing it wrong.

Matzo is not supposed to be good. It’s the bread of suffering, the food of fleeing slaves. Duh.

Yeah, but that doesn't mean it isn't supposed to be good when you fry little bits of it up with eggs. Matzah on its own, yes, bread of affliction. But you're not supposed to suffer through literally every meal for the whole holiday!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This bit about cultural appropriation suggests that many on this forum are unaware that many, many Christians do celebrate a Christian Passover and that it consists of unleavened bread to represent Christ's life free from sin and wine to represent the blood of Christ...and that the Christian passover service is symbolic of the New Covenant in Christ. Some Christian passover services also include rituals such as washing of each others' feet (though I've never been in a congregation that does this) in the way that Christ washed the feet of his disciples before the last supper.

I've never heard of a Christian Passover meal being referred to as a seder though.

I think it is maybe a bit surprising to Jews that we share so much of the same "story" of our faith? I often react in the same way when Mormon friends talk about stories or verses in the Book of Mormon. Their religion has the same Old and New Testaments that my Christian religion observes, but then they have these added sacred texts that are essential to their belief system on top of what my religion believes. And then they call themselves the One True Church. They are the REAL Christians.
So, of course it sets up an odd feeling inside me of how they are "doing it wrong"...but I don't have any animosity because I do think they are sincere in their beliefs. I don't think anyone on this thread is trying to mock Jewish people for their practices or faith. We just have varying degrees of understanding about what it is that each other believes/practice.

No we all know the history. Just call it Christian Passover. Don’t act like you’re doing the same thing as us, when you’re clearly not.

Do you get that she said she's not doing a Seder, and has never heard anyone call it that? Do you get that, therefore, she's not "acting like she's doing the same thing" as you? Do you get that she literally did refer to it as a "Christian Passover meal," so it's pretty obnoxious for you to tell her to...just refer to it as a Christian Passover meal?

because “Christian Passover” is easter. What in the world do you think “Christian Passover” could be? On the one hand you do seem to distinguish it from Easter. On the other hand you are claiming it’s not actually a Seder.

It’s not correct to say that Christian Passover is Easter. Easter follows Passover.

Well, here’s your first problem: Easter doesn’t always follow Passover. For example, this year Passover ends *on* Easter.

So can you explain to me what you’re actually referring to when you say “Passover”?

Ha ha, good catch. To the extent the Catholic ritual "observes" Passover, it's that the Good Friday gospel passages describe Jesus's death as taking place on Passover. So in that sense, in the timelessness of the Catholic Church, Passover is always "before" easter (the day Jesus rose from the dead.)

Which has literally NOTHING to do with Passover as Jews celebrate it. That’s why we’re so damn confused when you all keep saying you’re celebrating Passover.

How about we all just acknowledge that we’re operating with two different views of Passover and call it a day?

It's fine for you to have a different view of Passover than Jews do, but it'd be nice to keep in mind that you're saying you have a different view of an important Jewish holiday -- surely you can see how that might bother some Jews, no?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:PS WE EAT MATZAH BRAI DURING PASSOVER. It’s gross, so need to appropriate it.

If your matzah brai is gross, you're doing it wrong.

Matzo is not supposed to be good. It’s the bread of suffering, the food of fleeing slaves. Duh.

Yeah, but that doesn't mean it isn't supposed to be good when you fry little bits of it up with eggs. Matzah on its own, yes, bread of affliction. But you're not supposed to suffer through literally every meal for the whole holiday!

I will say — I enjoy a good piece of matzah with some peanut butter and jelly.

There were some goy kids in college who loved matzah so much that they’d eat it in the cafeteria during Passover. That sort of screwed the Jewish kids, who really needed it, and we thought it was sort of funny, watching them chow down on matzah.

[Anonymous]

Passover is obviously an Italian tradition. The meal was served Family Style

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:PS WE EAT MATZAH BRAI DURING PASSOVER. It’s gross, so need to appropriate it.

If your matzah brai is gross, you're doing it wrong.

Matzo is not supposed to be good. It’s the bread of suffering, the food of fleeing slaves. Duh.

Yeah, but that doesn't mean it isn't supposed to be good when you fry little bits of it up with eggs. Matzah on its own, yes, bread of affliction. But you're not supposed to suffer through literally every meal for the whole holiday!

I will say — I enjoy a good piece of matzah with some peanut butter and jelly.

There were some goy kids in college who loved matzah so much that they’d eat it in the cafeteria during Passover. That sort of screwed the Jewish kids, who really needed it, and we thought it was sort of funny, watching them chow down on matzah.

Not with matzah, but I was a clueless college student who had probably never met a Jewish person before going to college but quickly loved the Mediterranean flavors of the "kosher station" at the dining hall. I probably made a lot of mistakes with the special-colored trays and dishes and silverware that the kosher cooks dished meals out onto. It definitely took me a long time to realize that they weren't supposed to be returned to the same tray return as every other tray.

[Anonymous]

I have former schoolmates (Episcopal/Anglican) who transitioned to seventh day adventists and now are only celebrating Jewish rituals plus occasional communion. Their rationale is that they want to live like Jesus did...