God said to celebrate!

"He who sacrifices thank offerings honors me, and he prepares the way so that I may show him the salvation of God." Psalms 50:23

Judaism celebrates several major observations during the year: Purim, Passover, Shavuot, Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Sukkot, Shemini Atzeret, and Hanukkah...three of these being either seven or eight days in length. In the old Levitical Law the list of celebrations starts with Shabbat, the weekly celebration of a 24 hour Sabbath.

There has been a tendency to reduce the term 'celebrate' to 'observe.' Generally it should be seen just the other way around - to 'observe' is to 'celebrate!'

It seems to me that all of God's people ought to take note of the Divine Imperative to celebrate. I've observed that happy people do not tend to be mean people. Happy people tend to be generous people.

I've also noticed a general correlation between happy people and attitudes of gratitude.

Let's look at Psalms 50.23 by rephrasing it in modern English: 'Anyone giving generously out of gratitude honors God, and makes it possible to receive God's blessings and salvation.'

The 'thank offerings' were integral with the celebrations in Judaism. This was the cultural and religious foundation for Early Christianity.

Based upon the writings of Luke and Paul I believe that Christians in the 'Early Church' were continually encouraged to celebrate, be full of joy, be generous, be forgiving...be happy.

The best example of where to start this life emphasis on celebration is our weekly observation of 'Shabbat' - our celebration of worship and fellowship. Let's then extend it to every opportunity we have to celebrate everything God has granted us.

Minimally, every week should contain at least one 'party-time' day. For me that is all day Sunday! The recipe for the week would then be to 'add more as opportunity arises!'

There's a mean spirit circulating in our nation currently. There's a lot of anger and a resentful clash of cultures. There are many current expressions of 'patriotism,' however, I think that there is no greater application of patriotism than to continue to celebrate and spread the joy of "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness."

Perhaps the greatest act of evangelism might be the celebration of life that brings liberty to all who are around us...an expression of kindness and joy that should be the manifestation of salvation in and through each who have tasted and received the Goodness of God.