This may seem like a stupid question if read at only face value. but seriously, Hanukah began 200 years before Christ was born. Jesus celebrated Hanukah as a young Jew. Jews and Christians BOTH use the old testament and follow it as gospel. The main difference between the two religions is bacically Christians believe in the New Testament and that Christ has already been on the Earth. Jews do not believe in the New Testament portion of the bible as they do not believe that the son of God has visited the Earth yet and are still in waiting. Since Hanukah falls under the old testament portion of the Bible and is even talked about in the book of Deuteronomy SOOOO..... Why then do Christians not celebrate it?
2007-12-09 15:17:25 · 18 answers · asked by Keith C 5 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Good point. Still, one of the main points between any two groups is to distinguish themselves-
Specifically, here, Jesus taught that believers should replace their focus on absolute adherence to 600+ laws, and begin to LOVE each other.
Chrisitans were persecuted along with Jews until Constantinople declared Christianity as the new State Religion-
and then the Church demonized many things pagan, including Jewish.
So, the traditions of Jesus himself were lost.
2007-12-09 15:23:39 · answer #1 · answered by starryeyed 6 · 0⤊ 2⤋
The literal reason is that we have so much to celebrate as Christians that we never go all the way back to the old testament for stuff to celebrate.
Another reason is that it isn't our miracle....It was such a wonderful thing when God kept the lights burning in the Menorah, but it happened in the temple. As a gentile I am not even welcome in Jewish holy places; I don't belong.
But, personally I think Hanukkah is wonderful because God is the one who has brought light into my personal darkness through Jesus. I love light. If I have friends who are Jewish and practice their faith, I would love to celebrate with them, if I am welcome.
My favorite Jewish person is Jesus. Also in the Bible it says for us to pray for the peace of Israel. God loves the Jewish nation and so in a way, I do too!
As a Christian, I have a sort of Hanukkah every day of the year. Jesus has brought light into my heart and because His Holy Spirit dwells in my spirit, I have light,light, light all the time. I feel so happy and blessed because of Jesus.
2007-12-09 21:09:24 · answer #2 · answered by LeslieAnn 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hanukkah is not an important Jewish holiday, and I would be very surprised if it was mentioned in Deuteronomy, since the events of Hanukkah are long after the time of Moses, who theoretically wrote Deuteronomy. Christians did away with Jewish traditions in favor of Roman ones very early in the development of their faith.
Also, Jews aren't waiting for the "Son of God". They are waiting for the Messiah, who will be a man, to bring the entire world under the rule of God. There is no divine connotation for Messiah in Jewish belief.
2007-12-09 15:27:54 · answer #3 · answered by EZE 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Hannukah celebrates the victory of the Macabees, so it is not exatly a religious holiday. Hannukah is not found in the book of Deuteronomy. Christians do not celebrate the Passover, the Festival of Tabernacles or Yom Kippur, either (slaughter 120 bulls, anyone?).
2007-12-09 15:34:39 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
that's a astonishing question. The early Christians as recorded in Acts celebrated Passover & because of the fact Jesus Christ is our eternal Paschal Lamb who exchange into sacraficed for the sins of the international, it would be plenty greater appropriate to rejoice Passover than Easter. The so mentioned as Christian gala's of Christmas & Easter are of pagan commencing place together as the gala's you point out are recorded interior the Bible. The ceremonial dinner of the Tabernacles exchange into probable whilst Jesus exchange into born, Passover exchange into whilst He died, Pentecost exchange into whilst the Holy Spirit got here down upon the early Church and Purim ought to be considered to remind us that, basically as Haman could no longer kill off the Jewish people, no human authority has ever been able to break the Christian church. As for Hannukah, i'm slightly uncertain. The commencing place of the pageant is from exterior the Bible & it does not relate to something correct to existence under the recent Covanant. although, i'm keen to be pursuaded otherwise.
2016-10-10 23:06:44 · answer #5 · answered by harren 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
because it is merely the celebrationof a miracle happening amoung the jews in a time of war between them and the greeks ! There are many miracles why single out this one to celebrate? Christians who are no longer waiting. .....would rather celebrate the birth of christ!
2007-12-09 15:22:05 · answer #6 · answered by Rosemary c 1 · 0⤊ 3⤋
because we are not jews... jesus celebrated the jewish festivals.. becuase he was jew.. but according to the gospel.. he was trying to make a new convenant with a new people... without difference between jew or pagan.. hannukah can be found in the talmud and the macabeous book the story of judaes..
2007-12-09 15:21:09 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
For the same reason that Jews don't celebrate Christmas!!!
2007-12-09 15:31:29 · answer #8 · answered by Big Al 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Ephesians 2:15 "By means of his flesh he abolished the enmity, the Law of commandments consisting in decrees, that he might create the two peoples in union with himself into one new man and make peace"
2007-12-09 15:19:52 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Messianic Christians do, Christian Zionist do, Christian for Jews do, may be more. Oh ! We as Christians should honor the Passover as well.
2007-12-09 15:23:14 · answer #10 · answered by BOC 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋