I don’t think I would take issue with that. I think it just depends on what you mean by the word “solely”. I would say that you’re right that the authority to declare holy days resides solely with Christ. It does not reside with secular authorities or those who seek to act as autonomous agents. But, I would also say that Christ, who is the Head of the Church shares His authority with the Body. Riffing off of Saint Augustine’s “Totus Christus,” there’s a head/body relationship here that is certainly distinguishable, but also inseparable. We have been caught up in the heavenlies with Christ and now rule and reign with Him.
I view it similar as to what Mordecai does in Esther. Mordecai doesn’t alter what God has explicitly stated in regards to the covenant - liturgics/festivals/covenant markers/etc. For that reason, he doesn’t seem to abolish or overthrow what God has already establish, but rather builds upon the foundation as a mature son.
I would say, in a similar way that we don’t have the authority to alter what God has spoken clearly about in regards to the New Covenant. We don’t have the authority to abolish the Lord’s Day. We don’t have the authority to change the markers of the covenant. But, we do get to share in Christ’s rule and reign where we receive delegated authority to build on the foundation that He and the apostles have laid for us.
I actually think that what you've written here is very good. I would say "yes and amen" to the majority of it.
However, I'm not convinced that saying "yes and amen" to your proposition that every Sunday should be like Easter means that we also must affirm the proposition that structuring time in a way that corresponds to the rest of the ministry of Jesus' diminishes the rest, nor do I think that it follows that utilizing the church calendar leads to having an anemic Easter-prioritized Christianity. In fact, I would actually propose that the opposite is what leads to that and that the church calendar (particularly the five evangelical feasts) is a bulwark against that.
I believe that it's difficult to have Easter-prioritized Christianity when Christ is the "sine qua non" of your timekeeping.
I think the calendar-changing, time-stewarding authority finds fulfillment solely in Christ. Much like his ability to change/alter the sacramental system. We shouldn’t create new sacraments or alter current ones (I.e., Welch’s). Thoughts?
I wrote a bit on it before: “This change in the Sabbath makes sense on a number of different theological fronts, not to mention the way the redemptive work in Jesus reframes church time from a focus on creation to a focus on redemption or how we begin our weeks as Christians from a place of rest, since our Rest, Jesus, has come. But this weekly calendar change is also a fulfillment of sorts of the creational pattern.” (https://tabletalkmagazine.com/article/2020/09/time-and-the-individual/)
Yeah, MidJourney is great! But I do these kind of things with photoshop and it is discouraging that AI is replacing digital artists like me. AI does greater things than what we can do sometimes! It is sad and great at the same time...
Wuff, man... this is the second substack I read from you after the one in honor of Dr. Michael Heiser (I do not use the app that much). You really Re-enchant the Bible and Life. You have such a great ability to write and to expose the biblical theology in such a beautiful way. I guess I was able to understand this article with no problem thanks to Mike Heiser's great teachings. My name is Martín, I am 20 and I am from Argentina. I'm looking forward to read more of your blogs. May the Father of Lights bless you and happy Easter!
Glad you enjoyed it and was able to follow! Coming in at a 26 minute read, it was a bit of a time investment! Glad to hear you’re enjoying what I write. I really appreciate the feedback!
And I’m unconvinced that Esther served as a historically normative book given the uniqueness of the historical context. But I’m curious about your argument.
I would propose that the events of Esther becomes a part of what influences Second Temple Jewish culture in terms of its applied theology when it comes to timekeeping and liturgics. I would put forth the Dead Sea Scroll references from this essay and the reference from Maccabees as evidence of this. I would also put forth the reference from John 10:22 and John's reference to the Feast of Dedication as a legitimate feast that was used to keep time in Second Temple culture as evidence that what I'm proposing was and is a legitimate enterprise.
One may remain unconvinced of this, however, I think at least in light of my argument one could see that what I'm putting forth isn't novel and is grounded in the culture that Scripture is birthed from, which makes it very difficult to propose that it's a theological innovation from much later in church history.
I don’t think I would take issue with that. I think it just depends on what you mean by the word “solely”. I would say that you’re right that the authority to declare holy days resides solely with Christ. It does not reside with secular authorities or those who seek to act as autonomous agents. But, I would also say that Christ, who is the Head of the Church shares His authority with the Body. Riffing off of Saint Augustine’s “Totus Christus,” there’s a head/body relationship here that is certainly distinguishable, but also inseparable. We have been caught up in the heavenlies with Christ and now rule and reign with Him.
I view it similar as to what Mordecai does in Esther. Mordecai doesn’t alter what God has explicitly stated in regards to the covenant - liturgics/festivals/covenant markers/etc. For that reason, he doesn’t seem to abolish or overthrow what God has already establish, but rather builds upon the foundation as a mature son.
I would say, in a similar way that we don’t have the authority to alter what God has spoken clearly about in regards to the New Covenant. We don’t have the authority to abolish the Lord’s Day. We don’t have the authority to change the markers of the covenant. But, we do get to share in Christ’s rule and reign where we receive delegated authority to build on the foundation that He and the apostles have laid for us.
Hopefully that helps!
It does.
So what do you think about this that I wrote last week: https://solaecclesia.org/articles/every-sunday-is-easter/
I actually don’t mind adding if folks highlight the Christian Sabbath, which, in my opinion, is in woeful disrepair.
I’d frame it: Easter shouldn’t be like every Sunday, but every Sunday should be like Easter.
I actually think that what you've written here is very good. I would say "yes and amen" to the majority of it.
However, I'm not convinced that saying "yes and amen" to your proposition that every Sunday should be like Easter means that we also must affirm the proposition that structuring time in a way that corresponds to the rest of the ministry of Jesus' diminishes the rest, nor do I think that it follows that utilizing the church calendar leads to having an anemic Easter-prioritized Christianity. In fact, I would actually propose that the opposite is what leads to that and that the church calendar (particularly the five evangelical feasts) is a bulwark against that.
I believe that it's difficult to have Easter-prioritized Christianity when Christ is the "sine qua non" of your timekeeping.
I think the calendar-changing, time-stewarding authority finds fulfillment solely in Christ. Much like his ability to change/alter the sacramental system. We shouldn’t create new sacraments or alter current ones (I.e., Welch’s). Thoughts?
I wrote a bit on it before: “This change in the Sabbath makes sense on a number of different theological fronts, not to mention the way the redemptive work in Jesus reframes church time from a focus on creation to a focus on redemption or how we begin our weeks as Christians from a place of rest, since our Rest, Jesus, has come. But this weekly calendar change is also a fulfillment of sorts of the creational pattern.” (https://tabletalkmagazine.com/article/2020/09/time-and-the-individual/)
Btw, how do you make the cover/thumbnail? With AI, with photoshop, or how?? I love them
I’ve been a user of MidJourney since it came out. It does great with creating art for stuff like this! Glad you enjoy it!
Yeah, MidJourney is great! But I do these kind of things with photoshop and it is discouraging that AI is replacing digital artists like me. AI does greater things than what we can do sometimes! It is sad and great at the same time...
Wuff, man... this is the second substack I read from you after the one in honor of Dr. Michael Heiser (I do not use the app that much). You really Re-enchant the Bible and Life. You have such a great ability to write and to expose the biblical theology in such a beautiful way. I guess I was able to understand this article with no problem thanks to Mike Heiser's great teachings. My name is Martín, I am 20 and I am from Argentina. I'm looking forward to read more of your blogs. May the Father of Lights bless you and happy Easter!
Glad you enjoyed it and was able to follow! Coming in at a 26 minute read, it was a bit of a time investment! Glad to hear you’re enjoying what I write. I really appreciate the feedback!
And I’m unconvinced that Esther served as a historically normative book given the uniqueness of the historical context. But I’m curious about your argument.
Fair enough.
I would propose that the events of Esther becomes a part of what influences Second Temple Jewish culture in terms of its applied theology when it comes to timekeeping and liturgics. I would put forth the Dead Sea Scroll references from this essay and the reference from Maccabees as evidence of this. I would also put forth the reference from John 10:22 and John's reference to the Feast of Dedication as a legitimate feast that was used to keep time in Second Temple culture as evidence that what I'm proposing was and is a legitimate enterprise.
One may remain unconvinced of this, however, I think at least in light of my argument one could see that what I'm putting forth isn't novel and is grounded in the culture that Scripture is birthed from, which makes it very difficult to propose that it's a theological innovation from much later in church history.