The question that I am facing is: Does God condone (or perhaps even enjoy) a good party? I mean good fun, laughing, joking (not a anyone's expense), eating together - in short - a party.
At a conference last weekend one of the speakers said that Christians (of a particular denomination that shall remain nameless) don't know how to party...or at least they don't party enough.
I must admit that I took very slight offense at being told that I don't like to party. And that got me thinking about God and parties and our part in party (pardon the pun).
Maybe it is the word; "party" carries with it a slightly negative connotation unless it is accompanied by another word like "birthday", "anniversary", "swimming pool" etc. On its own, "party" does not sound holy enough.
Read this passage out of Deuteronomy - is about a festival tithe, which the people were to consume by...hmmm, how do I say it....partying?
Deuteronomy 14:23-26
23 "You shall eat in the presence of the LORD your God, at the place where He chooses to establish His name, the tithe of your grain, your new wine, your oil, and the firstborn of your herd and your flock, so that you may learn to fear the LORD your God always.
24 "If the distance is so great for you that you are not able to bring the tithe, since the place where the LORD your God chooses to set His name is too far away from you when the LORD your God blesses you,
25 then you shall exchange it for money, and bind the money in your hand and go to the place which the LORD your God chooses. 26 "You may spend the money for whatever your heart desires: for oxen, or sheep, or wine, or strong drink, or whatever your heart desires; and there you shall eat in the presence of the LORD your God and rejoice, you and your household.
I hope you skipped over :25, especially the part about the strong drink.
By the way, this is not the only time God commands his people to rejoice - it is a very definite theme in the Hebrew Scriptures and in the anticipation of the Millenial reign and the New Heavens and the New Earth. God established the various festivals to give people a cause to come together before Him to rejoice, sing and danc
So my conclusion is: Yes, God loves a good party, but let's call it a celebration instead.
What do you think?
At a conference last weekend one of the speakers said that Christians (of a particular denomination that shall remain nameless) don't know how to party...or at least they don't party enough.
I must admit that I took very slight offense at being told that I don't like to party. And that got me thinking about God and parties and our part in party (pardon the pun).
Maybe it is the word; "party" carries with it a slightly negative connotation unless it is accompanied by another word like "birthday", "anniversary", "swimming pool" etc. On its own, "party" does not sound holy enough.
Read this passage out of Deuteronomy - is about a festival tithe, which the people were to consume by...hmmm, how do I say it....partying?
Deuteronomy 14:23-26
23 "You shall eat in the presence of the LORD your God, at the place where He chooses to establish His name, the tithe of your grain, your new wine, your oil, and the firstborn of your herd and your flock, so that you may learn to fear the LORD your God always.
24 "If the distance is so great for you that you are not able to bring the tithe, since the place where the LORD your God chooses to set His name is too far away from you when the LORD your God blesses you,
25 then you shall exchange it for money, and bind the money in your hand and go to the place which the LORD your God chooses. 26 "You may spend the money for whatever your heart desires: for oxen, or sheep, or wine, or strong drink, or whatever your heart desires; and there you shall eat in the presence of the LORD your God and rejoice, you and your household.
I hope you skipped over :25, especially the part about the strong drink.
By the way, this is not the only time God commands his people to rejoice - it is a very definite theme in the Hebrew Scriptures and in the anticipation of the Millenial reign and the New Heavens and the New Earth. God established the various festivals to give people a cause to come together before Him to rejoice, sing and danc
So my conclusion is: Yes, God loves a good party, but let's call it a celebration instead.
What do you think?
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