Should Christian churches hold Seders?

[Marcia]

This article in the Washington Post talks about some evangelical churches holding Christian seders/passovers and how some Jewish people are finding this offensive. What do you think? Should churches do this?

http://tinyurl.com/gr755

Excerpt:

The thinking is: Since three of the four Gospels say the Last Supper was a Passover Seder, what could be more natural than for Christians to learn more about the ritual meal Jesus shared with his apostles before he died?

"Holding a Seder is a way to connect with the heritage of our religion and to see how the practices of the ancient world are still relevant to us as Christians today," said Thom Campbell, who led a Seder for about 20 at Fairfax Presbyterian Church in Fairfax City last Saturday. It's also, he pointed out, a good family event.

....People should understand that it's a commandment given to the Jewish people to observe the Passover and tell the story of the Exodus," says Rabbi Stuart Weinblatt of Congregation B'nai Tzedek in Potomac. "And that it is a Jewish ritual and not something they should try to make their own."

Leighton, a Presbyterian minister, said the gradual transfiguration of the Seder in its passage from the Jewish dining room to the evangelical church hall can be "downright offensive."

"It's an underlying assumption that Jews have a rich tradition, but they don't really understand the buried treasure within," he said. "So it's up to Christians to extract the gold. It's energized by a feeling of contempt that Judaism has no spiritual integrity of its own."

Please read the whole article before you comment on it!

 

[webdog]

Are these unsaved Jews, or Messianic Jews? Every Messianic Jew I know will not get offended.

This would be like me being offended because Jews don't have to work on Christmas or Easter.

 

[gtbuzzarp]

I've always wanted to go to a Seder. We were going to go this year, but we went to get our tickets too late. But from what I've been told the imagery in a Seder is such that you just go "How do the Jews not get it?"

I found this interesting:
You don't traditionally find Jesus at a modern Seder celebrating Passover, which began last night. But this was no ordinary Seder. The 250 people at Immanuel's Church in Silver Spring on Tuesday night were holding a Christian Seder, a phenomenon that's gaining popularity across the country -- to the consternation of many in the Jewish community as well as some interfaith leaders.

Interfaith leaders are upset???????

Please explain that one to me.

 

[blackbird]

In 1 Corinthians 5:7--we are told that Christ is our Passover and then in v.8 we are told to "keep the feast"

But I don't believe we are to keep the feast---in a literal physical way---like in the setting Marcia's article described---but we are to keep the feast in the Inner Man---with "the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth"

But there is a growing sentiment among many church groups that believe we've "got to do it just like those Hebrews in the Bible did!" And pretty soon--whats gonna happen is this---we're gonna have all these churches "doing it like those Hebrews did"---with every place mat and every fork and knife and spoon in its right physical order-----and then we'll get so busy trying to get the physical tradition down----that we COMPLETLY MISS the spiritual truth!!! Then we get so tied up with the event---and when its all said and done---we don't have one iota of a clue as to what and who that meal pointed to!

We're carnal enough as a church already---without having to add the possiblity of Hebrew carnality on top!!

Besides---Jesus has already given us a Supper to participate in---in that "as oft as ye do eat and drink--ye do show the Lord's death til He comes!!!"

Amen???

 

[Marcia]

gtbuzzarp, the article explains why the (non-Messianic) Jews people are upset.

Blackbird, I'm with you on this one! Even though Passover was Jesus' last meal before his death, it was ultimately a picture of his sacrifice; it pointed to Christ.

Also, the last Passover is now our communion. While I can appreciate the Passover and would not mind attending or observing one in a Jewish home, I do not think churches should be getting into holding seders.

 

[Gwen]

I have been to several Seders, and enjoyed them! It really enhanced my understanding of our faith, and that Christ came to fulfill the Passover. It is full of symbolism.

I think it is a wonderful thing to hold a Seder. I also understand why Jewish people might find it offensive. They miss the symbolism, so they don't understand how we, as Christians, can hold a Seder. I'm sure it's confusing to them.

BTW, the Lord's Supper is taken from the Seder.

 

[gtbuzzarp]

Originally posted by Marcia:
gtbuzzarp, the article explains why the (non-Messianic) Jews people are upset.

I understand why Jews might be, but why interfaith leaders? Interfaith folks are moral relativists, so what's it matter to them?

When I think inerfaith, I think of a gathering of Rabbis, Pastors, and Imams who all give a message and each message is equally valid. No one religion is more right than the other.

 

[Gwen]

gtbuzzarp, I am don't understand it, either. It shouldn't be any more offensive to them than non-Messianic Jews who celebrate Christmas.

 

[Karen]

Marcia and blackbird,
I agree with Gwen on this one.
I have been to 4 Seders over a period of about 20 years. Including one last year hosted by a representative of Jews for Jesus.
It was a wonderful way to understand more about what the Lord's Supper means. It did not come out of nowhere.
I have never seen a hint in the churches that sponsored these that that was what we should change Communion to. It was an unusual special event to more fully explain things.

Karen

 

[AresMan]

I have been to a Sedyr by Messianic Jews and indeed there is a lot of symbolism that points to the Messiah.