Celebrating the Feast of Tabernacles

Are Christians obligated to keep/celebrate/observe the festivals outlined in the twenty-third chapter of Leviticus? And, if we determine that they are obligated to keep them, should they follow the instructions for their observance outlined there? Do changed circumstances justify our modifications of those instructions?

As Jews, it is clear that Christ and his apostles observed the festivals. In addition to this fact being a logical conclusion based on the historical evidence, there are a number of references to their observance in the writings known as the New Testament. However, when the Church finally expanded into non-Jewish regions of the Roman Empire, we know that those Gentile Christians had no traditions regarding festival observance and were specifically exempted from having to observe the tenets of God's covenant with Israel by the Jerusalem Council. Moreover, after the Romans destroyed the temple and Jerusalem in the Seventieth year of the Common Era, it was thereafter impossible for even Jewish Christians to observe these festivals in the manner prescribed in the Pentateuch.

Biblical students who are familiar with the Pentateuch know that two provisions of the Law were responsible for this circumstance: The law of the central sanctuary which designated Jerusalem and the temple as the only legitimate place for the observance of commanded assemblies, and the fact that three of these festivals were specifically designated as what we now refer to as pilgrimage feasts (Passover, Pentecost and Tabernacles). Moreover, Scripture informs us that not only was attendance at Jerusalem expected in times past, but that God would again demand attendance at Jerusalem in the future - after the Messianic Kingdom had been established on this earth.

Scripture also informs us that festival observance was often neglected during the period of the kingdoms (Israel and Judah) and, for a time, ceased altogether after the Assyrian and Babylonian captivities. Now, it is also true that the Jews eventually developed different customs and traditions which allowed them to continue to observe these festivals after those cataclysmic events. Indeed, in terms of the Feast of Tabernacles, we know that many modern Jews continue to construct temporary shelters in their yards or homes and cook special meals for the observance of this festival.

Likewise, a small number of Christians continue to designate certain cities around the world as "feast sites" and flock to them to observe this festival (although they often ignore the other two pilgrimage festivals in this connection, observing them in their local congregations). And, instead of building or erecting a temporary shelter, they check-in to hotels and campgrounds for the eight days of the festival. Is a temporary stay in a permanent structure the equivalent of temporarily residing in a temporary structure? Is attending the festival at Pensacola or Jekyll Island the equivalent of attending the festival at Jerusalem?

Personally, I am inclined to agree with the Apostle Paul's views on festival observance. He wrote to the saints at Colosse: "Don’t let anyone capture you with empty philosophies and high-sounding nonsense that come from human thinking and from the spiritual powers of this world, rather than from Christ. For in Christ lives all the fullness of God in a human body. So you also are complete through your union with Christ, who is the head over every ruler and authority. When you came to Christ, you were “circumcised,” but not by a physical procedure. Christ performed a spiritual circumcision—the cutting away of your sinful nature. For you were buried with Christ when you were baptized. And with him you were raised to new life because you trusted the mighty power of God, who raised Christ from the dead. You were dead because of your sins and because your sinful nature was not yet cut away. Then God made you alive with Christ, for he forgave all our sins. He canceled the record of the charges against us and took it away by nailing it to the cross. In this way, he disarmed the spiritual rulers and authorities. He shamed them publicly by his victory over them on the cross. So don’t let anyone condemn you for what you eat or drink, or for not celebrating certain holy days or new moon ceremonies or Sabbaths. For these rules are only shadows of the reality yet to come. And Christ himself is that reality." -- Colossians 2:8-17, NLT

I find much value and much to admire in the observance and understanding of these festivals, but we must also admit that the current traditions and services associated with those observances are not entirely consistent with what is recorded in the Pentateuch. Moreover, the New Testament makes plain that Gentiles are not obligated to observe these days. Hence, all observances that exalt those who attempt to keep these days over those who choose not to keep them is more than a little disingenuous and/or specious!