People of the Book by Dan Cohn-Sherbok

Author:Dan Cohn-Sherbok
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781784503666
Publisher: Jessica Kingsley Publishers
Published: 2018-08-18T16:00:00+00:00

GEORGE

Only a very small handful of minor Christian sects celebrate the Jewish festivals that Dan describes. Most Christians regard them as being superseded by Christ’s coming: as the writer to the Hebrews argues, Christ is the high priest whose sacrifice brings an end to the Jewish ritual obligations associated with the Jerusalem Temple, and who provides access to the heavenly temple (Hebrews 4.14–5.10).

Christians celebrate Pentecost (known to Jews as the Feast of the Weeks), but it bears a different meaning, being associated with the Holy Spirit’s descent to the early disciples, marking the birth of the Church (Acts 2.1–41). There are no particular directives about the celebration of festivals in the Christian calendar such as Christmas and Easter, and worship on such dates tends to be themed rather than ritualised, with use of appropriate music and readings from Scripture. However, certain events described in the Bible are often re-enacted: for example, on Palm Sunday many churches recreate Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem (Matthew 21.1–11), beginning the service with a procession with palm branches, and the inclusion of a real donkey has become increasingly popular.

Jesus instructed his disciples to perform two rites: baptism and the Eucharist (Matthew 28.19; Luke 22.14–20). These are regarded as sacraments in the major Christian traditions, a sacrament being a rite whereby the physical actions symbolise the receiving of spiritual grace.

Disagreement has arisen as to how to administer the sacraments. Baptists and Pentecostals regard baptism as an affirmation of faith, to be administered to those of sufficient age to understand what Christian commitment involves, and baptism is by immersion. This follows the example of Jesus’ baptism by John the Baptist, which involved immersion in the River Jordan, as an accompaniment to repentance and forgiveness (Mark 1.4–11). Other Christians believe that children should be recognised as part of the Christian community, and therefore should be baptised in infancy, and (with the exception of Orthodoxy) by the sprinkling of water. Arguably, there is some biblical support for child baptism: on the day of Pentecost, Peter exhorts his listeners to ‘repent and be baptised’, adding, ‘The promise is for you and your children’ (Acts 2.38–39), and there are references to entire households being baptised, such Lydia’s family, and that of the Philippian jailer (Acts 16.15, 33). However, those favouring adult baptism contend that children are not explicitly mentioned, and that this is only conjecture.

The Gospel of John does not explicitly mention the sharing of bread and wine at Jesus’ final meal, but records that Jesus washes the disciples’ feet, saying, ‘Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet’ (John 13.14). Although ritualised foot-washing is not regarded as a ‘means of grace’, Seventh-day Adventists and Pentecostals have regarded it as an ordinance for many years, and in recent times other denominations have incorporated it into the Maundy Thursday liturgy.

The Roman Catholic and Orthodox churches add five sacraments in addition to baptism and Eucharist: confirmation, penance, anointing the sick, holy orders and marriage.

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