Musing - Should Christians Observe Yom Kippur?

Hebraic Musing - Should Christians Observe Yom Kippur?

(Because Yom Kippur begins Tuesday evening, Sept. 25^th this year, I am reprinting this ‘insight’ from “Hebraic Insights” book, page 170. Timely?)

On the tenth day of Tishri at sunset starts the highest holy day the Jews celebrate. Even the casual Jew will acknowledge Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement) just like a nominal Christian will celebrate Christmas or go to church on Easter. Why is Yom Kippur so important?

This is to be a lasting ordinance for you: On the tenth day of the seventh month you must  deny yourselves [fast] and  not do any work [observe a Sabbath rest]—whether native-born or an alien living among you (That’s us!)—because on this day atonement will be made for you, to cleanse you. Then, before the LORD, you will be clean from all your sins. It is a sabbath of rest, and you must  deny yourselves; it is a  lasting ordinance . . . This is to be a lasting ordinance for you: Atonement is to be made once a year for all the sins of the Israelites (Lev 16: 29-34 NIV).

While my stomach churns from the mandated twenty-four hour fast and other deprivations while praying and searching my soul, this is why and what I ponder:

1. Why? Because Adonai said so. Or because Daddy said to do it.

2. Symbolically, there will be no eating or drinking or sex or finery in death, and Yom Kippur is about sampling a form of death, the wages of sin, so that when we are allowed to live life again, it will taste even sweeter. Fasting does produce a mental clarity, despite the headache and rumblings in the stomach.

3. Erev Yom Kippur, sunset the evening before, starts with a prayer of confession. Although Yeshua has atoned for my sins, there are some things for me to consider. This is akin to the confessions I did in my younger days on Saturday before receiving Jesus during Communion at Sunday Mass. I am sensing a need for more confession time and a renewal of something I once had in my younger days.

What kind of sins do the Jews confess in their Yom Kippur liturgy? They go through the same ones covered by the sacrificial offerings made for sin and guilt and trespass as prescribed in Leviticus 4-6:

1. Sins against God—intentional and unintentional; guilt of the people; done private or communally. These were atoned by the slaughter of innocent, unblemished animals by the high priest.

2. Thoughtless sins against fellow man or community—atoned by sacrifice of a lamb and so forth.

3. Unintentional violations or sins against God’s holy things—atoned by giving an animal of like value to the priest, plus making restitution, plus paying twenty percent.

4. Unintentional violations or sins against God’s commands—even if I don’t know I am responsible. What transgressions are we responsible for?

5. Intentional sins against others or the Lord’s holy tithe—This atonement has four steps: (1) confession; (2) restitution; (3) add one-fifth (a double tithe!); (4) give an animal or silver offering to the priest. Notice that there is no blood sacrifice required. Read Leviticus 5.  Does Yeshua’s sacrificial death and blood atone for intentional sins for which restitution has not been made?

Jews and Christians are often thought to be on opposing sides of the question of grace and good works. At the end of Yom Kippur, having prayed for mercy and forgiveness, Jews finally throw themselves totally on the mercy of the Judge. Martin Luther ignited the Reformation movement with his sola gratia, by grace alone. In the end, Jews are trusting on that same hope.

Point to Ponder

Do Christians tend to ignore the importance of good works,
while Jews are not giving adequate recognition to their dependence on grace?

L'Shanah Tovah y’all                                                                                      September 18, 2012   

Yosef   a.k.a.  Joe Brusherd