Thursday, April 1, 2010

Should Christians Observe the Passover?

In my brief interaction with a few Christian fathers and brothers regarding this question I have concluded that New Testament (NT) Christians should not return to the Old Testament (OT) observance of Passover. My primary reason is this: I believe the observance of a distinctly OT worship service (i.e. seder) is a violation of the Regulative Principle of Worship (RPW), defined by the Westminster Confession of Faith as worshiping God in “any way not prescribed in the Holy Scripture” (21.1).

Primary Argument:

  1. OT ordinances, though essentially similar to NT ordinances as signs and seals of the one covenant of grace (WCF 27.1 and 27.5), are nonetheless properly distinguished from NT ordinances (WCF, 7.5 and 7.6).
  2. The Passover (like circumcision) was prescribed as an ordinance of OT worship (spoken of in WCF 7.5 as “the paschal lamb”).
  3. The Passover was abrogated and replaced by the Lord's Supper in the NT.
  4. Therefore, the Passover is not a proper ordinance of NT worship.


  • Secondary Argument:



    1. The contemporary Passover Seder largely includes additions/stipulations (e.g. the afikoman) which are not prescribed in the OT but were added during the intertestamental and post second-temple eras of Jewish history.
    2. Therefore the contemporary Passover Seder is not prescribed by God as a proper way of OT or NT worship.


  • Possible Objection:



  • The NT church should observe the Passover Seder as a tutorial.

    This objection fails in at least four respects: (1) It assumes a non sequitur, (2) It is self-defeating, (3) It succumbs to a reductio ad absurdum, and (4) If the Passover includes the observance of the Lord’s Supper, it is a worship service de facto.

    1. It assumes a non sequitur. The assumption is that observing the ritual is a way of gaining insights that simple teaching cannot afford. In other words, in order to gain a rich understanding of the ritual, one should observe it. This is not true. We could accomplish the same goal by offering a class on the significance of the Passover ritual without observing it.

    2. It is self-defeating. This is true in three ways: (a) Defining characteristics of the Passover are implicitly denied, (b) The function of the Passover is implicitly denied, (c) The fulfillment of the Passover is implicitly denied.

    a. A defining characteristic of the Passover is that it was a worship service. Therefore, to observe it as a simple tutorial is to redefine the thing itself (i.e. to change a defining characteristic of it). One may be observing something, but if it is not understood to be worship, it cannot be a biblical Passover. This same argument can also be seen in a typical limitation of the observance among Christians. To my knowledge Passover Seders observed by Christians do not typically include the slaughtering, roasting, and eating of a paschal lamb. The paschal lamb is a defining characteristic of the Passover. Again, one may be observing something, but if the slaughtering of a paschal lamb is not involved, it is not a biblical Passover. Either Passover is a worship service, which means it is not merely a tutorial and therefore is not allowed, or it is a tutorial, in which case it is not worship and is not therefore a proper observance.

    b. One function of the Passover was to foresignify the first advent of Christ. Since Christ has already come, the ordinance cannot now fulfill its function of foresignification. Therefore, any observance of the Passover after Christ’s coming is an attempt to have the ordinance function in a way in which it was not designed, which is an implicit denial of its design.

    c. Because the Passover was a foresignification of a particular end (i.e. the coming of Christ), to continue its observance today is an implicit denial of that end. As the author of Hebrews says, “For you have not come to what may be touched, a blazing fire and darkness and gloom and a tempest and the sound of a trumpet and a voice whose words made the hearers beg that no further messages be spoken to them. . . . But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering, and to the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel” (Heb. 12:18-19, 22-24).

    3. It succumbs to a reductio ad absurdum, namely, if we are willing to observe the Passover ritual in order to understand how it foresignified Christ, why not observe all the rituals since they also foresignified Christ (WCF 7.5)? Why would we not be willing to perform a service of circumcision or sacrifice in order to learn about how they foresignified Christ?

    4. If the Passover observance includes the observance of the Lord’s Supper, which is sometimes practiced along with contemporary Passover Seders among Christians, it is a worship service de facto. The Westminster divines understood that the only proper ordinary occasion for observing the sacraments is public worship. This is evident in that private masses are forbidden and only a minister of the Word lawfully ordained may dispense them with the appropriate words of institution. The only exceptions are extraordinary cases in which a communing church member cannot attend the ordinary public worship service. Nonetheless, even then, multiple officers and congregants should be present in order to constitute public worship.

    Chief Concerns

    Notwithstanding the violation of the RPW, which our tradition understands to be the idolatry of will-worship, I have three chief concerns about Christians observing Passover, each of which strikes at the basis of the very being of the visible church (i.e. Word and Sacrament). Those concerns are: (1) The sufficiency (i.e. fullness, evidence, and spiritual efficacy) of the Lord’s Supper is implicitly denied, (2) The sufficiency (i.e. fullness and clarity) of the revelation of God in the person of Christ is implicitly denied, and (3) The sufficiency (i.e. value and efficacy) of the work of Christ is implicitly denied.

    1. The sufficiency (i.e. fullness, evidence, and spiritual efficacy) of the Lord’s Supper is implicitly denied. To observe an OT ordinance, which has been abrogated and replaced by a NT ordinance, is an implicit denial of the sufficiency of the NT ordinance that has replaced it, which, although “administered with more simplicity, and less outward glory, yet, in [it], [the covenant] is held forth in more fullness, evidence, and spiritual efficacy, to all nations, both Jews and Gentiles”(WCF 7.6).
    2. The sufficiency (i.e. fullness and clarity) of the revelation of God in the person of Christ is implicitly denied. To turn back to that which was but a shadow of the substance is an implicit denial of the sufficiency of the substance.
    3. The sufficiency (i.e. value and efficacy) of the work of Christ is implicitly denied. To observe an OT ordinance, which is a blood-letting ritual, implicitly undermines the value and efficacy of the blood of the Lamb of God, which was spilled with absolute finality at the cross.
    Recommendation

    Given the above argument, it is my recommendation that Passover Seders should not be observed by the NT church. Nonetheless, the Passover along with all OT worship practices should be explained and understood in light of the Christ they foresignified.

    17 comments:

    Anonymous said...

    A few questions...
    What prompted your discourse on this subject?
    What was the response to your analysis last year?
    Have you personally attended a service at your church where the Passover was explained in order to properly assess its faithfulness to God's Word?
    How dies this post serve to edify the saints?

    M. Jay Bennett said...

    Anonymous,

    I was asked by a classical dispensationalist brother to lead the observance of the Lord's Supper during our church's yearly Passover Seder last year. I declined and was asked by my Senior Pastor to prepare a written statement explaining why I believed it to be a wrong practice.

    The response to my analysis was essentially twofold. First, the Lord's Supper was removed from the observance. I thought that was a step in the right direction. Second, the idea that the observance was tutorial in nature was reasserted as the reason why we can do it without offending God.

    I have not attended a Passover Seder at my church because of the understanding I've communicated above. I do not believe one can be faithful to God's Word in observing the Passover Seder.

    I pray this post edifies (i.e. builds up) the saints by shining light onto falsehood and promoting truth. I believe the worship of the church is of supreme importance. It is the subject of the first table of God's Law, which is summarized as "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind" (Matt. 22:37).

    Anonymous said...

    So, would it be fair to assume your views reflect those of the church you represent?

    What error do you believe your "classical dispensational" friend has fallen into? I am not sure I understand.

    Is it the view of your church that these services are offensive to God?

    Thank you.

    M. Jay Bennett said...

    The Regulative Principle of Worship (RPW) is a view confessed by the denomination in which I have taken ordination vows.

    To my knowledge, the session of the local church I serve believes the observance of the Passover Seder (or any other OT ceremony) is not allowable. In order to accommodate the RPW, they have said the observance is not worship but instead a simple tutorial.

    I would encourage you to read my post, specifically the section labeled "Chief Concerns" for a full description of the error involved as I see it.

    Anonymous said...

    http://www.forministry.com/USTXPRCIALPCLP

    Pastor David Boxerman is a PCA Pastor at Lakeside Pres in FL who recently conducted a Seder at his church (see link ). You would probably find it helpful to speak with him. I suspect he has an answer for your questions.

    By the way, you identified the person earlier as a classic dispensationalist. How is that relevant?

    M. Jay Bennett said...

    I know Dave. He was in the North Texas Presbytery when I came under care there. I'll have to give him a call sometime.

    Is there any other contrary argument besides ad hominem (e.g. "he does it so it must be okay") you see?

    Classic dispensationalism teaches that the OT sacrificial system will be re-established among Israel (e.g. that which is not the church) in the Millennium. They have also promoted the strange phenomenon called Messianic Judaism in which the OT ceremonies are reintroduced into the NT era among believing Jews. I believe there is a connection between that belief and the observance of OT ceremonies like the Passover today. Most of those I know who promote and practice Passover are of a dispensationalist persuasion.

    M. Jay Bennett said...

    * Classic dispensationalism teaches that the OT sacrificial system will be re-established among Israel (e.g. that which is not the church) in the Millennium (as they understand the Millenium).

    I am an amillennialist.

    M. Jay Bennett said...

    Clarification: Lakeside is in Big D. That's where I interviewed to come under care of the NTP. Dave was the chair of the committee that received "under care" men at the time.

    Anonymous said...

    'Most of those I know who promote and practice Passover are of a dispensationalist persuasion.'

    Are you familiar with Christian Witness to Israel and Chaim and HaGefen?

    CWI js not dispensational...
    http://www.cwi.org.uk/whoweare/ourbeliefs.html

    Nor is Chaim...
    http://chaim.org/purpose.htm

    Chaim has some good Passover info for Reformed folk...

    http://chaim.org/churches/passins.pdf

    They even suggest a Seder in the church...

    "4. Attend or have your own Passover Seder celebrating Jesus as the Passover lamb. Encourage your church to recognize the Passover setting of the Lord's Supper."

    For your convenience, here is a link to the special Passover newsletter from Chaim talking about how to share Christ in the Passover...

    http://www.chaim.org/CHAIMTimesSpring2006.pdf

    If you will take time to read it you will be blessed.

    Further, HaGefen is not dispensational...

    http://www.ha-gefen.org.il/len/apage/14842.php

    So, it seems like Reformed folk are not all that challenged with this concept. It does not appear accurate to relegate such to so-called dispensationalists.

    Also, you made mention of something "strange" called Messianic Judaism.

    Are you familiar with Baruch Maoz? He is definitely not dispensational and is strongly Reformed, like many of the folk mentioned above (Chaim has a good OPC brother Rick Anderson on staff...hardly dispensational).

    Anyway, here's a comment about Baruch Maoz...

    "Baruch Maoz, a leader of the Messianic congregational movement in Israel, and pastor of Grace and Truth Congregation, warns against positioning Messianic Judaism alongside Orthodox, Conservative, Reform, and Reconstructionist Judaism."

    http://www.equip.org/articles/the-messianic-congregational-movement

    It is interesting as a side note that the dispensationalists have been very faithful to the Great Commission in terms of evangelizing Jews.

    I believe it is safe to say that Robert Murray McCheyne could be called Reformed.

    Anonymous said...

    Thank you for the clarification with respect to where Lakeside is located. My error. Rev Boxerman formerly pastored in FL at Immanuel Presbyterian Church and I lost track of where he is currently serving the Lord as a PCA pastor.

    Here is an excerpt from their PCA church website...

    "Join us as Pastor Boxerman leads through a traditional Jewish Passover Seder supper, with a brief message on the significance of the Passover being the Last Supper Jesus ate with His disciples, and concludes with Communion. Child care will be provided."

    It is interesting that the PCA church observes Communion along with their Passover Seder.

    Interesting that they would call it a "Jewish Passover/Communion Supper" isn't it?

    Since Rev. Boxerman headed up the committee which received PCA men under care, I believe it is safe to say he understands the Westminster Standards well.

    Here is the phone number for Rev Boxerman's church...817-431-0151)

    M. Jay Bennett said...

    Yes, this is why I said, "Most of those I know who promote and practice Passover are of a dispensationalist persuasion."

    I'm am not arguing that folks in the Reformed camp haven't done this. I'm arguing that they shouldn't.

    Don't we observe the substance of the Passover every time we observe the Supper? Is there something missing in the Supper that the Passover supplements? Is God's Word sufficient to teach us about OT ceremony or do we need to do them to understand them sufficiently? Was God wrong to end the OT ceremonies? Did he hold something back from us that we need?

    Anonymous said...

    "Don't we observe the substance of the Passover every time we observe the Supper?"

    Yes. We see the Passover Lamb exalted. And does not the Passover service explain how such is the case? Of course it does, very clearly.

    "Was there something missing in the Supper that the Passover supplements? Is God's Word sufficient to teach us about OT ceremony or do we need to do them to understand them sufficiently?"

    This is a classic false dichotomy.

    "Was God wrong to end the OT ceremonies?"

    I believe we both know the answer to this question. However, where is there a presumption that a Passover Seder is salvific, Law-keeping, legal in nature? Again, this is like tilting at windmills.

    Please demonstrate from Scripture alone how a Passover service which exalts Jesus as the Passover Lamb and shows the fulfillment of the Passover in Jesus' exclusive atoning work is dishonoring to God.

    I sleep very well at night knowing the Gospel is being proclaimed and the saint are being edified.... And that I am being faithful to God's Word.

    M. Jay Bennett said...

    I agree that a proper understanding of Passover helps us understand the richness of the Supper and the Christ it signifies. That isn't the question. The question is whether we should observe the ceremony? Why stop with the Passover? If NT worship is enriched by observing the OT rites, why should we not have a circumcision or slaughter bulls on an alter in order to achieve the desired end?

    The dichotomy is not false if the first question is answered affirmatively. Since we have the substance of the Passover in the Lord's Supper, then we gain nothing by observing the OT ordinance. To assert that we gain something in the observance (distinguished from the knowledge per my third question above) of the Passover is to imply that the Supper is insufficient.

    The question of whether observance of the ceremonial law was salvific is beside the point. The issue at hand is what God has said about how he should be worshiped.

    Time for Supper. Scriptural argument to follow...

    M. Jay Bennett said...

    First, may I assume we both agree with the Regulative Principle of Worship as it is confessed in WCF 21.1?

    M. Jay Bennett said...

    My apologies. I missed the previous comment in which you wrote: "Since Rev. Boxerman headed up the committee which received PCA men under care, I believe it is safe to say he understands the Westminster Standards well."

    Again, I would ask if you have any other argument contrary to mine besides an ad hominem?

    Of course, I could marshal forward men who didn't think the observance of OT ceremonies was acceptable like the Wesminster divines, but as a rule I don't establish my arguments ad hominem. I like to establish the argument systematically and then point to those who have agreed or disagreed with it over time as supporting evidence.

    M. Jay Bennett said...

    By the way, the reason I ask about the RPW is that if we do not agree on that point the issue at hand is much more fundamental than the Passover Seder.

    M. Jay Bennett said...

    Should I take your silence as a no?

    If so, I encourage you to study the doctrine of Reformed worship. If we cannot agree on the RPW then there is no use in discussing my argument against Passover observance.