Keeping Old Testament Feasts. Atheist Desires Faith. "King" Daniel. by Pastor Walter Snyder Q: I met a woman who says that we should be keeping the holy feasts. I looked through my Bible and in Corinthians they seem to be doing this, which really troubles me. If we are to keep the feasts, I don't even know what to do. Can you help me with this? A: I'm not sure where in Corinthians you found a requirement that Gentile believers keep the Hebrew festivals. This woman is a modern version of a type of person Paul dealt with in journeys and epistles. Several of the epistles deal with those who want to force Gentiles to keep the Jewish feasts and to follow all the Hebrew customs. Christ fulfilled the feasts of the Old Covenant, including the Sabbath, over which He is Lord (Mark 2:28) and tells us that we are not slave to the holy days; rather, these days are for our benefit: "The Sabbath was made for man and not man for the Sabbath" (Mark 2:27). Paul clearly cautions against those who make the old holy days the basis of true Christian practice. In Colossians 2:8, he says, "See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ." After making comparison to these legalists' demands for circumcision, he then says, "Therefore let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink, or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath. (2:16)" I suggest you read all of Colossians 2, noting that if "with Christ you died" to the evil things of this world, why would you continue to "submit to regulations" (2:20)? He concludes, "These have indeed an appearance of wisdom in promoting self-made religion and asceticism and severity to the body, but they are of no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh. (2:23)" Q: I am a former Christian who forsook my faith and I am now a full fledged atheist. I recently fell in love with a Christian lady. However, she is having second thoughts about me due to my faith, or the lack of it, I should say. I love her, and I want to spend the rest of my life with her, but she cannot commit in light of our difference in religious viewpoint. Is it possible that I can find faith again? Is it possible that her and I could make it? Is there anything encouraging I could tell her---Scripture or whatever---that I could help to convince her that it is possible that this could work? A: Dear friend. This is one of those "good news, bad news" answers. The Bible is quite specific in warning against being "unequally yoked" with unbelievers (2 Corinthians 6:14-18). However, it also tells how God-fearing wives may be instruments in bringing their husbands to faith. This woman sounds like one worth keeping; if she is wrestling with her feelings and her faith in such manner, you know that you have found someone strong, committed, honest, and upright. Her concern then most likely isn't just for the relationship and possible harm to her own relationship with Christ but also for you and your lack thereof. No true Christian can be complacent about a marriage to someone who will be turned away in the Last Judgment. Perhaps in all of this, God has sent your friend as an unwitting "missionary" to bring you back to His flock. If God so wills, the earthly relationship will work. There's no "if" in His will for you, however. He "desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. (1 Timothy 2:4)" Ask your lady friend to pray for and with you. Study God's Word. Find a solid, believing Christian mentor who will sit down with you to meet your questions and objections. Don't try to brush over the differences. Ask God the tough questions and search Scripture for the answers. You sound like one who is well-read and intelligent; thus, you'd probably benefit by reading the works of English author (and former atheist) C. S. Lewis. I think that The Case for Christianity and Mere Christianity might be very helpful. Finally, enlist the prayers of Christian friends. I'll also ask that the readers of this column pray for your conversion and salvation. Q: Why didn't King Nebuchadnezzar make Daniel the second king but instead made him the third king? A: Actually, it was Belshazzar who did this, following Daniel's interpretation of the writing on the wall at the royal banquet (Daniel 5). Aside from any personal inclinations, he didn't do it because he couldn't. Technically, Belshazzar was the second ruler of Babylon. After Nebuchadnezzar's death, a short-lived series of kings ruled the Babylonian empire. The last of these was Nabonidus, Belshazzar's father, who was still the "number one" ruler, although a captive of the Medo-Persian armies. Belshazzar was "number two" in the nation and the "king" of the city of Babylon. Thus, Daniel was set behind the two of them as "number three" of the empire and "number two" in the city. This wasn't much of a risk for Belshazzar; if Daniel's prediction came true, Belshazzar would be dead and wouldn't have to worry about this 80 year old Hebrew man. If Daniel was wrong, Belshazzar would be justified in killing him. Scripture quotations, unless otherwise noted, are from ~The Holy Bible, English Standard Version~, © 2001 by Crossway Bibles. Ask the Pastor, © 2002 by Walter P. Snyder. It may be reproduced in totality, including this disclaimer, by anyone, provided that no profit is generated by said republication and redistribution. Translations into other languages should similarly note the United States and any appropriate international copyrights, as well as God's Scriptural injunctions concerning the property of others. Walter Snyder is the pastor of Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Emma, Missouri and coauthor of the book "What Do Lutherans Believe."