Why do Jews and Messianic believers follow a different calendar than the mainline churches?
According to Leviticus 23 our G-d has outlined a calendar for His people so that we will meet with Him at regularly scheduled times. The Hebrew word for these appointed times is “moedim”. The moedim fall into two sections with three appointed times coming in the Fall and three occuring in the Spring of the year. The word “moedim” first appears in Genesis 1:14 where we find that the sun, moon, and stars were placed in their orbits for the theological purpose of letting us know when we were to observe the appointed times. In the book of Numbers (chapters 28/29) the sacrifices that would be offered in the tabernacle/temple are listed for us. Today we have no existing priesthood, temple, or sacrifices but we commemorate the appointed times since they are perpetual commands, memorialize the past, and have relevance for the future. According to Zechariah 14, one day all the nations will come up to observe the festival of Sukkot (booths). The calendar that currently exists within mainline chu
