BIBLICAL RESPONSE ON CROSS OVER NIGHT.

BIBLICAL RESPONSE ON CROSS OVER NIGHT.
Cross over night is an issue that arises in the church few years ago. It is a practice where a congregation recognizes the end of a year and beginning of another year by praying and singing to God. 

It is important to note that whenever any issue arises in the church, let us ALWAYS be interested to know what the Lord, the Head of the church, the owner of the church, the purchaser of the church by His blood, has to say on it. This should always be our attitude that shows respect, honor and dignity for the headship of Christ over ALL THINGS to His church. Ephesians 1:22 says, "And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be HEAD OVER *ALL THINGS* TO THE CHURCH" [NKJV]. 

So, our attitude should not be on skepticism, "may be" or doubt. Our attitude should not be: it is not bad in itself, we may do it or we may not do it. Let us always ask, "WHAT IS THE AUTHORITY OF CHRIST ON THIS MATTER IN HIS CHURCH?" It is this attitude that will always help us to do whatever we do in words (teaching) or in deed (practice) by the name (Authority) of the Lord (Colossians 3:17). 

Dear brethren, apart from the Lord's day that the Lord's Supper and Giving are attached for their observation (Acts 20:7; 1 Corinthians 16:1-3), there is *no day* that any other religious practice for the church (as a collective body) is attached for observation. The church doesn't have Jesus' authority to celebrate new month, new year, etc. Paul wrote to the Galatians:

Galatians 4:9-11 [NKJV] 
 _[9] But now after you have known God, or rather are known by God, how is it that you turn again to the weak and beggarly elements, to which you desire again to be in bondage? [10] You observe days and months and seasons and years. [11] I am afraid for you, lest I have labored for you in vain._

However, *it is a matter of liberty for individual Christians to celebrate any day as seem good to him or her.* Paul wrote:

Romans 14:4-6 [NKJV] 
_[4] Who are you to judge another's servant? To his own master he stands or falls. Indeed, he will be made to stand, for God is able to make him stand. [5] One person esteems one day above another; another esteems every day alike. Let each be fully convinced in his own mind. [6] He who observes the day, observes it to the Lord; and he who does not observe the day, to the Lord he does not observe it. He who eats, eats to the Lord, for he gives God thanks; and he who does not eat, to the Lord he does not eat, and gives God thanks._

Let us recollect that the calendar we are using today to note our new year was not the same used by the first century Christians. Check Google to know numbers of calendars ever invented in the world. So, it will not be a uniform practice for a congregation to celebrate a new year at a time difference from another congregation in the world. Hence, the church can thank and praise God for all things any day convenient and suitable. However, to specialize cross over night as a practice of the church for the new year is to make a practice without direct command, approved example or necessary inference for the Lord's church. Kindly note that it is a practice that is secretly brought into the church from denominations. There is no scriptural nor historical fact that the primitive churches observed cross over night. Let us beware less we drift unaware (Hebrews 2:1)!

Joseph I. Oyerinde. 

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