I have been observing the New Testament Passover as a Christian for forty years. Following the pattern set by Christ with His disciples the night before His death I gather with other others and go through the rituals set forth in the gospel accounts.

We wash each other's feet as an act of humility. We then take the unleavened bread and wine as symbols of Christ's broken body and shed blood for the sins of mankind. It is a beautiful and remarkable service. In the Church of God it is the most visible ritual we have each year. We do this once annually as a remembrance of the Lord's death.

The Passover kept in this manner is distinctive and taken in its setting that momentous night in Jerusalem nearly 2000 years ago defies mixing with any other tradition. That is why this morning's article in the Wall Street Journal, "Is Passover the New Christmas?" strikes a discordant note.

The article seeks to show multi-faith meaning in the way some Christians and Jews share or observe the distinctive Passover Seder service. As it points out many Christians do look at the Seder to try to understand the Jewish roots of Christianity. Indeed, the other Biblical festivals, such as the Feast of Trumpets and Feast of Tabernacles have drawn the interest of many in an effort to return to an authentic worship. I would encourage anyone to look at what the Bible does say about festivals and the true worship of God. Most would be surprised at what the Bible reveals on this subject. Our booklet Holidays or Holy Days makes a conclusive presentation on the subject.

But there is a problem trying to mix the tradition of the Seder with the Christian traditions.

"These Christianized seders show the Passover story as merely the prelude to the advent of Jesus. This distresses some Jews and Christians. "It's deceptive to introduce Christian themes into the Jewish seder. When you start talking about Jesus, that is no longer a seder. That is a different creation altogether," a vehicle for preaching or proselytizing, says Rabbi Neil Gillman, professor emeritus of Jewish philosophy at the Jewish Theological Seminary."

The Rabbi is right. Christ is not in the Seder. Nor is Christ in the modern Christian traditions of Easter. People today who try to mix two incomplete traditions create a stew of religious confusion. The article concludes with the observation that mixing these two traditions "makes the Jew invisible". I would conclude the two traditions, make Christ invisible. That is the greatest error.

Christ instituted a most remarkable ceremony the night before His death. To observe this night in the correct manner is to unlock the great mystery of the ages. It is worth the time and effort to study.