Why celebrate a Christian Seder?

The Seder Supper is a meaningful Jewish tradition from the late first century (BCE/AD). Christians have modified it to retain much of the Jewishness while redirecting its meaning toward Jesus Christ. Is a Christian Seder cultural appropriation? Is it antisemitism?

By Mark Harris, MD, MPH, MBA, MDiv, ThM, PhD, DBA

Israel and the body of Jews throughout the world suffered a terrible tragedy on 7 October 2023, when Islamic Hamas terrorists killed 1200 Israelis in an unprovoked attack. As Israel has retaliated and casualties climbed, worldwide opinion seems to be turning against Israel. Despite the worst slaughter of Jews since the Holocaust, the world has turned Israel from victim to villain. Israel stands alone.

Christians, especially conservative evangelicals, have been the firmest supporters of Israel since its reconstitution in 1948. Tourism comprises 5% of Israeli GDP, and Christians comprise at least 50% of all visitors.[1] Since the Hamas attack on Yom Kippur (7 Oct) killed 1200 Israelis, US evangelical Christians have flocked to aid Israel in its war effort and recovery.[2] Christians in 2024 are solidly pro-Israel. Why do people object to Christian Seder suppers?

The Case Against Christian Seders

Historically, relationships between Jews and Christians have been fraught. For example, the internet brims with arguments, both by Jews and by Christians, that Christians should never celebrate the Seder. The Seder is a Jewish celebration of the Passover, the deliverance of the Hebrews from Egypt. The Seder is one of the most important ceremonies in Judaism. Those who object to Christian seders give many reasons for their objections:

For a Christian to celebrate the traditional Jewish Seder Supper is cultural appropriation.
For a Christian to modify the Seder Supper, for example, using ham or leavened bread, is disparaging.
Christians have no place in the legacy of the faith of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob because most of us are not Jews.
Christians persecuted the Jews.
We will offend our Jewish friends and neighbors.
Jesus ate the Passover meal, but the modern Seder comes from a later tradition, after the destruction of the Jewish temple in Jerusalem. Therefore, Jesus never ate the Seder.
The Passover is not about Jesus, and we should not try to make it so. To do so is to write the Jews out of their own story.
A Christian Seder is antisemitic.

The Case for Christian Seders

Against such objections, some Christ-followers shy away from celebrating a Seder. Others do not. Why do churches such as ours celebrate a Christianized version of the Seder Supper?

Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the patriarchs of the ancient Hebrew religion, are also the patriarchs of Christianity since Christianity has been “grafted into” the tree of the lineage of God’s people (Romans 11:11-24).
The Passover meal, exemplified by the Seder, is as much Christian as it is Jewish. Therefore, it is not, by definition, cultural appropriation.
Early on, the Jews persecuted the Christians. It was not until several centuries later that Christians began persecuting the Jews. Tragically, it was severe.
Christian Seders must be done in respect and love, focusing on the Jewish emphasis of deliverance from Egypt, and only later on the Christian emphasis on deliverance from sin through Jesus Christ.
The Seder emphasizes the Jewishness of Jesus Christ and the early church leaders.
The Seder helps Christians to understand Jews better.
The Seder is a profound experience of Biblical truths in the Old and New Testaments.
A Christian Seder is not antisemitic, especially since those who participate are not themselves antisemitic.

Conclusion

Despite the controversy, a carefully done Christian Seder Supper, one which honors Jewish traditions and the Jewish people, while remaining true to Christ, has far more benefits than drawbacks. We shall know a tree by its fruits, and the fruits of Christian Seders have, in my experience, been excellent. Christians should not shy away from a respectful Seder.