Christian Seders: Stealing the Sacred or Drawing Closer to God?

It's the Thursday before Easter and a small group is gathered around the table. Candles are lit, the ornate Seder plate is adorned with parsley, horseradish, egg and a lamb shank. The Matzah has been broken. It's a peaceful, Passover celebration.

Except, the group that is gathered isn't Jewish. They're Christians and they feel that participating in the Seder, the communal meal that is the focal point of Passover, will allow them to feel an increased connection to Christianity's Jewish roots.

It seems that a Christian Seder has become the trend du jour among Christians today. A Google search on "Christian" and "Seders" reveals over 600,000 results. Christians often feel that the Seder allows them to recreate the Last Supper of Jesus, and therefore, feel an increased connection to their Savior and his final days.

Kay Headley of Colorado Springs fondly recalls the year her church participated in a Seder dinner. For her, the experience enhanced her Easter celebration and provided new insight into the life of Jesus.

"I think it made my Christian walk stronger by participating in this Jewish part of the holiday," Headley said. "It brought it home to me. Jesus and the Apostles were participating in it themselves and that made a wonderful connection for me."

The concept of a Christian Seder isn't new. Jewish Christians continued Passover celebrations as a continuation of their cultural heritage with attention to their new faith in Jesus (Y'shua). As early as the 1950s, organizations like Jews for Jesus have been bringing "Christ in the Passover" presentations into churches to help Christians feel an increased connection to the Jewish roots of Jesus.

However, not everyone feels that the Seder offers Christians the authentic experience they seek, and may actually be perceived by some as insensitive.