Within, let's dive into the heated debate over which calendar should be used to set God's holy days—a controversy that's been stirring up strong opinions, sarcasm, and even angry accusations within the church of God. This issue, rivaled perhaps only by church government, has split folks for ages. Research papers with titles like *God's Sacred Calendar* and *The Calendar God Gave to Moses* flood the scene, alongside articles and letters, all clashing on major points. History shows that when a group splits, they often craft their own calendar to mark their separation, a pattern seen even in biblical times when Jeroboam shifted sacred observances after Judah's secession from Israel. The controversy hinges on key disputes: when to start the year, how to define a new moon, the use of postponements, intercalation, and whether to rely on observation or calculation. Some reject the Hebrew calendar's month names as proof it's not of God, though one might ask if the pagan names of weekdays discredit the seven-day week. Critics push for a return to what they call God's or the biblical calendar, claiming the Hebrew version isn't scriptural. Yet, the Bible lacks a clear tabular calendar or explicit rules for setting days, months, and years, leaving room for varied interpretations and arbitrary decisions on details like new moon timing or the role of the spring equinox. Further disagreements arise over whether to observe natural signs like barley harvests or calculate dates using astronomical averages. Observation, tied to visual cues like the new moon, faces challenges from weather and location variables, making planning for holy days chaotic at times. Historical records confirm ancient Israel used observers for new moons, but calculations likely backed them up, especially when sightings failed. The fixed Hebrew calendar, built on average speeds of heavenly bodies, uses postponements to align with celestial irregularities—adjustments some criticize as mere convenience, though they're meant to harmonize diverse factors and respect Sabbath preparation, ensuring holy days don't clash. Despite imperfections, the Hebrew calendar stands out for consistency, aiding planning and unifying God's people worldwide in observing His holy days. With no perfect calendar possible under current cosmic disharmony, and given its proven track record over centuries, there's little reason to abandon it for more erratic alternatives lacking the same historical and biblical grounding among God's people.

The Calendar Controversy has stirred significant debate, revealing deep spiritual issues tied to faith in God's sovereignty and providence. Claims have been made that the Calculated Hebrew Calendar, used for over a thousand years, is flawed, with some asserting that neither Herbert Armstrong nor his advisors truly understood it. Such assertions are dismissed as mere ego, implying a superiority over past generations. Yet, history shows that figures like Noah, Abraham, David, and Moses operated under a calendar, raising the question of why a new one would be needed now at the end of days. This push for change subtly rejects not only Herbert Armstrong but also the authority of Jesus Christ and the Father, as rejecting God's messengers risks rejecting Him, as seen in Luke 10:16 and John 13:20. The core issue is not perceived faithlessness in the caretakers of the calendar but rather our trust in God's faithfulness. The Jews, as caretakers of the oracles of God per Romans 3:1-4, did not create the calendar but preserve what was given. To suggest God failed to provide a proper calendar for His children over centuries, only to reveal a new one now, accuses Him of negligence, contradicting His nature as a provider, as stated in I Timothy 5:8. Such a notion implies chaos and confusion, which God does not author, and undermines the significance of the weekly Sabbath, tied to the same calendar as the holy days. Historical evidence shows no record of the church of God rejecting the Calculated Hebrew Calendar for a self-designed alternative in past eras. The calendar must be consistent and predictable to maintain unity, ruling out visual sightings of the new moon, which lead to confusion, as seen in failed attempts to standardize the Muslim lunar calendar and discrepancies among trained observers in California. The Jews themselves published calendar rules in the fourth century to prevent division caused by visual sightings across different regions. Scripture provides no precise rules for the calendar, only generalities, leaving room for varied interpretations and divisive calendar proposals. Psalm 104:19 states God appointed the moon for seasons, but seasons are not defined by specific astronomical events like solstices or equinoxes. Terms like "turning of the year" remain vague, and rules for intercalation or postponements are absent from the Bible. Even the determination of Abib as the first month implies an existing, God-approved calendar before the Exodus, as per Exodus 12. Without direct instructions, calendar creators rely on inference, often stretching generalities into absolutes, leading to inconsistencies, especially on a worldwide basis. Postponements, or calendrical adjustments, are necessary to align with heavenly movements and ensure unity, much like leap days in the Gregorian Calendar. Their placement around Tishri reflects both astronomical reasoning—due to the moon's delayed crescent appearance in fall—and biblical consideration for preparation days, as in Exodus 16. Accusations against the Jews for inserting postponements are hypocritical when new calendar creators make similar adjustments, claiming biblical basis where none exists. The term "convenient" for postponements, often misunderstood as "easy," historically means "fitting" or "appropriate," reflecting mercy, not laxity, ensuring preparation for Sabbaths and holy days as feasts, not privations. Ultimately, no calendar, including the Calculated Hebrew Calendar, comes entirely from Scripture due to the lack of precise rules. There is no biblical authority to change what has been given; instead, the instruction is to guard it. The authority to set the calendar was established in the past by God Himself, ensuring its essential role in worship. Changing it now disrupts unity, produces disunity, and represents a grave accusation against God's faithfulness to provide and preserve a calendar for His church.

The controversy surrounding the calendar is not rooted in technical computations or postponements, but in a deeper issue of faith in God's sovereignty and His assignment of responsibilities. The oracles of God, which include the calendar, have been committed to the Jews, and our faith must rest in God's oversight of those He has tasked with this duty. God has provided the church with a calendar that has been in use for at least 1600 years, and evidence suggests it may date back even further, possibly to the time of Hezekiah in the 8th century BC. Despite ample time to alter it, God has not changed this calendar in this era or any previous one, indicating His acceptance of its use in our worship. Some, however, question God's faithfulness by suggesting He has allowed a defective calendar to persist, implying He has led His people into error by failing to correct it over centuries. This perspective challenges the belief that God supplies all needs and does not lead His children into sin. The good fruit produced by the calendar over time should affirm that God is pleased with its use. No one in the history of the church who has attempted to change the calendar has prospered, as God does not permit such actions to succeed, serving as a witness to His protection and provision. The calendar is not explicitly detailed in Scripture; rather, the assignment of responsibility for it is. This responsibility was given to the Levites and the Jews, who are accountable to God for its maintenance and the proclamation of holy days. The church, existing within the commonwealth of Israel, is subject to this assignment and cannot operate independently of it. Our faith must be in the principles of government established by God, trusting in His faithfulness to provide what is necessary for worship. The issue is not the calendar itself but our faith in God's sovereignty and providence. Just as we trust God in relation to civil authorities, we must trust Him regarding the calendar. The calculated Hebrew calendar, given through the one bearing the message in our era, has united those who use it, while deviation from it leads to division and confusion. Wisdom is shown in the track record of unity and growth associated with this calendar, and attempting to change it risks further scattering the church. Our responsibility is to hold fast to what we have been given, standing firm in the traditions taught to us, recognizing that God has already provided a means for worship that He accepts.