Pagan origins of Easter?

[Xethea]

On 4/21/2019 at 8:02 PM, JustPassingThru said:

My church back in the States didn't celebrate Easter, instead the pastor taught on the subject and meaning of the Resurrection.

 

The church does have a celebration for these things, and Jesus told us to do it as often as we want to, ...it's called Communion.

i see. but that to the world, including Christians, they would simply call it communion and see it as something holy and to not be silly, having fun, laughing and running around, etc- but rather a time to be as mature than ever and take it seriously. People see these other things as celebrations because its like a party. Communion isn't a party. So its not even the same thing I am talking about. Though I get your view, I support communion, it serves a godly purpose. But colored eggs, chocolate, bunnies, trees, santa, trucks filled with candy, etc. all that is a party to celebrate to them without God on their mind, but rather the physical pleasure. If you care about communion, it obviously would not be that you are doing it for fun and pleasure, but rather you believe and care about the Lord or at least you want to make your people in the Church think that you care. 

[Still Alive]

26 minutes ago, Betha said:

'Easter with all its human traditions (same goes for xmas or anything else we do of our own bat) needs to be abandoned by true followers of God. WE should DEcrease so HE can INcrease !!!

Why?

[Still Alive]

3 minutes ago, Betha said:

HHMMM you obviously see no reason for things to change ....one satisfied customer !!!

No. It was a sincere question. Your inference is completely wrong. I'm not a fan of holidays, e.g Christmas and Easter are the only times I INTENTIONALLY avoid church (To make room for the CEO's), but I do consider the events a lifting up of our Lord and Savior.  i.e. he increases as we decrease.

 

But it may depend on which church you go to.

Edited April 24, 2019 by Still Alive

[Neighbor]

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[Neighbor]

1 hour ago, Betha said:

how can it be an errant conclusion when you see people say and do things that God does NOT tell them to say or do ?  it means they are speaking and doing things of their own will which we are supposed to stop doing.

'Easter with all its human traditions (same goes for xmas or anything else we do of our own bat) needs to be abandoned by true followers of God. WE should DEcrease so HE can INcrease !!!

 Individual Christians that I know are happy, joyous, tolerant of each other, and helping in nature too. None that  I know of go around accusing parents of raising their kids to worship fertility  gods because they might join them in some time of fun related to spring and new life.

The Seder has an egg and bitter herbs, both symbols of new life but few declare the Passover to be an example of Jews doing what they wanted to do instead of what God wanted of them. 

Times of festival have traditions and joys within the reminders and the hope certain received and  cherished by  the people God has called out as His own. 

There is no dour crown to be received as reward  to be placed as a garland at the feet of Jesus. There is a righteous crown though. It is for all who have loved his appearing.
                                    - Good Lord show me the way.

But oh the cut pine at Christmas that is another thing altogether. I'd have rather made a paper mache Santa myself, one with a huge bag to fill with lots of presents to exchange in love, one with another in the name of my Lord and savior Jesus. For my sinuses never have tolertated cut pine.

 

[Co - heir in Christ]

   I am a Messianic Jew, and I love when I see other Christians bring this type of stuff up (it means the word is getting out).

   Not only Easter (which I don't even like saying out loud, as it is the name of a pagan goddess [or, a demon, in my beliefs]), but Christmas, Halloween, Father's Day, and practically all other mainstream holidays were pagan holidays, centered primarily around the solstices and equinoxes, and the cross - quarter days (like May Day, and Candlemas, etc.).

   I also observe the Sabbath from sundown on Fri. to sundown on Sat., as the Word of God instructs.

   I still celebrate Christ's resurrection, but I do it at Passover, and the Feast of Firstfruits, as these holidays symbolize (or, were prophetic of) Christ's resurrection.

   Jesus wasn't even born in the winter time, but the ancient, pagan sun - god (demon) was supposedly reborn at that time.

   The Biblically instituted holidays are more than enough to keep us spiritually anchored in our yearly journeys.

   I don't even like saying the names of the week, or many of the months, as they, too, are named after pagan deities (demons).

   The Sabbath on Sat., and several of the Biblical holidays/feasts/festivals were instituted by God "perpetually/throughout your generations/ forever," etc., and I believe He meant what He said.

   Many church traditions and dogmas were man - made, and have no Scriptural authority. That's why it's so important that we study the Word for ourselves (and seek guidance from the Holy Spirit). For example, the time I was closest to God (so close I could never adequately describe it in words), He told me that my brother - who'd committed suicide about 3 to 4 years prior to this experience - was saved. I don't know the details of it, but I know God doesn't lie. So, those man - made dogmas that say all suicides go to hell are incorrect, and, sure enough, you won't find any Biblical passage that states that suicides go to hell. In my beliefs, if something violates the Word of God or love, then it can't be from (or of) God. 

   I absolutely will not dye eggs or exchange gifts on Christmas, etc. God said, "Do not worship me in their way."

   But, I'm NOT saying I'm a better servant than anyone else, or that anyone who celebrates Easter, etc., isn't a true believer or doesn't know God.

   Many people don't even know about the pagan origins of most of our holidays. And some people think that the resurrection of Christ abolished all of the things that were instituted in the Old Testament. But, the earliest church fathers all observed the Biblical feasts, as did Jesus Himself, and Jesus said that He came to fulfill the Law, and that not one jot or tittle would pass from the Law.

   But, it's a person's heart that God is interested in, not their intellect, etc. Only God and the person in question know the status of their relationship, so I don't look down on others if they celebrate a holiday I stay away from. No 2 humans've had the same experiences; we are all different, and in different places in life. I,ve met very strong believers who celebrate all of the mainstream holidays.

   A lot of Christians don't like my views because of their interpretation of the writings of Paul, and that's fine, there doesn't have to be 100% agreement on every tiny little aspect of interpretation (there's way more devisiveness between believers than there should be; if people uphold the basic, core beliefs of Christianity and do their best to live by them, then they're on the same side). I don't believe Paul's writings conflict w/ my practices, but Paul's writings are incredibly deep (many of them didn't truly start making sense to me until I came to know God), and I can see why others might think otherwise.

   I, personally, think that if God's given someone the knowledge of where a lot of modern practices've come from and it's a source that's contrary to the Word, then it's best to eliminate any elements from that contrary source as much as possible.

   

Edited May 5, 2019 by Co - heir in Christ
Typo

[Billiards Ball]

On 4/20/2019 at 11:21 AM, BibleStudent100 said:

As we merge from Good Friday to Easter Sunday, do we take the time to differentiate the commemoration of the death of Jesus Christ from the pagan ceremonies that have sprung up around this most holy of events over the centuries?   I wonder how my fellow Christians in this forum distinguish in their personal and church celebrations what is holy from what is not holy regarding Easter.  As a cursory review, please note the following:

• Easter was “originally the spring festival in honor of the Teutonic goddess of light and spring known in Anglo-Saxon as Eastre.” (The Westminster Dictionary of the Bible) “There is no indication of the observance of the Easter festival in the New Testament.”—Encyclopædia Britannica.
• The rabbit “was the escort of the Germanic goddess Ostara.”—Funk & Wagnalls Standard Dictionary of Folklore, Mythology and Legend.
• Eggs “were said to be dyed and eaten at the spring festivals in ancient Egypt, Persia, Greece, and Rome.”—Celebrations.
• The Easter bonnet originally “was a wreath of flowers or leaves. The circle or crown expressed the round sun and its course in the heavens which brought the return of spring.” The new Easter outfit developed because “it was considered discourteous and therefore bad luck to greet the Scandinavian goddess of Spring, or Eastre, in anything but fresh garb, since the goddess was bestowing one on the earth.”—The Giant Book of Superstitions.
• Hot cross buns: “Like the Greeks, the Romans ate bread marked with a cross . . . at public sacrifices.” They were eaten by pagan Saxons in honor of Easter.—Encyclopædia Britannica.
• Sunrise services parallel rites “performed at the vernal equinox welcoming the sun and its great power to bring new life to all growing things.”—Celebrations

In other words, how do you all separate "light from darkness...[and avoid] touching the unclean thing"? (2 Corinthians 6:14-17).  

 

Warm Christian Regards,

 

By knowing that the most popular church attendance day in America annually is Easter, than working to ensure the gospel is shared at Sunday Service. Then people get saved and "avoid touching unclean things".

[Billiards Ball]

On 5/7/2019 at 1:23 AM, Betha said:

Perhaps we also need to pay attention to WHEN we celebrate, not only WHAT.  We need to put traditional teaching under the microscope to see the flaws and errors so well hidden by UNgodly men of old. The heart of man is not to be trusted Jer 17, nor every spirit.

Would you like some verses indicating when we celebrate is irrelevant?

[Billiards Ball]

54 minutes ago, Betha said:

I don't think I said it was irrelevant, just the opposite...

'we need to give more attention to it' !

That's why I'm sharing these concepts with you from Romans 14:

Receive one who is weak in the faith, but not to disputes over doubtful things.

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; [a]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. 

 

 

 

[Billiards Ball]

On 5/10/2019 at 3:44 PM, Betha said:

would you really say that it is up to man to ESTEEM which day is more important ? If it is up to us WHY WHY  would God tell us to keep HOLY the 7th day of the week ? and not the 1st 2nd, 3rd or whichever ?  so if you 'dont observe it, to the Lord you don't observe it....does that make it OK ? People MISread Paul, he never said it's ok to decide for yourself....he is showing what side your choice puts you on, and it's not on GOD's side if you choose another day from His. Because then Paul also says this 'Be you followers of me as I also follow Christ 1 Cor 11. So - did Paul choose/esteem his own worship day ? why would he tell us to do what he himself did NOT do ? what kind of Apostle would that make him ? a hypocrite and charlatan, yet that is what Christians do ! How confused and deceived they are ! God is very clear about HIS Sabbath day, there is nothing doubtful about it - JESUS kept it !

They are not just weak in the faith -they are disobedient to God, Christ and Paul their Apostle !

Let us not forget that 'Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and for ever'.

Yes, Romans says (in the passage quoted!) it IS up to man to esteem which day is important/more important. Yes.