SORRY TO RAIN ON YOUR PARADE
The word "Easter" appears in the Authorized King James Version of 1611 (hereafter KJV) one time in Acts chapter 12, verse 4, which follows: "And he [Herod] had apprehended him [the apostle Peter], he put him in prison, and delivered him to four quarterions of soldiers to keep him; intending after Easter to bring him forth to the people." The translators of the KJV were led to translate the Greek word πάσχα = pasha as Easter in keeping with the context, which was that Herod the king was a pagan leader of a thoroughly pagan nation that religiously observed the annual celebration of spring by worshipping the goddess of fertility, Eostre (Easter in English). The pagan celebration just happened to correspond with the Jewish observance of Passover. It was the pagan celebration that mainly concerned Herod, not the Passover observed by the Jews. Additionally, it should be noted there is no reliable record that early believers memorialized Jesus' crucifixion or resurrection at that early time in church history. Easter practices didn't gain entrance into Christendom until A.D. 325, nearly 300 years after Jesus Christ's death and resurrection!
The Encyclopaedia Britannica tells us: "At Easter, popular customs reflect many ancient pagan survivals—in this instance, connected with spring fertility rites, such as the symbols of the Easter egg and the Easter hare or rabbit" (15th edition, Macropaedia, Vol. 4, p. 605, "Church Year").
"Bede [an early medieval monk] noted that in eighth-century England, the month of April was called Eosturmonath, or Eostre Month, after the goddess Eostre. He wrote that a pagan festival of spring in the name of the goddess had become assimilated into the Christian celebration of the resurrection of Christ." (The Ancient Origins of The Easter Bunny, History - Smithsonian Magazine)
The Easter bunny and colored eggs are directly linked to paganism, and had nothing to do with anything practiced by first century Christians.
It is not unreasonable or unkind to ask, why then are socalled Christian churches teaching their children about the Easter bunny, colored eggs and participating in Easter egg hunts in the grassy areas of church grounds? With all the talk these days of children being groomed for depravity, why then should children of Christian families be exposed to an ancient celebration used to worship the false goddess, Eostre (Easter), pretending it has anything to do with our Lord Jesus Christ and His sacrificial death, burial and resurrection? (Hm? What did Hugh Hefner call women who adorned his mansion? Let's move on.)
I propose there are at least four reasons why pastors lead their congregations to participate in such unbiblical events.
1) They are ignorant of the origin of these unbiblical practices, and aren't familiar with scriptures that address such observances by believers (Deuteronomy 12:30-32, etc.)
2) They want to increase their church attendance by sponsoring big events children will enjoy; thereby bringing parents to the church property as well. This may seem like a good motive, but since when is it okay to do something wrong, in order to accomplish something right - especially when it comes to Christian practice? The end justifies the means, in other words. (Compare Romans 3:8!).
3) They simply aren't that much into what the Bible actually has to say and they don't view it as a book that has application in ALL areas of the believer's faith and practice. After all, they reason, we live in a modern age and to reach people you must be "relevant" and "progressive" - two popular catch phrases in both religious and political circles these days.
4) They justify it by saying it is no longer a pagan practice, because we've Christianized it?
I wrote the above while having breakfast in a McDonald's restaurant, within earshot of screaming, frolicking children enjoying the enclosed Play Place, who are sheltered from the heavy rainfall outdoors. As I checked my text messages, I noticed one from a church my wife and I once frequented. It informed me that due to the weather, the annual Easter egg event would be held indoors.
Hence, this article.
I'm sorry to rain on your parade.
- David J. Cosma,
