PAGANIZATION OF THE CHURCH....Easter vs Resurrection Sunday
- Thread starter MarcR
- Start date
-
Christian Chat is a moderated online Christian community allowing Christians around the world to fellowship with each other in real time chat via webcam, voice, and text, with the Christian Chat app. You can also start or participate in a Bible-based discussion here in the Christian Chat Forums, where members can also share with each other their own videos, pictures, or favorite Christian music.
If you are a Christian and need encouragement and fellowship, we're here for you! If you are not a Christian but interested in knowing more about Jesus our Lord, you're also welcome! Want to know what the Bible says, and how you can apply it to your life? Join us!
To make new Christian friends now around the world, click here to join Christian Chat.
S
Amen.
This should inspire us all to keep a clear Gospel presentation on those days.
So often (at least at my old church) the Easter and Christmas presentations were all show, and little to no substance.
We want them to come back because they felt called by Christ, not simply because it was quality performance, with moral value, and good childcare... not that those are negatives, but simply not primary focus of evangelism.
This should inspire us all to keep a clear Gospel presentation on those days.
So often (at least at my old church) the Easter and Christmas presentations were all show, and little to no substance.
We want them to come back because they felt called by Christ, not simply because it was quality performance, with moral value, and good childcare... not that those are negatives, but simply not primary focus of evangelism.
Understood Marc and I respect your concerns. I suppose what escapes me is how one's witness is compromised when neither one's belief nor heart pays homage to anything pagan related whatsoever in regards to Easter. I believe it incumbent of us to be separate of this world in the matter of our faith in Christ, not partaking in unrighteousness and where our treasure might be. But if the inside of one's cup is clean, is not the outside clean as well ? Much respect to you my friend
2 Co 6:16-18
16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,
18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.
KJV
R
it seems like i have to post this again every year...so here it is again...
http://christianchat.com/bible-discussion-forum/39430-myths-realities-about-easter.html
and here is a summary of the most important points...
the word easter has nothing to do with the name 'ishtar'
everything about a pagan goddess supposedly named 'eostre' is speculation based on hearsay repeated by a single non eyewitness...
ishtar had nothing to do with eggs and the easter egg has nothing to do with ishtar...
ishtar and tammuz had nothing to do with rabbits and the 'easter bunny' has nothing to do with ishtar or tammuz...
http://christianchat.com/bible-discussion-forum/39430-myths-realities-about-easter.html
and here is a summary of the most important points...
the word easter has nothing to do with the name 'ishtar'
everything about a pagan goddess supposedly named 'eostre' is speculation based on hearsay repeated by a single non eyewitness...
ishtar had nothing to do with eggs and the easter egg has nothing to do with ishtar...
ishtar and tammuz had nothing to do with rabbits and the 'easter bunny' has nothing to do with ishtar or tammuz...
K
The attachment you speak of Marc is only relevant if one hears and perceives it to be true ... and continue's on in the same manner both disrespectfully and purposely. Prior to my partaking in some internet Christian discussion forums over the years, I had never heard of this pagan goddess origin and it being attached to Easter. And in that vein, it could not have had any influence on or over me. The loose sexual values in today's society are a sad state indeed. But I would attribute them more to the "willing to do anything for money performers" via video's and such along with the media etc. whose sole interest and god is their stomach's and their bank books. Yes ... we should be aware and very careful not to put a stumbling block before others. And it is for this very reason that I choose not to make an issue of something with somebody in regards to anything, Easter or otherwise where an issue never existed with them in the first place. I'd be very very surprised ... even in the "non-christian" circles ... that an awareness exists to any degree of relevance in regards to this pagan goddess attachment to Easter.
My intent is NOT to accuse anyone of past wrongdoing! My sole purpose in calling attention to the Pagan roots of the name Easter, is to make us (myself included) more aware that the values and practices of the world are opposed to the values and practices we are called to. Whenever and whyever we allow worldly influence to influence us to erode the distinctions between followers of Jesus and followers of Madison Avenue Publicists; we erode our witness!
Whoever knows more is required more - every one must do according to how the Spirit convicts them - if you know and are convicted, know and be convicted for yourself... if you delight in sharing fine but I see nothing wrong with Easter and it's not called Easter in my language anyways... everybody sees the holiday associated with Christians nobody ever thinks about any pagan goddesses... And in fact I plan on drawing greeting cards with Scriptures to my coworkers on that day exactly to use it for witnessing...
In your culture you probably don't have symbols of fertility associated with your observance either.
THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH COMMEMORATING THE RESURRECTION!
There is a great deal wrong with naming the celebration after a pagan goddess and associating it with fertility symbols; if for no other reason than that it distracts people from what the commemoration is really about.