Easter or Resurrection

For about ten years the Evangelical Church I belonged to focus on Resurrection Day consisted entirely of the Pastor repeating the early proclamation of "He is risen" and the congregation responding "He is risen indeed" THAT IS ALL, nothing more, nothing less. While this certainly is something we should proclaim. Thematically the sermon was not specifically related to the Resurrection. This is in contrast to many Churches who spend the entire time going over the details of His death and Resurrection. It also contrasts with what I heard in my father's Church, in the Orthodox Church who would make the same proclamation but who would chant Chrysostom's Easter homily (a piece of history every Christian should listen to.)

For about ten years the Evangelical Church I belonged to focus on Resurrection Day consisted entirely of the Pastor repeating the early proclamation of "He is risen" and the congregation responding "He is risen indeed" THAT IS ALL, nothing more, nothing less. While this certainly is something we should proclaim. Thematically the sermon was not specifically related to the Resurrection. This is in contrast to many Churches who spend the entire time going over the details of His death and Resurrection. It also contrasts with what I heard in my father's Church, in the Orthodox Church who would make the same proclamation but who would chant Chrysostom's Easter homily (a piece of history every Christian should listen to.)

I made it a point long ago to separate the celebration of "Easter" from all the encrusted traditions most of which seem to be of pagan origin Now I find that the Easter Bunny and Easter Eggs are making a come back with adjustments in interpretations that make the season more palatable to true believers....for the Children. God forbid that children be jealous of the Easter Egg hunts enjoyed by other children. Even the name Easter should be rejected for its similarity to the pagan goddess of fertility Ishtar. I have heard many Christians act as apologists for Ishtar despite the fact she was the goddess of sex and fertility and her symbol is an egg. The Messianic Jews with whom I have been associated never called the most sacred season in the Christian year EASTER. They along with the Orthodox call it Pascha which comes from Passover.

For about ten years the Evangelical Church I belonged to focus on Resurrection Day consisted entirely of the Pastor repeating the early proclamation of "He is risen" and the congregation responding "He is risen indeed" THAT IS ALL, nothing more, nothing less. While this certainly is something we should proclaim. Thematically the sermon was not specifically related to the Resurrection. This is in contrast to many Churches who spend the entire time going over the details of His death and Resurrection. It also contrasts with what I heard in my father's Church, in the Orthodox Church who would make the same proclamation but who would chant Chrysostom's Easter homily (a piece of history every Christian should listen to.)

I made it a point long ago to separate the celebration of "Easter" from all the encrusted traditions most of which seem to be of pagan origin Now I find that the Easter Bunny and Easter Eggs are making a come back with adjustments in interpretations that make the season more palatable to true believers....for the Children. God forbid that children be jealous of the Easter Egg hunts enjoyed by other children. Even the name Easter should be rejected for its similarity to the pagan goddess of fertility Ishtar. I have heard many Christians act as apologists for Ishtar despite the fact she was the goddess of sex and fertility and her symbol is an egg. The Messianic Jews with whom I have been associated never called the most sacred season in the Christian year EASTER. They along with the Orthodox call it Pascha which comes from Passover.

I had not thought about not calling the day Jesus arose "Resurrection".
Too obvious!

Now you have me thinking about what to call Christmas.

Easter egg hunts. Ive never believed that Jesus has a problem with children having fun running around and laughing looking for easter eggs.

Wes Huff argues that many Easter traditions are not pagan in his video, and explains how many of these traditions arose hundreds of years ago when European countries were largely Christian and not pagan.

I don't buy it. He is just trying to accommodate traditions with the Bible to relieve modern Pastors from the burden of having to go against them

Wes Huff argues that many Easter traditions are not pagan in his video, and explains how many of these traditions arose hundreds of years ago when European countries were largely Christian and not pagan.

The children do not know the difference. That is because they are ignorant. Rather than provide fun activities in which they can re-enact pagan traditions concerning sex gods why should we not participate in those that point to Christ? God instructed the Jews to institute festivals in which they could reenact events that occurred in the Bible. Why not celebrate them?

This reminds me of the Christmas controversy that people "spying our freedom in Christ," (Galatians 2:4) drum up to make Christians feel guilty.

No the Christmas Tree is not a Druid Tree, St. Columba cut down an Oak to Oiden and miraclously a Evergreen grew in its place and He told the Gospel. Martin Luther then brought the evergreen tree inside and said it points to Christ and eternity. The Druids used oaks with holes in them to caste spirits into.

Easter is not used by Christians to speak of Eostre or Ishtar. They mean Ressurection Day and are honoring Jesus.

These teachers hunting for paganisms in the Church want to enslave people to fear and to deconstruct everything.. they will not be satisfied until you are as The Apostle says, "back under the yoke of slavery." (Galatians 2:4)

this is true.

the days of the week and months of the year all have pagan origins. the calendar we use is made by a pope, and before that was the julain calendar, from of course that ceasor.

i could go on, but i think i made my point..