What are the Origins of Easter?

 

Question: "What are the origins of Easter?"

Answer: The origins of Easter are rooted in European traditions. The name Easter comes from a pagan figure called Eastre (or Eostre) who was celebrated as the goddess of spring by the Saxons of Northern Europe. A festival called Eastre was held during the spring equinox by these people to honor her. The goddess Eastre’s earthly symbol was the rabbit, which was also known as a symbol of fertility. Originally, there were some very pagan (and sometimes utterly evil) practices that went along with the celebration. Today, Easter is almost a completely commercialized holiday, with all the focus on Easter eggs and the Easter bunny being remnants of the goddess worship.

In the Christian faith, Easter has come to mean the celebration of the resurrection of Christ three days after His crucifixion. It is the oldest Christian holiday and the most important day of the church year because of the significance of the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ, the events upon which Christianity is based. Easter Sunday is preceded by the season of Lent, a 40-day period of fasting and repentance culminating in Holy Week and followed by a 50-day Easter season that stretches from Easter to Pentecost.

Because of the commercialization and pagan origins of Easter, many churches prefer to refer to it as “Resurrection Sunday.” The rationale is the more we focus on Christ and the less we focus on the pagan holiday, the better. As previously mentioned, the resurrection of Christ is the central theme of Christianity. Paul says that without this, our faith is futile (1 Corinthians 15:17). What more wonderful reason could we have to celebrate! What is important is the true reason behind our celebration, which is that Christ was resurrected from the dead, making it possible for us to have eternal life (Romans 6:4)!

Should we celebrate Easter or allow our children to go on Easter eggs hunts? This is a question both parents and church leaders struggle with. There is nothing essentially evil about painting and hiding eggs and having children search for them. What is important is our focus. If our focus is on Christ and not the eggs, our children will understand that the eggs are just a game. Children can participate in an Easter egg hunt as long as the true meaning of the day is explained and emphasized, but ultimately this must be left up to the discretion of parents.

Read more: http://www.gotquestions.org/easter-origins.html#ixzz2P06vOpxt

My Response to Ten Things I wish the Church Knew About Homosexuality

I will be working on my response to the above "Ten Things I wish the Church Knew About Homosexuality" over the next short while. So stay tuned. I hope to post it here soon.

Who Can Find a Faithful Friend?

"A friend loves at all times."

(Proverbs 17: 17, NIV)

 

In today's world, true friends are in short supply, but in high demand, for there are many lonely people who are crying out for a true friend to walk by their side through life's journey. While other people have many friends, but are quite blessed if even one of them is a true friend. "Many a man proclaims his own loyalty, but who can find a trustworthy man?" (Prov. 20: 6, NASB). Because of the selfish nature in man, often friendships are formed for the wrong reasons. Unknown to the potential friend, the other person may only want to be a friend because of what's in it for him or her.

 

Then there are friendships that we may make with people that are shallow. Such friends only want you to tell them what they want to hear, instead of what they need to hear. Often, such friends will not say anything to such people in fear they may lose the friendship. The question needs to be asked in such situations: 'Is he or she really my friend if they are not open to receiving from me what they do not want to hear?' What such people don't realize is that such a friend never really was their friend to begin with. In friendships, there is to be expected a certain measure of conflict followed by a resolution. "As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another" (Prov. 27: 17, NIV). True friendships are based on such principles. It's how we learn and grow. We should expect at times that our real friends are going to challenge us and tell us things about ourselves we don't want to hear. But it is only for our good. "Faithful are the wounds of a friend, but deceitful are the kisses of an enemy" (Prov. 27: 6, NASB). Did not Judas pretend to be our Lord's friend, but in the end betrayed him with a "kiss?" (see Matt. 26:47-49; Luke 22:47-48). Beware of such friends who only pretend, and hold on to the ones who are true and precious.



Freedom or Slavery?

"It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery."

(Galatians 5: 1, NIV)

 

When we think about such terms as "freedom" or "slavery." What comes to mind?  We usually think freedom means a license to do whatever we  like, while slavery is associated with restrictions, confinement, and bondage.  In a sense, people look at freedom and slavery as either a release or restriction associated with their present responsibilities and circumstances in life. For example: If you are a prisoner awaiting parole; no doubt you are looking forward to the day when you will be released from prison to once again enjoy freedom outside the walls and bars of prison life. If you are a teenager, you are probably looking forward to the time when you graduate from high school and are going to move away from the restraints and influences of your parents to take up residence at some dormitory, and enjoy the experience of freedom living on your own, while attending university. Then there is the restless house wife who is weary in the everyday demands of a mother of a few children. She is looking forward to the time when they grow up and leave home. Though she will miss them, she is looking forward to the freedom she will enjoy in not having to clean up after them. I'm sure many more examples could be given about freedom and slavery as it relates to every day life.  

As you can see from the three examples given above; each carries its sense of enslavement and longing for the time of escape to freedom. The question is "Freedom to what?" For each situation that we seem to think is a form of freedom carries its own set of rules and restrictions we are required to follow. Before we continue in this subject, let's take a look at the definitions to Freedom and Slavery.  

Freedom: "the quality or state of being free; independence; exemption; release; unrestricted use; a political right."

Slavery: "a condition of being a slave; the practice of owning slaves." 

It is interesting to note in Scripture that the Apostle Paul referred to himself as a "bond slave" or "servant" of the Lord Jesus Christ. (To be Continued...)