EASTER: A Christian holiday?
What do you think? Are Christians supposed to celebrate Easter? With bunnies, hot-cross buns and colored eggs? Is it okay? Does God just wink and say "I understand. Everyone else is doing it. I wouldn't want you to feel left out"?
Not on your life.
What does He say?
"Come out and be ye separate."
"A student is not greater than his master, is he? If they hated Me they will hate you."
"Blessed are you when you are persecuted for righteousness sake, for thine is the kingdom of heaven."
Easter is the anglicized form of Ishtar or Astarte, titles of the Babylonian Beltis, the queen of heaven and consort of Baal, pagan goddess of fertility. She goes by many names depending on the originating language: Isis, Diana, Artemis, Venus, Cybele. The "queen of heaven" is venerated in the Catholic Church as well, as Mary, Mother of God, Queen of Heaven. She is the special focus of much of Catholic culture, especially in more primitive societies. But even my own alma mater, a Catholic all-girls high school, continually refers to her thus.
Lent, the forty days fast preceding Easter, also has its origins in paganism. "Three days after the vernal equinox...began a solemn fast of forty days in honor of the sun." In Egypt it was held in honor of the great mediatorial god, Osiris or Adonis.
Isn't it interesting that Good Friday to Easter Sunday constitute barely more than a day and a half, and yet Jesus said that no sign would be given to Israel of His deity than the sign of Jonah: "Just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the sea monster, so the Son of Man will be thee days and three nights in the heart of the earth." (Mat. 12:40) And yet this one and only sign has been controverted by the story of Easter.
We have attempted here to put forth a more biblical rendition of the Redemption schedule. Please take a look at the attached document for a workable alternative to the traditional Catholic feast of Easter.
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