Is Easter Pagan?

[sari83]

Vic:
Did God create all things?
Did He creat rabbits?
Did He create chickens and eggs?

The answer is clearly yes. That some would attempt to use God's creations in ways that did not honor Him but rather false gods which are merely idols, is known throughout Biblical record.

Sari83:
Very true. Reminds me of something God says in Isaiah, that I reflect on often.

Isa 66:1-2
Thus saith the LORD, The heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool: where is the house that ye build unto me? and where is the place of my rest? For all those things hath mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith the LORD: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word.
(KJV)

Vic:
Let's assume that there were pagans at that time who painted eggs as part of some religious ceremony. Let's assume that some of those pagans received the Gospel of Jesus Christ and served Him. Let's assume that they were given an opportunity of witnessing to their friends and family who did not believe, by now painting an egg red, to symbolise Christ's shed blood and having emptied the contents prior, demonstrated the resurrection and the empty tomb, when they cracked it open. Let's assume that through that illistration other pagans were able to be taught the Truth about Jesus Christ and the True God, in amongst all their idols. That God used what was His creation in the first place, to again reveal the Truth.

Sari83:
The pagans did many things that we now consider superstitious because they had not the truth of God. Paul says in Romans, who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped the creation, rather than the Creator.

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Vic:
You are trying to base what Christians do on foolish superstition. Instead of the freedom we have in Christ in knowing there are no other gods Sarah. And by proclaiming TRUTH and sharing Christ in a harmless activity that proclaims Christ.....if that was even the reasoning for painting eggs. That was a supposition-----I suggested it could have been that way as a scenario to consider the issuee, but I have not researched it fully. But you so willingly believe that it must have been based on some pagan background, when that may not have been the case in that tradition. Some may have just been inspired to do it and it became part of a tradition because it helped them remember and convey the whole event of Christ, whether they did or did not have a written epistle or gospel in those times. THey may simply have desired to proclaim Christ in a way all could understand. And provide a tradition that could be handed down with that same meaning.

Sari83:
I was thinking about it yesterday, and I realized it's not the word Easter that bothers me. If people want to discredit Bede's account, that's not the major issue for me. A word means what a person has been taught and understands it to mean. The bigger issue is the fact that a celebration of Christ's Resurrection was intermingled with superstitious practices, and we know this based on historical evidence. I know that we have freedom in Christ, which to me means we are free to worship God in spirit and truth. The reason I even begin commenting here is because it was difficult to concur with the unwillingness to admit the origins of these pagan practices. We know for a fact where they came from painting eggs came from, and that is truth. Christ says the truth makes us free. Then each believer can make their own informed decision.


" Why Color Eggs?
by Sandi Duncan | Monday, March 17th, 2008 | From: Farmers' Almanac Blog, Featured

Originally, the Persians and then the ancient Egyptians, exchanged colored eggs to celebrate the return of spring. They also used those decorated eggs as tokens of goodwill. The eggs were often colored a bright red to signify blood and the life force.

Later, the Greeks adopted the custom and used colored eggs during their spring festivals as a sign of fertility and of the regenerative power of nature. During Cleopatra’s rein, around 50 B.C., Egyptians and Romans colored eggs as part of their spring festivals.

The custom started disappearing in Europe when the Pennsylvania Dutch brought it to the New World in the 1700s. But the tradition didn’t catch on right away. By 1880, the Pennsylvania Dutch and the Ukranians were the only ethnic groups in this country who, in any real number, still observed this quaint festivity.

Because egg dying was a time-consuming practice back then, many people didn’t have the time or resources to participate in the tradition. Unlike today, most Easter eggs were colored by boiling them with onions skins for a yellow color, hickory bark for shades of brown, madder root for red and other materials such as coffee, walnut hulls, green wheat and beets for varying colors. Dyes such as indigo, logwood, and gamboges were also used, but you had to go out and buy these dyes.

William M. Townley, a druggist at a New Jersey store, sold the dyes. One year, Townley came up with the idea of packaging his dyes, after he spilled some powdered indigo on a suit and ruined it. After that incident, he had his shop boy take the dyes to the backyard of the shop and measure and prepackage the various dyes used for Easter eggs.

This made coloring eggs easier and more convenient, and also helped renew this custom which is still observed today."

http://www.farmersalmanac.com/blog/2008/...olor-eggs/

Vic:
Sarah, one question. Can you keep the passover according to the commandments given directly to Israel by God through Moses, completely, precisely and fully according to the Scriptures, and according to the covenant that God made with Israel?

Sari83:
No. I was suggesting a continuing of an early Christian tradition of following Christ's example, and honoring Him as He specified.