Is Easter Pagan?

[Vic]

(04-27-2011 06:38 PM)Mo MHuintir Wrote:  Consider this:

And it came to pass, as we went to prayer, a certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination met us, which brought her masters much gain by soothsaying:
The same followed Paul and us, and cried, saying, These men are the servants of the most high God, which shew unto us the way of salvation.
And this did she many days. But Paul, being grieved, turned and said to the spirit, I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And he came out the same hour. Acts 16:16-18 KJV

Now if Paul, being lead by the Holy Spirit, would not allow a demon possessed person to announce a truthful statement about him (and Silas), why would God want to associate His gospel with the Easter Bunny and Santa Claus? Obviously Paul felt this person's reputation would impune the purity of the Gospel. I would think, even if there were a hint of paganism behind Easter and Christmas (which there is) we should distance ourselves from these "holy-days."
I can see in advance by some of the posts here that expressing my view is a waste of time. But I will say this anyway, the true nature of worship is the act of honoring that which we love and have affection for. We don't have to physically bow down to an object (or idea). We can give that object or idea a place of prominance in our hearts and minds. I've talked with a number of my fellow Christians about this topic. Some feel this way and others do not. I think those who cling to these former pagan practices actually have affection for them.

Bill, I would like the documentation that shows believers worship--in any way- a bunny. IF you read the thread you will see that the hearts and minds of believers is on Jesus Christ and what He did for us. IF you read the threads you will realise that the world does what it does. Christians do what they do, in the world but not of the world.

Your analogy does not fit the issue. Paul sat on Mars hill amongst idols and used the altar of their Unknown god to proclaim the True and only GOD and the truth of Jesus Christ dying on the cross for our sins and being risen and He is Alive.

Now if you want to think that proclamation of that is pagan, that is your issue. However, It's fully in the Scriptures that the events took place when paganism was all around. People were worshipping idols all around when Jesus was crucified. Yet, believe it or not, those who believed HIm did not. Those who came and believed Christ, no longer worshipped or followed non existant gods. Or should we believe that Christ dying must then be a pagan thing, because of being surrounded by paganism? Is Christ pagan too, as some in HR like to proclaim? Is everything about Jesus pagan? If someone proclaims Christ, are they pagan, because there are those who proclaim another gospel and another Jesus? Are we sinning before God by proclaiming the fulfillment of the passover, the shadow of what was to come, in Christ?

If you wish to believe the 'easter bunny' actually exists that's your business. But we know it is nothing but a fable-which we are to have nothing to do with, aka promoting it as truth. It has nothing to do with Christ. And what is presented in the secular world of which it pertains, is merely one more of many worldly things that surround us.

Putting dye on something is not pagan. God had Israel dye things. Look it up. If I dye cotton, which is not naturally anything but white, I am not entering into a pagan practice am I? If dye is added to a food, is it a pagan practice? If you boil an egg with onion skins and it turns color---is that a pagan practice?

Is proclaiming the Truth of Jesus Christ a pagan practice? Is praying to God --regardles of which direction you might happen to be facing, a pagan practice? If you face east and pray to Almighty God are you a pagan?

It's all or nothing. Either you are or you aren't a pagan. Read the examples and questions given to Sarah, and answer them. YOu paint your walls--you are participating in a religious observance from egypt aka a pagan practice. You use bright colors in clothes or on your furniture or arrange your furniture, you are participating in pagan religious practice.

YOu want to accuse believers of being pagan because the world has cartoon rabbits, colored eggs and chocolate, and to the world in general that's all it is--and to some it's a fable-- while acknowledging the soleminity of Good Friday and joy of Easter sunday, being the day of remembering and proclaiming Jesus Christ's resurrection to the world and you are offended and call it pagan. That's your choice. But if you want to do that, then do not be hypocritical. Strip your walls and the outside of your home of any color. Get rid of all your clothes, including your wife and childrens clothes if they are anything but plain, neutral beige or white or grey, because otherwise you are involved in pagan practices.

You talk about not being listened to. You give your opinion and believe me, it is not the gospel. We are strangers and pilgrims in the world. Please stop saying you think the world offers the truth about things, and then saying that's what Christians believe. We don't. You might believe it, but we don't.

Gal 2:11 But when Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face, because he was to be blamed.
Gal 2:12 For before that certain came from James, he did eat with the Gentiles: but when they were come, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing them which were of the circumcision.
Gal 2:13 And the other Jews dissembled likewise with him; insomuch that Barnabas also was carried away with their dissimulation.
Gal 2:14 But when I saw that they walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel, I said unto Peter before them all, If thou, being a Jew, livest after the manner of Gentiles, and not as do the Jews, why compellest thou the Gentiles to live as do the Jews?

Gal 2:20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

Act 17:16 Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was stirred in him, when he saw the city wholly given to idolatry.
Act 17:17 Therefore disputed he in the synagogue with the Jews, and with the devout persons, and in the market daily with them that met with him.
Act 17:18 Then certain philosophers of the Epicureans, and of the Stoicks, encountered him. And some said, What will this babbler say? other some, He seemeth to be a setter forth of strange gods: because he preached unto them Jesus, and the resurrection.
Act 17:19 And they took him, and brought him unto Areopagus, saying, May we know what this new doctrine, whereof thou speakest, is?
Act 17:20 For thou bringest certain strange things to our ears: we would know therefore what these things mean.
Act 17:21 (For all the Athenians and strangers which were there spent their time in nothing else, but either to tell, or to hear some new thing.)
Act 17:22 Then Paul stood in the midst of Mars' hill, and said, Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious.
Act 17:23 For as I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you.
Act 17:24 God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands;
Act 17:25 Neither is worshipped with men's hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things;
Act 17:26 And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation;
Act 17:27 That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us:
Act 17:28 For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring.
Act 17:29 Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man's device.
Act 17:30 And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:
Act 17:31 Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.
Act 17:32 And when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked: and others said, We will hear thee again of this matter.
Act 17:33 So Paul departed from among them.
Act 17:34 Howbeit certain men clave unto him, and believed: among the which was Dionysius the Areopagite, and a woman named Damaris, and others with them.

1Co 9:19 For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more.
1Co 9:20 And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law;
1Co 9:21 To them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law.
1Co 9:22 To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.
1Co 9:23 And this I do for the gospel's sake, that I might be partaker thereof with you.
1Co 9:24 Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.
1Co 9:25 And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.
1Co 9:26 I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air:
1Co 9:27 But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.

Rom 14:16 Let not then your good be evil spoken of:
Rom 14:17 For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.
Rom 14:18 For he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God, and approved of men.

It's about Christ. About relationship with Him, obedience to Him, obedience to the Word and proclaiming Him in every opporunity we can, regardless what the world thinks or does around it. The world doesn't know Jesus as Savior and Lord. We do. That's why the world, even the most ungodly know easter is about Christ. It's certainly too bad more who claim to be believers don't have that same knowledge.