The Truth In Print Vol. 18 Issue 3, April 2012
A Publication of the Valley church of Christ,
2375 W. 8th Street, Yuma, AZ 85364 (928-782-5058)
Website Address ~ http://yumavalleychurchofchrist.com
Going to Church with the Easter Bunny
With the revelation of the New Testament
in the first century, preached orally by inspiration and then written down,
came “the faith once for all delivered to the saints” (Jude 3). It is the
Scriptures that God gave to us so that we may always know what is authorized
for the church to practice (cf. 2 Tim. 3:16-17). This objective faith, the New
Testament scriptures, must be taught by Christians to those who are not (cf.
Mk. 16:15-16). The faithful who have been taught can thus teach others
themselves (Cf. 2 Tim. 2:2). It must also be defended before Christians lest
they let it slip (Heb. 2:1; Phil. 1:27-28). These basic points on the
maintenance and defense of the Scriptures written by inspired apostles and
prophets in the first century are easily understood. However, there are very
few who pay attention to them.
Paying careful attention is hard work!
When the Hebrew writer warned Christians to be cautious and gave this warning
there was apostasy looming on the horizon. He said to Jewish Christians,
“Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have
heard, lest at any time we should let them slip” (Heb. 2:1). His double
warning includes not being careless with what was given (Heb. 2:3).
The New Testament Pattern of the Lord’s
Supper upon the First day of the Week, Acts 20:7
The Lord’s supper in remembrance of Him, as
a proclamation of His death until He comes must be maintained by His churches
(Matt. 26:26-29; I Cor. 11:23-32). This is done by the church assembling upon
the first day of the week, with a clear distinction between the collective work
of the church in worship and eating ordinary meals (I Cor. 11:17-22, 33-34;
Acts 2:42,46; Acts 20:7). Churches of
Christ still maintain this pattern to this day.
The Origin of Easter
Easter was preceded by the desire of some
Christians to continue to celebrate the Jewish Passover. The purpose of the
Passover was a remembrance of the Jews’ bondage in Egypt (De. 16:1-12). Tertullian
at the close of the second century said, “We have nothing to do with Sabbaths,
new moons or the Jewish festivals, much less with those of the heathen.”
(History of the Christian Church, Vol. II. by Phillip Schaff, AD 100-325, Ch. 5
The Lord’s Day). History records the Passover being observed by Christians in
commemoration of the death and suffering of Christ. But Christ gave the church
the Lord’s Supper as a proclamation of His death until He comes! This was an
addition and in violation of Col. 2:16-17. After the death of the Apostles some
Christians did not heed the warning given in Hebrews. Christ’s church today
does not observe the Jewish Passover — nor is there such thing scripturally as
a so called “Christian Passover” that grew out of the Jewish Passover.
The International Standard Bible
Encyclopedia states concerning Easter: “The Jewish Christians in the early
church continued to celebrate the Passover, regarding Christ as the true
paschal Lamb, and this naturally passed over into a commemoration of the death
and resurrection of our Lord, or an Easter feast.” Their clear error is seen in
the words “continued to celebrate the Passover.” Speaking of Easter itself the
ISBE says, “The word does not properly occur in Scripture, although AV has it in
Acts 12:4 where it stands for Passover, as it is rightly rendered in RV. There
is no trace of Easter celebration in the NT.” This is correct. The word in Acts
12:4 in context (see vs.3, Lk. 22:1) refers to the Jewish Passover and has
nothing to do there with an observance given to the church. Concerning the word
Easter it says “The Eng. word comes from the AS Eastre or Estera, a Teutonic
goddess to whom sacrifice was offered in April, so the name was transferred to
the paschal feast.” The Jewish Passover was on the fourteenth day of the month
Abib (March or April).
James Mattox labels this period as a
“Departure From The New Testament Pattern 100—325 A.D.” (The Eternal Kingdom,
Ch. 8) and says: “Rather early some Christians tried to work out a yearly
calendar and place in it all of the important events in the life of Christ.
This would give the Christians special festivals and celebrations as were found
among the Pagans and Jews. ..The leaders of the churches were desirous of
making the church more attractive to Jews and Pagans. As these were accustomed
to pompous ceremonies as a part of their systems, it was believed that they
would hold the simplicity of Christian worship in contempt. ...Christians
responded with special occasions and made a sacrifice out of the Lord’s
Supper.” Some Christians during these first centuries remained faithful
contending earnestly for the faith once for all delivered to the saints.
In light of the total absence in New
Testament worship of the symbols used in the pagan Festival of Spring which
fell in March — symbols used in the celebration of nature such as colored eggs,
rabbits, etc. marking the birth of Spring — most know such are derived from the
worship of goddess Estera or Eastre. This year the first day of Spring (Vernal
Equinox) was March 20. The pagans were satisfied by weak leaders who led the
church into apostasy. Thus Easter came from the desire of some Christians after
the death of Apostles to appease and attract with special days and festivals.
Paying careful
attention is hard work. Are you? W. E. Vine states commenting upon the word
correctly translated “Passover” (Acts 12:4), “The term Easter is
not of Christian origin. It is another form of Astarte, one of the titles of
the Chaldean goddess, the queen of heaven. The festival of Pasch held by Christians in post-apostolic times was a
continuation of the Jewish feast, but was not instituted by Christ, nor was it
connected with Lent. From this Pasch the Pagan festival of Easter was quite
distinct and was introduced into the apostate Western religion, as part of the
attempt to adapt Pagan festivals to Christianity” (Vine’s
Expository Dictionary). The elders in
the churches were warned not to let things like this happen (Acts 20:28-32).
They were to refute false doctrine with the Word (Titus 1:9-11). Christians in the churches were to hold the
pattern of sound words delivered in the first century (2 Tim. 1:13; Phil. 1:27;
2 Th. 2:15).
“But you don’t
understand for we love our Easter services,” one might say. The denominational
churches are accustomed to the Special Easter Service. People love the Sunrise
Service so all can gather at a selected place for a great emotional experience.
Many of these forsake the assembling the majority of the time (cf. Heb.
10:23-31). We are not told the specific day Christ arose in the New Testament.
The day was set by man after all the fighting over “when.” The catered
breakfast is usually listed right after the sunrise service in the churches’
various advertisements. This satisfies well for this is what most look for!
“Praise Singing” by a prominent guest or group in the praise industry is
popular. There is no such thing as professional worship ministry singing groups
in the New Testament.
Ah, the sense of performance experienced
by the kids in the plays and performances and how it pleases family and
friends. There’s going to be fun and entertainment for the children --- the
Easter egg hunt, the hidden prizes, etc. Some church leaders will probably don
the Bunny Suit. Have a picture taken. Put it on a promo banner on the side the
building, with the opportunity to win a prize if you check them out. Aren’t
they cute! Does such show respect for
the faith once delivered? Or does it show a lack of knowledge?
Some churches even have the Easter Bunny
there at their worship services. Oh how grandparents just gush as the
grandchildren get their photos taken at church with the Easter Bunny.
Easter as a religious day of observance
for the churches is the result of apostasy.
After the death of the apostles leaders made changes out of fear that
the simplicity of the New Testament worship would not attract numbers and
wealth. It came about because worshippers wanted festivals like the Pagans and
Jews had.
The churches of Christ will still assemble
to partake of the Lord’s Supper, it being the first day of the week. Nothing’s
changed! In the second and third centuries after the death of the apostles
changes were made in the organization, the work and the worship of the churches
of Christ. Being careless some have failed to teach their children the errors
involved in Easter Sunday. Christ’s objective faith, the New Testament
scriptures, the faith once delivered, must be taught by Christians to those who
are not (cf. Mk. 16:15-16; 2 Tim. 2:2). The faithful who have been taught can
thus teach others themselves (Cf. 2 Tim. 2:2). It must also be contended for
and defended before Christians lest they let it slip (Jude 3; Phil. 1:27-28;
Heb. 2:1). These basic points on the maintenance and defense of what was given
by inspired apostles and prophets in the first century are easily located and
understood. There really are few who pay attention to them!
By Bob Lovelace
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