SHOULD CHRISTIANS
OBSERVE EASTER?
Almost everyone who believes in Jesus Christ would answer “yes” to the question in our title. For millions of people around the world, Easter is one of the holiest days of the year. It is second only to Christmas as the most sacred of all religious holidays. They think of Easter as the time to remember the resurrection of Christ from the dead. Special church services are held at Easter. Multitudes of professed believers in Christ attend church services only at Christmas and Easter. They think this is all that is necessary in order for them to be faithful Christians.
What does the Bible say? Is Easter from God, or is it from man? Certainly, the Bible teaches that Jesus Christ arose from the dead. The apostle Paul wrote: “For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures” (1 Corinthians 15:3, 4). Paul also wrote concerning Christ that “He was declared to be the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead” (Romans 1:4). The question is not, “Did Jesus Christ arise from the dead?” The evidence is indisputable that He did! Rather the question is, “Did God appoint one special day of the year to be set aside to remember that Christ arose from the dead?” What does the Bible say?
The word “Easter” is found only one time in a common English version of the Bible and it is a wrong translation! In the King James Version of the Bible (1611), we read of King Herod putting the apostle Peter in prison: “And when he had apprehended him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four quaternions of soldiers to keep him; intending after Easter to bring him forth to the people” (Acts 12:4). The word “Easter” is a mistranslation of the Greek word “pascha.” The American Standard Version (1901), the New King James Version, and nearly every other version of the Bible, correctly translates “pascha” as “passover.” The respected Greek scholar, W. E. Vine, in his well known work, An Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words, pointed out that “pascha” should be translated as “passover.” He says that the Passover was a Jewish religious festival. It was not an observance of the early church! Mr. Vine further points out that the word “Easter” is of pagan origin. According to him, it is a form of “Astarte,” one of the names for an ancient Chaldean goddess. He also says that the pagan festival of Astarte was introduced into the apostate church in an attempt to adapt pagan festivals to Christianity.
Many of the customs associated with
Easter come from pagan religions. The World Book Encyclopedia says of Easter:
“In most countries, Easter comes in the early spring, at a time when green
grass and warm sunshine begin to push aside the snow and ice of winter. Its name may come from Eostre,
a Teutonic goddess of spring or from the Teutonic festival of spring called Eostur... Eggs represent the new life that returns to
nature about Easter time. The custom of
exchanging eggs began in ancient times.
The ancient Egyptians and Persians often dyed eggs in spring colors and
gave them to their friends as gifts. The
Persians believed the earth had hatched from a giant egg. In ancient
Since Easter observance is of pagan
origin, and is therefore not authorized by the Word of God, when should
Christians remember the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ? The Bible teaches that this is to be done
every first day of every week! Christ
arose from the dead on the first day of the week (Matthew 28:1-10; Mark 16:1-13; Luke 24:1-12; John 20:1-18). He met with His apostles on the first day of
the week (John
Christians in the first century,
under the direction of inspired men, always met on the first day of every week
to worship God. The Lord’s Supper, in
which the death of Christ for our sins is remembered, was eaten on the first
day of the week (Acts 20:7). Paul commanded that the contribution for the
work of the church be taken up every first day of the week (1 Corinthians 16:1, 2). The first day of the week is the “Lord’s day” (Revelation
The death, burial and resurrection
of our Lord should be remembered by Christians every first day of every week,
not just one day a year! If we want to
be pleasing to God, we must reject everything that comes from man, especially
days and observances which have their origin in paganism. We dare not add to, nor take away from, the
inspired teachings of God’s Holy Word (Revelation
Should Christians observe Easter or any other religious holiday which came from man? Absolutely not! Faithful Christians will be content to follow God’s Word and remember the death, burial and resurrection of God’s Son every first day of every week.
God’s Plan of Salvation for Man
1. We must hear the truth.
Romans 10:14; Romans 10:17.
2. We must believe Jesus
Christ is the Son of God. Mark
John 8:24.
3. We must repent of our
sins. Luke 13:3; Acts 2:38.
4. We must confess Christ
before men. Matthew 10:32,33;
Romans 10:10.
5. We must be baptized
into Christ. Galatians 3:27; 1 Peter 3:21;
Acts
6. We must continue to
live for Christ Revelation 2:10;
2
Peter 1:10; 2
Peter 3:18.
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