The celebration of Easter is a Christian festival marking the resurrection of Jesus Christ (Encarta Dictionary). Easter falls on the first Sunday after the first full moon following the Spring Equinox (with the exception of the Eastern Orthodox Church which uses a different time table for calculating the date). For most people Easter is a Biblical observance in accordance with Lukes account in Acts 12:4 which reads, And when he had apprehended him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four quaternion of soldiers to keep him; intending after Easter to bring him forth to the people. Herod had killed James the brother of John with the sword and arrested Peter to meet the same fate. Luke writes of Peters deliverance from prison by the angel of God and Herods violent death (Acts 12:5-24).
If you tell a lie long enough people will believe it to be a truth. Remarkable as it may seem with many people, Easter is not in the Bible. It is found in the King James Version of the book of Acts but true Bible students understand the gross misrepresentation of the text by the King James translators. Albert Barnes writes, There never was a more absurd or unhappy translation than this. The original is simply after the Passover. The word Easter now denotes the festival observed by many Christian churches in honor of the resurrection of the Savior. But the original has no reference to that, nor is there the slightest evidence that any such festival was observed at the time when this book was written. The translation is not only unhappy, as it does not convey at all the meaning of the original, but because it may contribute to foster an opinion that such a festival was observed in the time of the apostles.
Paul warned the church at Colosse of those who would establish festivals and not holding fast to the Head (Colossians 2:16-19). With the exception of Christmas, celebrating Easter is one of the most important religious holidays enjoyed by the Christian religious world. Neither Christmas nor Easter were celebrated by the New Testament disciples, ordained by the apostles, suggested by Christ, or instituted by the Holy Spirit and yet many professing Christ pretend these celebrations are Biblical. It is only a pretense without Biblical authority.
The result of attitudes that embrace Christmas and Easter is a view
toward what is written in the Bible and what is not written in the Bible. The
Lord told the people of
Jesus did institute one celebration that most of the religious world
fails to observe in accordance with divine scripture.
And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and
blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat;
this is my body. And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them,
saying, Drink ye all of it; For this is my blood of the new testament, which is
shed for many for the remission of sins. But I say unto you, I will not drink
henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with
you in my Father's kingdom (Matthew
26:26-29). The New Testament disciples celebrated the resurrection every first
day of the week.
---Kent Heaton
"The Church Will Never Be The Same"
Several years ago, Time Magazine carried an article, with this caption, "The Church Will Never Be The Same," because, they say, "The baby boomers are coming back to church." The article said among other things, "These returnees are described as traveling from church to church or faith to faith, sampling creeds, shopping for a custom-made God." It said of churches, "In an effort to attract them, more and more churches are becoming customer oriented."
This reminded me of some striking parallels of the '60s and the church in our day. I found some common denominators among those who are causing confusion in churches, including churches of Christ.
1. The boomers of the '60s were looking for highs. They could not live on the plains. They had to be on the mountain peaks. They needed a smoke, a pill, or a needle. What are you hearing today from those pulling away from the church? "We want a worship that makes us feel good or high." I might add, never mind how God may feel.
2. Another similarity in the '60s and in our day: They both dislike order. In the '60s they wanted a spontaneous life-style doing whatever made them feel good. We are hearing the same cry today in the church: "We want a spontaneous worship. We are bored with order."
3. Another similarity in the '60s and in our day: They both dislike authority. They want to do it their way. In the '60s they rebelled against parental, governmental, and religious authority. The new hermeneutic virtually eliminates apostolic authority and does away with pattern theology. Everyone does that which is right in his own eyes.
4. In the '60s
they wanted to do what came naturally. Then they did not wear socks, ties, nor
underwear. Their motto was: "Just
hang loose." Personal freedom and comfort were their objectives. Does this
remind you of today?
5. Another
striking parallel is this: They tolerated everything except the established
order. They would neither judge nor condemn any. Today those pulling away from
the church have tolerance for virtually anything with the exception of the
established church.
6. Both have the
some theme. Remember in the '60s the peace sign. Truth, they said, was
unattainable. Thus came consensus and situation ethics, but real peace eluded
them. Today we are being told among our ranks that peace is the message. I
disagree. Truth is the message. Peace is the hope.
7. Both then and
now they believe love is a cure-all. But, what kind of love are they talking
about "Love Sweet Love" or agape love that suffereth long and is kind...rejoices
in truth (1 Cor. 13). I see the "Me" generation in both of these.
I beg those who are swept up in this movement to take another look. I beg
the elders and churches and or schools who are catering to this movement to take
another look before we lose the church that Jesus purchased with His own
blood.
---Bob Plunket
in The Sower, Vol. 54, No. 3, May/June, 2009
Page 2
TRENDS:
A September 2009 survey shows that the total number
of people calling themselves Christians in the
- via The American Religious Identification
Survey