Galatians 4:8-11. Shedding Light on EASTER: Where does the Christian stand?

Galatians 4:8-11

Shedding Light on

EASTER:

Where does the Christian stand?

EASTER:


EASTER and TRADITION

“Easter Sunday” as a yearly holiday:• Millions will celebrate “the resurrection of Jesus”“Passion” plays – “Passover” meals –

Lord’s Supper• Some see it as the “most holy” of holidays!• As with Christmas, may be only time some at church

EASTER:



“Easter Sunday” as a yearly holiday:

• NTchurch had no yearly celebration of resurrectionWord “Easter” occurs but once – in KJV

Acts 12:4

However…

Gk is “Pascha” – “Passover”, as translated elsewhere

EASTER:




• NTchurch had no yearly celebration of resurrection

She was a Germanic goddess of spring and fertility

However…

The month of April was dedicated to her

• “Easter” is actually from Anglo-Saxon EASTREHer festival was celebrated on the

vernal equinox; and Easter, since the 4th century, is on the 1st Sunday following the 1st full moon after the vernal equinox

EASTER:




• NTchurch had no yearly celebration of resurrection

The “Easter Bunny” has its origins in many legends involving Eastre: an appropriate symbol of fertility

However…

The “Easter Egg” comes from a custom of Egypt and Rome: a present to ensure a productive year

• “Easter” is actually from Anglo-Saxon EASTRE• Many “Easter” customs reflect its pagan connections

EASTER:




• How did a yearly observance of the resurrection start?

Should the church be involved in promoting this?

However…its origin is Pagan, not Christian

• How are pagan names and customs associated with a “Christian” holiday [the “most holy” holiday!]?• How should this affect Christians today?

These things should bring a few questions:

Should individuals be involved in celebrating this?

EASTER:


EASTER: an historical perspective

A yearly observance of Christ’s resurrection• A custom from early years – a “Christian

Passover”Of course, “Passover” already significant to Jews- Instituted by God through Moses, Ex. 12-13- Lord’s Supper given by Jesus at Passover, Mt 26

EASTER:




Passover”Of course, “Passover” already significant to Jews- the apostle Paul himself: Acts 21:17-26; cp. 18:18- Eusebius suggests that John and Philip kept the Passover every year

Many Jews continued customs even after conversion

- as seen, the customs [including Passover] were not bound on the Gentile converts [cp. Acts 21:25]

EASTER:




Passover”Of course, “Passover” already significant to Jews

- So, Passover was associated with Christ’s death

Many Jews continued customs even after conversionSlowly, Jewish festivals became “Christian” feasts

Christ had been killed during Passover week Paul had called Him “our Passover” – 1 Cor. 5:7

EASTER:




Passover”Of course, “Passover” already significant to Jews

- So, Passover was associated with Christ’s death

Many Jews continued customs even after conversionSlowly, Jewish festivals became “Christian” feasts

Despite Lord’s Supper given as memorial – Mt 26 Lord’s Supper a weekly practice – Acts 20:7; etc.

- Eventually, this led to established yearly practice

EASTER:




Passover”“Palm Sunday” – Jesus entered Jerusalem [4th cen.] “Good Friday” – day Jesus was crucified [2nd cen.]“Resurrection Sunday” or “Easter” – [2nd cen.]

• “Christian Passover” soon brought other practices

EASTER:




Passover”

2nd and 3rd century debates over proper dates:

• “Christian Passover” soon brought other practices• All of these “new” feasts came with controversy

- Asia Minor churches followed Jewish chronology“Passover” [now “Christian”] observed 14 Nisan a “moveable feast” because of lunar calendar “feast days” not according to day, but by date

EASTER:




Passover”



- Asia Minor churches followed Jewish chronologySo, “Christian Passover” always fell on Thursday Death remembered Friday; resurrection, Sunday

- Other groups followed day-of-the-week tradition

EASTER:




Passover”



- Asia Minor churches followed Jewish chronology- Other groups followed day-of-the-week tradition- Mix-ups, confusion and ill-will resulted in churchesyearly observance traceable as man-

made only!

EASTER:



A yearly observance of Christ’s resurrection• Assimilation of pagan rituals into “Christian” feastsA common tactic when taking gospel to

pagan areas- rather than dissuade pagan rituals, simply gave a “Christian” sense to them

An interweaving of pagan customs

“With the advent of Christianity, the egg, still taken as a symbol of life, was simply borrowed to be a symbol of the Christian holiday.”

USF Professor William Heim

“The earliest Easter eggs were dyed red to represent the blood shed by Christ.”“Many cultures celebrated the advent of spring down through history. When Christianity came along about 2000 years ago, there was already a number of pagan celebrations in place.”“People rarely discard a holiday. When a new system of beliefs comes along, you simply come up with a new mythic structure to explain why you were celebrating that holiday in the first place.” -- Orlando Sentinel, April 15, 1984

Cited from Mark A. Copeland

EASTER:



A yearly observance of Christ’s resurrection• Assimilation of pagan rituals into “Christian” feasts

The pagan element becomes “neutralized”, forgotten- who remembers “Easter” as a Germanic goddess?- unless there is research, the meaning is obscure

An interweaving of pagan customs• End results of assimilation of pagan rituals:

EASTER:



A yearly observance of Christ’s resurrection• Assimilation of pagan rituals into “Christian” feasts

The pagan element becomes “neutralized”, forgotten- some think Jesus established yearly Easter feast- some think Jesus was actually born Dec. 25th, etc.

An interweaving of pagan customs• End results of assimilation of pagan rituals:

However, many are left with erroneous concepts

EASTER:


EASTER: a Biblical perspective

Paul’s warnings concerning feast days• His concern for the churches of Galatia –

Gal. 4:8-11Their practice was not sinful in and of itself- for salvation? If so, Paul’s labor possibly “in vain”- if were doing these things as obligation under the law, then they were “fallen from grace” – Gal. 5:4

Paul was mostly concerned with the “why” of doing it

EASTER:




Gal. 4:8-11They should let no one “judge” (“condemn”) them- some sought to bind Law on Gentiles [Ac 15:1, 5]- Gentile Christians reminded that salvation is not by keeping of religious feast days, but in Christ

• His admonishment of the Colossians – Col. 2:16-17

EASTER:




Gal. 4:8-11

kept Jewish customs when expedient – 1 Co 9:19-20- circ. Timothy, but not Titus – Ac 16:1-3; Gal 2:3- took a vow – Acts 18:18

• His admonishment of the Colossians – Col. 2:16-17• His own practice regarding customs – Acts 18:19-21

- took part in purification rites, with animal sacrifices: Acts 21:17-26; cp. Numbers 6:13-20

EASTER:




Gal. 4:8-11

kept Jewish customs when expedient – 1 Co 9:19-20- feast days an individual choice – Rom. 14:5-6

• His admonishment of the Colossians – Col. 2:16-17• His own practice regarding customs – Acts 18:19-21

- customs not to be bound on others – Gal 2:3-5

however, taught clearly that Jewish law not binding

- customs not related to justification – Gal 5:4-6

EASTER:



Paul’s warnings concerning feast days• His rebuke of scribes and Pharisees – Mark 7:1-13They had bound their choice on all –

Mark 7:7

Jesus’ warnings concerning human traditions

Their custom was above God’s Law – Mark 7:8-9

EASTER:



Paul’s warnings concerning feast days• His rebuke of scribes and Pharisees – Mark 7:1-13

The custom is bound on all as necessary doctrine

Jesus’ warnings concerning human traditions

The custom takes the place of God’s command, laying aside the truth

• Keeping of customs is wrong when:

Jewish feast days and modern holidays are similar: can be expedient, or can serve to be

a stumbling block to us!

EASTER:


EASTER: where to stand?

Bible authorizes no yearly resurrection memorial• God did not see it as necessary for the

church

cannot see it as doctrine, binding others to itcannot allow it to displace God’s truth in practice

• If kept, is based on human tradition, not God’s word• As human tradition, requires careful consideration

EASTER:




church

would encourage the mingling of God’s law with the traditions of men, causing problems – Mk 2:21-22would have people observe what God didn’t command

• If kept, is based on human tradition, not God’s word• As human tradition, requires careful consideration• As a church observance, not authorized

EASTER:




church

Is between that person and the Lord – Rm. 14:5-6

• If kept, is based on human tradition, not God’s word• As human tradition, requires careful consideration• As a church observance, not authorized• As an individual’s observance, not condemned

Cannot condemn those who differ – Rm. 14:4, 10-12 Be sensitive to convictions of others – Rm. 14:13-19

EASTER:




church• If kept, is based on human tradition, not God’s word• As human tradition, requires careful consideration• As a church observance, not authorized• As an individual’s observance, not condemned

Objects are not wrong of themselves: 1 Co. 10:23-31 Is it wrong to circumcise? For health? For salvation?

• But what of the pagan origins and symbols?

The REAL issue:

1 Corinthians 15:1-4Are you “ready to give a defense” of

this hope?This time of year affords perfect opportunity!

If you are not a Christian,you do not have the hope that all the“Easter” hype is about – this is the

day thatyou can obey the Lord at His word,

laying holdon ETERNAL LIFE!

Galatians 4:8-11. Shedding Light on EASTER: Where does the Christian stand?

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Transcript of Galatians 4:8-11. Shedding Light on EASTER: Where does the Christian stand?