What are the Christian Easter Debates All About?
Many folks enjoy a good debate and this includes Christians. In most cases they
are just seeking to find or share the Truth and can discuss
a topic with one another in a righteous manner.
But, as we all know too well ... There are others who seek
not to teach or learn, but rather seek to argue or get
attention and still others who are there only to reveal how
much they believe they know as compared to other Christians
who may not be as well versed or educated in researching and
many of these souls seek vain glory at the expense of
hurting a fellow Christian.
At either rate, many folks absolutely adore to debate about
Scriptures.
For example ... The word Rapture is a word that is the
subject of much debate in many circles. Many are eager to
point out that the word “Rapture” is not even a word in the
Bible and they are correct, but, this does not change the Truth that there is a Rapture.
The word “Rapture” is simply a word Christians use when
describing an event in the Bible where Christians that are
alive are taken from the Earth to meet Jesus in the clouds:
1 Corinthians 15:51-54
51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep,
but we shall all be changed.
52 In a moment, in the
twinkling of an eye, at the last Trump: for the
Trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised
incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
53 For this
corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal
must put on immortality.
54 So when this corruptible
shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall
have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass
the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in
victory.
1 Thessalonians 4:14-17
14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even
so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with
Him.
15 For this we say unto you by the Word of the Lord,
that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of
the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.
16 For
the Lord Himself shall descend from Heaven with a
shout, with the voice of the Archangel, and with the
Trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up
together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in
the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
Christian Easter Bible Study Hope
Easter Bible Scriptures Blessing
The word “Easter” is another one of those words that some like
to debate on. So let us seek the Truth of this debate over
the word ... Easter.
The dictionary describes the word “Easter” as ...
A Christian celebration of the Resurrection of Christ; celebrated
on the Sunday following the first full moon after the vernal equinox.
Unlike the word “Rapture” ... The word Easter can be discovered in the Bible:
Acts 12:4
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.
So what’s the problem?
The Christian Easter Bible study answer ... One of the problems is that some have done some deep
research in documents other than the Bible and suggest that
the word “Easter” was translated improperly from the Greek
text and therefore should not be used as a word to describe
the Resurrection of our Lord.
Another problem they have is that after some research they
believe that Easter represents a pagan holiday.
It is not only the name Easter which they suggest derived
from an ancient goddess named Ishtar that is at question but
also the symbols and practices that man’s world came up with
and now practice at Easter, such as the rabbit and the egg
which were part of some ancient custom of Nimrod’s
descendants according to some researchers. Of course others
have other sources and are armed and ready to debate with
those that hold to that belief.
I will not go into further detail, but to say it was simply
practices that some other folks celebrated for other
unrelated reasons and man chose to practice these customs at
Easter.
Christian Easter Bible Study Warning
Easter Bible Scriptures Concern
Which brings up the Spiritual angle of concern.
As far as the “commercialism and customs” of man’s world way
of celebrating their Easter ... It is no different than
Christmas in that yes, there is a plot to hide the events of
the birth of Jesus behind Santa Claus and the Resurrection
of Jesus behind a bunny rabbit that hides eggs in some vain
effort to conceal Truth.
Silly Rabbits ... Tricks are for kids.
I am in harmony with the practices of Easter being something
that should have been different as to teach our children a
better way to glorify Jesus ... But, I also believe that God
knows our heart and why we celebrate Easter.
You know what ... So what? Christian Easter Bible Scriptures Truth. Who cares why
those who do not believe in Jesus followed
some ancient customs and chose to celebrate it, at the same
time we celebrate the Resurrection of our Lord. It is
obviously a web of deception to mask the Truth. But, what
does that have to do with us celebrating our Easter?
Here is Wisdom ...
Christian Easter Bible Study Truth
Do we Christians celebrate this day for the same reason as
they? Or do we celebrate Easter as being the day our Lord
was resurrected?
Paul had a similar dispute over meats offered unto idols. He
shared this with us:
1 Corinthians 8:4-8
4 As concerning therefore the eating of those things
that are offered in sacrifice unto idols, we know that
an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is none
other God but one.
5 For though there be that are called
gods, whether in heaven or in earth, (as there be gods
many, and lords many,)
6 But to us
there is but one God, the Father, of whom are
all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ,
by whom are all things, and we by him.
7 Howbeit there
is not in every man that knowledge: for some with
conscience of the idol unto this hour eat it as a
thing offered unto an idol; and their conscience being
weak is defiled.
8 But meat commendeth us not to God:
for neither, if we eat, are we the better; neither, if
we eat not, are we the worse.
Some of the Easter Bible Scriptures, like most of Paul’s
language, can be a lil tricky so let’s put it like this ...
There is only one God. So any meat being offered to an idol
(false god) is really nothing as these false gods do not
exist. But everyone is not aware of this Truth and eat
certain meats and believe these meats are symbolic so it is
the belief that brings it to life and since we, as
Christians do not believe we are not subject to their
ritual. Meats do not get us closer to God. So whether we eat
these meats or not ... Matters not.
However ... Paul added to his words knowing that drama could
occur over this and taught us what we should do.
1 Corinthians 8:9-13
9 But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours
become a stumbling block to them that are weak.
10 For if
any man see thee which hast knowledge sit at meat in
the idol’s temple, shall not the conscience of him
which is weak be emboldened to eat those things which
are offered to idols;
11 And through thy knowledge shall
the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died?
12 But
when ye sin so against the brethren, and wound their
weak conscience, ye sin against Christ.
13 Wherefore, if
meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh
while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to
offend.
Paul is saying that the freedom we receive from knowing the Truth
of this matter which sets us free from the false belief ...
May cause those who are unable to comprehend the Truth to
get con-fused. We seek not to hurt our fellow Christian’s
faith so not to eat such food in front of them.
Let’s take a lil Easter Bible study field trip ... Let’s say
that you are at your favorite local breakfast
restaurant like IHOP or Denny’s, wearing your cross to
represent Jesus having your usual two eggs two slices of
bacon (Yuck) toast and coffee and someone comes up and says
“heyyyyyyy I see you are wearing the Cross but,
you are also eating bacon which is pork which is the meat
offered to the god of the swine people tribe” ...
Since you have no time to share what I have just shared, it
is best to pick up those two pieces of bacon, set them in
your napkin and fold it gently and when they walk away, rise
(with napkin out of view) and walk to the restroom as to
enjoy your bacon in peace.
This will be walking that second mile ...
Or, IF you do have the time ...
You could just explain this Truth to them as Paul did to us.
What Is Easter Bible Study
Christian Easter Bible Scriptures
This applies to the Easter debate too. We are not
celebrating some ancient goddess or the customs thereof but, for the benefit of those present, you can go ahead and
call it “Resurrection” day if ya like to get em to back off. I personally choose to share the Truth with them as to give
them the opportunity to be set free. And the Truth is this
...
All these rituals and customs honoring false gods and
goddesses are of no avail cuz they are just that ... False.
And if we are celebrating the Resurrection of our Lord on a
day that others follow the practices of some false goddess
does not mean we are honoring their cause in our hearts. God knows our heart and why we do what we do. When, is another
topic of Christian Easter Bible Scriptures debate.
Another problem many have is the timing of “Easter” as
compared to the Jewish Passover week. They argue this point
because the Jewish Passover week was the time period that
our Lord was crucified, died and was resurrected.
Most Christians celebrate the Christian Easter Passover week, which begins on
Palm Sunday and goes thru to the next Sunday when Jesus was
resurrected at a specific time. Israel celebrates their
Passover week at a different time. So this particular
dispute is that some are celebrating this Christian Easter Passover week at
one time and the other celebrates it at a diff time.
Now one thing is for sure ... The Easter Bible Scriptures timing is important because
these Jewish feasts and celebration Holy days were given to
the Israelites by God as time periods that future Spiritual
events would occur. They were shadows of events to come.
Colossians 2:16-17
16 Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink,
or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of
the Sabbath days:
17 Which are a shadow of things to
come; but the body is of Christ.
In other words ... God created these days of celebration as
signs of major spiritual events that would occur on these
feast and celebration Holy days in the future.
Which brings us to another important Easter Bible study point ...
Why these days are being celebrated. Easter Bible study tidbit of truth ... One must remember
that the country of Israel, as a whole,
does not believe Jesus was the Son of God to this day.
However there are some Jewish souls that do believe the Truth and we are to pray for the country of Israel. Both the
Israelites and the Gentiles (Those other than Israelites)
have the opportunity at Grace, because of Israel’s fall and
God’s Love and mercy for us all. This is explained very well in Romans, Chapter 11
...
Therefore, if they do not believe in Jesus ... They do not
believe that Jesus died for our sins, so they do not
celebrate this week as being Palm Sunday, the day Jesus rode
into Jerusalem on a donkey, or the week of the crucifixion
of our Lord or the resurrection of our Lord ...
But rather celebrate a custom of the Old Testament called
the Passover, which was but the shadow of the true event
that this custom was to represent and that is the true
Passover lamb ... Jesus which did die for our sins at the
Jewish Passover.
Christian Easter Bible Study on Resurrection
Easter Bible Scriptures are About Jesus
Back to the point of when one celebrates an event and this
ongoing dispute ...
I would like for you to look at it from a diff point of view ...
It can be compared to the hour changes in diff states and
countries which adapted to the daylight differences in said
places since the earth is a circle and cannot be 8:00 a.m.
everywhere at once.
Now ... Just because your birthday begins at a second after
midnight where you live does not mean it begins at a second
after midnight where another is.
There are time changes.
But, when we are told by another from a diff time zone, that
it is their birthday, we simply say “Happy Birthday” instead
of analyzing it all and saying “hold on there a second
buddy, it is not the same time here, so we refuse to
celebrate your birthday” ... Unless they are a friend and
we are just clowning around.
The point of the Christian Easter Bible Scriptures is that we Christians celebrate Easter on Easter
day as being the day our Lord was resurrected and for
someone to say we are wrong because we do not celebrate it
at the same time the Israelites do, who are not honoring the
death of Jesus but rather an old custom and still await
their Messiah, has one ponder on the intent of the debate.
IF the intent of the Christian Easter Bible debate is simply to share the Truth
that Jesus was crucified as the Passover lamb at the time of
the Jewish Passover and that the Jewish people celebrate it
at a diff time due to calendar and seasonal differences,
having them look into it so they can ponder and pray on
whether they too wanna honor that Jewish celebration ...
That is cool. But, never to the point of ridicule. God is
man’s judge.
In fact ... I honor and celebrate the Jewish Passover as
well as the Christian Palm Sunday to Easter week. This way,
I am getting to glorify my Lord twice.
Christmas is the same way ... Most will tell you that December
25th is not the exact day Jesus was born, yet for us to
celebrate it on the day we do is not a sin ... We are just
celebrating the birth of our Lord in our heart.
In Truth ... We should celebrate the results of that day of
Jesus’ birth and the Passover week leading up to the
Resurrection of our Lord every day. God knows our heart and what man says, matters lil. In short ... Most Christians adhere to what the dictionary
shared:
Easter is a Christian celebration of the Resurrection of
Christ; celebrated on the Sunday following the first
full moon after the vernal equinox.
Christian Easter Bible study reminder ... So, the next time
you are judged cuz you celebrate the
Resurrection of your Lord on Easter ... Consider this:
Can you imagine a soul that believes in and truly loves
Jesus arriving in Heaven and being told by our Father who
sacrificed His Son to get us into Heaven ... Whoooooooa
there. Are you not one of those who used the word ... “Easter”
like hundreds of millions of other Christians did when they
celebrated the Resurrection of Jesus? Would our loving
Father say to these children of God ... You are unworthy to
enter? God forbid.
It would be easier to believe that the Easter bunny will be
hiding some eggs on Easter than to believe such nonsense.
So, just remember that God judges the heart of every
matter and if someone is celebrating His Resurrection and
calls it Easter or Passover or Resurrection day or Jesus day
or any other name they want to create because they chose to. It matters not ... What
matters is one’s heart and why you are celebrating.
Our Christian Easter Bible Study on the absolutely awesome Easter
Bible Scriptures clearly reveals the Truth is that Jesus is the reason for the season.
