Can we rescue the Resurrection from the Easter Bunny?

Question

Anyone else sick to the back teeth of the "sanitised" version of Christ's death and resurrection at Easter? The most powerful 'sermon' I ever witnessed was a congregation's silence whilst a handful of hand-made six inch nails was passed around from one person to the next. Any ideas on how to reflect then celebrate appropriately, and how best to teach our children?

Ten answers could all be Best Answers! I'm saying "Amen" to virtually everything Christians are saying here, which proves that many Christians find 'Easter' words/practices offensive, wanting nothing to do with bunnies/eggs. Keep it up, friends!

For the less informed, things that get people realising what agonies Christ endured in order to redeem us (6" nails, hammer sounds) are NOT traditions of men. "The cross is a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles" (1 Cor 1:23). People may mock such things but the redeemed reflect soberly that they were there when their Lord was crucified - they helped drive those nails in with the hammer. For those who only remember his death once a year and never celebrate his resurrection to lecture others about doing it too often, is a bit rich. Christians would rather be found "guilty" of giving Christ too much honor and celebration than not enough! The Last Supper would have seen the death of Christianity at birth but for the resurrection.

Answer 1

I think the best way to honor Jesus' life/death/reserection, is to follow the Bible's teachings. Celebrating things like Easter goes against the whole turning away from unclean things. Good Q Sasi.

Answer 2

back interior the reliable ol' days, the Christians found it superb to "make certain" that lots of the Pagans could have self assurance of their God. between the procedures that this replaced into completed replaced into to comprise assorted the Pagan holiday journeys with Christian ideals. initially, Easter replaced into incredibly a Pagan ritual. assorted the symbols of Easter, as with many different holiday journeys, are certainly from Pagan holiday journeys. The Pagans used this time to rejoice and to desire to their God that the flora could be abundant. The Christians needed the Pagans to have self assurance of their God and have been prepared to make some concessions to make that take place. The lily has no longer something to do with Christianity, neither does the bunny or the chicks-all Pagan. Eggs for Easter?easy-sign of rebirth. supply and take. Halloween is likewise a Pagan holiday. numerous holiday journeys prepare. First, Fall Harvest (Pagans). Then, a Wiccan holiday. All Hallows Eve is while the Demons would be in the international, the only night, to wreak their havoc. human beings gown up as Demons as protection and would stroll around them without harm because of the fact, an d the reasoning is, is they gained't be considered. i don't understand the place the candy is equipped in.

Answer 3

That is a really good question. I'm not sure what can be done except that each person who feels the same way that you and I do, go to our Pastor or Elders and request that OUR Churchs focus be on the Resurrection of Christ. Not on Easter Egg Hunts and Easter Bunnys. As Christians, we should stop buying all of this Easter Basket stuff and stop with the "egg dyeing" to.

Answer 4

Until we put the doctrine of God (Word of God) before the doctrine (traditions) of men, the truth will never be known.

I tell you truth, but you will not believe, it is not my truth but the the true bread from heaven, which was given to the world.

200300 days is the day of the Ascension, it is the day spoke of as the day he was glorified. Monday April 20, 33 AD.
The Day of Resurrection was April 19, 33 AD
The Day Jesus died was April 16, 33 AD Thursday, the Day Preparation

But you would rather believe the traditions of men, that are so strong that you take their word over the Word of God.

Look it up on line or in the Good News, but look it up !!!!

calendarhome.com and

John 19:14, Mark 15:25, Luke 23:44, John 19:31, John 19:42 Matthew 12:40 and John 20:1 (3rd Sunday in April)

click on "GO" under Make a Calendar at the top of home page. Enter 00 33 April and you will see the day Sunday fell on in the year 33 AD

Answer 5

Dear Sasi,

What an excellent question!

We cannot rescue the Resurrection from the Easter bunny but the One who resurrected and was resurrected sure can.

For years I've been troubled by the commercialism that goes along with the birth of Christ and the Resurrection.

I haven't discussed my concerns with others. I just try to live my life so that others will have a desire to know my heavenly Father.

Several years ago the church I belonged to participated with the local Methodist church for a Good Friday worship service. It was extremely moving when 2 of the participants carried / dragged a heavy wooden cross down the aisle. It was silent except for sobs heard throughout the sanctuary. To me that was a very powerful sermon much like what you have mentioned.

I also heard / experienced a very powerful "sermon" at an Alpha retreat 4 years ago. We were in the sanctuary for the closing worship and the group leaders sang "Were You There When They Crucified My Lord?" The music leader provided sound effects by hammering on a wooden block with a mallet. When he hit that second "nail" I burst into tears knowing that that nail was for my sins.

No, the commercialism and paganism is not good. The father of lies is behind that and we know that Christ already defeated him by rising from the dead so we are not in despair.

We have to realize that the father of lies is also working to get people so bothered by the paganism of religious holidays that they end up making a religion out of it.

Princess Yum Yum gave you an excellent answer and I definitely commiserate with her in wanting to set the right example with grandchildren whose parents are not saved.

Answer 6

Great question Sasi. Love the "Sermon" about the 6" Nails. What a powerful message. I think the first thing the Christian Church needs to do is to STOP using the word "Easter". Its completely pagan (Ishtar) and carries NO conotation with the Christian Holiday. We should INSIST that our Churchs start calling it by its proper name: RESURRECTION DAY. Or Festival of First Fruits. Either one would be accurate. Also, I think a good Idea would be for every Church to start showing the film "The Passion" on Good Friday, then follow that up with a Biblical Sermon on what Christs death means to US. We need to get rid of all of this "bunny and egg" garbage. So again, Great Question, thanks for asking it....theBerean

Answer 7

Yes we can, but only if all the believers stop buying Easter eggs, bunnies and going on holiday. We call ourselves Christian and yet do a lot to fuel commercialism. I don't celebrate Easter, I only celebrate the death of Jesus for me on the cross and His victory over death.
Instead of handing out easter eggs, why not hand out cookies in the shape of the cross? How about chocolate lambs in the place of rabbits?

Answer 8

True, about the pagan Easter Bunny, When I was a child, my mother told me about the Easter bunny, but not about Christ. At one point I began to wonder about the true meaning of Easter and Christmas. My mother wouldn't tell me the truth.Finally, my best friend told me the truth when I was in 3rd grade.

Answer 9

Know what you mean. When I was a youngun we didnt have all of this tomfoolishness with 'egg huntin and the like. We just went to church and praised the Lord for redeemin us. Course that was before the depression and the world was a different place. Changed a lot, and not for the better either. I'll take a little ol depression anyday. lol. dont know what peoples thinkin nowdays. Dont see no Jesus in what folks call easter nowdays. thanks for lettin me sound off about it.

Answer 10

Easter is just about as bad as Christmas when it comes to commercialism, consumerism and everybody just out to have a good time and a holiday. Not that there's anything wrong in enjoying a holiday. I'm certainly looking forward to a few days off work and having family round. Seems like, just as the world has taken Christ out of Christmas, they've taken Christ out of Easter.

I'm not sure about how best to teach children, other than by setting a good example ourselves and explaining to them the pagan origins of Easter (fertility worship as represented by rabbits and eggs). I could be tested on this tomorrow because our two little grandchildren will be here along with their mum and dad (who are not practising Christians). They won't find any easter eggs in our house. Hmmm. A timely reminder to get my head round this one and do some thinking!

The last church I attended prepared for the celebration of the resurrection with a preaching plan starting in March. Here is what the Rev. Phil Hill (Hockliffe Street Baptist Church, Leighton Buzzard, Bedfordshire, UK) did this year (I'm sure he won't mind me telling you all):

God's Plan to Save Us - He Planned the Place (Genesis 22).
God's Plan to Save Us - He Planned the Pattern (Exodus 12).
God's Plan to Save Us - He Planned the Price (Leviticus 16).
God's Plan to Save Us - He Planned the Person (Isaiah 53).
God's Plan to Save Us - He Planned the Purpose.
Then, on Maundy Thursday, there is an evening communion service, focusing on Christ's death.

I agree with the other contributors who suggest Christians should take the issue up with their Pastors/Ministers and get a consensus to take Easter out of the entire proceedings. If church members don't know how pagan Easter is, then they need to be enlightened. Best place to accomplish that is from the pulpit. And for Sunday School teachers to be honest with their young charges.