The Easter Bunny and other secular/pagan Easter practices
Submitted by Loutzenhiser on Mon, 2008-09-15 14:53.
Just who is this Easter Bunny? Where did he come from? How did he get into Christ's resurrection? Should Christian's participate? What other secular/pagan Easter practices are in Christ's Resurrection? For discussions on the Resurrection of Christ then please use the Passover thread.
I completely understand the short answers, but...
...appreciate that you can still contribute. (I have and will continue to pray for you.)
But, mercy does not require that truth be compromised. I won't cut you any slack. Sorry.
Pagans did crucify their victims before Christ. That was their established means of administering death to their worst criminals. And those who crucified Christ did engage in pagan practices. However, those who acknowledge that Christ was crucified are merely acknowledging, not condoning, what transpired at the hands of a pagan government. I suppose those who crucify Christ afresh could vicariously be partaking of that pagan practice. Though I haven't seen to need to develop this thought further and come to any conclusion about it.
However, the very first sacrifice was offered by the Lord in the Garden of Eden. Scripture does not specifically tell us that this occurred but there is evidence. Cain and Abel both offered sacrifices and they knew to offer animal sacrifices. They must have learned it from their parents. And Adam and Eve when they discovered they were naked clothed themselves with leaves. However, the Lord gave them clothing of animal skins to wear. So we must conclude that an animal had to die to provide their outer garments. It is though the innocent animal (perhaps a lamb) gave them their robes of innocence, or righteousness if you will.
Usually the Lord introduces something and then the Devil perverts it. Therefore, the Devil leads people to worship other gods, offer human sacrifices, bow to idols, establish pseudo-religious ceremonies and rituals, etc., etc. Revelation 13 speaks of the great deception that will come which in a false religio-political system of worship complete with a sign, or mark, of loyalty.
When God marched the Israelite people into a pagan country he had them destroy all vestiges of that pagan society. Depending upon their wickedness that often involved genocide where even the animals and babies were killed. That should reveal to us just how dangerous it is to mingle pagan practices with those established by the Lord.
Remember that Saul disobeyed the Lord and saved some of the animals the Lord instructed him to kill through the prophet Samuel. He supposed that these good animals could be used in the worship of the Lord for sacrifices. But what was God's response? Was God pleased? No, the Lord totally rejected Saul and would not longer speak with him. I don't think God is pleased with us now when we adopt pagan practices and try to incorporate them into our worship services. Do you?
So while today we have renamed many pagan statues and festivals and taken them into the bosom of Christianity I wonder if it doesn't dilute the true worship of God and remain as a crack in our armor to allow entrance of false worship concepts. We may be content to compromise but I am wondering how God views our compromise. I am sure He tolerates it even as He works to have a pure people free of all vestiges of false worship.
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"Iniquitas mentita est sibi"