The following is from Joe Kovacs book, "Shocked by the bible"
� 2010 WorldNetDaily
"Easter" is such a pretty-sounding word, isn't it?
It instantly makes many people think of a variety of joyous images such as springtime, sunshine, blooming flowers, pretty dresses and bonnets, colored eggs, cute baby chicks and adorable, little bunny rabbits.
It also brings to mind for countless millions the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the grave.
They say this is the holiest time of the year, because yes, the Creator of the universe, Jesus Christ, is alive on His heavenly throne after spending three days and three nights completely dead.
I could not agree more with people becoming aware of the story of Jesus' death and return to life. It shows us the path to becoming born into the actual Family of God, as the Bible indicates many sons and daughters will be brought to glory as the immortal "children of God."
But brace yourself, because there's a very dark side to this centuries-old tradition, and it has to do with the famous Ten Commandments of God.
The very first commandment of the Big Ten is perhaps one of the most overlooked in everyday life.
In just eight words, it states: "Thou shalt have no other gods before me." (Exodus 20:3)
Sounds simple enough. Christians would never put another god in front of the true God who made the universe � right?
Wrong.
Most Christians, whether knowingly or unknowingly, violate this very first commandment of God each year by placing before God the actual name of a pagan goddess of fertility and the dawn.
In case you haven't figured it out by now, her name is � believe it or not � "Easter."
That's correct, folks. The word Easter is actually the name of an ancient, heathen goddess who represents fertility, springtime and the dawn.
Some of her symbols are flowers, bunnies, eggs, the sun and the moon. Who'da thunk?
In different languages and through a variety of cultures, the name of this deity � who in reality does not even exist � is spelled different ways, including Ishtar, Astarte, Ostara, Eostre and Eastre.
Even in the Bible itself, many of God's own chosen people actually followed the customs of numerous Easter goddesses, with her name spelled in the King James Bible as "Ashtaroth" and "Ashtoreth."
For those who have never seen Easter in this light before, take a look at what Scripture itself has to say. I'm adding emphasis with the modern word in parentheses so you can see what God is really telling you:
"And they forsook the LORD, and served Baal and Ashtaroth (Easter)." (Judges 2:13)
"And the children of Israel did evil again in the sight of the LORD, and served Baalim, and If you don't believe me, go ahead and Google it. Or simply open up an encyclopedia or a dictionary to probe the pagan origins. Feel free to ask your preacher. An honest one will have to admit it.
"And Samuel spake unto all the house of Israel, saying, If ye do return unto the LORD with all your hearts, then put away the strange gods and Ashtaroth (Easter) from among you, and prepare your hearts unto the LORD, and serve him only: and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines." (1 Samuel 7:3)
"And they cried unto the LORD, and said, We have sinned, because we have forsaken the LORD, and have served Baalim and Ashtaroth (Easter)" (1 Samuel 12:10)
"For Solomon went after Ashtoreth (Easter) the goddess of the Zidonians" (1 Kings 11:5)
"And the high places that were before Jerusalem, which were on the right hand of the mount of corruption, which Solomon the king of Israel had builded for Ashtoreth (Easter) the abomination of the Zidonians ..." (2 Kings 23:13)
While Easter may sound like a pretty word, just look again in that list above at some of the terms God associates with Easter and her customs: "corruption," "sin," "abomination" and "evil."
And here's a Bible newsflash for you. We're not even supposed to be saying the E-word.
Crack open your own Bible and read it for yourself:
"Make no mention of the name of other gods, neither let it be heard out of thy mouth." (Exodus 23:13)
Certainly, Christians today who celebrate Easter don't do so with the intention of worshipping another god besides the true God, and I'm not saying or even implying that. But the fact of the matter is many are bringing the name of a pagan, nonexistent goddess before Him, violating the very first commandment.
Additionally, it's more than just the name that bothers God. He specifically warned His people not to worship Him using heathen customs:
"Be careful not to be ensnared by inquiring about their gods, saying, 'How do these nations serve their gods? We will do the same.' You must not worship the Lord your God in their way, because in worshiping their gods, they do all kinds of detestable things the Lord hates." (Deuteronomy 12:30-31, NIV)
Perhaps if the springtime holiday were called "Hitler Sunday" or even "Satan Sunday" instead of Easter, people might have an easier time understanding the problem of attaching evil to God. Would people decorate swastikas instead of eggs and hold goose-stepping contests, all the while claiming such customs were now Christianized?
For those who might wonder why the King James Bible mentions Easter in Acts 12:4, keep in mind the Bible was not initially written in English. The word in its original language of Greek is "Pascha," meaning "Passover" and translated as Passover in every other instance, some 28 times. Bibles published since 1611 have corrected this glaring error.
Ladies and gentlemen, it's way past time to dump all this fertility-goddess nonsense when it comes to honoring the true Creator.
Enough with the name of Easter, the coloring of eggs, the Easter egg hunts, baby bunnies and fluffy little chicks. These are all symbols of reproduction which have been associated with the heathen fertility goddess for millennia now.
The apostles did not find a basket of eggs or a chocolate bunny rabbit in Jesus' empty tomb, and they certainly didn't go Easter-egg-hunting while spreading the good news of the kingdom of God.
The maker of all things, Jesus Christ, is offering all of us a spectacular, glorious future as an immortal child of God who will be judging angels and the citizens of the world, reigning alongside Him for eternity.
God not only wants to be worshipped in spirit and in truth, but He wants absolutely nothing to do with this phony baloney goddess.
Is it really worth offending your Maker for the pretty-sounding, colorful lie of the nonexistent, evil chick called Easter?
One thing most here seem to be overlooked is God's word on the subject of Easter.
God has given believers everything it takes to be honoring to Christ and if it is not found in His word, the Lord says it is sin as the following scriptures makes very clear.
2 Timothy 3:16 �All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
17 �That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.
God's word even covers those those things God wants from those who want to honor him and everything is very clear that God instructs us in. If its not there, then we are not to do it.
Romans 10:17 �So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
As Romans 10:17 clearly states faith comes from understanding or hearing God's word. In the next verse God tells us what we do if it is not found in His word, such as like Christmas and Easter or any other so called holy day that you can come up with.
Romans 14:23 �And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.
Its very plan that if it is not found in God's word then it is sin. God does not want us to celebrate his death and resurrection or He would authorized it. What he does want us to do is to live our life so our walk will honor Christ. To me it makes more sense to have Christ's word in our hearts and walk in it then say it with our lips as the Pharisees did.
Paul commented on believers observing days and years and months.
Galatians 4:9 �But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage?
10 �Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years.
11 �I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain.
God has given us instruction not to follow after the philosophies of men and that sure enough is where Easter comes from as described by others on this thread.
Colossians 2:8 �Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.
Jeremiah 10:3 Tells us not to follow after the customs of the people for they are vain.
God also tells us how to we are to worship.
1 John 3:18 �My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.
19 �And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him.
Philippians 3:3 �For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.
John 8:47 �He that is of God heareth God's words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God.
to me those words are key... if they were once pagan worshippers.. and now have converted the key word converted, to christianity and worship JESUS CHRIST now ,,, then who are they gonna be worshiping any day every day?
and if by some chance they are puttin on and just using it for cover and still worshipin any other gods or goddesses then the ONE and only GOD who knows their hearts completely ,,, well they will stand before HIM one day and have to give account of themselves.. and id be much affraid were i them if that were to be the case..
its not like you are going with them to their party to woship their gods or goddesses ... but yet they are coming with you to your party to worship your GOD , the only GOD..
ya know here where i live there are a few old bars that were closed and in their place a church was formed in the exact same building..
now those folks who go there i dont think theyre goin there to worship that old bar or what it stood for.. no, i think theyre goin there to worship GOD..
and i think to myself what a statement that makes... GOD took something bad and turned it into somethin good..
Cattleman, you are using your natural mind instead of going to God's word to see what He says.
2 Timothy 2:15 �Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
1 Corinthians 2:13 �Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
That is God's instruction on how to understand his word, if you are saved.
1 John 4:5 �They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them.
6 �We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.
The reason we can't God by assuming as you done in the above reply is because of Romans 8:7. I hope this will help you.
Freinds sorry to join you a little late. question did not Paul write that there was nothing wrong with eating food offered to idols? it is just food he said.He also said do not eat it if it makes an unbeliever stumble. It seems as if both sides are right and wrong here. A day is a day.It means nothing friends. It is just a day we chose to celebrate the death of christ ok.I for one celebrate passover,my choice.Free choice.
As a christian I am going to have to ask several of you to stop attacking the early church brothers who chose these dates as it is offending my friend Arch here.
Note of interest we all are followers of christ,so stop bad mouthing the cathlic church. Steve,(arch) is right to say something.
Religous bigotery comes from all sides.When I got saved and went to a pentacostal church I received letters in the mail saying I would die and go to hell.
God Bless you dg/Dennis...I referd to the Roman Catholic Church as winning over the Pagans as a positive cudo...not meaning any disrespect...I hope you understand that an that I wasnt attacking Arch or Catholics in anyway...cuz I luv him jus as much as you an everyone else...xo
Cattleman, you are using your natural mind instead of going to God's word to see what He says.
2 Timothy 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
1 Corinthians 2:13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
That is God's instruction on how to understand his word, if you are saved.
1 John 4:5 They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them.
6 We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.
The reason we can't God by assuming as you done in the above reply is because of Romans 8:7. I hope this will help you.
Gary
mine here,
now gary i certainly dont mind you disagreeing with me..
but i believe there are some things you are implyin here that are uncalled for and unnesecery ..
are you implying i dont study,or that i should be ashamed ,or that i dont rightly divide the word of GOD?
are you implying that the HOLY SPIRIT doesnt teach me as well?
i really like this one though
your words
That is God's instruction on how to understand his word, if you are saved.
mine here
are you implying i am not saved ? if you are you need to stop that talk ... as i am saved..
are you also implyin that i am of the world and not of GOD?
then you imply i am not of GOD again?
romans 8:7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be.
then you imply i have a carnal mind and am an enmity agaiinst GOD..?
to all that i say shame on you gary.. for using the word of GOD to slander a brother... i may not be the sharpest crayon in the box but everything you are implying is wrong against myself... and i ask you to please stop with such implications against myself or anyone else here..
Cattle...Thank you for your never ceasing zeal for rightiousness in the Lord...
Please everyone...let us be edified in the Lord an his word an ways...not bible thump each other until we all one by one fall away from the body of Christ...xo
ole cattle, I have implied nothing because I used the if word for I don't know you or know you are saved any more then you know if I am. Why that would offend you is a surprise to me. If someone questioned my salvation I would be glad they did for that would show me they have enough interest in my soul to bring that to my attention. Faithful are wounds of a friend. I am however implying God's word does tell us not to be involved with worldly religions, traditions and philosophies that are not found in God's word. If you think what I have given is smiting your conscience then the that would have to be between you and the Lord. I'm only responsible for giving God's word correctly and if you feel that I'm implying anything more what His word states. However I'm not going to stop giving God's truth according to His word just on your say so or anyone else. Each scripture I have given, is concise and clear to understand and each one backs up the other ones. So I do believe you need to take your disagreement up the Lord.
I have also noticed your rebuttals lack in scripture with the exception of one or two. If you think you are correct why don't you prove it with scriptures rather then what you think?
dear gary, you did imply and question my salvation just by using the word if.... just because you or i either one desagree with the other or anyone else.. thats doesnt give us the right to say such things and imply things towards another here.. such as what you done earlier.. its clearly against the rules here..
you have been asked to please stop said actions .. now you have a choice .. its up to you what you do with that choice..
I agree that the day means nothing...but it's kind of a dirty secret about how much paganism has entered the church under the guise of compromise....which is never good. It wasn't JUST holidays. I believe it came with idolatry, misconstrued views about the soul, hell, heaven, the nature of sin...all kinds of stuff...and people just go along with most of it because it's old...when in reality a lot of it goes against the bible....in my opinion anyway....
