Sermon Tone Analysis

Scripture Reading:

Easter, considered the most holy celebration in Christendom.

Controversy and misunderstanding surrounds it.

Easter, considered the most holy celebration in Christendom.

Controversy and misunderstanding surrounds it.

(Me too!)

“People today can think that they are worshipping the true Savior when they are really worshipping a false savior—another Jesus!

The entirety of traditional Christianity is actually worshipping Baal, the mediator and sun god, who was named after his “wife” Ishtar”

Hundreds of millions keep the rank idolatrous pagan feast known as Easter, believing themselves to be honoring Jesus Christ!

Most are in complete ignorance of what they are doing.

-Herbert W. Armstrong

Is this true?

Is Easter a pagan celebration?

No!

Let’s look at 3 Easter Misconceptions

1.

The Date For Easter

Many believe that what we call Easter today was developed by Roman Catholicism who tried to replace pagan festivals celebrated in different regions in honor of various false gods and goddesses with Christian practices.

The claims are laced with names of scholars who have made connections between the names of the festivals and goddesses, the timing of the celebration, and the symbols used.

The date question fell into two camps: should the celebration be held on the day of the Resurrection (Western churches which became the Roman Catholic church) or the date of the Jewish Passover (Eastern Orthodox church)?

Roger Patterson of Answers in Genesis:

Irenaeus (died c. 202) recorded an account of Polycarp (c.

AD 70–155), who was Bishop of Smyrna and a disciple of the Apostle John.

Irenaeus tells of Polycarp's visit to Rome where he discussed the issue with Anicetus, the bishop of Rome (before the pope and the Roman Catholic church).

For neither could Anicetus (Sunday observance) persuade Polycarp (passover observance) to forego the observance [in his own way], inasmuch as these things had been always [so] observed by John the disciple of our Lord, and by other apostles with whom he had been conversant; nor, on the other hand, could Polycarp succeed in persuading Anicetus to keep [the observance in his way].

for he maintained that he was bound to adhere to the usage of the presbyters who preceded him.

And in this state of affairs they held fellowship with each other.

observance in his way]

Both dates for Easter were based on the date of the Jewish passover.

They were not of pagan origins but of apostolic origin.

Both the passover based date (used today by the Eastern Orthodox church) and the date based on the Sunday observance after the passover were used and accepted as early as 100-150 years from the event by those who were associated with the apostles.

(NASB95)

There is no “High and Holy Day” of the year that is required in Scripture to celebrate Christ’s resurrection.

As a matter of fact, each Sunday was a celebration of Christ’s resurrection.

It was the established pattern in Scripture.

4 Who are you to judge the servant of another?

To his own master he stands or falls; and he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand.

5 One person regards one day above another, another regards every day alike.

Each person must be fully convinced in his own mind.

6 He who observes the day, observes it for the Lord, and he who eats, does so for the Lord, for he gives thanks to God; and he who eats not, for the Lord he does not eat, and gives thanks to God.

good7325

2. The Name Easter

A. Claims

Eostre

Hislop extended this connection to include goddesses from around the world: Ishtar, Ashtoreth, Venus, and

The name Easter is claimed to have its origin with a goddess of the Anglo-Saxons named Eostre.

It is believed that she is the goddess of the dawn and was worshipped in the spring by pagans in Northern Europe and the British Isles.

There remains only one written record of a goddess who might be connected to Eostre of the Saxons.

The church scholar Bede, who lived in modern-day England from AD 673–735, recorded the names of several of the goddesses worshipped by early Saxons.

He identified Eostre as one whose festivals were celebrated in the month given her name.

others.

In fact, Hislop argued that all of the systems of gods and goddesses find their origin with Nimrod and his

Nick Sayers argued that the origin of Easter in English comes from the German: Because the English Anglo/Saxon language originally derived from the Germanic, there are many similarities between German and English.

Many English writers have referred to the German language as the "Mother Tongue!"