The Truth about Easter

[In His Service]

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

I pray that you will prayerfully consider what I am about to share with you that God has helped me with as I set to write it this morning. It is rather long and I will have to break it up into more than one post. I plan on adding it to my website soon also.

Take time to look at the Scriptures that are presented and prayerfully go to God and ask Him how these relate to what we have been discussing. Lay aside previous thoughts and or ideas that others might have shared with you, or your own ideas and see if what is presented here in not in line with the Word of God.

May God bless you and open your understanding more as the Holy Ghost leads and guides you,

Written in Love for the church
Bro. timothy
Apostolic - Easter = Truth
Do you as an Apostolic celebrate Easter? You might answer yes.

What about Lent?
Ash Wednesday?
Good Friday?
St. John’s Day
Halloween?
No you say, why not? Is there any difference in reality to these days and Easter? The answer is no. All of these days have no biblical backing including Easter. All are either man made tradition to honor men or are based on pagan rites that have been celebrated for thousands of years.

To understand it a little better let us look first at the date that Easter is celebrated upon. Do you know why it is celebrated on the Sunday that it is?
Because the Roman Catholic Church decide it to be so.
Read a letter here from Constantine concerning the day that Easter should be celebrated upon. An interesting note that Apostolic will have nothing to do with other things decided at the Council of Nicea but accept this without question?
ON THE KEEPING OF EASTER.
From the Letter of the Emperor to all those not present at the Council. (Found in Eusebius, Vita Const., Lib. iii., 18-20.)
When the question relative to the sacred festival of Easter arose, it was universally thought that it would be convenient that all should keep the feast on one day; for what could be more beautiful and more desirable, than to see this festival, through which we receive the hope of immortality, celebrated by all with one accord, and in the same manner? It was declared to be particularly unworthy for this, the holiest of all festivals, to follow the custom[the calculation] of the Jews, who had soiled their hands with the most fearful of crimes, and whose minds were blinded. In rejecting their custom,(1) we may transmit to our descendants the legitimate mode of celebrating Easter, which we have observed from the time of the Saviour's Passion to the present day[according to the day of the week]. We ought not, therefore, to have anything in common with the Jews, for the Saviour has shown us another way; our worship follows a more legitimate and more convenient course(the order of the days of the week); and consequently, in unanimously adopting this mode, we desire, dearest brethren, to separate ourselves from the detestable company of the Jews, for it is truly shameful for us to hear them boast that without their direction we could not keep this feast. How can they be in the right, they who, after the death of the Saviour, have no longer been led by reason but by wild violence, as their delusion may urge them? They do not possess the truth in this Easter question; for, in their blindness and repugnance to all improvements, they frequently celebrate two passovers in the same year. We could not imitate those who are openly in error. How, then, could we follow these Jews, who are most certainly blinded by error? for to celebrate the passover twice in one year is totally inadmissible. But even if this were not so, it would still be your duty not to tarnish your soul by communications with such wicked people[the Jews]. Besides, consider well, that in such an important matter, and on a subject of such great solemnity, there ought not to be any division. Our Saviour has left us only one festal day of our redemption, that is to say, of his holy passion, and he desired[to establish] only one Catholic Church. Think, then, how unseemly it is, that on the same day some should be fasting whilst others are seated at a banquet; and that after Easter, some should be rejoicing at feasts, whilst others are still observing a strict fast. For this reason, a Divine Providence wills that this custom should be rectified and regulated in a uniform way; and everyone, I hope, will agree upon this point. As, on the one hand, it is our duty not to have anything in common with the murderers of our Lord; and as, on the other, the custom now followed by the Churches of the West, of the South, and of the North, and by some of those of the East, is the most acceptable, it has appeared good to all; and I have been guarantee for your consent, that you would accept it with joy, as it is followed at Rome, in Africa, in all Italy, Egypt, Spain, Gaul, Britain, Libya, in all Achaia, and in the dioceses of Asia, of Pontus, and Cilicia. You should consider not only that the number of churches in these provinces make a majority, but also that it is right to demand what our reason approves, and that we should have nothing in common with the Jews. To sum up in few words: By the unanimous judgment of all, it has been decided that the most holy festival of Easter should be everywhere celebrated on one and the same day, and it is not seemly that in so holy a thing there should be any division. As this is the state of the case, accept joyfully the divine favour, and this truly divine command; for all which takes place in assemblies of the bishops ought to be regarded as proceeding from the will of God. Make known to your brethren what has been decreed, keep this most holy day according to the prescribed mode; we can thus celebrate this holy Easter day at the same time, if it is granted me, as I desire, to unite myself with you; we can rejoice together, seeing that the divine power has made use of our instrumentality for destroying the evil designs of the devil, and thus causing faith, peace, and unity to flourish amongst us. May God graciously protect you, my beloved brethren.

So here we have a man that was not even, “Christian” at the time deciding on which day the “Christian’-Catholic Church was to celebrate Easter. A day that the church was not even instructed to keep. You will read much hatred for the Jews in the letter above. In all reality that keeping of this day was done to spite the Jews in many ways. Because the only instructions to remember Christ’s Death was given to us in reference to the Passover, the Catholic’s desired to wipe out anything Jewish dealing with it.

Let’s read about the account of Jesus in the upper room with the Apostles.
Mark 14:12. And the first day of unleavened bread, when they killed the passover, his disciples said unto him, Where wilt thou that we go and prepare that thou mayest eat the passover?
13. And he sendeth forth two of his disciples, and saith unto them, Go ye into the city, and there shall meet you a man bearing a pitcher of water: follow him.
14. And wheresoever he shall go in, say ye to the goodman of the house, The Master saith, Where is the guestchamber, where I shall eat the passover with my disciples?
15. And he will shew you a large upper room furnished and prepared: there make ready for us.
16. And his disciples went forth, and came into the city, and found as he had said unto them: and they made ready the passover.
17. And in the evening he cometh with the twelve.
18. And as they sat and did eat, Jesus said, Verily I say unto you, One of you which eateth with me shall betray me.
19. And they began to be sorrowful, and to say unto him one by one, Is it I? and another said, Is it I?
20. And he answered and said unto them, It is one of the twelve, that dippeth with me in the dish.
21. The Son of man indeed goeth, as it is written of him: but woe to that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! good were it for that man if he had never been born.
22. And as they did eat, Jesus took bread, and blessed, and brake it, and gave to them, and said, Take, eat: this is my body.
23. And he took the cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them: and they all drank of it.
24. And he said unto them, This is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many.
25. Verily I say unto you, I will drink no more of the fruit of the vine, until that day that I drink it new in the kingdom of God.
26. And when they had sung an hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives.

We can see from the Scriptures above that the day of Christ Death on the cross was in fact in relation to and for good reason. He was to be “The Lamb” that was to take the place of the sacrificial lamb of the Passover. The Lamb for the Passover of the Church was to be Christ. If we desire to remember this sacrifice then we would need to remember the reason for the original Passover and observe the day of Passover, not as the Jews, but as the NT church knowing who the Lamb was and the promises given.

[In His Service]

In fact though, we will find nowhere in the Bible that we are instruct as Christians to keep a day of celebration of Christ's resurrection. We can also not find any record in the Word of God of any of the early church doing so. What we will find though is a very easily understood record by both Christ and the apostle Paul that speaks of us who are followers of Christ to remember His sacrificial death done on our behalf

Matt. 26: 26. And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body.
27. And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it;
28. For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.

1 Cor. 5: 7. Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us:
1 Cor. 11: 23. For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread:
24. And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me.
25. After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.
26. For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come.
27. Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord.
28. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup.


So we see by the Word of God that what we are remembering during the time of the Passover, is that Christ became our Passover. We are given instruction on how we are to remember his death. There was a divine reason that God picked the time of Passover for the time of the Cross. If one desired to remember on a date the time of the Cross, then why would they not look toward the divine timing that God instituted?

Easter Sunday we can see from the Scriptures is also not biblical in any way. It is and invention made by man, a man made tradition that is proved false easily by the Word of God. No such thing as Good Friday and Christ rising on Sunday!!!
Let us look at the Word of God to see,

Luke 23:53. And he took it down, and wrapped it in linen, and laid it in a sepulchre that was hewn in stone, wherein never man before was laid.
54. And that day was the preparation, and the sabbath drew on.
55. And the women also, which came with him from Galilee, followed after, and beheld the sepulchre, and how his body was laid.
56. And they returned, and prepared spices and ointments; and rested the sabbath day according to the commandment.



What we read above is that there are two Sabbaths mentioned in the scriptures above.

We need to pay special attention to verse 56 which shows that the women, after having seen Christ’s body laid in the tomb, "and they returned, and prepared spices and ointments" to prepare the body.

This type of work would not have been done on a Sabbath day. It would have been a violation of the Sabbath law and the disciples still followed those laws.
We can further find that this is true when we look to what was given to us by Mark.
Mark 16: 1. And when the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him.
2. And very early in the morning the first day of the week, they came unto the sepulchre at the rising of the sun.

We can then see clearly that these sisters would have had to wait until after this Sabbath was complete before they could have went to but the spices and to them prepare them to use for anointing Jesus' body. We can see then that after they had bought and prepared that which they bought that they did as recorded in Luke 23:56, “ and rested the sabbath day according to the commandment.’

The Second Sabbath mentioned was the weekly Sabbath, that was observed from Friday evening until Saturday Evening. So we have two Sabbaths mentioned in the Scriptures giving us even better indication of when the time of the Cross happened.

The first Sabbath was a High Day as we find recorded in John 19:31. The Jews therefore, because it was the preparation, that the bodies should not remain upon the cross on the sabbath day, (for that Sabbath day was an high day,) besought Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away. This was the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread. We can follow the Jewish Calendar back and see that on 31 A.D. that this day fell on a Thursday. The second Sabbath was the weekly, or seven day Sabbath. Nowhere in the Scriptures then do we see mention of Good Friday or Easter Sunday being the correct time of the Cross, the death and resurrection of Christ.

Constantine’s decision then we can see was not based upon the Word of God but on man made ideas and traditions. In other words a lie. The date was built upon a lie for the day of Easter!!

Look at what the Encyclopedia Britannica has to say,

There is no indication of the observance of the Easter festival in the New Testament, or in the writings of the apostolic Fathers. The first Christians continued to observe the Jewish festivals, though in a new spirit, as commemorations of events which those festivals had foreshadowed. Thus, the Passover, with a new conception added to it, of Christ as the true Paschal Lamb and the first fruits from the dead, continued to be observed. (p. 828, Eleventh Edition)

also,
Funk and Wagnalls Standard Reference Encyclopedia.
Easter embodies traditions of an ancient time antedating the rise of Christianity. The origin of its name is lost in the dim past; some scholars believe it probably is derived from Eostre, the Anglo-Saxon name of a Teutonic goddess of spring and fertility. (Vol. 8, p. 2940)

And also.
Reader’s Digest.
By a stroke of tactical genius, the church, while intolerant of pagan beliefs, was able to harness the powerful emotions generated by pagan worship. Often,

[In His Service]

churches were sited where temples had stood before, and many heathen festivals were added to the Christians calendar. Easter, for instance, a time of sacrifice and rebirth in the Christian year, takes its name from the Norse goddess Eostre, in whose honour rites where held every spring. She in turn was simply a northern version of the Phoenician earth-mother Astarte, goddess of fertility. (The Last Two Million Years by the Reader’s Digest Association, 1981, p. 215)

Ancient fertility rites revolved around gross sexual immorality and perversion. References to these rites are referred to throughout the Bible under a variety of names and descriptions.
The Babylonian and Assyrian fertility goddess was Ishtar, whose name may well have been the origin of the word Easter.
Ishtar symbolized Mother Earth in the natural cycles of fertility on earth. Many myths grew up around this female deity. She was the goddess of love, and the practice of ritual prostitution became widespread in the fertility cult dedicated to her name.
"Temples to Ishtar had many priestesses, or sacred prostitutes, who symbolically acted out the fertility rites of the cycle of nature. Ishtar has been identified with the Phoenician Astarte, the Semitic Ashtoreth, and the Sumerian Inanna. Strong similarities also exist between Ishtar and the Egyptian Isis, the Greek Aphrodite, and the Roman Venus.
"Associated with Ishtar was the young god Tammuz, considered both divine and mortal . . . In Babylonian mythology Tammuz died annually and was reborn year after year, representing the yearly cycle of the seasons and the crops. This pagan belief later was identified with the pagan gods Baal and Anat in Canaan" (Nelson's Illustrated Bible Dictionary)

Why is it that these producers of reference material have no trouble seeing that the day of Easter is not based on the Word of God and can see easily the pagan basis for this ungodly day? Are not Apostolic’s given the Holy Ghost to lead and guide them into all Truth? Why do they refuse to see the Truth of this and other unholy remembrances of idols?

We can easily see that Easter-Ishtar is the basis for the day of Easter and the things associated with it. What does the Word of God speak of concerning Easter- Ishtar- Ashtoreth, all names for the fertility Goddess worshiped in pagan societies.

Hebrew 842. 'asherah, ash-ay-raw'; or 'asheyrah, ash-ay-raw'; from Heb. 833; happy; Asherah (or Astarte) a Phoenician goddess; also an image of the same:-grove. Comp. Heb. 6253.
Hebrew 6253. 'Ashtoreth, ash-to'-reth; prob. for Heb. 6251; Ashtoreth, the Phoenician goddess of love (and increase):- Ashtoreth. The Asherah was a phallic symbol, shaped in the image of the male organ.

Let us look to 1 Kings 16:30. And Ahab the son of Omri did evil in the sight of the Lord above all that were before him.
31. And it came to pass, as if it had been a light thing for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, that he took to wife Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal king of the Zidonians, and went and served Baal, and worshipped him.
32. And he reared up an altar for Baal in the house of Baal, which he had built in Samaria.
33. And Ahab made a grove; and Ahab did more to provoke the Lord God of Israel to anger than all the kings of Israel that were before him.


Let us remember that the Groves spoken of above are in reference to Asherah/Ashtoreth-Ostera-Easter all one and the same. Was God happy about the above? No. Then why would he be please to have it in the Apostolic Churches today?


Apostolic are then taking it upon themselves to call something holy and or accepted by God that even the unsaved can see is false or profane. What does the Word of God speak of concerning this? What does the Word of God say about taking something that is profane and trying to label it as acceptable and honorable to do unto the Lord?

Some might ask how does the above in Kings have anything to do with us today? Again turn to the Word of God,
Rev. 2: 18. And unto the angel of the church in Thyatira write; These things saith the Son of God, who hath his eyes like unto a flame of fire, and his feet are like fine brass;
19. I know thy works, and charity, and service, and faith, and thy patience, and thy works; and the last to be more than the first.
20. Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols.
21. And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not.

We must remember that the above is speaking to the Apostolic Churches, not the RC or some other church but the Apostolic Church, you and I. How did Jezabel in OT influence the House of God, With Ishtar-Ashtoreth- Eostere- Easter and we see that the Word of God speaks yet again how she is influencing and causing the Church to stumble.

Furthermore we can find in the Word of God yet another instance of what God thought of association of his people with the things of idols,

Eze. 8:15. Then said he unto me, Hast thou seen this, O son of man? turn thee yet again, and thou shalt see greater abominations than these.
16. And he brought me into the inner court of the Lord's house, and, behold, at the door of the temple of the Lord, between the porch and the altar, were about five and twenty men, with their backs toward the temple of the Lord, and their faces toward the east; and they worshipped the sun toward the east.
17. Then he said unto me, Hast thou seen this, O son of man? Is it a light thing to the house of Judah that they commit the abominations which they commit here? for they have filled the land with violence, and have returned to provoke me to anger: and, lo, they put the branch to their nose.
18. Therefore will I also deal in fury: mine eye shall not spare, neither will I have pity: and though they cry in mine ears with a loud voice, yet will I not hear them.

And again,
Jeremiah 5:19 19 And it shall come to pass, when ye shall say, Wherefore doeth the LORD our God all these [things] unto us? then shalt thou answer them, Like as ye have forsaken me, and served strange gods in your land, so shall ye serve strangers in a land [that is] not yours.

and,
Deut. 12: 28. Observe and hear all these words which I command thee, that it may go well with thee, and with thy children after thee for ever, when thou doest that which is good and right in the sight of the Lord thy God.
29. When the Lord thy God shall cut off the nations from before thee, whither thou goest to possess them, and thou succeedest them, and dwellest in their land;
30. Take heed to thyself that thou be not snared by following them, after that they be destroyed from before thee; and that thou inquire not after their gods, saying, How did these nations serve their gods? even so will I do likewise.
31. Thou shalt not do so unto the Lord thy God: for every abomination to the Lord, which he hateth, have they done unto their gods; for even their sons and their daughters they have burnt in the fire to their gods.
32. What thing soever I command you, observe to do it: thou shalt not add thereto, nor diminish from it.

more,
Jeremiah 10:1-5 1 ¶ HEAR ye the word which the LORD speaketh unto you, O house of Israel:
2 Thus saith the LORD, Learn not the way of the heathen, and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; for the heathen are dismayed at them.

yet again,
Ezekiel 44:23--"And they shall teach my people the difference between the holy and the profane, and cause them to discern between the unclean and the clean.

Although the above should be enough to stir any Apostolic to lay aside the day of Easter, some undoubtedly will say, “That is the OT what about the NT, what does it say?”

[In His Service]

Let us look,
1Cor. 10: 19. What say I then? that the idol is any thing, or that which is offered in sacrifice to idols is any thing?
20. But I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils.
21. Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord's table, and of the table of devils.

This scripture in itself should make Apostolic Run the way. Many do not want to read it with understanding. They only want to read the first part of verse 19 and leave the other out. We know that there is only One God as Apostolics. We as Apostolics, though we know that the idols are but dumb not able to speak, are still of Devils and we are told not to have anything to do with things associated with Devils.

And yet we can see so much more, let us read.
Ephesians 5: 10. Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord. 11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.

If we are to celebrate Easter we need to prove that it is acceptable unto the Lord. Anyone studying it can not in any way, shape or form do so with the facts of the day. With the facts of the Word of God. We then knowing that Easter is based on lies and the things associated with idol, should see that it is associated with the unfruitful works of darkness and reprove them.

Before we came to the knowledge of the truth we where in ignorance to many things. But when God have the Holy Ghost to lead and to guide us into all truth it is up to us to allow God to do so.

Gal 4:8. Howbeit then, when ye knew not God, ye did service unto them which by nature are no gods.
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.

In our life before the cross, when we did not know God in the truth, we did things that are part of the World, the unholy ways, the celebrations that are not of God in our example here. In reality we where enslaved by the traditions of men. The partaking of an Apostolic in Easter and the other holidays the world partakes in show that they are still partaking in the observance of Days, months, times and years that we are told are the weak and beggarly elements. Bondage!

How can anyone doubt. Easter is a tradition of me, and those who say that they are doing it unto God having the knowledge of what the day is are then partaking in this scripture,
Matt 15: 8. This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.
9. But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.

How can an Apostolic partake in such man made practice that the Bible speaks against? Are we not to be built up in him and established in the faith enough to see truth from lies and error? Col. 2: 7. Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.
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.
Or are we following after the traditions of men that are of this World and not after Christ?

I will close with this
II Corinthians 6:4. Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? 15. And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? 16. And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 17. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.

Many want to take the “unequally yoked together with unbelievers” to mean not marrying out of the faith. Oh but it means so much more. How can an Apostolic desire to mix Light with Darkness? That is what one is doing if they say they are celebrating the Day Easter unto the Lord! They are partaking in a glossed over Lie by adding to what is written in the Word of God concerning the remembrance of the Lord’s death and partaking in a man made, devil designed unholy day! Do we not remember, “Come out from among here and be ye separate?” What agreement can a child of God have in justifying the mixing of things of Belial or any idol with the Worship of God Almighty? If you are believing that Easter is a Day unto God, a celebration backed by the Word of God then you are believing with an infidel untruth. Are we to be the temple of the Living God as stated above? Then put away things that you do that are in agreement with Idols, things you know to be untruths and lies. The celebration of days that man calls holy but God calls unholy and error.

Only when we examine our lives and all the things that are part of our lives, even the partaking in man made celebrations that are based on the days of idol can we truly be the temple of the Living God.

Come out from among them and be ye Separate, SAITH THE LORD!!!! Don’t touch the unclean thing, in this instance being the things associated with Easter and all that it entails, a lie!!!!

Written in Love to help my Brothers and Sister find liberty,
Bro. Timothy

[tufluv]

EXCELLENT post, Bro.Timothy! Thanks for your hard work on this.
:bow:

[searching]

Do you as an Apostolic celebrate Easter? You might answer yes.

What about Lent?
Ash Wednesday?
Good Friday?
St. John’s Day
Halloween?
No you say, why not? Is there any difference in reality to these days and Easter? The answer is no. All of these days have no biblical backing including Easter. All are either man made tradition to honor men or are based on pagan rites that have been celebrated for thousands of years.


So are birthdays and anniversaries, but I'm willing to bet that you celebrate these events.

Me...

[Nawbee]

When you say to set aside what men have told you, you must mean Paul, too:

1 Corinthinas 10:27 If any of them that believe not bid you to a feast, and ye be disposed to go; whatsoever is set before you, eat, asking no question for conscience sake.

You can poke it and you can prod it and you can flip it upside down, backwards and inside out and Paul still says that if you are of a mind to go, then go and not to have another thought to your conscience.

I have no King but Jesus.

What do I care what men dead a thousand years and more said?

Yes, do pray and you will hear for yourself that there is no harm in Easter as long as you don't worship demons in your practice.

You will hear that if you eat a ham sandwich, pray over it first, then eat with gusto knowing God Provided it.

You will hear that if you pray over colored eggs, then eat them with gusto. Enjoy letting your children hunt them and spending family time in squeals and laughter!

That's what God Told me and Confirmed just now.

I don't know who "helped" prepare this other...

The letter kills. Rationalize it any way you want and you have still presented nothing but the letter.

The Spirit Says that IF you doubt then you sin whether you eat or do not eat. IF you listen to man when God is Waiting on you, you sin whether you eat or do not eat.

I present no long treatise, only say to ask God and then follow Him and Him alone.

Then all you do will be to the Glory of God.

[Truthseeker]

Originally posted by searching
Do you as an Apostolic celebrate Easter? You might answer yes.

What about Lent?
Ash Wednesday?
Good Friday?
St. John?s Day
Halloween?
No you say, why not? Is there any difference in reality to these days and Easter? The answer is no. All of these days have no biblical backing including Easter. All are either man made tradition to honor men or are based on pagan rites that have been celebrated for thousands of years.


So are birthdays and anniversaries, but I'm willing to bet that you celebrate these events.

Me... What do b-days and anniversaries got to do with easter customs? Let's say b-day is pagan customs, it doesn't change what easter is or isn't.

[Truthseeker]

1 Corinthinas 10:27 If any of them that believe not bid you to a feast, and ye be disposed to go; whatsoever is set before you, eat, asking no question for conscience sake.


What does this scripture got to do with celebrating pagan festivals?

He didn't say if one bids you to pagans practices whatever pagan practice that is set before you practice with the pagans.

[In His Service]

Dear Nawbee,
Seems you left out the next verse,
28. But if any man say unto you, This is offered in sacrifice unto idols, eat not for his sake that shewed it, and for conscience sake: for the earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof:

Once you know what it is and who it is done to you can not do it! Why skip verses?

Bro. Timothy

[In His Service]

ps newbee,
You call the Word of God the letter?

Guess you had better now obey Acts 2:38 for it is written in his Word too?

Come now how do you explain away all of the scriptures?
Bro. Timothy

[Nawbee]

The verse you present doesn't undo the one I present.

It adds clarification. It doesn't negate that Paul said if you feel like it and know the "god's" to which the meat was sacrificed were nothing, then to go and eat said meat with a GOOD CONSCIENCE.

The clarification that we are not to allow this FREEDOM IN CHRIST to cause another, weaker (by honest ignorance, not willful blindness) brother or sister to fall because of their weakness in no way nullifies the afore mentioned freedom.

He says in such a case as the harm to a weaker (by ignorance and not willful blindness) borther or sister, then to not eat but only in such a case.

That's clear to those who read with the open mind you promote in the beginning of this tome.

Paul continues that while we do not eat before the weaker (by innocent ignorance, not willful blindness) brother or sister, nor do we allow others to speak ill of our eating said meat sacrificed to idols. We are not to have our good (the eating of meat with thanksgiving) evil spoken of.

What does all this have to do with Easter festivities and pagan rituals???

Paul is speaking about pagan feast where they practice pagan rituals. Not some harmless Easter egg hunt for children, but the very sacrificing of cattle, sheep, birds and such to Ishtar and other "gods" which were then set before those who listened to Paul and went to these feasts and ate.

My point is that since the Apostle Paul is telling folks it's not a sin to sit down and eat the actual animals sacrificed to Ishtar and other so called 'gods' with a clear conscience, as long as they knew the Truth, surely we can let our kids color eggs and eat them after we have prayed over them.

Again, I ask by what means have Y'all gotten more Authority than Paul?

Has Satan blinded you so that only you do not see that we have the choice of listening to Paul say that under the right circumstances, it's OK to sit and eat meat sacrifices first hand to Ishtar and other "gods", while you, many hundreds of years later, say it is a sin to practice the empty (void of intent) rites filtered down over more than a millenium later?

[Truthseeker]

My point is that since the Apostle Paul is telling folks it's not a sin to sit down and eat the actual animals sacrificed to Ishtar and other so called 'gods' with a clear conscience, as long as they knew the Truth, surely we can let our kids color eggs and eat them after we have prayed over them.


Yes he said it was not a sin to eat the meat offered to idols, but he didn't say it was ok to offer the meat with the pagans. Their is a big difference from eating meat offered to idols verses joining in on the customs of offering the meat to the idol.

Paul was not giving license to partake in pagan customs just eating meat. If we were hungry and went to a market place and bought meat or was offered to go to a feast to eat we could eat without sin, but could we join in in the customs of offering the meat?


I understand it's hard to let go or see the truth about these holidays.

Pagan customs are undefendable.

[In His Service]

Nawbee,
You are trying hard but you are leaving so much of the Word of God behind that will not support your ideas. Did you read eat not while it might be just food that God created for food in the beginning, when it is done unto idols it becomes wrong. Read all the other scriptures.

Also what does this about feast have to do with easter eggs, rabbits, sun rise services, a false based day for celebrating?

Did you read what the Word of God instructed the church to do if they wanted to remember his death? What do you have to say about the Word of God addressing that?

You have the knowledge of what Easter in all its unglory is, now it lies upon your desire to come out from among her, or to stay where you are. Read my whole post. Prove it all wrong. If you are right it should not be hard to do.

I will await for your post, showing what God gave me to share, that you will prove incorrect.

Prayers your way,
Bro. timothy

[In His Service]

Bro. Rob,
Well said. Wonder why that Ham is the meat of choice for Easter. Anti Jewish? Why would not one have lamb if they where doing in in rememberance of the Passover?

Where did it say to have a feast day to remember his death? It is just not there?

It is one of the hardest things that a true believer has to leave behind as they press toward the Mark. I keep all in my prayers that have to really look at these things when presented. I know someone had to be praying for me.

Prayers for all,
Bro. Timothy

[Faithchild]

Here we go again! Jesus takes sinners and redeems them and shapes them in His image. Christianity has taken pagan holidays and has done the same thing. Just because you may be born on Hitler's birthday doesn't mean that your family is celebrating his birthday along with yours. Light dispels or replaces darkness. Christians take pagan festivals away from the Devil and turn them into celebrations honoring the Lord. Jesus didn't look at the world and leave it for the Devil. We shouldn't either. I think we should leave no calender days to the Devil. Let's take every one of them away from him and give them all the the Lord.

IHS, I'll recycle this when you publish your Halloween version.

[dllong]

Faithchild:

Gosh, I love your comments!

Dave

[In His Service]

Faith Child,
Would you show me in the Word of God where God tells us to take something done until idols and turn it into the worship towards God? I will look forward to you giving chapter and verses to prove your point!! :~)

Don't think you read the whole post in its entirety did you?

Have you thought of joining the RC church? You would argue very well for all thier practices, LOL LOL!! They are just doing them unto God right?
Bro. Timothy

[Nawbee]

To In His Service:
I'm not trying to convince you. That is for the Lord.

I simply go where I'm Told to go and post what I'm told to post.

I can read. I can reason. And yet I sacrifice all to God and mostly just listen now.

I'm baptized in Jesus' name with the evidence of speaking in tongues, Signs and Wonders following to this very day. I was rasied up by His Spirit unto a new life free of sin and the doctrine and rules of men.

By His Grace I have remained so for many years now.

;)

[John Atkinson]

I want to add one comment: Absolutely no teaching easter as a heaven or hell issue. This was discussed in another thread ad nauseum.

If you have a conviction about it, don't celebrate it. If you try and force it as doctrine on your brethren here you will have issues with admin.

I don't have a problem with Easter one way or the other. I DO have a problem with brethren telling brethren that they are hell bound sinners for regarding a day.

[dllong]

AMEN BRO. ATKINSON!

Dave

[Truthseeker]

Faithchild'

Pagan customs used to honor God???

NO WAY!

[In His Service]

Bro. John,
What is the Apostolic Doctrine?

It is so much more than Acts 2:38 and the oneness of God.

Apostolic-Following the teachings of the Apostles. Correct?

If the Word of God teaches it, is it Apostolic?

Is it not just easier to say to those in danger, maybe you should turn the other way, or would you warn them of the danger to come if they continued?

The truths about these days is so plainly shown in the Word of God just like Acts 2:38? Why do people fight and resist?

Bro. Timothy

[In His Service]

ps
If a man where to decide to wear a dress for the rest of his life would you tell him to do so is against the Word of God? would you warn him that disobeying the Word of God put him in danger of going to hell? Is so why? Because it is writting the Word of God for him not too?

Same thing about these days,
Bro. Timothy

[In His Service]

and a double ps, LOL

What are heaven or hell issue in the church of the Living God?

Bro. Timothy

[Truthseeker]

I think what bro John is refering to is he doesn't want these threads to turn into bashing sessions of self righteous holier then thou attitudes. Sorry Bro John for posting for you. :)

[dllong]

IMHO:

Heaven or Hell issue=Acts 2:38 ONLY!

Dave

[John Atkinson]

Originally posted by Truthseeker
I think what bro John is refering to is he doesn't want these threads to turn into bashing sessions of self righteous holier then thou attitudes. Sorry Bro John for posting for you. :)

Quite allright, that was my intent. There is no fruit to be gained from me restating my position on this topic. It is in the rules that once you state your case, drop it, as nothing is to be gained by going round and round.

Discuss it at will, but your personal conviction isn't everyone elses. And that is what not celebrating holidays is...A personal conviction. You stand without one single ironclad verse forbidding regarding a day.

But like I said, agreeing with me isn't a prerequisite for posting here. I won't step in until it gets nasty. I just thought I would mention it as the last one did get a little out of hand.

[In His Service]

Bro. Rob,
I agree that any issue does not need to become a bashing issue against each other. I completely agree. However when we state our feelings strongly and rely on the Word of God some times people get riled up, as they say down south ways.

I don't feel that I am holier than anyone, I feel blessed that God opens more of his Word to me every day. I desire for the church to be in one mind and one accord on all the teaching of the Word of God. That is what we all should desire. More than just the beginning to enter in, Acts 2:38, oh so much more.

God is coming for a church whose has kept itself spotless. If I see a brother or sister in error, What am I to do? Follow the Word of God is my only example. I am sure anyone would agree.

Prayers for all,
Bro. timothy

[In His Service]

Bro. Dave,
Are we only to keep Acts 2:38 or all of the Word of God? If all then we can see much is a heaven or hell issue with God.

Prayers your way,
Bro. timothy

[John Atkinson]

Yes, and sometimes people get "riled up" when everyone doesn't bow down to their way of seeing things.

[dllong]

Following Acts 2:38 saved me. Bottom line. Everything else is fluff and topic's of discussion. We all have a foundation to build on. One may be different than another, but the foundation is true.

Dave

[In His Service]

Bro. John,
So make only one post stating what you believe on a subject and then don't post anything else? Seems every poster is breaking that rule, LOL LOL!!!

There is much more to easter than just calling it like any other day. One who celebrates it is not just calling it a special day, they are doing things on that day that are against the Word of God. They are calling it the day that Christ rose from the day, they are following a lie? How can anyone look at it and say that all of that doesn't matter. How can anyone read the verses of scripture that have been posted and say, oh, they don't have anything to do with this day. They are talking about something else?

Lots of prayer your way, "~)
Bro. Timothy

[In His Service]

Bro. Dave,
One must allow the master to build the house upon the foundation or one labours in vain. Acts 2:38 gets us in the door. If we stop there and don't go past or grow then it will do us know good. A vine must bring forth fruit, does it not? How does it do that but by following all of the Word of God in manner, deed and action.

Prayers your way,
Bro. Timothy

[dllong]

In His Service:

At what point is a person saved then?

By following Acts 2:38 or by a life long struggle of WORKS?

At some point salvation is sure and works thereafter add to the package.

I was saved by following Acts 2:38. I was not saved by following a set of rules thereafter. The only rules I need to follow are those that the Holy Ghost convicts me of as time passes. My response to those convictions define my character and obedience<sp>. If I could "strive" to be saved then He would have never died to save me.


Dave

[In His Service]

Bro. Dave,
Luke 8:13. They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away.
14. And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection.

Hebrews 6

1. Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,
2. Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.

We read in Hebrews 6 above that once we understand Acts 2:38 we must go onward from there. We must then press toward the mark and not just wait for the mark to come to us. If some would press into the Word of God for more direction in thier lives the way that they do to get the Holy Ghost then we would have a church that is so much deeper in the Word of God.

Acts 2:38 is just the very first step on a stair way upward. We have to raise our legs and make our bodies and minds move up that stair case and not want it to be an escalator.

Prayers your way,
Bro. Timothy

[Faithchild]

Yawn!

[In His Service]

ps
I know of a church a few miles from where I live that every single member believes in Acts 2:38 and every family obeys it. They believe in One God and you can't tell them from the Baptist around the corner. Many have been in that church their whole lifetime. Are these people saved because they obeyed Acts 2:38 and believe in one God? What does the Word say?

Prayers,
Bro. Timothy

[dllong]

Are you implying that they are not saved by Acts 2:38?

Dave

[John Atkinson]

Yawns are very contagious FC.

IHS, I am still looking for that thou shalt not color eggs and eat chocolate rabbits verse, must be in Acts 29.

[Ysan]

Originally posted by In His Service
Are these people saved because they obeyed Acts 2:38 and believe in one God? What does the Word say?


Ephesians 2:8 ". . . you have been saved through faith, . . ."

James 2:20 "But do you want to know, vain man, that faith apart from works is dead?"

Your exactly right. And works of faith don't simply mean those two things but much more.

[In His Service]

Bro. John,
I guess then that you would celebrate Halloween and all that it entails, or you would tell anyone that to partake in all that happens on that day is fine for a child of God, correct?

If not why?
Yes Yawn, The Truth makes many people sleepy. :~)

Learn not the way of the heathen covers much brother, why not go back and prove my post here wrong with the Word of God? If not why?

Prayers your way,
Bro. Timothy

[Faithchild]

So do self-righteous bores.

[BroDane]

Because Bro John, like myself will not fight you (prove you wrong) with the Word Tim. (Besides, God tells us to stand firm and that if some will not recieve the Word then WE are to wipe our feet, that is, to go somewhere else to teach it)

We will however, tell everyone that this room has guidelines and that we follow through on keeping them strongly to keep order..Done in Love

[John Atkinson]

The truth about easter is that it always falls on a Sunday. Everytime. Why can't we mix things up and have it on say, thursday. The good friday would be good tuesday. Nah, I never got the hang of Tuesday.

[justavessel4him]

After reading many of the above posts, I can scarcely believe that I am in an Apostolic forum. Just obeying Acts 2:38 saves you???? Don;t worry about obeying the rest of the New Testament instructions to the church???

And what does constitute a heaven or hell issue. How about idolatry??? Celebrating Easter is idolatry pure and simple. Even the very name of the day is derived from the name of a pagan deity. That should be enough to keep someone from celebrating or having anything whatsoever to do with it. Do colored eggs glorify Christ? Seems like to me they glorify the pagan goddess of fertility the day is named for. Do chocolate bunnies glorify Jesus, or Eastre. Of course it makes perfect sense to have sunrise services since she was originally the dawn goddess. The Catholic Church did a good job of getting all the pagan elements into this so called Christian celebration.

For the record, Eastre is the same pagan goddess who Solomon followed causing God to to rend his kindgom from him. For Solomon went after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Zidonians, and after Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites.
6. And Solomon did evil in the sight of the Lord, and went not fully after the Lord, as did David his father.I Kings 11:6-5 Because that they have forsaken me, and have worshipped Ashtoreth the goddess of the Zidonians, Chemosh the god of the Moabites, and Milcom the god of the children of Ammon, and have not walked in my ways, to do that which is right in mine eyes, and to keep my statutes and my judgments, as did David his father.
34. Howbeit I will not take the whole kingdom out of his hand: but I will make him prince all the days of his life for David my servant's sake, whom I chose, because he kept my commandments and my statutes:
35. But I will take the kingdom out of his son's hand, and will give it unto thee, even ten tribes. I Kings 11L33-35 (also see II Kings 23:13) Solomon in all his wisdom was destroyed for worshipping the same goddess for whom Easter is named. Not a heaven or hell issue??????? " Thou shalt have no other gods before me." Exodus 3:20

[Ysan]

Originally posted by justavessel4him
Do chocolate bunnies glorify Jesus

No, only chocolate-jesus's glorify Jesus

[Faithchild]

Wale, if ya ain't gonna eat any, jest send yor Eastre candy to me! I'd like sum of dem chocklit-dipt Eastre aigs, and dem dar symbols of new life, ah, real multi-colored aigs, (I thik dey calls'em) and I shur dig doz yaller marshmellow bunny rabits. I duz dink it alright ta pig out 'cause itz a way a gettin' ruddy fer da Eastre Ham.(Tanks fer techin' me a nue wey ti speil Eastre. I'da empress ma mudder-en-lowe!) I udder staind dis is howl dey taillk in Okalahuma, so Iz tryan ta realates to ya by gittin' on ya'll's lebel.Becumz all tings ta al minz, I allwuz sey. . .

[Xerf]

He's Bored....................again -- :rolleyes:

[tufluv]

JUSTAVESSEL:
After reading many of the above posts, I can scarcely believe that I am in an Apostolic forum. Just obeying Acts 2:38 saves you???? Don;t worry about obeying the rest of the New Testament instructions to the church???
ME:
Well, obviously not everyone "gets it", so relax, its just another indication and 'signs of the times', not everyone here is as rude as some others..GOD will deal with 'em., HE can't be pleased by this.
Those rude ones should really use their 'ignore' privileges for those that they disagree with, or are :bore: 'd by, instead of acting so 'un-saintly'..I know I have before, and will no doubt, again., I'm sure I am on plenty of ignore lists, myself. lol
Thats one of the great new features of this new bulletin! Amen!
:D

[searching]

What do b-days and anniversaries got to do with easter customs? Let's say b-day is pagan customs, it doesn't change what easter is or isn't.


I agree, however, do those who refuse to celebrate Easter for the pagan reasons continue to celebreate anniversaries and birthdays? That was my point.

Me...

P.S. If eating jellybeans and chocolate bunnies is sinful at Easter, is it ok to eat them in June?

[searching]

Celebrating Easter is idolatry pure and simple. Even the very name of the day is derived from the name of a pagan deity.

I hope you and your family don't attend "SUNDAY" school. If you use that term, you are using a pagan term for the day of the week named for a pagan diety.

Me...

[Ysan]

Originally posted by tufluv
Well, obviously not everyone "gets it", so relax, its just another indication and 'signs of the times',

so be it, amen!

these sinners are wasting their money on pagan food and they are blind.

II Corinthians 4:4 in whom the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving, that the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should not dawn on them.

The problem is, they don't got the good news. hahahaha

[John Atkinson]

I have a close friend who is Pagan. In fact is his whole family Pagan. That is his name Jaime Pagan.

[Ysan]

Originally posted by John Atkinson
I have a close friend who is Pagan. In fact is his whole family Pagan. That is his name Jaime Pagan.

Maybe we can all have a Pagan super this sunday around the family table. :)

[John Atkinson]

So, if I hard boil an egg on Easter sunday, and Don't color it, am I still sinning. What if I just put a tiny mark on it with a magic marker?

Or does it actually have to be placed in a basket before it becomes an easter egg? What if I put a plain uncolored egg in the basket? Does it have to be hard boiled?

What if I eat a colored egg in July? If you make "deviled" eggs out of easter eggs are the full of the devil? If I go to a friends on the Monday after, and he offers me an egg salad sandwich, should I ask to make sure it wasn't made out of easter eggs?

What if I color it, then scramble it? Please help us with the rules defining "easter egg" so we know. Sure would hate to go to hell for not knowing the law on easter eggs.

[John Atkinson]

Is it Ok to put a regular snickers bar in the basket, instead of the egg shaped one? And hershey bar in place of chocolate rabbit?

Is it really a basket if you use, say a salad bowl?

[John Atkinson]

you know, I was just going to ignore easter this year, like I normally do, but seeing all these folks get so bent over it, I am gonna get my girl a basket and stay up late coloring eggs Sat night.

All the while praising God with nary a thought about pagan idols.

[searching]

If the pagans paganize a Christian holiday, are they really celebrating Christ? If we use the logic of the folks that argue Christians worship idols when they Christianize pagan holidays, then the opposite must also be true.

Me...

[Faithchild]

If that was for me, Searching, you didn't understand my argument. Christianity changes people. The fact that Christians remember the resurrection of Jesus on the same day that pagans celebrate something else has no relevance. That happens 365 days a year. We change the celebration to one honoring Jesus. To me the eggs are colorful and taste good with salt and pepper. The candy makes me fatter. As for the rabbit, SOMEBODY has to bring the basket! (Santa is resting up for next Christmas!) All those things are fables and we all know it. Christians take the day used by pagans and make something holy out of it by remembering the resurrection. Didn't Joseph say something like, what some meant for evil, God meant for good?

Do something good on Easter! (Cook a ham!)

P. S. Look how churches are changing Halloween! Of course,
Bro. Tim/IHS is probably against that, too! Oh,
Preacherotheword would love him! (Two peas out of the
same pious pod!) :angel:

[searching]

FC hun, I wasn't responding to anything you said. I am speaking of those (who I won't bother to name) who say that Christians who celebrate holidays that were originated by pagans are worshipping idols, even though when we celebrate Easter or Christmas, it's all about Jesus, eggs, tree and all.

Me...

[Faithchild]

As Roseanne Rosannadanna would say, "Never mind."

[searching]

Actually, your post wasn't in vain. I totally agree, if that means anything.

Me...

[committed]

I, too agree with searching and faithchild! How come it is so hard for some to be down the middle of the road? Why is it so difficult to understand that if the world looks at 2 days a year, and reflect on the goodness of God, that is not a bad thing? Sometimes we stumble on the mechanics of the thing, instead of the spirit of it.

[justavessel4him]

Faithchild,
Eastre is the Old English spelling for Easter the name of an ancient Anglo-Saxon goddess originally of the dawn. Another spelling is Eostre. she was worshipped in the month of April or at the spring Equinox and supposedly ruled over the fertility of man and animals, thus the bunnies and eggs, both signs of fertility in pagan customs. If you trace this goddess back to her roots you will find that she is also known by many other names, such as Astarte, Ishtar, Ashtoreth and Ashtoroth. She is also known as the Queen of Heaven. Jezebel was primarily responsible for establishing her worship. She brought Solomon down and it looks like she has beguiled many here in the Good News??? Cafe as well.

[In His Service]

Bro. John,
It is kind of humorous that you will not post from the Word of God to prove that the celebration is fine for saints, but you will make many shallow remarks on issues.

Are not moderators to be in the middle of issue? Are you not saying that I and others are wrong in our believe and then mocking it? Is mocking saints of the Word of God.

What about Faithchild, Seems you are overlooking his name calling because he is siding with you on this issue. Are the rules for everyone or just a chosen few?

Play fair brother,
Bro. Timothy

[justavessel4him]

Searching,
When you celebrate Easter you are celebrating the one for whom it was named. You are celebrating Eastre or Easter, ... Why do you think it is called Easter and not Ressurection Day. Why is it named for a pagan goddess and not for Jesus??? When you celebrate Christmas, you are celebrating Christ mass, a Catholic holiday borrowed from the Sun worshippers.

[In His Service]

Committed,
so the Word of God says mix light with Darkness and just call it light? Might you find that for me in the Word of God.

Sister I love your soul, but it would seem you are shuting your eyes to so much.

May God open them,
Bro. Timothy

Faithchild,
May God grant you more wisdom and the ability to tame ones tongue as one types on the PC. For your virtual tongue seems to be not speaking in the Holy Ghost.

Prayers your way,
Bro. timothy

[Faithchild]

IHS, I love it when you rebuke in KJV English! It just seems more "spiritual" that way! About naming things? Why didn't GMC name my Cadiallac, "Jesus?" Afterall if it wasn't for Him, I'd never be able to make the payments. And if you getting into rejecting the fruit because the roots are bad (after all, Jesus only saves good people, right?) my own roots go back to the Garden of Eden to this hungry babe named Eve who originally disobeyed God! Shocking isn't it!(I know. You already suspected a pagan connection.) About your implication that I'm kowtowing to Bro. John? I struggle to stay within the GNC rules of discussion. When I violate them, I've been served with "back-off" notices before. I'm still here because I obey (a bit of advice from a GNC survivor). If you're as "spiritual" as you like to project, you might turn on your gift of discerning of spirits and reread a few of your recent exchanges with Bro. John, the man whose hand is on Xerf's "dweeb-dumper." Btw, calling you a "self-righteous bore" had no malice in it. It was simply a judgment call (And we all know you're not against a little judgment now and then).

[In His Service]

God bless you Faith Child! May God lead and guide you into all truth.

You will not hear me state that I am more spiritual than anyone. I follow the Word of God and don't leave anything out, even when it might make me be disliked of many men and women.

I am just a child of the King that looks to Jesus as the redeemer of my soul. He is the head of a Royal Nation that is set aside or away from the World. He didn't mix the profane with the holy and He is our example. If He said, "Don't Mix it, don't take part, don't mix light with Darkness, who am I to arque??

Just following the Word of God,
Bro. Timothy

[Faithchild]

IHS, where have I read this before? Oh, yeah, the Pharisee praying in the temple. "Thank God I'm not like this poor sinner here!" (Where do they get these people? Is there a laboratory somewhere?)

[Xerf]

(this space would have been filled with an Xerfism if he had not got out of the business)

:)

[John Atkinson]

Here you go IHS, here is some word for you:

Romans 14:6-9
(6) He that regardeth the day, regardeth it unto the Lord; and he that regardeth not the day, to the Lord he doth not regard it. He that eateth, eateth to the Lord, for he giveth God thanks; and he that eateth not to the Lord he eateth not, and giveth God thanks.
(7) For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself.
(8) For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord's.
(9) For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and living.

I will discuss easter no more.

But I will read the SCRIPTURES you post. Problem is: you don't have any. And the IDOLATRY scriptures I just KNOW you are gonna post don't cut it. As idolatry implies worship and I just don't know anyone worshipping eggs and rabbits.

Bro Yohe, you are exercising remarkable restraint. Outstanding Job!!

[justavessel4him]

Bro. John,
It seems to me that there are many on here who are worshipping idols. They just enjoy it too much to admit it or give it up. By the way, the bunnys and eggs are not the idols, but just symbols or offerings to them. Easter is the idol.

Do you really think a God who tells us to have no other gods would sanction his children celebrating a day or days set aside for the worship of other gods? Perhaps the scriptures you quoted above were in reality referring to keeping of Jewish feast days and dietary laws. "For mine own sake, even for mine own sake, will I do it: for how should my name be polluted? and I will not give my glory unto another." Isaiah 48:11 I will not pollute his name by linking it with Easter. To Jesus be all the glory!!!!!!

[John Atkinson]

I am not mocking you Brother IHS,
I am mocking your militant dogmatic stance on a non issue. I get really tweaked whjen people try and FORCE their personal convictions as HEAVEN OR HELL Doctrine.

You have in as many words said that an Apostolic that celebrates Easter is a hell bound sinner, an idolator. That I have a real problem with. I also have a problem with people sitting in a jugemental holier than thou high seat and pronoucing declarations on us peons out here in the masses.

I have no problem with you not doing easter/christmas. I have big problems with you making declarations that put the rest of us in Hell if we do.

You aren't discussing, you are procliaming with the air of "I have the TRUTH, and you people down there missed it."

With my mockery concerning the "easter eggs" I am illustrating exactly what the Pharisees did with every little old thing. But I imagine that was too shallow for you to get.

Christ has made me free.

Rom 14:13-15
(13) Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother's way.
(14) I know, and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus, that there is nothing unclean of itself: but to him that esteemeth any thing to be unclean, to him it is unclean.
(15) But if thy brother be grieved with thy meat, now walkest thou not charitably. Destroy not him with thy meat, for whom Christ died.

If easter is unclean to you, avoid it. I will avoid casting a stumbling block in front of you by posting anything more on it. It is not unclean to me.

BTW, if I was a moderator I would take a pleasant neutral stand on everything. I am not a moderator. I am the technical administrator of the board. So I can jump in when ever I want.

I will be leaving this discussion now. I am certain that there are many other things that you and I agree on and can have fellowship in. This topic isn't one of them. There is really no more fruit to be gained from this discussion by either of us.

Lord Bless,

[committed]

I am reminded that the Word says about Paul, that he became all things to all people. IHS....I have noticed that you only talk down to those that aren't as enlightened as you. I agree with John also, because worshipping a nice car is not because you have it or take care of it, worshipping it is when you put it above your servitude and energy for God. The scripture DOES say that we NOT judge each other.......you do as you will, but leave those that don't agree, be, without saying unkind things....i.e. post #201 as if we are less in God, because of some revealation you have had.

[ThirdGeneration]

Originally posted by justavessel4him
Faithchild,
Eastre is the Old English spelling for Easter the name of an ancient Anglo-Saxon goddess originally of the dawn. Another spelling is Eostre. ........ she has beguiled many here in the Good News??? Cafe as well.
JV4H- We know that she is not real! It is odd that an imaginary goddess still has power to cause others to curtail their freedom to celebrate Christ on "her" account.

Those of us at the Cafe that celebrate Easter do so because, "But to us, there is but one God, the father of whom are all things..." (I Cor 8:6).

We don't believe in pagens; so we do not have to worry about them. That is the long and short of it.

[In His Service]

Committed,
Now are you judging me as wrong in my postings and ideas? See so many say don't judge my post or ideas but let me tell you that you are wrong in your ideas, ?

I don't talk down to anyone sister, I talk to them. People always seem to see on these boards that when a person, Especially a minister, is speaking to someone and sharing with them things they see from the Word of God it is talking down to them. Yet would you say that of a minister who is delivering a sermon and might tell someone that is doing wrong, as he sees it from the Word, that they are talking down to them. They are talking to them in love for thier souls.

Was Paul talking down to all the churches that he wrote letters to when he told them that they where doing things wrong? No he was loving them enough to tell them the truth.

Sister I am not judging anyones soul, I am judging thier teachings that they are sharing with the World and those on the GNC. I can not send anyone to hell, only a person's ideas and deeds can do that. I may use the Word of God to prove thier ideas or teachings.

I can not imagine why you felt that post 201 was unkind in any way. I stated what I felt for me.

Do you look at other posters who right to me and think that they are saying unkind things? If so why not post to them when that happens?

Prayers your way,
Bro. timothy

[John Atkinson]

I am locking this thread. The posts calling the fellow APOSTOLIC members of the GNC idolators and worshippers of celtic goddesses is totally and completely out of order.

If you don't celebrate a holiday. groovy, don't celebrate it.

BTW IHS, the GNC is a level playing field for Apostolics, minister or not. It is not a preaching point. Save that for your church.

Anyone starts another easter thread before May 1, I will lock that one to. Let's move on to something edifying.