We know the world loves holidays. We also know we, as Christ's followers, are NOT to love what the world loves….so what about Easter?
Well, despite
common beliefs, the term Easter does NOT mean “Jesus is risen”, “Resurrection”,
or “He lives” (I know, I was surprised too). Easter is actually a name. . . of a
fertility goddess.
Easter (also
known as Eostre, Ishtar, Astarte, Venus, Aphrodite, or Ashtoreth) was a
self-declared sun goddess (in the times of Nimrod- a few generations from Noah)
who created an entire pagan religion focused on the ritual worship of fertility.
She married her own son, dreamed up a colorful story about being born of the
moon by a giant egg dropped in to the Euphrates river, dubbed herself the “Queen
of Heaven”, ordained her children to be demi-gods, and started a great majority
of the Babylonian religions and pagan holidays (including Christmas) that are
still celebrated today. In honor of the “Queen
of Heaven” the spring season was dedicated to the celebration of new life and
fertility. This time was marked by ritual practices using symbols such as eggs,
birds, and bunnies (now known as Easter) and a time of fasting and mourning for
her son Tammuz (now known as Lent).
The Babylonians,
Canaanites, Greeks, and Romans each knew her by a different name and tagged on
their own creative additions to her story to suit the politics of their day. When God’s own chosen people worshipped this pagan
deity, they evoked the righteous wrath of their Creator: “ The children gather
wood, and the fathers kindle the fire, and the women knead their dough, to make
cakes to the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink offerings unto other gods,
that they may provoke Me to anger.” –Jeremiah 7:18
When the
Roman church hi-jacked the spring season and carefully tied it to Passover, titling
Jesus’ resurrection as Easter Sunday, they officially declared Easter a holiday
(or holy-day). Through the years (and Hallmark’s clever marketing strategies)
the line has been blurred. History has been rewritten. The wrath of God has
been forgotten.
But, be not
ignorant, brethren: If a hot cross bun
for the queen provoked God to anger then (and He is unchanging and eternal) I
think we know how He feels about Ishtar egg hunts on church lawns or pagan
baskets full of trinkets from Lifeway stores.
The title
“Easter” is irrelevant to Christ’s victorious resurrection. In fact it is outright
blasphemy to tie the two together at all. Easter
belongs to the the devil. It always has.
Put the chocolate bunnies away.
Let's celebrate
Christ’s victory! (and we don’t have to wait until spring).
For more
info on the origin of Easter:
For more
info on Christ’s victory:
Hi there! Visiting from the Etsy Blog Team! So true...it's so important that we push back against the materialistic/commercial standard that society throws at us. I think we have to be intentional particularly in what we're teaching our children!
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