Easter, Seder or Neither?

You also may wonder, why am I writing about Easter, several weeks after the celebration date has passed? This year, the dates of Easter and Passover are several weeks apart. Many if not most people are probably unaware of how this came about.

When I was a preteen my parents encouraged me to begin attending a church of my choice, even though they didn't attend. I chose the church the boy next door went to—admittedly not a very good reason for selecting which church to attend.

One of my main reasons for attending was that I felt guilty when I didn't. My guilt increased when someone told me that it was necessary to attend Easter services to maintain membership status. So I made it a point to attend faithfully every Easter Sunday.

That was more than half a century ago. I have since become an ordained minister of a different church, yet I haven't attended an Easter service for more than forty years. How can I claim to believe in Christ when I don't observe the holiday that allegedly celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ?

You also may wonder, why am I writing about Easter, several weeks after the celebration date has passed? This year, the dates of Easter and Passover are several weeks apart. Many if not most people are probably unaware of how this came about. Church historian Philip Schaff points out that "the feast of the resurrection was thenceforth required to be celebrated everywhere on a Sunday, and never on the day of the Jewish Passover. ... The leading motive for this regulation was opposition to Judaism" (emphasis added).

You might be shocked to learn how much anti-Semitism lies behind many beliefs and practices of traditional Christianity.

For example, the Roman Emperor Constantine wrote, "[W]e would have nothing in common with that most hostile people, the Jews; for we have received from the Redeemer another way of honoring God … and … withdraw ourselves from the evil fellowship of the Jews .... It is our duty to have nothing in common with the murderers of our Lord." Schaff remarks, "This bitter tone against Judaism runs through the whole letter" and concludes, "At Nicaea, therefore, the Roman and Alexandrian usage with respect to Easter triumphed, and the Judaizing practice of the Quartodecimanians, who always celebrated Easter on the fourteenth of Nisan, became thenceforth a heresy."

Easter is also steeped in paganism. The very name Easter is derived from Astarte, a Chaldean goddess and identified in the BibleThe books (Greek, "biblia" ) that are acknowledged as canonical (authoritative) by the early Christian Church. It includes both the books of the ancient Hebrew prophets and those of the apostolic witnesses to Jesus Christ. as the pagan "Queen of HeavenThe Bible speaks of three heavens: (1) the atmosphere surrounding earth, that is, the sky (Acts 1:9-11); (2) space, including our solar system and the observable stars and galaxies (Genesis 1:14-18; Psalm 8:3); and (3) the location of God's throne, from where He governs the entire universe, called "the third heaven" (2 Corinthians 12:2). Solomon said: "God is in heaven and you are on earth" (Ecclesiastes 5:2). In the Bible , the context usually tells us which of the three "heavens" is being discussed." (Jeremiah 7:18The 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.
See All...; 44:17-25) and from Eostre, an Anglo-Saxon goddess of spring associated with the egg and the hare, symbols of procreation that later became popular in much of Christianity in the form of Easter eggs and the Easter bunny.

The BibleThe books (Greek, "biblia" ) that are acknowledged as canonical (authoritative) by the early Christian Church. It includes both the books of the ancient Hebrew prophets and those of the apostolic witnesses to Jesus Christ. says that God "hates" pagan customs of worship (Deuteronomy 12:29-32 [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 enquire 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.

See All...). Jesus said we should worship God "in spirit and in truth" (John 4:23-24 [23] But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.
[24] God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

See All...). God's Word is the truth that sets apart His true disciples from the world (John 17:17Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.
See All...).

Although we don't celebrate Easter, members of the United Church of God (and many other Christian churches) will this week (on the biblically specified date) participate in a BibleThe books (Greek, "biblia" ) that are acknowledged as canonical (authoritative) by the early Christian Church. It includes both the books of the ancient Hebrew prophets and those of the apostolic witnesses to Jesus Christ.-based service in remembrance of Christ's death (1 Corinthians 11:23-26 [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.

See All...).

Jesus instituted the symbols of bread and wine to replace the Passover lamb of Old TestamentThose books that make up the Hebrew Bible generally accepted by Christians, Jews and to some extent Muslims. It contains a threefold division: the Law (the five books of Moses), the Prophets and the Writings. observance, since by His death He became "our Passover … sacrificed for us" (1 Corinthians 5:7Purge 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:
See All...). Therefore, we believe that the official biblical name for this service is the New TestamentThe 27 authoritative books of the apostolic writings: the four Gospels of Christ, Acts (a history), 21 apostolic letters and the book of Revelation. Passover, which we observe once a year on the same day that the Old TestamentThose books that make up the Hebrew Bible generally accepted by Christians, Jews and to some extent Muslims. It contains a threefold division: the Law (the five books of Moses), the Prophets and the Writings. Passover lamb was sacrificed and Jesus was crucified. This is not to be confused with Seder, which falls on the following day and includes customs of later Jewish tradition.

It is not my purpose to criticize anyone for how they worship, but to encourage our readers to become better informed on the origins of Easter and to understand what the BibleThe books (Greek, "biblia" ) that are acknowledged as canonical (authoritative) by the early Christian Church. It includes both the books of the ancient Hebrew prophets and those of the apostolic witnesses to Jesus Christ. says about how to worship God rather than simply going along with "time honored" traditions (Romans 12:1-2 [1] I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
[2] And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

See All...). The vast resources of the Internet make it easier than ever before to research Easter (Google "Easter origin") or any other subject.

You have ample time to learn more about this important subject before the next Easter season comes around. Therefore, I encourage you to follow the scriptural admonition: "Examine all things; hold fast to what is good. Stay away from every form of evil" (1 Thessalonians 5:21Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.
See All..., New English Translation).