PASSOVER, EASTER, CRUCIFIXION DATE, AND OTHER CONTROVERSERIES

If you look carefully near where Joseph's hiding behind a post, you'll note the Easter Bunny joining in the nativity scene. Nah, it's a normal rabbit allowed out of its cage as the keeper cleaned up near this nativity scene at Cincinnati Zoo.

Unfortunately, Christmas and Easter and Passover become points of contention among believers. Allow me to share three issues and my response.

1. Do Christians ignore the Passover? No. Now, I did attend a couple of Seders put on by a Messianic Synagogue here in Indy. I also have heard one person say all Christians should keep Passover, based on 1 Corinthians 5:8. My response? Christians have freedom, but technically, Gentile Christians should not consider that holiday theirs, because when that day was instituted, God stated that a foreigner cannot participate unless circumcised (Exodus 12:43-49).
2. Should Christians celebrate Easter? Some point out that Easter is a pagan celebration, with fertility symbols like rabbits, ages, and chicks. Does that make it a pagan holiday? My response? 'Romans 14:5-6 states that holiday celebration is up to the believer. We need to remember it's not idols but the Lord who created rabbits and chicks.
3. Are the majority of Christians ignoring the Bible when they celebrate Good Friday on Friday and Easter on Sunday? There are two different references to the third day. Jesus said in Matthew 12:40 the Son of Man (Jesus) will be in the depths of the earth three days and three nights, which is longer than the traditional calendar, and fits with the length of time Jews considered the deceased as definitely dead. But there are references to the third day as being the day after tomorrow (e.g. Leviticus 7:17-18; 19:6-7). My response? I agree that Christ was crucified on Wednesday, but I know fellow believers hold to the traditional view. In putting all the words of the four gospels in a harmony, author Johnston M. Cheney, while holding to atypical views (e.g. Christ's ministry being 4 years, and Peter denying Christ 6 times) believes Christ was crucified on Friday. Thus, I don't think this issue is important enough to divide over.

It always discourages me when I see Christians look for something to divide over that doesn't change the fact that Christ died for our sins according to Scripture and was raised from the grave according to Scripture, and that we're saved by grace through faith and not of works.