THE SPIRITUAL STATE OF EGGS AND RABBITS AND WHETHER CHRISTIANS SHOULD CELEBRATE THE PASSOVER

The rabbit gets enough criticism at Easter time, but I thought I'd add the Christmas controversy to the table. Photo by yours truly at Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Park, Oct. 22.

It's that time of the year... well, one of the times. Let me share three concepts I saw on one FB thread, from different authors:

• Rabbits and Eggs are pagan.
• Rabbits and Eggs are Biblical.
• Christians should observe the Passover, since Jesus did.

If you're a regular reader of the blog, I have at least one installment each year dealing whether Christmas and Easter are holidays Christians should observe. Well, when I saw this, I thought it was time for another.

Anybody besides me crack up (pun unintentional) about the two statements about rabbits and eggs? Both hit the edge of credibility. 

Given, pagans use rabbits and eggs as fertility symbols. But does that mean they're pagan? Uh, no. Who created the rabbits and the eggs? Sorry, but I think it's ridiculous to call rabbits pagans. Same with eggs.

So are they Biblical? Well, if you look above, I gave all the Biblical references that the authors gave on the rabbits and eggs quotes. What? There aren't any Scripture references? No, they didn't give any. A commenter noted that the one who said rabbits and eggs were Biblical gave NO references to prove his point. My hunch is he's one of the troublemakers who make a ridiculous statement to start heated debate and disappears. (By the time I got to it, the comment option had been turned off for that thread.) 

I'm one who prefer using the term "Resurrection Sunday" instead of Easter. There is an instance in the KJV where "Easter" appears in Acts 12:4, but the Greek Word is pascha, the word elsewhere and in all other versions is translated passover. I also don't think Easter eggs and bunnies have a place in the church. However, Paul states that he who observes the day does so to the Lord, and the one who does not observe the day, to the Lord he does not observe it. (Romans 14:6). Why can't we aceept those who disagree? Maybe because we like disputing doubtful things (Jubilee Bible says "doubtful discernment) (Rom. 14:1).

Let's move from Resurrection Sunday to Passover. I read that in the Nicene Council one other item decided on was to separate the dating for Easter from the Passover, in spite of the fact that they're connected together. But should a Christian celebrate the Passover? Or should he abstain? Or is it another of those things that we shouldn't divide over?

I'll definitely go with it not being something to divide over. But let me deal with some arguments.

First, dealing with those who say Christians should observe the Passover. I heard a conversation where someone used 1 Corinthians 5:7-8 to say it commands Christians to observe the feast. Here's the passage: "Therefore purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, since you truly are unleavened. For indeed Christ, our Passover, has been sacrificed for us. Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with unleavened bread of sincerity and truth."

To me, it's obvious it's not talking about the official celebration of Passover and the Feast of Unleavened bread. Thus, it's not a command for Gentile Christians to act like Jews. 

Now, Christians often say that Passover has been replaced with the Eucharist/Communion/The Lord's Supper. Sorry, I don't see that in the text. They are two different events observed differently. Passover is an annual event, starting a week of celebration. Communion is offered with differing frequency. Becky and I both grew up in churches that observed communion weekly. When we got into Baptistic Churches, it was observed on the first Sunday of the month. I attended a church that at first had communion irregularly, but realized it was so rare they celebrated it on the first Sunday. Another decided to go from monthly to quarterly. None of those options are commanded or condemned in Scripture.

A couple of years, though, I was reading through Exodus, and there was something that hit me when God was giving instructions for the Passover (Exodus 12:43-49). Participation was limited to households where all the men have been circumcised. Is that a law we should observe? It does make me question whether Gentile Christians are to observe the Passover. On the other hand, one can try to argue that in the Age of Grace it refers to the circumcision of the heart, though it sounds like the argument of someone who wants to keep the Passover because he has the freedom to.

But I will again put in a plug for Easter caroling. One book suggested it, and I thought it sounds great and uplifiting.

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.