Happy Ishtar!
The evangelical church is no stranger to the traditions of men. While we excoriate the traditions of Roman Catholicism, we ourselves practice many man made traditions that reduce spirituality to shadows and forms. And when forms are observed, the substance is diluted.Jn.4:23-24 - 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.In this New Covenant God desires us to worship Him directly and in the Spirit. But here we are with the completed Word of God, inhabited by God Himself, and yet we still need symbols? And instead of the intimacy of a one on one relationship, we still desire to place traditions and more beggarly elements between us? And these forms are not even in the Bible.
And we are approaching another of the unbiblical observances that has been invented by man for his own pleasure while disguised as a celebration of the resurrection. The resurrection should be celebrated daily, and on every Sunday, and in our own lifestyles. Even the lost celebrate this “Easter” which even by its name is pagan. The name “Easter” is derived from the name “Semiramis” which was later changed to Ishtar. She was the wife AND mother of Nimrod.
And yet the church has adopted this observance as if God has ordained it, when in fact the only observances God ever ordained in the New Covenant is the Lord’s Supper and baptism. I know, I am throwing cold water on everything. But the question remains: Do we actually desire to obey and worship Christ in the manner in which He Himself has ordained? Or will we be content to continue pagan rituals and bring them right into God’s house and claim God loves it?
The church has made the resurrection bow to a one day observance and it blends in nicely with Memorial Day, President’s day, and of course the Fourth of July celebration. People say it is such a small thing. I know, everything in evangelicalism is a small thing to us. And that is precisely why we are in the shape we are in. The little foxes have become voracious monsters that consume the very essence of our faith. We celebrate the resurrection by living it.
Happy Ishtar!
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4 comments:
I'm not so worked up on this issue. I try and be generous if someone wants to celebrate Easter or do the egg-hunt thing.
However, what baffles me is that I've gotten push back and resistance to celebrating the Supper every week as superstitious or ritualistic and then get thought a weirdo for not wanting to celebrate christmas or easter.
Cal - It seems the early church observed the Lord's Supper every time they gathered. If we guard against ritualism, we should do likewise.
Haha, I'm gracious in saying we ought to do it at corporate worship on Sundays. If it were up to me, I'd break the bread and drink the wine every time a group of brothers/sisters convene. You're right, not out of ritualism, but out of showing identity and loyalty.
How many times did Paul say we were crucified with Him, that we died with Him, we were buried with Him and we rise with Him?
God Bless Brother Rick, I've been out of the secular Easter and Christmas holidays long enough now to find the way I believe and live normal. At least more normal than it is to include easter eggs and christmas trees. What put it all in perspective for me was the realization that these things won't be found in Heaven or the new Earth. God hates mixture and compromise regardless if this is the age of grace or not. Since the Kingdom of Christ exists in His living stones, would not be expected that we begin walking in His Kingdom now according to the light we have?
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