Happy Easter?

I like to visit various Christian forums to discuss and debate different aspects of Christianity and especially the doctrine and beliefs of Seventh-day Adventistism. Just a few days ago I logged on to one particular Christian web forum where I saw a banner ad for Easter costumes. Having my curiosity pricked I clicked on the banner to see just exactly what an "Easter" costume was all about.

The picture you see here is a product of what I found from searching the site. This picture has also left me scratching my head quite frankly.

Now, the picture here is not a picture of an aged or maturing Sasquatch although it could certainly pass for one! According to the web site it's a costume for those that want to "dress up" as Moses (Rav Mo'she)! Gee, ain't that just a hoot!

Now I'm sorry to be so sarcastic regarding this but I find this absolutely fascinating and just a wee bit troubling, and here's why.

We all know, for the most part that Easter has its origins in paganism and the adoption of pagan practices. In fact the name "Easter" has at it's core the name of several different pagan gods - Eostre of the Saxons, Ishtar of the Assyrians, Ashtoreth of the ancient Canaanites, derived from the ancient word for spring! Just another pagan god. Spring! Is Easter just becoming a new Halloween for Christians? It was pointed out to me, if you think about it, that Sunday is really just a "mini-Easter" celebration! In that sense celebrating Easter would almost appear to be redundant!

Of course, this Easter is (by far) much, much different from what the Passover of the Lord in the book of Exodus was to not only represent, but to become in our lives. Our Passover Lamb - Jesus Christ, was sacrificed at a different time, in a different place, in a completely different manner and, above all, for a completely different reason than what is represented in the Easter "holiday." His shed blood was meant to cover our sins that are found on the door posts of our earthly tents (justification) and, as that Lamb is ingested into our bodies, we are to become more like Him by taking our His nature and His character (sanctification).

This distinction should never, ever be lost on Seventh-day Adventists or for that matter any Christian.

I remember that very first Christmas I experienced in an Adventist church like it was yesterday. Of course, in that was just a little over three years ago, it really was just like yesterday! I remember thinking to myself that considering all the truth Adventists have in the Word of God and explained through the Spirit of Prophecy regarding that which will soon come to pass that embracing something born from paganism seemed odd. You know it's taken a few years since I became an Adventist to kind of get used to the whole Christmas thing.....honestly. But it still surprises me somewhat to this day that Adventists (not all) celebrate Christmas to some extent. And yes, I've read Mrs. White on Christmas.....so I see the point, at least a little anyway. In considering that so many Adventists are converts from other denominations Christmas almost becomes somewhat understandable frankly.

But not Easter - I'll never get used to seeing Easter celebrated in an Adventist church. Why? Because of all Christian denominations Seventh-day Adeventism seems to come closer to any other in understanding the sanctuary, the services of the sanctuary, the feasts and festivals centered around the sanctuary and above all the rich and deep meaning behind all the things that are represented by and through the sanctuary. Personally, I almost find it difficult to understand the true nature and character of God that Satan has constantly and regularly assailed without understanding these things.

In fact, I would love to see Seventh-day Adventists, as well as all Christendom for that matter, begin to embrace all of the feasts and festivals of the Torah and the Prophets, and learn and investigate the meaning behind the Bible feasts and festivals. These feasts and festivals, unlike some will say, have not been "nailed to the cross" but still provide a valuable window for us all to understand the second coming of Jesus Christ.