Well, I just read something someone posted (elsewhere) about how we have compromised the Gospel by tolerating and welcoming the Easter Bunny in our paschal celebrations culturally.
I didn't see the original comment, but the Easter bunny has nothing to do with the Gospel, and I would hope that churches don't include, or refer to it, in their services.
The individual seems to think all Christians to have sold out to the world who in any way promote, tolerate or enjoy the EB and his egg-passing out activities.
Nope.
There were two approaches towards "lousy" practices at the time of the Reformation: one was that unless something was specifically un-Christian, it could be tolerated. Thus, Lutherans have their Christmas trees.
There are loads of things which we tolerate/use that cannot be said to be Christian - since objects are neither immoral nor have the ability to express religious preference.
The other approach is that unless something is specifically mandated by Scripture, it cannot be tolerated.
If that were the case, we'd all be wearing robes and sandals, and not having any of the modern appliances which make life easier and on which we have come to depend - cars, computers, phones, washing machines, electricity etc, etc. There would be no organs, or pianos, in church, in fact, we shouldn't have church buildings, since the early church met in houses.
When a culture is evangelized, changes are made.
But it's not necessarily correct to do so.
When we share the Gospel we should start from where people are, and help them explore what it means to be a follower of Jesus within their own culture. Obviously there will be changes in behaviour, belief and maybe practice - such as with any who follow the occult, because this is contrary to the Gospel.
We can encourage people to follow our
example, of faith and commitment to Jesus. But becoming a Christian should not be about having to adopt another culture or force people to be Westernised.
So the question is not as flip as the thread title would seem, which title appealed to me for its quirkiness and marketing appeal.
Sorry, but it is, because it links, or equates, the devil, (wicked and a force for evil which is to be resisted, and whom Jesus only defeated by dying), with the Easter bunny, (a completely fictitious character which couldn't hurt anyone even if it did exist.)
Should a church host a Super Bowl party? A Halloween party? An Easter egg hunt? A sewing bee? Or no, and there be the knowledge that those things will be done, although just not on church property or as official church activities.
Halloween parties are about children dressing as witches, wizards, ghosts and other dubious characters, so no. But all your other examples - why not?
When Paul shared the Gospel in Athens he didn't condemn their idols, smash them up or tell them to burn them, he started from where they were - an altar dedicated to an unknown god - and preached the Gospel. Sewing bees and Super bowl parties, (whatever they are) are not wrong or immoral. Even Easter eggs aren't immoral.
