Should Rabbits and Eggs Be Part of Easter?

[icedtea]

You are apparently devoted to a religion with all it's dogma, traditions, rules, regulation, icons, Pope worship, etc. These are not things Jesus instituted.

Thank you.
What church did the disciples attend?

 

[tuba_peter]

Persoally I feel that if someone wants to have bunnies and eggs as part of Easter then i'm not gunna stop them. That's because they've been a part of my Easter, for as long as Ican remember.

 

[repentant]

Bunny's no, but eggs, specifically red eggs have been part of Church tradition for 2000 years. When Mary Magdalene was preaching after the Acension of Christ she went to Rome to preach to the Roman Emperor as an invited guest. She handed him a red dyed boiled egg that symbolizes the blood that Jesus shed for us. Also when the egg is cracked it represents the Ressurection. Just like the egg emerges from the shell, Jesus emerged from death and the tomb..

Edit: I just noticed that katherine posted this a few pages ago...

 

[icedtea]

Do they still have that kit Resurrection Eggs in christian bookstores?

 

[thenewageriseth]

Easter is fine the way it is, with it's colors and candy and eggs and bummies, chicks and grass. Can't forget the real reason for the season, tho. Jesus, which some say was born around Springtime as opposed to the Wintertime.

 

[icedtea]

I heard he was born in September.

 

[thenewageriseth]

September? Hmm that's a new one to me. Do tell

 

[revrobor]

Thank you.
What church did the disciples attend?

There is no record of them attending any "church". They gathered with Believers in homes when they were not preaching to the lost.

 

[icedtea]

September? Hmm that's a new one to me. Do tell

In some of M.J.Agee's writings (and I do discount her continual date setting) she mentions some authors studying and find He was probably born on Rosh hashana, jewish New Year. makes sense.
We all know the shepherds wouldn't be out tending the sheep in late December. brrr

 

[icedtea]

There is no record of them attending any "church". They gathered with Believers in homes when they were not preaching to the lost.

My point. No church building or rules and regulations were needed.

 

[Jipsah]

How sad. You apparently don't know the difference between following a religion and following the Lord Jesus.

OK, what's the difference?

 

[revrobor]

OK, what's the difference?

Following a religion is participating a religious organization ("church") and following its rules, regulations, dogma, doctrines and traditions.

Being a follower of the Lord Jesus is being obediently faithful to His teachings and commands.

The two are not the same.

Jesus did not found the religious organization. He called followers.

 

[katherine2001]

Following a religion is participating a religious organization ("church") and following its rules, regulations, dogma, doctrines and traditions.

Being a follower of the Lord Jesus is being obediently faithful to His teachings and commands.

The two are not the same.

Jesus did not found the religious organization. He called followers.

Actually, Jesus did establish a Church. He did that rather than write a book. That Church is still here. Paul called the Church the pillar and ground of the truth. In 1 Tim. 3:14-15, Paul says:

14. These things I write to you, though I hope to come to you shortly;

15. but if I am delayed, I write so that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.

 

[revrobor]

Actually, Jesus did establish a Church. He did that rather than write a book. That Church is still here. Paul called the Church the pillar and ground of the truth. In 1 Tim. 3:14-15, Paul says:

14. These things I write to you, though I hope to come to you shortly;

15. but if I am delayed, I write so that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.

The Church (note the capital C) He established is the Body of Believers NOT a religious organization. Why people, in their apparent ignorance, keep insisting that our Lord established a religious organization escapes me except perhaps they are trying to defend the thing to which they have pledged their loyality.

The "house of God" is wherever Believers gather NOT a reference to a religious organization.

 

[repentant]

The Church (note the capital C) He established is the Body of Believers NOT a religious organization. Why people, in their apparent ignorance, keep insisting that our Lord established a religious organization escapes me except perhaps they are trying to defend the thing to which they have pledged their loyality.

The "house of God" is wherever Believers gather NOT a reference to a religious organization.

What do you make of this? I am just wondering what you think this means?

Matthew 18:
15Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.

16But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.

17And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.

18Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

Also what do you make of the Apostles ordaining Elder's (who were the first Bishops) in every Church?

Acts 14:
22Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.

23And when they had ordained them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they believed.

24And after they had passed throughout Pisidia, they came to Pamphylia.

Also we see here that there was some kind of leadership in the Church, and it wasn't just everyone going about things there own way...

The First Ecumenical Council in Jerusalem..

Acts 15:
1Some men came down from Judea to Antioch and were teaching the brothers: "Unless you are circumcised, according to the custom taught by Moses, you cannot be saved."

2This brought Paul and Barnabas into sharp dispute and debate with them. So Paul and Barnabas were appointed, along with some other believers, to go up to Jerusalem to see the apostles and elders about this question.

3The church sent them on their way, and as they traveled through Phoenicia and Samaria, they told how the Gentiles had been converted. This news made all the brothers very glad.

4When they came to Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church and the apostles and elders, to whom they reported everything God had done through them.

5Then some of the believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees stood up and said, "The Gentiles must be circumcised and required to obey the law of Moses."

6The apostles and elders met to consider this question.

7After much discussion, Peter got up and addressed them: "Brothers, you know that some time ago God made a choice among you that the Gentiles might hear from my lips the message of the gospel and believe.

8God, who knows the heart, showed that he accepted them by giving the Holy Spirit to them, just as he did to us.

9He made no distinction between us and them, for he purified their hearts by faith.

10Now then, why do you try to test God by putting on the necks of the disciples a yoke that neither we nor our fathers have been able to bear?

11No! We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are."

12The whole assembly became silent as they listened to Barnabas and Paul telling about the miraculous signs and wonders God had done among the Gentiles through them.

13When they finished, James spoke up: "Brothers, listen to me.

14Simon has described to us how God at first showed his concern by taking from the Gentiles a people for himself.

15The words of the prophets are in agreement with this, as it is written:
16" 'After this I will return
and rebuild David's fallen tent.
Its ruins I will rebuild,
and I will restore it,

17that the remnant of men may seek the Lord,
and all the Gentiles who bear my name,
says the Lord, who does these things

18that have been known for ages.

19"It is my judgment, therefore, that we should not make it difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to God.

20Instead we should write to them, telling them to abstain from food polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from the meat of strangled animals and from blood.

21For Moses has been preached in every city from the earliest times and is read in the synagogues on every Sabbath."


You see the leaders of the Church at the time (The Apostles and Elder's appointed by them) came together in council to discuss what to do with the Gentiles and circumcision. This clearly shows the that the early Church, (and even in the Bible) had rules and regulations and had leaders that made these rules and regulations.

So I ask, do you still believe the Church doesn't have rules and regulations?

 

[repentant]

More Scriptural quotes regarding Church leadership...

1 Timothy 5:17
Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine.

Titus 1:5
5For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee:

James 5:14
Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord:

1 Peter 5:
1The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed:

2Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;

3Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being examples to the flock.

 

[revrobor]

Leaders were assigned and "rules" were given to the BODY OF BELIEVERS. That does not make them a religious organization. They were followers of the Lord Jesus. When Scripture refers to the "church" it is referring to the BODY OF BELIEVERS not to any religious organization - not Baptist, not Methodist, not Roman Catholic, not Presbyterian, not Pentacostal not ANY religious organization. It is not surprising that you do not comprehend this. As soon as man established religious organizations its leaders failed to teach the difference and the cause of Christ has gone downhill ever since. Just compare the BODY today with the BODY portrayed in the Book of Acts. If the BODY had not been hindered by the religious organization over the centuries and it were as strong as that BODY there would hardly be an unsaved person on the face of the Earth. Thankfully there are Brothers and Sisters who are waking up to this fact and the "home church" movement is growing by leaps and bound all over the world.

 

[Emkay]

Does anyone else enjoy coloring eggs and the chocolate rabbits?

We know Easter is about The Resurrection, but should we even celebrate Easter with eggs and rabbits?

I think the Easter eggs represent new life in Christ Jesus who Himself was raised from the dead. At least, I think that is how the Easter egg thing started, by Christians. It was not made up by the shops and everything, they just took advantage of it, like Christmas. The rabbits are just for kids and seeing the smile on their face is worth it.

I enjoy the chocolate, but I never forget that Jesus is the reason we celebrate Easter. Besides, the chocolate eggs and everything gives the economy a boost...

 

[SumTinWong]

Why does this tick you off? It's just something fun for the little kids to do, and it's not like the bunny is really hurting anyone, or corrupting little kid's minds to believe that the Easter is all about the bunny.

Because Easter is about the life death and resurrection of our Lord, not about making kids happy, or giving them something fun to do. It is secular garbage, and it ticks me off to see it in a church where it has no place.

 

[icedtea]

Besides, the chocolate eggs and everything gives the economy a boost...

Are you arguing for consumerizing everything?