Just say NO to easter!

  • Christian Chat is a moderated online Christian community allowing Christians around the world to fellowship with each other in real time chat via webcam, voice, and text, with the Christian Chat app. You can also start or participate in a Bible-based discussion here in the Christian Chat Forums, where members can also share with each other their own videos, pictures, or favorite Christian music.

    If you are a Christian and need encouragement and fellowship, we're here for you! If you are not a Christian but interested in knowing more about Jesus our Lord, you're also welcome! Want to know what the Bible says, and how you can apply it to your life? Join us!

    To make new Christian friends now around the world, click here to join Christian Chat.

ThereRoseaLamb

Well-known member
Jan 17, 2023
4,824
2,084
113
#81
Your daily life involves your using pagan rooted things. Funny how holidays are the only one people care about. And when challenged with this, it gets ignored. Nothing but virtue signaling.

Yep, the days of the week are pagan, months of the year are pagan named. Cars you drive, places you shop, places you eat at, sports teams you watch. But that's never mentioned. Wonder why?
 

hornetguy

Senior Member
Jan 18, 2016
7,179
1,801
113
#82
It's fine if you don't agree....
But do you have any supporting facts or ideas to refute anything I've said?

And I've not said a thing about punctuation...just the numbers.
No, I don't have any more facts to back up my thoughts on the subject than you have. It's all supposition. I consider myself to be fairly well read, and of more than average intelligence.... and I have never heard of your theory of the numbering of the scriptures. No big deal, but I'm simply stating that to illustrate that your "theory" of scripture numbering is likely not anywhere near being mainstream thought, or belief.
 

Eli1

Well-known member
Apr 5, 2022
5,008
2,169
113
46
#83
Or how the Word "Easter" is the Latin word for "Passover".
The 1611 KJV keeps the Latin term but the later Cambridge/Oxford translation replaces the Latin with the Hebrew....why? I have no clue. Like Peter is still kept in Latin form instead of Hebrew "Kep.has" both of which mean rock/stone. However what I find hilarious is that in Hebrew the word "Peter" is the word for maternal firstborn....unlike the paternal firstborn.

Gotta remember that the Bible was written in 4 languages and has been translated through several. Some traditions have been created and kept from the translators....why? Dunno.
Just like the numbering system of chapter and verse numbers. Never was in the original....but was placed later to obfuscate certain truths.
Following up here on what you said regarding names.
Translations are a fascinating subject because a lot of people don’t realize how much weight a translator has on his shoulders in order to do the best job to convey an idea.

@FollowerofShiloh can let us know his thoughts too since he’s Jewish but I’m going to illustrate a simple example with the Albanian language.
Let’s take the name Ermal which is a common male Albanian name.
It means “The smell of a mountain” or “wind and the mountain”
What’s the mountain smell like, you’re wondering?
Well, it smells like clear pines, the sound of the running clear water, yellow daisies in the fields and green grass.
So now how am I going to translate all of that into English?

Well, I could just be literal and call it “Ermal” but I immediately lost all that cultural meaning behind it.
But how can I translate all this cultural meaning into another culture where it might sound weird or even offensive?
So the best bet is to translate it into a more compatible Latin based or westernized name.
Because the original name might even have weird letters like Ë or Ç which would be completely off-putting to an English audience.
To make this more appealing to the audience I might think of changing the name from Ermal to Edmond or some other name which is more compatible with Latin based languages.
This is great but now the people in Albania when they see this they’d be like : “Bro are you serious, have you been drinking? What’s Edmond got to do with Ermal”?
Those guys are right from their pov but they don’t know the western pov because they’re not there.
So the translator has a lot of weight in his shoulders when doing this and the translator must know the cultures and languages of both countries well to do a good job.

But this is why I said to never get lost in text because the name of the person is ultimately not that important , what’s important is the moral teaching that’s conveyed or that an event happened or a song is being sung or tears are being wept or shame being felt or justice being dealt or a miracle being seen or a family lineage is being described or a family’s problems being told.
These are universal emotions and concepts that connect all people wherever they are despite their language.

This is why Jesus having divine wisdom uses common universal words in his parables like snakes , wolves, birds, water, wind, salt, swines etc, to convey a message and a teaching which is understood by a man in 30 AD, a man in 2500 BC, and can also be understood by a man 10,000 years from now.
Because the gift of communication is to reduce all complex ideas into words which are understood by a 5 year old and a 90 year old anywhere in the world at any time.
 

Subhumanoidal

Well-known member
Sep 17, 2018
4,094
3,196
113
#84
Yep, the days of the week are pagan, months of the year are pagan named. Cars you drive, places you shop, places you eat at, sports teams you watch. But that's never mentioned. Wonder why?
I've asked numerous anti holiday people over the years and have never gotten a response. Funny how that works.
 

JohnDB

Well-known member
Jan 16, 2021
6,278
2,556
113
#85
Following up here on what you said regarding names.
Translations are a fascinating subject because a lot of people don’t realize how much weight a translator has on his shoulders in order to do the best job to convey an idea.

@FollowerofShiloh can let us know his thoughts too since he’s Jewish but I’m going to illustrate a simple example with the Albanian language.
Let’s take the name Ermal which is a common male Albanian name.
It means “The smell of a mountain” or “wind and the mountain”
What’s the mountain smell like, you’re wondering?
Well, it smells like clear pines, the sound of the running clear water, yellow daisies in the fields and green grass.
So now how am I going to translate all of that into English?

Well, I could just be literal and call it “Ermal” but I immediately lost all that cultural meaning behind it.
But how can I translate all this cultural meaning into another culture where it might sound weird or even offensive?
So the best bet is to translate it into a more compatible Latin based or westernized name.
Because the original name might even have weird letters like Ë or Ç which would be completely off-putting to an English audience.
To make this more appealing to the audience I might think of changing the name from Ermal to Edmond or some other name which is more compatible with Latin based languages.
This is great but now the people in Albania when they see this they’d be like : “Bro are you serious, have you been drinking? What’s Edmond got to do with Ermal”?
Those guys are right from their pov but they don’t know the western pov because they’re not there.
So the translator has a lot of weight in his shoulders when doing this and the translator must know the cultures and languages of both countries well to do a good job.

But this is why I said to never get lost in text because the name of the person is ultimately not that important , what’s important is the moral teaching that’s conveyed or that an event happened or a song is being sung or tears are being wept or shame being felt or justice being dealt or a miracle being seen or a family lineage is being described or a family’s problems being told.
These are universal emotions and concepts that connect all people wherever they are despite their language.

This is why Jesus having divine wisdom uses common universal words in his parables like snakes , wolves, birds, water, wind, salt, swines etc, to convey a message and a teaching which is understood by a man in 30 AD, a man in 2500 BC, and can also be understood by a man 10,000 years from now.
Because the gift of communication is to reduce all complex ideas into words which are understood by a 5 year old and a 90 year old anywhere in the world at any time.
And you are correct with this explanation....however in Hebrew literature (scriptures) names are not tags like are accustomed to....they are titles describing position, authority, attitudes, or personalities. Which is why some characters get two names. (Jacob/conman &Israel/Struggles with God and Esau/Edom but also Pharoah and Abimelekh are titles not tags)

This becomes important especially in the geanological records. Because the names have meanings and produces complete thoughts across the family lineage when translated into a language we understand. Even Adam is a Title....Eve, the Latin word for the Hebrew title Hawwa (mother of all living)
 
Apr 28, 2024
38
9
8
#86
I do not care about Christmas, and Easter, according to how the world celebrates it, which is fantasy land for they are not real characters.

Some people who claim to be Christians celebrate them, and some with all the trimmings.

Christmas for the pagans to celebrate the sun god, and for Easter to celebrate the fertility god.

America likes to cater to all people, Christian, and pagan alike.

Also there is more money to made by promoting Santa, and the Easter bunny, for people spend money to cover Santa's presents, and to cover the Easter bunny's presents, and also all the decorations they buy.

We are an occult nation that allows all religions to be practiced there even Satanism, and the new age movement who follows Lucifer that will cause the world to rebel against God believing they will evolve to be spiritual, and a god, and there is no personal God.

I have kinda gone away of buying extravagant Christmas presents and such and just enjoy the meal and togetherness, and if you are like me, you notice the Christmas decor coming out earlier and earlier each year to bankrupt more Americans and make the banks and credit card companies even richer and you not.
 

JohnDB

Well-known member
Jan 16, 2021
6,278
2,556
113
#87
Some people enjoy giving and some do not.
These are the sort that use Christmas and Easter as license to give....not as an obligation to get themselves into debt.

Either your world is centered on giving or it isn't. People always calculate living to the extent of their budget...and if you don't have a budget for giving...you don't understand Christ. And there are times....when you break the budget. Just like Christ did.
 

Ballaurena

Well-known member
May 27, 2024
418
280
63
#88
Somebody said to have a happy "easter"

I told them thanks, but I don't celebrate pagan celebrations of pagan gods and goddesses
If I see a rabbit laying colored eggs, I'm going to shoot it! :cool:

I do celebrate Passover or Resurrection Day which is what Christians do! View attachment 262034

View attachment 262035
Reminds me of way back, my first job at McDonald's, working on Easter. I didn't care that it was Easter because I'm a Christian and Easter has too much paganism mixed in. My coworker beside me was there working Easter too because he was a pagan and it has too much Christianity mixed in for him. That's deception for you, and both of us were doing our part to avoid it! (Per prophecy, Deception = Any mixture of truth and error).

Sidenote: I hope my former coworker is doing well wherever he is. He was a really cool and considerate guy. I can't help but wonder if God might think so too enough to have woken him up by now.
 

Ballaurena

Well-known member
May 27, 2024
418
280
63
#89
Some people enjoy giving and some do not.
These are the sort that use Christmas and Easter as license to give....not as an obligation to get themselves into debt.

Either your world is centered on giving or it isn't. People always calculate living to the extent of their budget...and if you don't have a budget for giving...you don't understand Christ. And there are times....when you break the budget. Just like Christ did.
I think you missed the point. It isn't that some of us don't like to give, but the spirit of how it comes about with Christmas and Easter is off.
 

JohnDB

Well-known member
Jan 16, 2021
6,278
2,556
113
#90
I think you missed the point. It isn't that some of us don't like to give, but the spirit of how it comes about with Christmas and Easter is off.
But that's also giving too.

It's not like nobody doesn't know who and what we are or why we are very generous people.

Sure...some people in their zeal to be fashionistas get all crazy with Santa and bunnies....who care?...grace covers those things well. But Christ conquered Christmas and Easter. The games are for children and they know it's an excuse.

Nobody gets an award in heaven for the most perfect theology. The rewards in heaven stem from your relationships and how they worked or didn't.

Being generous is just a means to an end of forming relationships...

To live is Christ to die is gain. Christ gave of everything He had....not just his life but his entire self to anyone and everyone who believed even if it was stated as hollow flattery...Jesus still handed out miracles as if itvwas his business card. Which included such things as sight for the blind, hearing and speech to the deaf mute....anything and everything was given to those who believed.

And that's the life Christians are called to. Sure, I think a lot of the Christmas and Easter stuff is tacky trash...but good taste (or a lack thereof) is not a requisite for being a recipient of God's grace or mine.
Your Mileage May Vary.
 

Ballaurena

Well-known member
May 27, 2024
418
280
63
#91
But that's also giving too.

It's not like nobody doesn't know who and what we are or why we are very generous people.

Sure...some people in their zeal to be fashionistas get all crazy with Santa and bunnies....who care?...grace covers those things well. But Christ conquered Christmas and Easter. The games are for children and they know it's an excuse.

Nobody gets an award in heaven for the most perfect theology. The rewards in heaven stem from your relationships and how they worked or didn't.

Being generous is just a means to an end of forming relationships...

To live is Christ to die is gain. Christ gave of everything He had....not just his life but his entire self to anyone and everyone who believed even if it was stated as hollow flattery...Jesus still handed out miracles as if itvwas his business card. Which included such things as sight for the blind, hearing and speech to the deaf mute....anything and everything was given to those who believed.

And that's the life Christians are called to. Sure, I think a lot of the Christmas and Easter stuff is tacky trash...but good taste (or a lack thereof) is not a requisite for being a recipient of God's grace or mine.
Your Mileage May Vary.
Dear JohnDB,

I'm not sure we are communicating. If I misunderstood you, I Apologize. What I heard in your earlier post was a suggestion that people who don't want to observe Christmas and Easter are less generous people than those that do observe them - an absurd suggestion considering that the only real reasons I have ever heard for not observing Christmas and Easter were related to avoiding impurity, not an avoidance of giving. For there are many venues and ways to give without violating one's conscience by joining in what one believes is a morally reprehensible observance. Perhaps that is what you are trying to say now.

I'm not sure how more to clean up our conversation beyond the above (though I do note a vague pronoun and lack of clear reference in you post that initiated this, but then maybe I was too tired to be taking on such things when I read it), and I have obligations this morning, but perhaps the above will suffice or at least be a start.
 
N

NEWTOCHRISTIANITY

Guest
#92
What about if we just say YES to EASTER!
 

JohnDB

Well-known member
Jan 16, 2021
6,278
2,556
113
#93
Dear JohnDB,

I'm not sure we are communicating. If I misunderstood you, I Apologize. What I heard in your earlier post was a suggestion that people who don't want to observe Christmas and Easter are less generous people than those that do observe them - an absurd suggestion considering that the only real reasons I have ever heard for not observing Christmas and Easter were related to avoiding impurity, not an avoidance of giving. For there are many venues and ways to give without violating one's conscience by joining in what one believes is a morally reprehensible observance. Perhaps that is what you are trying to say now.

I'm not sure how more to clean up our conversation beyond the above (though I do note a vague pronoun and lack of clear reference in you post that initiated this, but then maybe I was too tired to be taking on such things when I read it), and I have obligations this morning, but perhaps the above will suffice or at least be a start.
The main problem most generous people encounter is the licensing of their giving.
We certainly do not want to offend people or give an inappropriate gift at in inopportune time.
Holidays alleviate that issue altogether.

It's a perfect license for all sorts of giving of yourself in gratitude to God for loving us while we were yet sinners (and still are to some degree)

And where you are avoiding involving yourself in some sort of perceived impurity....I hate to be the bearer of bad news but it is not helping.
You never have attained the purity you believe of yourself....in fact it could be worse that the slight you are avoiding.

Self purification is worthless as Paul, Matthew, James, Peter, John, the writer of Hebrews and Luke all explain in great detail. You can't go out and deliberately sin....far from it. But by not celebrating these holidays you are discounting and discrediting the sacrifices made by God on your behalf....IOW your gratitude to God has a demonstrated lack. (No expected fruits of the Spirit whatsoever)

We have special days to especially honor our Christian heritage and culture....unless you do not want to have any gratitude whatsoever....but good luck with that attitude.
 

Ballaurena

Well-known member
May 27, 2024
418
280
63
#95
The main problem most generous people encounter is the licensing of their giving.
We certainly do not want to offend people or give an inappropriate gift at in inopportune time.
Holidays alleviate that issue altogether.

It's a perfect license for all sorts of giving of yourself in gratitude to God for loving us while we were yet sinners (and still are to some degree)

And where you are avoiding involving yourself in some sort of perceived impurity....I hate to be the bearer of bad news but it is not helping.
You never have attained the purity you believe of yourself....in fact it could be worse that the slight you are avoiding.

Self purification is worthless as Paul, Matthew, James, Peter, John, the writer of Hebrews and Luke all explain in great detail. You can't go out and deliberately sin....far from it. But by not celebrating these holidays you are discounting and discrediting the sacrifices made by God on your behalf....IOW your gratitude to God has a demonstrated lack. (No expected fruits of the Spirit whatsoever)

We have special days to especially honor our Christian heritage and culture....unless you do not want to have any gratitude whatsoever....but good luck with that attitude.
I was hoping for peace between us, but that cannot be had when you turn a difference of beliefs into an unfounded personal attack on my character.

You really have no idea of the path I have walked, or even where I am now, and you are really in no place to judge.
 

JohnDB

Well-known member
Jan 16, 2021
6,278
2,556
113
#96
I was hoping for peace between us, but that cannot be had when you turn a difference of beliefs into an unfounded personal attack on my character.

You really have no idea of the path I have walked, or even where I am now, and you are really in no place to judge.
I was not attacking you personally....I have a very polar opposite opinion on this particular subject as you hold....but I hold nothing against you personally. We probably agree on many things...but not this one.

So...you are in the driver's seat...you can choose to be at war or peace. You are the only one holding animosity. How seriously do you take yourself anyway?

I'm more than willing to admit when I could be wrong....can you? Have you? Recently? Laughed at yourself when you realized you were wrong and thanked the person who brought it to your attention?

Or double down and kill the messenger?
 

Ballaurena

Well-known member
May 27, 2024
418
280
63
#97
I was not attacking you personally....I have a very polar opposite opinion on this particular subject as you hold....but I hold nothing against you personally. We probably agree on many things...but not this one.

So...you are in the driver's seat...you can choose to be at war or peace. You are the only one holding animosity. How seriously do you take yourself anyway?

I'm more than willing to admit when I could be wrong....can you? Have you? Recently? Laughed at yourself when you realized you were wrong and thanked the person who brought it to your attention?

Or double down and kill the messenger?
:rolleyes:

Well at least there was some attempt at getting to harmony there, but you continue to suggest judgment of my stance when you don't even know where it is, or how I came to my stance. Let me tell you that it isn't where or how you think. For starters, there is a big difference between an opinion and a divine revelation that you fail to account for.

I'm glad if you can laugh at yourself when you realize you were wrong and thank the person who brought it to your attention, but don't presume this is going to be you for me when my current stance is based on prophecy from a tested prophet, and multiple times of switching course already as GOD has shown me more, and more truth. In fact, are you in a place to do that right now when I tell you that God Himself isn't too hot on either of these observances but Christmas, at least, is not forbidden? Or do you think your opinion trumps God's?

Now is this where I should expect the 'thanks' for bringing it to your attention?
 

JohnDB

Well-known member
Jan 16, 2021
6,278
2,556
113
#98
:rolleyes:

Well at least there was some attempt at getting to harmony there, but you continue to suggest judgment of my stance when you don't even know where it is, or how I came to my stance. Let me tell you that it isn't where or how you think. For starters, there is a big difference between an opinion and a divine revelation that you fail to account for.

I'm glad if you can laugh at yourself when you realize you were wrong and thank the person who brought it to your attention, but don't presume this is going to be you for me when my current stance is based on prophecy from a tested prophet, and multiple times of switching course already as GOD has shown me more, and more truth. In fact, are you in a place to do that right now when I tell you that God Himself isn't too hot on either of these observances but Christmas, at least, is not forbidden? Or do you think your opinion trumps God's?

Now is this where I should expect the 'thanks' for bringing it to your attention?
Nope....
 

Cold

Active member
Apr 18, 2024
536
199
43
#99
I never understood how hiding or finding eggs had anything to do with Jesus.
 

JohnDB

Well-known member
Jan 16, 2021
6,278
2,556
113
I never understood how hiding or finding eggs had anything to do with Jesus.
It doesn't....
Neither does the decorating of eggs or egg shells....in this modern age.

But it once used to...and the tradition has carried forward because it is fun. The meanings and symbols long forgotten.

Look at All Saint's Day. Used to be the most painful mass/church service to sit through and the Priests did not know how to make it less painful...except by scaring people into church the night before on the ALL Hallowed evening.
However the lame attempts at scaring people became more fun than the next day's church service....and Halloween is still popular while most churches don't even mention ALL Saints day anymore.

Some people perceive wickedness out of rubbing the backsides of their hands together versus their palms.
They become too holy to hang out with everyone else and can't have a ministry with normal people.