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Tuesday, April 12, 2011

Easter - Pagan and Unscriptural

Easter—Relic of Ancient Sex Worship

Confirming its pagan background, The Catholic Encyclopedia, edition of 1909, states in Volume 5, on page 227: “A great many pagan customs, celebrating the return of spring, gravitated to Easter. The egg is the emblem of the germinating life of early spring. . . . The rabbit is a pagan symbol and has always been an emblem of fertility.” In harmony with this The Encyclopedia Americana, edition of 1956, states in Volume 9, on page 506: “According to the Venerable Bede, English historian of the early 8th century, the word [Easter] is derived from the Norse Ostara or Eostre, meaning the festival of spring at the vernal equinox, March 21, when nature is in resurrection after winter. Hence, the rabbits, notable for their fecundity, and the eggs, colored like rays of the returning sun and the northern lights or aurora borealis.”

If Easter were truly a Christian celebration, why the eggs and rabbits? What connection could they have with the resurrection of Jesus Christ? Obviously none whatsoever! They are traditional in Easter because the ancient pagans used them when celebrating their spring festival. Both were important symbols in pagan sex worship. On this point, consider what is said by Funk & Wagnalls Standard Dictionary of Folklore, Mythology and Legend, edition of 1949, Volume one, page 335:

“Children roll pasch eggs in England. Everywhere they hunt the many-colored Easter eggs, brought by the Easter rabbit. This is not mere child’s play, but the vestige of a fertility rite, the eggs and the rabbit both symbolizing fertility. Furthermore, the rabbit was the escort of the Germanic goddess Ostara who gave the name to the festival by way of the German Ostern.” Do you think it is a Christian practice to encourage children to engage in a pagan fertility rite?


NO SCRIPTURAL BASIS FOR EASTER

But, you may object, the word “Easter” appears in the Bible at Acts 12:4. Why is it there if it is a pagan celebration? The word is used in the Authorized Version of the Bible, but it is the result of poor translating from the Greek language in which the book of Acts was originally written. Other translations properly render the Greek word pascha as passover, not Easter. Note what The Westminster Dictionary of the Bible has to say about this on page 145: “Easter. Originally the spring festival in honor of the Teutonic goddess of light and spring known in Anglo-Saxon as Eastre. As early as the 8th century the name was transferred by the Anglo-Saxons to the Christian festival designed to celebrate the resurrection of Christ. In A.V. [Authorized Version] it occurs once (Acts 12:4), but is a mistranslation.”

Was there truly a Christian festival in the spring that was “designed to celebrate the resurrection of Christ”? Not in the days of Christ’s apostles. As foretold by the apostle Paul, after their death a great falling away from true Christianity occurred, which resulted in many unscriptural celebrations. (Acts 20:29, 30) Although the apostle Paul pointed out, under inspiration, that Christians were not to become tied to a tradition of observing days, months and seasons and years, some Christians proceeded to do it anyway. (Gal. 4:9-11) They apparently were persons who insisted on continuing the festivals of the Mosaic law but enlarged them to be commemorations of what they foreshadowed. Thus the Passover was given additional significance in Jesus Christ, the antitypical Passover Lamb, and in his resurrection. To this annual observance apostates gradually added practices and symbols from the pagan spring festival, which resulted in the celebration now called Easter.

That the celebration finds no authorization in the Holy Scriptures or precedent among early Christians is pointed out by The Encyclopædia Britannica, eleventh edition, Volume 8, page 828: “There is no indication of the observance of the Easter festival in the New Testament, or in the writings of the apostolic Fathers. The sanctity of special times was an idea absent from the minds of the first Christians. . . . The ecclesiastical historian Socrates (Hist. Eccl. v. 22) states, with perfect truth, that neither the Lord nor his apostles enjoined the keeping of this or any other festival . . . and he attributes the observance of Easter by the church to the perpetuation of an old usage, ‘just as many other customs have been established.’” The old usage was the practice of pagans to have a festival in honor of their goddess of spring.


NOT FOR CHRISTIANS

The association of Christ’s resurrection with Easter has not changed the celebration into something that is acceptable to true Christians. A rotten apple is not transformed into wholesome food merely by wrapping it in the skin of an orange.

Notwithstanding the fact that religious leaders of Christendom proclaim Easter as a Christian celebration, it is still pagan. You might say, “What difference does that make as long as it honors Christ?” The difference is between having the approval of God or having his disapproval, and that is the difference between eternal life and eternal death.—2 Thess. 1:8, 9.

If you desire the approval of the true God consider the command given to Christians at 2 Corinthians 6:14, 15, 17: “Do not become unevenly yoked with unbelievers. For what sharing do righteousness and lawlessness have? Or what fellowship does light have with darkness? Further, what harmony is there between Christ and Belial? Or what portion does a faithful person have with an unbeliever? ‘Therefore get out from among them, and separate yourselves,’ says Jehovah, ‘and quit touching the unclean thing.’”

The Easter festival is an “unclean thing” because its roots are in pagan sex worship. People who celebrate it dishonor Jesus Christ by associating his name with that abominable form of worship. Why continue to do what is disgraceful to him and dishonoring to God? Heed the Scriptural command to separate from this false religious practice and those who advocate it. Recognize Easter for what it actually is, a relic of ancient sex worship. - "Easter—Relic of Ancient Sex Worship"; Watchtower 3/15/68
 
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THE SCRIPTURAL POSITION

In view of all the foregoing what should be the attitude of those who would please God toward the celebration of Easter together with all its pagan appendages? As already noted, neither Jesus nor any of his apostles established any Christian festival days. Nor was this any mere oversight, as shown by Paul’s rebuke to the Christians at Galatia: “How is it that you are turning back again to the weak and beggarly elementary things and want to slave for them over again? You are scrupulously observing days and months and seasons and years.”—Gal. 4:9-11.

Even more strongly condemned in the Scriptures is the comingling of paganism with the worship of the one true God: “Flee from idolatry. . . . What, then, am I to say? That what is sacrificed to an idol is anything, or that an idol is anything? No; but I say that the things which the nations sacrifice they sacrifice to demons, and not to God; and I do not want you to become sharers with the demons. You cannot be drinking the cup of Jehovah and the cup of demons; you cannot be partaking of ‘the table of Jehovah’ and the table of demons. Or ‘are we inciting Jehovah to jealousy’? We are not stronger than he is, are we?” Paganism is the product of Satan and his demons, and to mix it with Christianity is an affront to Jehovah God that he will not permit to go unnoticed, for he is “a God exacting exclusive devotion.”—1 Cor. 10:14-22; Ex. 20:5.

The adopting of pagan appendages in Christian worship is also ruled out with these words: “What fellowship does light have with darkness? Further, what harmony is there between Christ and Belial? Or what portion does a faithful person have with an unbeliever? And what agreement does God’s temple have with idols?” None whatever. “‘Therefore get out from among them, and separate yourselves,’ says Jehovah, ‘and quit touching the unclean thing”’; “‘and I will take you in.’” Godless paganism is part of this unclean world, and Christians must keep themselves “without spot from the world.”—2 Cor. 6:14-18; Jas. 1:27.

....

Christians show appreciation for the miracle of Christ’s resurrection, not by celebrating a certain day set aside by some ancient council of men, and doing so with pagan appendages, but by accepting by faith the fact of Jesus’ resurrection and by letting it give them hope for their dead loved ones and for themselves and then letting that hope spur them on to serve Jehovah God with all their heart, mind, soul and strength.—Mark 12:30; 1 Cor. 15:58.  - Easter—What Are Its Origins?; Watchtower 4/15/63

For quotes and references concerning the pagan origins and associations in connection with: EASTER, COLORED EGGS and the RABBIT; HOT-CROSS-BUNS / "CAKES OF BREAD" and EASTER FIRES plus links to much more, see:

Easter Origins, Traditions and Customs - Christian or Pagan?

Sunday, April 10, 2011

What is the spiritual significance of a woman wearing a head covering? (1 Cor. 11:4-13)

What is the spiritual significance of a woman wearing a head covering? (1 Cor. 11:4-13)

Simply put, the head covering for a woman (that is only necessary when performing what are customarily the man's duties in the Christian congregation and would not apply to her normal daily activities at home) has a spiritual significance among God's servants in connection with the God-ordained principle of headship in the Christian congregation that the apostle Paul wrote about in 1 Cor. 11:3:

"The head of every man is the Christ; in turn the head of a woman is the man; in turn the head of the Christ is God." (1 Cor. 11:3)

Paul brings out that a head covering is "a sign of authority" that the woman should wear in acknowledging the headship of the man. This, then, shows that she is submitting herself to proper theocratic authority when she is praying or is prophesying in the congregation:

"Every man that prays or prophesies having something on his head shames his head; but every woman that prays or prophesies with her head uncovered shames her head, for it is one and the same as if she were a [woman] with a shaved head. For if a woman does not cover herself, let her also be shorn; but if it is disgraceful for a woman to be shorn or shaved, let her be covered. That is why the woman ought to have a sign of authority upon her head because of the angels." - 1 Cor. 11:4-6, 10.

On the other hand, for the man, it is the normal position under God's arrangement to not wear a head covering when taking the lead before the congregation, as when praying or prophesying. But if he did wear a head covering in these instances, he would bring shame upon his own head and would also show disrespect for Jesus Christ as his head. Because the man was created first, Paul goes on to write, that the woman is "out of man" and was created "for the sake of the man," (1 Cor. 11:8, 9) and therefore her qualities are an expression of the man's honor and dignity, just as the man's qualities are a reflection of the honor and dignity of God. So it would be proper for the Christian woman to acknowledge her subordinate position by the modesty and subjection she displays, and she should be willing to represent this visibly by wearing a head covering.

The following is a quote from the - Insight, Vol. 1, p. 1052:

"Paul calls attention to the naturally long hair of the women in the congregation to which he wrote as a continuous God-given reminder that the woman is by nature subject to the man. She should, therefore, acknowledge this when performing what are customarily the man's duties in the Christian congregation, and she should wear some form of head covering besides her hair, which she normally always has. She will thereby show that she recognizes the God-ordained headship principle and that she makes a distinction between her normal daily activities and the performing of special duties in the congregation when, for example, there is no qualified male member present, or when she is teaching others individually in a formal session for Bible study in the presence of her husband or a male member of the congregation."—1 Cor. 11:11-15.


For much more, see:

Head Covering (Search For Bible Truths Category)

Women (Search For Bible Truths Category)

Women - A Biblical Perspective (JW United)

Are 1 Tim. 2:12-14 and 1 Cor. 14:34-35 really referring to women being totally quiet or even speaking to a man about the scriptures? (JWQ&A)

"While not permitted to teach in congregational assembly, a woman could teach persons outside the congregation who desired to learn the truth of the Bible as well as be a `teacher of what is good' to younger women (and children) within the congregation."(Tit. 2:3-5) (JWQ&A)


Should a woman wear a head covering? (JWQ&A)

Are 1 Tim. 2:12-14 and 1 Cor. 14:34-35 really referring to women being totally quiet or even speaking to a man about the Scriptures? (Search For Bible Truths)

Tuesday, April 5, 2011

Are 1 Tim. 2:12-14 and 1 Cor. 14:34-35 really referring to women being totally silent with a man about the Scriptures?

Are 1 Tim. 2:12-14 and 1 Cor. 14:34-35 really referring to women being totally quiet or even speaking to a man about the Scriptures?

The verses here deal with "teaching", as one specifically states. It is not referring to being totally quiet or even speaking to a man about the scriptures. It deals with teaching with authority within the congregation. Notice what two friends of Paul did:

(Acts 18:24-26) 24 Now a certain Jew named A·pol´los, a native of Alexandria, an eloquent man, arrived in Eph´e·sus; and he was well versed in the Scriptures. 25 This [man] had been orally instructed in the way of Jehovah and, as he was aglow with the spirit, he went speaking and teaching with correctness the things about Jesus, but being acquainted with only the baptism of John. 26 And this [man] started to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Pris·cil´la and Aq´ui·la heard him, they took him into their company and expounded the way of God more correctly to him.

Here both Aquila and his wife helped him. Obviously she had no problem speaking and "expounding" to Aquila. She was with her husband but was NOT silent with a man. In the congregational meetings she would not teach. However it does not mean she could not speak about something, such as relating an experience from her ministry, etc. Note Paul spoke of "teach OR have authority OVER a man", a dual thought.

The Insight Book, Vol 2; Heading: "Woman" also has an excellent contribution concerning this:

"There were meetings when these women could pray or prophesy, provided they wore a head covering. (1 Cor. 11:3-16) However, at what were evidently public meetings, when "the whole congregation" as well as "unbelievers" assembled in one place (1 Cor. 14:23-25), women were to "keep silent." If `they wanted to learn something, they could question their own husbands at home, for it was disgraceful for a woman to speak in a congregation.'—1 Cor. 14:31-35.

"While not permitted to teach in congregational assembly, a woman could teach persons outside the congregation who desired to learn the truth of the Bible and the good news about Jesus Christ (compare Ps 68:11), as well as be a `teacher of what is good' to younger women (and children) within the congregation. (Tit. 2:3-5) But she was not to exercise authority over a man or dispute with men, as, for example, in the meetings of the congregation. She was to remember what happened to Eve and how God expressed the matter of woman's position after Adam and Eve had sinned.—1 Tim. 2:11-14; Ge 3:16."
 
For much more, see:

Women - Links to Information (Defend Jehovah's Witnesses Category)

Head Covering - Links to Information (Defend Jehovah's Witnesses Truths Category)

Sunday, April 3, 2011

Oneness - Links to Information

Click on any of the following links to view:

"ONENESS VS. TRINITY" (Jehovah's Witnesses Questions and Answers)

"Word" and 1 John 5:7, KJV (Jehovah's Witnesses Questions and Answers)

Does Elohim really mean a "plural oneness" or a "plurality of persons"? (Search For Bible Truths)

Saturday, April 2, 2011

Newton (Isaac) - Links to Information

Click on any of the following links to view:

NEWTON, SIR ISAAC (INDEX; Watchtower Online Library)

Isaac Newton's Search for God (Pastor Russell)

Isaac Newton and his rejection of the Trinity (skyscript.co.uk)

Isaac Newton; HIST (f.n. #165) (Examining the Trinity)

Friday, April 1, 2011

Monotheism - Links to Information

Click on any of the following links to view:

Monotheism (Search Results From the Watchtower Online Library)

Video: "Early Jewish and Christian Monotheism - The Early use of "God" and the Christological Implications" (Search For Bible Truths)

God and gods (Examining the Trinity)

Redefinitions (Examining the Trinity)

Old Testament Monotheism: The Usage and Meaning of Elohim (Jehovah's Witnesses United)

Do Jehovah's Witnesses Deny Biblical Monotheism? (Jehovah's Witnesses United)

On the Bible and Monotheism (Jehovah's Witnesses Questions and Answers)

Difference between believing in only one God and worshiping only one "God" (Jehovah's Witnesses Questions and Answers)