I was on ragamuffinsoul.com this morning and came across one of the greatest questions I have ever read or heard. It was asked by a fairly new believer and it makes so much sense it's scary...here it is.
"Um…I have a question. Why do Christians spend over a month celebrating Christmas with parties, music, decorations, songs, and presents, then only a day celebrating Easter? I mean, isn’t Easter the reason we have our faith in the first place? Shouldn’t we be having Easter parties? It seems kind of backwards to me."
See...I told you...scary...
4 comments:
I don't know...I read an article on Relevant once where the guy was talking about his Messianic Jewish friend who told him how Jewish people are awed by the birth of Christ, because they have spent their whole lives waiting for the Messiah, and if they become Christians, they realize He has already come. So the article was about how His birth and life was also a sacrifice, the "Word becoming flesh." Not atonement for sins, but a sacrifice in all that He gave up for us.
As for why we celebrate Christmas so long, I would say because it is largely a secular holiday, and lots of people, Christian and non-Christian, "get into the spirit of the holidays." Christmas has been given many reasons: family, giving, love, Santa, winter, etc., etc. Whereas Easter, if you're not a Christian, basically means a big scary rabbit who brings you eggs. Deosn't really provide the same warm fuzzies as Christmas does it? :)
Sorry so long of a "comment."
Amy,
All very valid points you make...and I'm not trying to lessen the Christmas holiday at all. I just found it interesting that this question came from a fairly new believer and even just in "Christian" circles Easter doesn't seem like too big a deal. Now as for my daughter she screamed at Santa and she screamed at the big scary easter bunny so she doesn't really care yet either way...:-)
Oh, absolutely a good question. One that for me is thought provoking. Before, I just meant that I think most Christians celebrate Christmas longer because most of the time, if we're honest with ourselves, we're not really celebrating Christmas as the Christian understands it. But Easter, since it doesn't have most of the secular trappings of Christmas, can be downplayed. The world isn't celebrating with us, so to speak. Which is sad, because for Christians, as the questioner pointed out, Easter should be a VERY big deal.
If you ask me Easter has become as secular as Christmas. Just look at the store shelves lined with candy and gifts and eggs. What does a bunny and eggs have to do with the true meaning of Easter-NOTHING-same as SANTA and Christmas!
As for the new christians question my relpy would be we celebrate Easter year long-everytime we share in communion with one another, we celebrate with every baptism. It that not the true meaning of Easter?
Beth
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