Adventist Churches with Easter Events Increasing, Recognized by Official Media
by Adventist Today News Team
A year ago Adventist Today reported the widespread special events in Seventh-day Adventist churches across North America celebrating the resurrection of Jesus Christ at the traditional Easter time observed in most Christian denominations. Within the living memory of many middle-aged and older Adventists this was not the practice, but it has evidently become common enough that this year the official Email newsletter of the North American Division—NAD NewsPoints—has published a listing of 40 such events in churches large and small, with reports from seven of the nine union conferences in the United States and Canada.
For local congregations that have not planned something recognizing this key date in the traditional Christian year, at least two of the denomination’s media ministries will provide programming that could be projected on a large screen. “The Seven Last Words of Christ” will be live-streamed from the Oakwood University Church on Friday evening (March 29), starting at 7 p.m. Central Time (8 p.m. Eastern, 6 p.m. Mountain and 5 p.m. Pacific). Seven preachers will each take one of the seven phrases that Jesus spoke from the cross as he died with music between the homilies by the university’s four choirs, including the Aeolians, winners of the global choral Olympics. Produced by the Breath of Life television ministry, the event will be live-streamed at www.oucsda.org and more information is available at www.breathoflife.tv.
Hope Television, the denomination’s official global cable channel, will broadcast “He Is Risen,” a 45-minute special with Pastor Dan Jackson, president of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in North America, Connie Vandeman Jeffery from the Adventist Media Center, and the Family Reunion music group. It will be rebroadcast several times throughout the coming weekend. Local times can be found at www.hopetv.org and it will be live-streamed at that same web address.
The listing of events includes passion plays, Tenebrae services, Passover Seders, concerts and preaching services in churches from Baltimore, Maryland, to Alhambra, California. Included are Hispanic, historically African American and suburban and small-town white churches. The White Memorial Seventh-day Adventist Church in Los Angeles, built in memory of denominational cofounder Ellen G. White is among the listings.
“Adventists in many places, but especially in North America, Europe and Australia, are unashamedly identifying themselves as Christians,” a retired theologian told Adventist Today. “That is a good thing. I can remember a time when Protestant friends asked me if Adventists considered themselves Christian. It is a maturing of our faith to be able to joyfully express affirmation for the resurrection and join in that fundamental idea with all other Christians.”
If Adventism wishes to escape the dubious label of cult, which it may or may not deserve, the time is past due for it to join fully in the Protestant family and act like a main line church. Many people don't know the difference between SDA and JW and Mormon. It's time that the religious community see that Seventh-day Adventists are deeply rooted in the Protestant community and have huge differences with the "cults." The white knuckled ultra conservatives are to be ignored. There are plenty of offshoots they can join. The liberal SDA churches are doing extremely well. The are leading the way.
A great turnaround from the SDA history for most of its existence;no doubt the result of purposely avoiding any celebration on the first day of the week. It is ignorance that has fueled the refusal to recognize the most important event in Christianit–the sole event from which Christianity was born. Had there been no Resurrection there would be no Christians and no Adventists.
Sadly, too many Adventists believe that Christianity begins and end with Adventism.
The celebration of Easter is in essence cultic and would hardly constitute what Protestantism stands for. So-called Protestants who practice Catholic traditions aren't mainline at all. When Adventists use these seasons as an opportunity for evangelism, it doesn't mean they celebrate it as others celebrate. There is strong evidence also that these holidays are linked to pagan celebrations. Easter and Christmas are good examples. Adventists know this and therefore rework these days as tools for spreading the Third Angels Message rather than for any other real significance. Nowadays it seems that Adventists are the only real Protestants. If we aren't – then who are?
Of course adventists should be(come) mainstream Christians. Not merely mainstream protestants.
Even so, it should be recognized that many Christian traditions have roots in "pagan" mythology.
Protestants are mainline Christians. This would include Adventists who are a mainline evangelical church.
If Christians eliminated all holidays, traditions, and even beliefs that have had connection with "paganism" there would be few, if any remaining.
Just because there are many who do not know that the virgin birth was an older tradition in pagan religions; that resurrections were reported much earlier than that of Jesus; that the symbols of bread and wine predated the Eucharist and that healing miracles were common in ancient history, should be the reason to eliminate all those from Christianity today?
Many Christians are totally unaware that worship on the first day of the week began with the early Christians specifically in recognition of the Resurrection, and that Sunday was not introduced because it was formerly sun worship. How many know that while Christmas and Easter are "movable" days unrelated to the calendar used today, neither does anyone observes sabbath as it was originally observed when given at Sinai? For the Israelites and Jews there was never a calendar but the new moon initiated the 7-day countdown to Sabbath; and seven days later another sabbath, etc. But using their method resulted in Sabbath falling on each day of the week: the difference between the moon and calendar. No Adventist observes Sabbath properly as dictated by the Bible, but using the pagan names and calendars. Correctly observed, Sabbath would fall on every seventh day AFTER the new moon.
I ate an 'Easter Egg' last night. Does that make me progressive?
Easter — the celebration of the resurrection of Christ, is, in my opinion, the most under-celebrated holiday — particularly within the Adventist tradition. The event (The Resurrection) is to be celebrated. Somehow we have allowed the pagan features (which attend Christmas as well) to bully us from focusing on what is, literally, the most important thing that ever happened for believers.
Without it, we (believers) would have absolutely no hope. Because of it, we are saved. Feel like celebrating now?
It was much after the Christilogical crises leading to the Council of Chalcedon in 451 CE that a chnage of emphasis somewhat occured from Christ's death and resurrection to a celebration of His incarnation.
"No Adventist observes Sabbath properly as dictated by the Bible, but using the pagan names and calendars. Correctly observed, Sabbath would fall on every seventh day AFTER the new moon." [Elaine Nelson]
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Really! The moon was created on the fourth day of creation. The Sabbath came on the seventh day, before any lunar month. The weekly Sabbath day was confirmed at Sinai and accepted and confirmed by Jesus. The same weekly cycle continues today.
"The same weekly cycle continues today."
You have evidence that it is a fact?
Go visit a local synagogue – all the evidence one needs that the weekly Sabbath has continued since Sinai.
That did not answer the question of SAME weekly cycle, because the cycle for sabbaths given in Leviticus was the seventh day after a new moon. This is not the WEEKLY cycle followed today.
Sabbath given the Israelites was never called a WEEKLY cycle, but was based on the moon's cycles, and the moon's cycles are always 28 days apart, not 30-31, as is the modern calendar of every 7th day.
Sabbath keeping is a personal choice. How it is kept is a personal choice. There is no real law concerning it, except a self imposed one.
What about:
These just 'personal choices' as well?
Yes.
Yes
Stephen,
Of course, worshiping Vishnu or any god is a personal choice. The Orthodox church does not accept images, but pictures. What is a "graven image"? Only a statue like Michaelangelo's David? Or a picture of Jesus? Who decides?
Blasphemy is a punishable crime in many nations. "Pagan rites"? Many have been adopted by Christianity so does that sanctify them? Baptism was an ancient rite from the old Sumerikan temple city Eridu. The partaking of the bread and wine offered by Jesus, symbolizes his body and blood is a rite so ancient that it is found the Egyptian "Book of the Dead," in which the deceased are portryed as eating the gods and so imbuing their powers.
Students of the world's religions quickly realize there is no original religion: they are all using other, earlier rituals and beliefs and incorporating them into a new system.
22oct. if the moon was created on the 4th day, can you suggest how long the first 3 days were? or have
confidence that the remaining 3-4 days were literal 24 earth days?
Dear Mr Calahan
I have confidence Sir that the remaining 3-4 days were literal twenty four hour 'even to even' earth days just like the other days as the Bible says [Gen 1:5, 8, 13, 19, 23, 31]. The use of ordinal numbers (first, second, third …) together with a specified 'evening and the morning' time frame would indicate they were literal.
The seventh day as mentioned in [Gen 2:2] does not mention 'evening and morning' – but because of 1] the literal timeframe indicated in the previous ordinal numbered days and 2] the Sabbath being the last 'day' before the 'first' day in terms of a weekly cycle, would strongly indicate a ‘twenty four’ hour time period. This time reckoning 3] was confirmed at Sinai and even before that when the manna fell. Jesus [the Creator) accepted its institution together with the time frame as well which works for me.
"Easter — the celebration of the resurrection of Christ, is, in my opinion, the most under-celebrated holiday — particularly within the Adventist tradition." (Preston Foster)
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Adventists, throughout the world celebrate the death and resurrection of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ every Sabbath every week and in fact most would every day and not just once a year during the Roman Catholic traditional celebration of Easter. Most Adventist churches will not miss such great opportunities afforded during any of these holidays (holy days?) to share the message of Christ's birth, death, resurrection, and second coming. Whilst the actual events of his birth, death and resurrection are highly significant and valuable to the Christian church, the traditional religious holidays set aside aren't so much so, at least in terms of the Holy Sabbath Day for example.
1] One cannot just brush aside the fact that these holidays have a direct association with Paganism. Roman Catholism is riddled with it.
2] Those who claim Sola Scriptura (by word alone) like Mr Preston Foster, have no real biblical basis for celebrating Easter except for using the season as opportunities to spread the gospel like most Adventists already do.
3] Why would a secular state like the United States (for example) which vigorously advocates the separation of church and state, even to the extent of recently removing the Ten Commandments and prayer in public places and schools, allow for Easter and Christmas being given as official Public Holidays when they are clearly of religious import?
Simply because we do celebrate events such as the life, death and resurrection of Christ all year, does not negate the specific celebration of such events once a year. Many anti-Sabbatarians use the same argument against us. 'I worship God EVERY day, there is no need for it once a week!'.
One could also argue such 'every so often' celebrations against SDAs such as the footwashing/Lord's supper we do once a quarter. Why not every week like the Catholics? If we are to rail against specific times of the year to celebrate events such as Christmas and Easter, one should also make the same argument with the Lord's Supper celebration.
Erratum in my previous post – Should be: Roman Catholicism is riddled with it.
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In addition to my comments in my previous post, I would also say that we celebrate and contemplate Jesus' life (too) in our Christian experience and walk with God.
22oct1844,
Are you saying that because the word "Easter" is not in the Bible, that one who abides by sola scriptura is somehow inconsisent by commemorating the events associated with Christ's death and resurrection (i.e., holy communion) during the Easter season? Is it forbidden? Should we boycott the celebration? Is the special emphasis placed on remembering Christ's death somehow harmful? Are there hidden sins in reflecting on and celebrating the events of The Passion? Are not the events of The Passion itemized in The Bible?
Your line of thinking would give me no biblical foundation for observing "preparation day" either.
We are free in Christ. We can celebrate Him at every opportunity. I choose not to limit my celebration of Him to what is specifically instructed. I am led by The Spirit, not the law. Happily so. So I'm celebrating, Bruh!
Happy Easter to you, Timo — and to all of us who claim His salvation.
As Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection are the most important events in history, the weekend of Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection was the most important time period since the Creation; and remembering this is what commemoration of the Lord’s Supper is about.
Without Christ’s resurrection, which occurred early on the first day of the week, we have no hope and/or reality of salvation. What can be more important than that?
From my perspective, any problem with Easter would be with regard to the associated pagan symbols and rituals with which it is replete; and by whom it was decided when its recognition and celebration would occur. In combination, those are significant issues.
Like Christmas, if used to remind us and impress upon others the importance of the event being recognized—to lift up Jesus and the message of salvation—resurrection Sunday is a great thing to remember.
But why is it called ‘Easter;’ and why is it celebrated when it is? The latter question is germane to Christmas as well; or so it would seem.
Yes, I much agree Stephen.
As to why Easter occurs when it does, the early Church had a dispute as to whether it should occur on the actual time of Passover (which can be during a week day some years), or always the first Friday-through-Sunday after Passover. As Adventists, ironically we should applaud the victory of 'orthodoxy' in choosing the latter, because it makes ensures the day of the week is a relevant issue in the Easter question, with Christ dying just before Sabbath and resting in the grave throughout.
It seems the English word 'Easter' has pagan origins and probably the name of an Anglo-Saxon goddess. However, before we have more howles about this pagan-named ceremony, we should observe that in languages other than English, including the more original Latin and Greek, they called and continue to call the celebration 'Pascha', as in the paschal lamb of Passover.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Names_of_Easter
The bigger question is why Pauline Christians (which effectively became the proto-orthodox group) came up with holy days at all? After all, Paul and his followers had gone to great lengths in criticising Jews, or more importantly Jewish-Christians, in the continued celebration of Jewish feast days. Perhaps everyone wants a holiday, just a every religion wants its priests, its rites, its orthodoxy and its institutions of power – even when those religions are created as revolutions against those very things.
A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump. This is typical of the wine of Babylon. So sad.
A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump. This is typical of the wine of Babylon. So sad.
Surely it's amazing that the church is embracing almost all Babylonish pagan rites and trying to justify them as biblical. Nomatter how goodly, an idol remains what it really is, an idol. Lest we forget the valley of Achor which resulted from Achan's covetting of the goodly Babylonish garment. The garment was very good but it belonged to Babylon. How can the church follow in the foot steps of Israel of old by willing to be like the other churches around her simply because someone out there is so blind to call this true church a cult? Real satanic infiltration but God will not remain silent.
"wine of Babylon" "this true church" "Babylonish pagan rites" "Satanic infiltration." Regretfully, 19th century Adventism with its cult-like phrases and paranoia about our Roman Catholic friends is alive and well even on the Adventist Today website. Of well, that is the price we pay for free speech.
Only ignorance of Christian history would classify "Baylonish pagan rites" similar to the OT idols.
"Paganism" include:s:
Belief that the bread and wine symbolizes Christ's body and blood.
Belief in the Incarnation.
Baptism.
Bodily resurrection.
Those all originated first in paganism, but were adopted and became part of Christianity.
Ignorance is bliss–giving freedom to deny history.
The Council of Nice, “out of complaisance to Constantine the Great, ordered the solemnity of Easter to be kept everywhere on the same day, after the custom of Rome.” [Bower’s History of the Popes, Vol. 1, pp. 18, 19.] {The Great Controversy 88 686.2}
The Council of Nicea, in 325, set the time of Easter, a celebration of the Resurrection. Should the Resurrection not be celebrated? When? There would be no Christians had there not been a Resurrection.
Make no mistake: If He rose at all
It was as His body;
If the cell’s dissolution did not reverse, the molecules reknit, the amino acids rekindle, the Church will fall.
It was not as the flowers, each soft spring recurrent; it was not as His Spirit in the mouths and fuddled eyes of the eleven apostles; it was as His flesh: ours.
The same hinged thumb and toes,
the same valved heart that-pierced-died, withered, paused, and then regathered out of enduring might new strength to enclose.
Let us not mock God with metaphor, Analogy, sidestepping transcendence;
Making of the event a parable, a sign painted in the faded credulity of earlier ages:
Let us walk through the door.
The stone is rolled back, not papier-mache’ -not a stone in a story,
But the vast rock of materiality that in the slow grinding of time will eclipse for each of us the wide light of day.
Let us not make it less for our own convenience, our own sense of beauty,
Lest, awakened in one unthinkable hour, we are embarrassed by the miracle, and crushed by remonstrance!
John Updike, “Seven Stanzas at Easter”
Does a normal body suddenly appear, or walk through walls? Or appear so differently his disciples who were with him for three years, did not recognize him until identified himself?
We cannot know if he had a flesh and blood body or a spiritual one. The NT is contradictory.
Does it really matter if those who look forward to a similar resurrection?
Agreed. The Bible clearly says Christ had a resurrected body, which could be touched and could eat food. To deny Chris's body is indeed anti-Christ. But you are also right that it was no ordinary body in the ordinary human sense. It could apparently shape-shift (or glamour), or suddenly appear and disappear. Jesus Himself notes that in the resurrection we will 'be like the angels'. Paul likewise noted in the resurrection, we will not have 'terresteral bodies' but rather 'celestial bodies.'
"The Council of Nicea, in 325, set the time of Easter, a celebration of the Resurrection." [Mrs Elaine Nelson]
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This is therefore admittedly a Roman Catholic institution even though the Eastern and Western versions differ in establishing a correct date with one using the Julian calendar and the other the Gregorian respectively. The first Sunday after the full moon is accepted as Easter Sunday more or less as their is no fixed date with one group holding that it must fall after the Jewish Passover.
Adventists have no obligation to observe the day. The Bible does not require us to do so. The same applies to Christmas also. By doing so we accept the dictates of Rome. The fact that it is a public holiday in most 'christian' countries and that they even grant Easter Monday as a holiday, shows how strong is the influence of Catholicism in controlling even secular governments to declare these religious days as Public Holidays irrespective of whether they be republican or democrat, right wing or left.
'Adventists have no obligation to observe the day. The Bible does not require us to do so. The same applies to Christmas also.'
You are entirely correct. A whole battle Paul had with the conservative Judaizers of James the Just was that point – religious feasts are no longer obligatory on Christians (Col 2:16,17).
'The Council of Nicea, in 325, set the time of Easter, a celebration of the Resurrection. By doing so we accept the dictates of Rome.'
I wouldn't go that far. By that logic we would have to reject everything ever accepted within an Ecumenical Council. That would include rejecting the doctrine of the Trinity or the notion that Christ was both truly 100% God and man, yet still one person without division.
ALL special days, including sabbath, were no longer required of Christians. Is the OT the Christian's prescription for living or is it the NT which DID eliminate the Jewish law requirements?
Adventists want to keep some Jewish laws and eliminate others. Can one be half-Jewish and half-Christian? The early church surely refused to require Judaism's practice for the Gentile Christian converts. Yet Adventists have attempted to change the ruling made clear in Jerusalem when the Jews were trying to impose their Law on Christians. If the church truly returned to "primitive godliness" it would not ignore the ruling made then.
i believe every Christian thinks often of the ressurection of Jesus Christ. And that it was my personal transgressions that caused His sacrifice, for me, and all sinners. i believe if I were the only transgressor Jesus would have gone to the cross for me. There is no redemption w/o the shredding of blood, God's blood. The Easter memorial obviously had its pagan origin, however that is no reason not to have a day annually in honor of Christ's ressurection. It should be called "RESSURECTION DAY"; or "EPIPHANY DAY".
i believe most people globally who even know of Easter, think it is associated with Jesus Christ, not Eshtar (Astarte). Perhaps even those who think of Jesus, only a few days of the year, may finally let GOD the HOLY SPIRIT, convict their hearts, leading to repentance. This is the 21st century.The world knows the power of advertizing. Go into all the world advertizing the love of Jesus.