A Nevispages.com weekly feature by Curtis Morton Sr
The way I see it, we who live in Nevis, comprise a religious society.
However, our beliefs, mores, norms—yeah I dare say, traditions, have been, for the most part, THRUST UPON US, without any sound biblical backing to substantiate them.
Let’s take ‘a for instance,’ according to the late Phinehas Griffin: Good Friday/Easter.
There are several unwritten laws about how Good Friday and Easter should be observed, which have no biblical base in doctrine for starters. Locally, there is a solemnity in the type of music played; there are specific foods of choice and other foods ought to be abhorred, during this period. For instance, people are generally afraid to eat BLACK PUDDING or BLOOD PUDDING, during this time.
I remember one Good Friday, we were at the Flats in Cole Hill, for the grand kite flying event and there was a bit of a whirl wind. This is a true story. The wind seemed to have singled out the tent where a lady was selling Black pudding. Tent, pots, pans and black pudding, went sailing through the air and the general consensus of opinion at the time, was that ‘it serves her right-she should have known better!’
But Satan makes anything that God says to abhor, into a delicacy.
The bible clearly states in Leviticus 17:14: ‘For the life of every creature is its blood: its blood is its life. Therefore I have said to the people of Israel, You shall not eat the blood of any creature, for the life of every creature is its blood. Whoever eats it shall be cut off.’
So, black pudding should not only be abhorred during Easter, but all year around!
Then there are certain traditions, such as kite flying, which is generally only done during this time of year; Easter bunny; Easter eggs etc. But, let us pause and look closely at the origins of Easter.
I asked my good friend GOOGLE for some assistance: “The naming of the celebration as “Easter” seems to go back to the name of a pre-Christian goddess in England, Eostre, who was celebrated at beginning of spring. The only reference to this goddess comes from the writings of the Venerable Bede, a British monk who lived in the late seventh and early eighth century.
Is Easter based on a pagan holiday?
Well, it turns out Easter actually began as a pagan festival celebrating spring in the Northern Hemisphere, long before the advent of Christianity. … Following the advent of Christianity, the Easter period became associated with the resurrection of Christ
Is Easter mentioned in the Bible?
Easter is Not Mentioned in the Bible
Is the Easter Bunny Pagan?
Bunnies are a leftover from the pagan festival of Eostre, a great northern goddess whose symbol was a rabbit or hare. … Easter is essentially a pagan festival which is celebrated with cards, gifts and novelty Easter products, because it’s fun and the ancient symbolism still works.
Why do we celebrate Easter with eggs?
The egg, an ancient symbol of new life, has been associated with pagan festivals celebrating spring. … From a Christian perspective, Easter eggs are said to represent Jesus’ emergence from the tomb and resurrection.
When did Easter start being celebrated?
The earliest recorded observance of an Easter celebration comes from the 2nd century, though the commemoration of Jesus’ Resurrection probably occurred earlier. Easter is celebrated on Sunday, April 4, 2021.”
So based on my research, we were taught from very early in our childhood that Easter is a Christian commemoration of the death, burial and resurrection of our dear Saviour, Jesus Christ, but contrariwise to our teachings, the bible only mentions one thing to commemorate the memorable experience that Jesus went through for all of us:
BAPTISM
Well I newa!
Romans 6: 3 and 4: “3 – Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? 4 – Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so, we also should walk in newness of life.
So in reality, our Easter observances are based on mere pagan origins. Baptism is the key to commemorate Christ’s death and resurrection. So, when a person gives his or her heart to God, he/she makes a public proclamation of his/her newfound faith by being baptized publicly. The Pastor immerses the new believer under MUCH water – (not sprinkling) and raises the candidate back above the water as a demonstration of death to a deliberate sinful life and rising to a new life in Christ.
So, with all due respect to our grandparents and parents, who generally meant well, their form of worship, was not, and is not based on sound biblical doctrine.
It augers well for us to do research of our own, rather than follow mere traditions blindly.
That’s the way I see it. How do you see it?