Mom Unplugged

Ishtar Is Not My God

Mar 22, 2008 Power Source

The following article was written for a magazine that I used to write for, Sisters in the Lord. I thought with the holiday coming, it would be a good piece to share.
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The origin of Easter has it’s roots in many pagan traditions and customs. Yet many of us celebrate these customs without thinking about the cost.

We dye eggs, go to egg hunts, take pictures with the cute bunny, follow many of the traditions, and go broke buying everyone in the family a new Easter outfit. Much of this is done without doing an accurate study on the holiday and all it entails.

When I lived in Los Angeles, the church I attended received an in-depth history on the origin of “Easter”. What our Pastor taught us changed the church’s view, as well as mine, on this celebration we call “Easter”.

As a result, we began to call it “Resurrection Day”. As time went on, I did a personal study on the holiday and determined to never call it Easter again. As a matter of fact, I stopped buying Easter baskets, dying eggs, and taking my son to have his picture taken with the Easter Bunny. The clothes tradition is one I got rid of a long time ago, because this sister girl just did not have the cash to buy all that stuff for one day.

I made up in my mind that I could no longer take the Resurrection of my Lord and Savior and trivialize it with meaningless celebrations. How could I continue to equate the name of Jesus with a goddess, Ishtar? The Resurrection of Christ had nothing to do with fertility. It also had nothing to do with the rising of the sun (not Son), or hot crossed buns, reproductive organs ( represented by lilies). As a matter of fact, all that I have read on the holiday seems to have nothing to do with Jesus and everything to do with the Father of Deception, Satan.

I had to take what had been given to me and make a choice that I knew God would honor. Once something has been given and we prove it to be true, God expects us to follow through with the appropriate action.

So it was in my life and in my household that we determined to throw out the traditions tied to “Easter” and create traditions based on the Word and the Word alone.

I don’t claim to be an expert on this, but I do claim to be a follower of Christ. As His follower, when the Truth stares me in the face, I have to accept it for what it is. 1 Thessalonians 5:21 tell us to test everything and hold fast to that which is good. 2 Timothy 2:15 goes further to say that I am to study and rightly divide the Word. As a result when the Real Truth is before me, I shall know the truth and the truth shall set me free.

This is what it is to me. This is what God has for me. What He has for you may not be according to what He has shown me.

However, we should each take the time to examine the traditions that the world hands down and determine if it is the right thing. To paraphrase what Paul says in 1 Corinthians 6:12, just because is lawful, does not mean that it is beneficial.

I celebrate the Resurrection of a great Savior. I don’t think that Jesus would sit and dye eggs with me or make a basket full of candy and toys; all of which celebrate man and not the One who sacrificed for the redemption of my soul.

So I worship on Resurrection day. I focus on why the death? Why the Resurrection? Why for me?

In my worship, I sing, pray, read all four Gospels on the account of the Death and Resurrection, and yes I even fellowship. However, I do so with the Son in mind. As I cook on that day, I cook with love on my mind and in my heart. As I sit at the dinner table, I look around and thank God for the blessings of those He has placed in my life. As the day comes to an end, I reflect on the sacrifice and remind myself that leaving behind a tradition steeped in pagan customs was the best decision I ever made.

That my soul knows right well.

Copyright 2005-2008 LaTara Ham-Ying