₦airaland Forum

truthislight: What about the other of our friend nko?

Ermmmm! zikk....?

am truly disappointed

truthislight: The only thing you see as being wrong in your life of recent is tith,

This shows you don't read my posts. I don't even consider tithe as wrong! i do not condemn people for giving a tenth of their income to the church/pastor. what i condemn is the manner the tithe is preached.

truthislight: every other thing is well with you including fornication.

you get it wrong again. why the false accusations? just because i don't agree with you on some issues? Besides i don't remember ever participating in any discussion on fornication.

truthislight: Abi na lie i dey talk?

Na your conscience dey worry you you know you are not telling the truth.

truthislight: Expecting much from your kind maybe expecting too much.

My advise; don't expect anything. there's bound to be differences in the way we view some issues.

truthislight: But there are other readers that are not your kind and wish to give to God a "pure worship" owing to their appreciation of holy things, and such kind people are also reading the thread as well.

Good for them. we don't have to adopt the same approach even if we have one goal, cos we are different and relies on our own interpretations.

truthislight: So, if you dont see any thing on this below, it is not surprising indeed:

Again you get it wrong. It is not about seeing anything wrong in freksy's post; my response to any post is usually based on the purpose or objective of the poster. He is trying to prove that easter is of pagan origin and to achieve this he provides evidence that trace easter bunny, egg & candy to pagan practice. he did not achieve his aim of proving the origin of easter because his post is not saying that easter egg, bunny e.t.c were incorporated into easter from the very day people started celebrating. If it came as add-on centuries later, how does that make easter of pagan origin. it is a totally different thing if he comes here and say the celebration of easter has been corrupted with pagan practice, then we can begin to look at that post as trying to support that line of argument.

italo: Why do you hold on to the names of the months and the days of the week which are pagan?

When Paul told the Corinthians that they could eat meat sacrificed to idols, was he encouraging paganism?

JW made some attempt at creating their own calendar in time past. They had to drop it when it became obvious they will have to relocate to planet Jupiter to implement it na over sabi dey worry them

ijawkid: No mind am........italo and his ilks are ever ready to hold on to what ever is pagan.......just about anything..........

young man, you are yet to answer my question i asked how eating & drinking in remembrance of Christ ended up becoming 'passing the plate & bottle' in remembrance of Christ. abi you think say i don forget?

Freksy: The exact origins of this religious feast day's name are unknown. Some sources claim the word Easter is derived from Eostre, a Teutonic goddess of spring and fertility. Other accounts trace Easter to the Latin term hebdomada alba, or white week, an ancient reference to Easter week and the white clothing donned by people who were baptized during that time. Through a translation error, the term later appeared as esostarum in Old High German, which eventually became Easter in English. In Spanish, Easter is known as Pascua; in French, Paques. These words are derived from the Greek and Latin Pascha or Pasch, for Passover. Jesus' crucifixion and resurrection occurred after he went to Jerusalem to celebrate Passover (or Pesach in Hebrew), the Jewish festival commemorating the ancient Israelites' exodus from slavery in Egypt. Pascha eventually came to mean Easter.

Easter is really an entire season of the Christian church year, as opposed to a single-day observance. Lent, the 40-day period leading up to Easter Sunday, is a time of reflection and penance and represents the 40 days that Jesus spent alone in the wilderness before starting his ministry, a time in which Christians believe he survived various temptations by the devil. The day before Lent, known as Mardi Gras or Fat Tuesday, is a last hurrah of food and fun before the fasting begins. The week preceding Easter is called Holy Week and includes Maundy Thursday, which commemorates Jesus' last supper with his disciples; Good Friday, which honors the day of his crucifixion; and Holy Saturday, which focuses on the transition between the crucifixion and resurrection. The 50-day period following Easter Sunday is called Eastertide and includes a celebration of Jesus' ascension into heaven.

In addition to Easter's religious significance, it also has a commercial side, as evidenced by the mounds of jelly beans and marshmallow chicks that appear in stores each spring. As with Christmas, over the centuries various folk customs and pagan traditions, including Easter eggs, bunnies, baskets and candy, have become a standard part of this holy holiday.

http://www.history.com/topics/history-of-easter (Link provided by italo)

at bolded, you can see historians are not even sure of their facts. it obvious you guys don't have facts to support your claim. why criticize based on rumors/hearsay?

Freksy: Some sources claim the word Easter is derived from Eostre, a Teutonic goddess of spring and fertility.
For the above to be true there must be remnants of paganism in Easter celebration today. Interestingly, the last paragraph from the link provided by italo shows that over the centuries various folk customs and pagan traditions, including Easter eggs, bunnies, baskets and candy, have become a standard part of this holy holiday.


Do other sources agree with the evidence provided by italo's link that pagan traditons have become a standard part of Easter? The answer is, YES!

The Catholic Encyclopedia tells us: "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."—(1913), Vol. V, p. 227.


"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."—Funk & Wagnalls Standard Dictionary of Folklore Mythology and Legend (New York, 1949), Volume 1, page 335.


"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."—The Westminster Dictionary of the Bible (Philadelphia, 1944), by John D. Davis, page 145.


In the book The Two Babylons, by Alexander Hislop, we read: "What means the term Easter itself? It is not a Christian name. It bears its Chaldean origin on its very forehead. Easter is nothing else than Astarte, one of the titles of Beltis, the queen of heaven, whose name, . . . as found by Layard on the Assyrian monuments, is Ishtar. . . . Such is the history of Easter. The popular observances that still attend the period of its celebration amply confirm the testimony of history as to its Babylonian character. The hot cross buns of Good Friday, and the dyed eggs of Pasch or Easter Sunday, figured in the Chaldean rites just as they do now."—(New York, 1943), pp. 103, 107, 108;


"The children gather firewood, the men build fires, and the women mix dough to bake cakes for the goddess they call the Queen of Heaven. They also pour out offerings of wine to other gods, in order to hurt me." Jeremiah 7:18 The Goodnews Catholic Bible (GNTCE)


Easter Bunny
In Europe, the hare has long been a traditional symbol of Easter. (In North America, the animal is a rabbit—a close relative of the hare.) Yet The New Encyclopædia Britannica explains that the hare was "the symbol of fertility in ancient Egypt." Thus when children hunt for Easter eggs, supposedly brought by the Easter rabbit, "this is not mere child's play, but the vestige of a fertility rite."—Funk & Wagnalls Standard Dictionary of Folklore, Mythology and Legend, volume 1, page 335.


"The Bible makes no mention of a long-eared, short-tailed creature who delivers decorated eggs to well-behaved children on Easter Sunday; nevertheless, the Easter bunny has become a prominent symbol of Christianity's most important holiday. The exact origins of this mythical mammal are unclear, but rabbits, known to be prolific procreators, are an ancient symbol of fertility and new life... " http://www.history.com/topics/easter-symbols (Through your link, http://www.history.com/topics/history-of-easter)


Easter Eggs
"Easter is a religious holiday, but some of its customs, such as Easter eggs, are likely linked to pagan traditions. 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. Decorating eggs for Easter is a tradition that dates back to at least the 13th century, according to some sources. One explanation for this custom is that eggs were formerly a forbidden food during the Lenten season, so people would paint and decorate them to mark the end of the period of penance and fasting, then eat them on Easter as a celebration...."
http://www.history.com/topics/easter-symbols (Through your link, http://www.history.com/topics/history-of-easter)


Easter Candy
"Easter is the second best-selling candy holiday in America, after Halloween. Among the most popular sweet treats associated with this day are chocolate eggs, which date back to early 19th century Europe. Eggs have long been associated with Easter as a symbol of new life and Jesus' resurrection. Another egg-shaped candy, the jelly bean, became associated with Easter in the 1930s (although the jelly bean's origins reportedly date all the way back to a Biblical-era concoction called a Turkish Delight)...."
www.history.com/topics/easter-symbols (Through your link, http://www.history.com/topics/history-of-easter)


Easter Parade
"In New York City, the Easter Parade tradition dates back to the mid-1800s, when the upper crust of society would attend Easter services at various Fifth Avenue churches then stroll outside afterward, showing off their new spring outfits and hats...." http://www.history.com/topics/easter-symbols (Through your, link http://www.history.com/topics/history-of-easter)

Reading this your long post, i don't see anything here that says easter celebration (celebration of Jesus resurrection) is of pagan origin. abi you don't know what it means to say a celebration is of pagan origin?

garyarnold: @image123 - Have you read nothing that has been written, or is it that you just don't understand what has been written?

Image123 knows the truth, but accepting such truth would amount to suicide for him. He has reached the point of no return. Going back on tithing have psychological implication. He just have to keep believing he is doing the right thing. Image123 never saw Mathew 23:23 before he started tithing (same for most tithers), he is posting it here just to justify his actions.

Bidam: Even if Christ should ask us to sell everything and contribute the proceeds to the poor, the true disciple would be willing to do so (Matt. 19:21-22).

Abeg make I hear word! Where are you going to find the true disciple that will sell everything? I know you won't find one in Nigeria. You people should stop deceiving yourselves.

truthislight:

Do you mean "your Oga at the top"?

Would that be the pope?

I had God in mind.

Freksy: Are you trying to indirectly tell me you don't celebrate Easter?

It depends. To answer your question I need to first understand your definition of Easter.

Freksy: ....se ask italo to tell us why their celebration of Jesus' resurrection is called 'Easter'? I believe some curious-minded ones too would be interested in knowing this from the guy whom you say appears to be a celebrant of Easter. Your failure to ask, and italo failing to response to you will show that you guys know the truth about its root, but can't dare to say it out. I heard you saying case close when we have just started.

Italo provided his knowledge of the origin of Easter. Do you have contrary info?

Freksy: You still have the mind to repeat this lie? As you lie that nobody has said anything about the origin of Easter, does that not imply you probably have lied too regarding other things you've said about Easter? Have a quick flip through the pages, and response accordingly to what you see regarding its origin. Again, lets see how sincere you are: please type the words 'Easter egg' and 'easter bunny' in your device's dictionary and tell us what you see. That will probably and publicly show you've omitted a lot of things in your list of Easter's activities for obvious reasons.

How can you say I lied? Please provide reference to the post made by either you or ijawkid showng the origin of Easter.

If you are scared of posting what you believe to be the origin of Easter, I don't see how you want people to believe you are serious.

Freksy: Its root!

Since you guys have refused to say anything bout the origin of Easter, we cannot be discussing its root. We are actually looking at the activities associated with Easter to see if it's breach of Christ commandments. From what I know, reflections, prayers, fasting, thanksgiving, praise singing, acting out some of the activities leading to Christ crucifixion are what I see from the people around me. and I find it difficult to understand why these activities should be considered pagan.

Anyways, italo appears to be an Easter celebrant and he told us the origin of his celebration. I don't see anything pagan in the origin. Case close.

Freksy: Please which rejoicing do you think I have issue with, that at Ex.32 or that of Easter?

We are discussing Easter na.

Freksy: You can't use that. ...That is one of the reasons I referred you to Ex. 32:5&6. It's too weak a reason to be used to justify Easter.

You told us that any celebration not listed as a command from God is a sin and will not be accepted by God. The reference to Nehemiah is not to justify Easter but to show your reasoning cannot be correct. The Israelites celebration was not command from God.

Freksy: As a Christian, have you ever read about past events in the bible, and use the lesson learnt to make an informed decision?
That is why they gave us principles that we will be guided by, no matter how long we may live, and advanced the world may be. Laws may change, but bible principles will always remain unchanged. The more you study and understand the scriptures, the more you'll acquire the principles therein and be guided by in all you do, Internet use inclusive.

What principles? who gave you principles? Can you provide two principles that is not address with Christ commandment?

Freksy: Why won't he accept, are they not offered to him and in his name? Ok, what about easter that his son has been dragged into?

What is being offered at Easter? I know of prayers, praises and thanks. Is there anything missing? These are activities expected of a Christian.

ijawkid: ThE kingdom hall is just a covered roof where meetings take place.......it could be a bamboo house or anything...we could even meet under a tree..only be say rain and sun go worry us..........holding christian gatherings is not pagan,but easter is......abi??....if Christ was existing today he would have used gsm..na lie??........gsm is a means of communication and not a religious service....easter is..easter is not a secular holiday or celebration....its religious...don't you get it...its like asking why Jesus would board a boat when he was on earth.....transporting himself was necessary....

You never answer my question. Jesus said you eat and drink in remembrance of him. Kindly explain how you succeeded in doing something different. Just tell us how passing the plate and bottle round equate to compliance. I know the apostles complied with Christ instruction by eating.

ijawkid: .....Just openely tell me you don't celebrate easter so that we can both rest.....do you celebrate easter?...

That's a difficult question. I would say it depends. It's obvious your version of Easter differs from mine. If it's your version (don't know since you refuse to disclose), I don't celebrate Easter.

Freksy: There are principles that guide everything we do as Christians, with general celebration inclusive.

You should rely on Christ commandment instead of some strange principles.

Freksy: Don't you think the apostles had the opportunity to have created Easter, especially each time they want to celebrate the LORD's Supper, what exactly prevented them from doing that? Now, judging from your comment, it was our responsibility to creat Easter am I correct?

I don't see it as a responsibility. It's a matter of choice. If it helps develop or sustain your relationship with God, please go ahead. If you feel like having a party anytime you reflect on the effect/importance of Jesus resurrection, go ahead & enjoy yourself.

Freksy: When i first quoted only verses 5&6, I wanted you to know that mere looking at their rejoicing and offerings and the purpose of their feast were not enough to conclude that they did the right thing Forget about hearsay, Easter had nothing to do with the resurrection of Christ. Do what you did regarding "a feast to Jehovah" ASV.

I don't have issues with their rejoicing. It obvious you do, so I believe you have info you need to share. If you are not keen on sharing your info, let's ignore the need for additional research.

Freksy: Why were you not contented with what the celebrants of "a feast to the LORD" at Ex. 32 :5&6 told you, but you went ahead to research further and furnished us with proofs that they were not actually doing it to the LORD as they claimed.

There was no need for research. Was already familiar with exodus 32.

Freksy: Whether you accept it or not, you need to proof easter. Was it not you that said nobody will condemn me for not doing it? If I will not be condemned for not doing it, what about those doing it? Are you thinking the admonition for you to prove easter is from me, it's from Paul "Prove all things ; hold fast that which is good" - 1Thess. 5:21 KJV

I don't see condemnation either way. For me it's a matter of choice.

Freksy: Ok sir, but would it be correct to say that the decision to start celebrating Easter among Christian all over the world, was divinely inspired?

Am sorry, but questions like this I don't answer. You should take it upstairs.

Freksy: I used those questions to belie your claim that Easter is like what happened at Neh. 8:9-12. You said it was a festival, like easter except it did not take place annually like Easter. Any sane person that read Neh. 8:9-12 will know that wasn't a festival. Rather, they had the festival of booth some days later.

You misinterpreted me again. I am not saying the event was a festival, only the activities are not so different from what I see done at Easter.

Freksy: Is it proper to be sure of what you eat? You have to be sure of what you give to God, a holy being.
Prove that the above is not in line with the bible principle found at 1thess. 5:21-22 "On the other hand, don’t be gullible. Check out everything, and keep only what’s good. 22 Throw out anything tainted with evil." - MGB (The Message Bible)

It behoves you to carry out thorough research on easter, as others have done, to enable you see if Easter is tainted with evil.. What if your findings show Easter has evil root? The same text tells us what we must do - Throw it out! .... Supposed I am engrained in it so much that I can't let it go? James 4:17 is self-explanatory in this regard.

"So for one who knows the right thing to do and does not do it, it is a sin." James 4:17 NABRE (Catholic Bible)

The above are some of the bible principles that we must be guided by in our dealings with God.

This is what i see in the post above;

1. bible verses saying we should do away with anything evil
2. your belief that easter celebration is evil
3. your refusal to provide the details of the 'evil' embedded in easter, instead advising we do our own research.

Na so? i don't see how you will be successful as a pastor/teacher if you adopt this approach. i have been waiting for you to provide the 'juicy' & 'evil' details in easter to enable me form an opinion. Do i have to bribe to get information around here?

Freksy: But a daily or weekly or monthly festival? Can you say YES to that?

so the reason it's pagan its because it is recurring? that's why easter is a sin? kindly confirm before i say more.

Freksy: At Easter festival, as you say, people today do something similar to what is described at Neh. 8:9-12. The people of that same Neh. 8:9-12 did those things at what festival? Can you mention as you have mentioned Easter? ..... Like I said before, condemning Easter does not mean condemning rejoicing, am sure you know this by now.

my understanding of your initial position was that easter is wrong because it was not commanded. please confirm that this view is still valid. cos what am reading above is that easter celebration is evil because it's done on a normal day. My interpretation of the above is that if easter activities was done on say same day with the Lord's supper, it becomes an accepted celebration. kindly confirm.

if that's not what you are saying, then what the Israelite did is equally wrong cos it was not commanded by God simple.

Freksy: Can you please share the bolded with us?

There's not much to share. i know of activities like palm sunday (i think there is a procession or something), i know of 'Holy thursday' (i think that has to do with some feet washing).

Freksy: Bros, it appears you have forgotten what you are trying to prove.
Can the same words in bold be as well used regarding Easter, as you claim Easter was also divinely instituted for God's worshipers?

You are the one not understanding what am trying to prove. You don't find me saying "Easter was also divinely instituted for God's worshipers". That's false accusation. what am saying with the part of my post you bolded was that doing anything in a manner contrary to specification does not equate to compliance. But it only applies to activities required for implementing that law/instruction. That instruction cannot be extended to cover other activities. for e.g. If God says rest on sabbath, that instruction cannot be applied to other working days abi?

Freksy: Moreover, who says Easter had anything to do with the resurrection of Christ? Can you prove this?

I don't need any proof. the celebrants says he is celebrating Jesus resurrection. It's the man that believes the celebrant is not celebrating Jesus resurrection that's required to tender evidence proving the celebrant is not telling the truth.

Freksy: There are principles in the bible that show Easter celebration is wrong for Christians to take part in.

I am yet to see the principles. kindly share.

ijawkid: .....I would have still noticed the easter or xmas celebration even if it wasn't made a holiday..

...and you are yet to notice my celebrations?

ijawkid: ..thought the holidays attached to it even makes its root in paganism glaring...

are you now saying the idea of an holiday (work free days) is pagan as well?

ijawkid: The truth is people don't reflect on Jesus' ressurection until easter....you talk like you don't understand what's happening.....

i see you don't know the real truth..anybody waiting till easter to reflect on Jesus resurrection is not really interested in Jesus. He is actually waiting for the holiday.

ijawkid: Don't you celebrate the easter??...

i enjoy the holiday.

ijawkid: ....I would still ask you again:::: would you be celebrating the easter or know anything about it if the catholics did not kick start it??....

some elements of easter i do, easter or no easter.

ijawkid: .....you think if individuals took there time to meditate on Jesus' sacrificial death I would be here arguing with u??.......the easter is a registered celebration that is done annualy,with a fixed date...........and a great crowd of persons are doing it.......why??......

so if individuals have their own easter, you no get issues. only when done as a group abi? it only becomes a sin when an activity is done by a great crowd abi? am beginning to understand your case.

by the way if JW memorial is done annually with a fixed date, why is the frequency and date for celebrating easter considered pagan? you see your bias.

ijawkid: You know sabi do research again??....or abi wikipedea no dey work for your phone??......

Go to the catholic encyclopedia or search for other posts here on nairaland to see the origin of easter and then come back here to defend it..........

Una go give me PHD for the research? i cannot because of you spend valuable time doing research. na you talk say easter celebration get k-leg, meaning you know stuff we don't know. post the info here make we read na.

ijawkid: Yes I do.....my christian living is based on precedent.......Jesus' actions,his words,the examples of the apostles.......abi you no know??...

which one be 'Christian' living, attempting to dribble your way out of the corner you put yourself abi? and i see you have added 'words' to your definition of precedence. anyways that will not save you, Christian living impacts every aspect of your day to day activities. so tell us where christ and the apostles used or told us to use internet & gsm phone, also tell us whether jesus built or told us to build kingdom halls, don't forget to tell us the precedent of how paul and the apostles (or even jesus self) was passing the bread round (without taking a bite) when they come together for the Lord's supper.

oya, over to you

ijawkid: Which discerning spirit would make a true christian not question pagan based celebrations,the having of tattoos,smoking of marijuana etc....??

It's the same discerning spirit that enables me to understand your perspective plus much more. i see beyond what you see

ijawkid: We are not allowing our emotions influence our reasoning,we only look at issues with the eyes of our Lord and the apostles.......

You better check your glasses very well, cos you no dey see the same thing Jesus dey see.

ijawkid: Hehehe...I'm here on nairaland to help people shun paganism that is covered with christian clothing......

You don't do that by accusing them of pagan worship when you don't know what they do.

Freksy: No one is condemning such rejoicing. If I were there I would have rejoiced with them. Check again where you bolded on my post, it's about festival directed to God, like say, Easter festival. The people's rejoicing which resulted from their understanding of the law, was it a festival to God,? Not at all!

..and let me repeat that same rule (for determining right or wrong) will apply irrespective of the action.

Freksy: No one is condemning such rejoicing. If I were there I would have rejoiced with them. Check again where you bolded on my post, it's about festival directed to God, like say, Easter festival. The people's rejoicing which resulted from their understanding of the law, was it a festival to God,? Not at all!

What exactly is a "festival to God"? We are told the celebration happened on a day that was holy to the Lord. How is the celebration different from Easter? (other than it is not an annual event). They rejoiced after hearing/reading and understanding what has been made known to them. At Easter i see people do some reflections (based on their understanding of scriptures), prayers (which the Israelite would have done), fasting for some, some teachings in church then the celebrations - food & drink just like the Israelite. I did not forget the re-enactment of some of activities leading to Jesus crucifixion. Is there something am missing? please fill the gap. So what is not a festival to God, were the Israelite rejoicing, eating and drinking because they heard the words of the law as issued by Baal?

Freksy: And all the congregation of them that were come again out of the captivity made booths , and sat under the booths : for since the days of Jeshua the son of Nun unto that day had not the children of Israel done so . And there was very great gladness . Also day by day , from the first day unto the last day , he read in the book of the law of God . And they kept the feast seven days ; and on the eighth day was a solemn assembly ,according unto the manner."—Neh. 8:17, 18; Lev. 23:33-36

Note the expression: "according unto the manner" KJV; "as was required. " NET ; "according unto the ordinance" ASV

Before nkor? it can only be done as stated in the law. if done any other way, they have not complied. I don't see any correlation between this and somebody celebrating Jesus resurrection.

Freksy: I appreciate your effort, please keep searching the scriptures, perhaps, you will suddenly come across a festival directed to God that men sat down, reasoned in out by themselves, in the end, the Almighty approved.

What i see here is you people writing your own law so you can use it to condemn an action. There would be no argument if you can show that a commandment of the Lord have been breached.

ijawkid: would you have or would any Easter celebrant have observed the Easter celebration down till today if it was not instituted by the catholic church?....

am sure it never occurred to you that people (in their own way) celebrate on a daily basis. The only reason you noticed the Easter or Christmas celebrations is because an holiday is declared which enables large group participation. I do know the catholic church has other feast you never get to hear of, simply because there is no holiday. Institution of a celebration by the church allowed for participation, that is not say everybody participates in this celebration or that people don't on their own reflect on some of these things and celebrate in their way.

ijawkid: because from all your talks iI can see that d origin means nothing to u.....

You people are yet to give me the full (& unbiased) gist of the origin, have actually been waiting for somebody to post something on the origin.

ijawkid: Jesus didnt set the precedent,his apostles who are part of d major foundation of Christianity didnt....

Do you live a life based on precedent? please answer.

ijawkid: your problem is your sense of identifying whats right or wrong is totally warped....as for u anything and everything is acceptable to God....smoking marijuana,celebrating,pagan originated festivals,,(maybe even doing tattoos)..

Unlike you guys, i never allow my emotions influence my reasoning. I don't do hearsay either. I look at issues with a discerning spirit.

ijawkid: learn and follow d steps of Jesus and other faithful servants of God and stop being part of this Satan ruled world...

If you are not part of "satan ruled world", what are you doing on NL?

garyarnold: To the tithers:

If tithe merely means a tenth and nothing else, then if I go to church with ten pennies in my pocket, and I give one penny, would you agree that I am a tither? Can I give a tenth of whatever I please and satisfy your definition of tithing?

Which of the three tithes was Jesus referring to in Matthew 23:23? This is very important to know. If it was all three tithes, they why don't you also honor all three tithes? Jesus said the scribes and Pharisees PAY tithe (KJV). The Leviticus tithe wasn't paid. It was taken. The second tithe, or festival tithe, was taken and eaten. Only the third tithe, the 3-year tithe, which went to the poor and was kept within the cities, could be considered paid. So it wasn't the tithe that supported the priesthood that Jesus was referring to unless He was referring to ALL THREE tithes. If I am wrong, please show me which tithe(s) Jesus was referring to, and back it up with scripture. If you can't back it up, then you don't know. And if you don't know, then you can't use Matthew 23:23 to say that Jesus confirmed the tithe to the priesthood.

Tithers don't tithe because they believe jesus endorsed tithe (@mathew 23:23), they tithe because they want to be rich, problem free or because they are afraid of the devourer (@malachi 3:10). even if jesus was silent on tithe, the pastor is still going to get that 10%.

Freksy: Go to Ex. 32

Exodus 32:1 (KJV)
32 And when the people saw that Moses delayed to come down out of the mount, the people gathered themselves together unto Aaron, and said unto him, Up, make us gods, which shall go before us; for as for this Moses, the man that brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we wot not what is become of him.

The Israelite were not worshiping God through the calf; they were actually worshiping the calf.

Exodus 32:8 (KJV)
8 They have turned aside quickly out of the way which I commanded them: they have made them a molten calf, and have worshipped it, and have sacrificed thereunto, and said, These be thy gods, O Israel, which have brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.

Freksy: Before his death and after resurrection. To be more specific, celebration that was done to God - that was connected to his worship.

You can forget about the era before crucifixion, the law was still in operation. you don't expect them to come up with celebrations not approved by the temple, do you? it was not their responsibility to design or create celebrations. and even after, the apostles would not consider celebrations. to answer your question - Don't know of any party originating from the apostles.

Freksy: I quoted Paul just to prove that the early Christians did just the way Christ did. They could have said, 'let bring in Christ's resurrection into this', but they did it not. The question I asked was, could it be that they forgot? Better still, were Christians then not wise enough?

Its not a question of anybody forgetting or not being wise enough. It's not a do or die thing either. Nobody will condemn you for not doing it. It might just be how the person want to worship or probably based on the value/importance that event have on the celebrant's faith

Freksy: This celebration we are talking about is directed to God, as part of our worship. If I were talking about celebration generally, would I not contradict myself when I said God wants us to be happy and rejoice all the time?

I don't see why you chose to make that distinction between general celebration and one directed to God. I believe same rule should apply in determining right or wrong.