Should Christians Celebrate Easter Like The World?

Easter is here again, and it is time to get ready to celebrate. Eggs will be filled with candy, kids will hunt eggs, and grown adults will walk around in bunny costumes while taking pictures with random children. Families will gather for meals, and kids will tear through baskets filled with goodies left by, as they believe, the aforementioned Bunny Man. Some people will attend a church service, though most will not. This is American Easter. The traditions are cute, but what does any of this have to do with Easter? It makes me question if Christians are celebrating Easter correctly or making a mockery out of the whole thing.

Pagan Roots

Generally, I do not address the history and roots of things. History on earth unfolded in such a way that everything was touched by other beliefs and cultures. As nations conquered nations and nomads moved from place to place, cultural norms traveled, too. How do we even begin to unravel that mess?

Also, good luck removing yourself from all things with pagan roots. I think it would require a complete and utter separation from society and all other people. This sounds perfect on my moodiest days, but it is not as functional and enjoyable in the long-term as some of us think. For example, the days of the week and planets in our solar system are named after pagan gods. No more astronomy? Calendars getting tossed in the trash?

Less importantly, the look-at-the-pagan-roots approach to debate almost never wins. Most people see that as literal and figurative ancient history. The focus for most is today. You’ll find that there are plenty of today reasons to support abstaining from current Easter traditions.

The Easter Bunny

Nine times out of ten I am ready to give a black and white response to, well, everything. Here, concerning Easter, I’m not ready. Let’s look at the Bunny. Full disclosure: We do not do the Easter Bunny thing in my home. I have no pictures of my children with a person-sized, floppy-eared carrot enthusiast. We have never pretended that he is a real being. They do, however, know about him. It’s not like my kids’ eyes will glass over if you mention him.

What would my kids tell you about the Easter Bunny? He’s made up. He’s a fun character like Larry the Cucumber or Mickey Mouse. My children ran to Mickey Mouse at Disney World for a picture with him, but they understood he was a regular guy wearing a costume. It was all pretend. Make believe is fun, and kids are exceptional at it. I don’t feel a need to eradicate all images of The Bunny from the world, but I do choose not to lie to my kids even when it is meant for fun.

The kind of lying that must take place for the Easter Bunny mythos to continue is far beyond a practical joke or hiding a pleasant surprise like a gift. This is, rather, creating a “person” and reality in the world that will eventually be shut down and an admitted fabrication. It is a long-term deception for the parents’ personal pleasure.

My biggest concern with the Easter Bunny is that he is pitted against Jesus on Easter. One “character” died and was raised to life again 2,000 years ago for your sins. The other one is cartoonish and hands out candy. To whom do you think children are innately more favorable?

Egg Hunts

Easter egg hunts are a game. They don’t offend me in the least. My children have participated in many over the years. The worst part to me is the overwhelming number of plastic eggs I have been stuck taking home. As someone who is always trying to downsize, those things are quite unwelcome. The candy can stay, though. Like the Easter Bunny, my focus is on what the kids believe about those eggs. My kids know nothing magical happened to make the eggs get filled and dropped in the yard.

It’s playing, so egg hunts don’t rub me the wrong way. In fact, we have incorporated eggs with the Easter story by using resurrection eggs. Each egg is filled with an item that represents part of the Passion story. You can make your own or buy them at any Christian store or Amazon. Opening each egg to discover part of the resurrection story is one of the things my kids look forward to most, and they like to pull them out throughout the year, as well.

Keep The Balance

If you want to participate in the Easter Bunny or egg hunts, then the most important thing you can do is maintain the focus in the correct place. Easter is actually the Resurrection Day, and that should be our focus. Jesus gave His life as our spotless lamb on the cross. He was buried and was raised to life three days later (1 Corinthians 15:3-4). Christ defeated death, and we can have eternal life with Him because of the resurrection (Romans 10:9). That is where the focus belongs.

Ask yourself what Easter Sunday is for you. Is it time with family? Is it about the foods you eat? Are you most excited about candy and egg hunting? I’m sorry, but you’ve lost sight of the meaning of Easter if any of those things take preeminence over the literal resurrection of Jesus Christ. We should look to Him and teach our children the true Easter story.

Final Thought

I might sound a bit down on the cutesy Easter traditions because I do favor not participating in them. That choice is up to each family, though. I don’t know each person’s heart on the issue. If you’re unsure, turn to Scripture rather than your gut…or me. The verse I always end up going back to is 1 Corinthians 10:23.

“All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not.”

1 Corinthians 10:23

The King James Version can be tricky sometimes. Here is the same verse from the English Standard Version.

“’All things are lawful,’ but not all things are helpful. ‘All things are lawful,’ but not all things build up.”

1 Corinthians 10:23

So, yes, I can participate in this culture’s version of Easter, but does it help me grow closer to Jesus? Does it help me share Jesus? Am I building up other Christians when I bypass Christ as I celebrate the most important day in history? The answer for me is clear, but we must each decide how best to celebrate this holy day.

How about you? Are you an Easter Bunny fan?

Are you wondering how well the Church is celebrating Easter? Check out Is Easter Still The Holiest Day In The Church?

Image courtesy of Gabe Pierce via Unsplash.