It’s become more and more fashionable in our time to mock the rejection of holy days like Easter, a practice that was passionately rejected by various groups throughout history including the Proto-Protestants, Pilgrims, Puritans, Presbyterians, Congregationalists, Fundamentalists, Anabaptists and Separatists. In other words the great majority of Protestant groups since the days of Constantine rejected these days. Moreover, even among the earliest churches, the widespread practice of these days in the form we see today was simply not established until much later.
Primarily there is a use of mockery against the pagan origins of the day. Supposedly the pagan origins theory was invented by Fundies and Atheists! Rather, the theory about pagan origins is based on quite solid foundation. Bede, an English monk in the 7th century made this connection in his book on Anglo-Saxon history. Bede being a papist was pro-Easter and therefore had no reason to make such a connection speciously. According to Bede, Eostre was the Saxon godess of Spring and her festival was associated with Spring Equinox. In German she was called Ostare. This is also why Easter is celebrated on the first Sunday after the full moon of Spring Equinox instead of the original innovation which was a continuation of Jewish passover celebrations.
Secondly, it is a known fact that the modus operandi of apostate denominations like Roman Catholicism is to use syncretism to build a holy society. There is vast evidence that they brought in European pagan practices into their liturgy to make it comfortable for pagans to live in their “holy” society. One should wonder how European paganism simply dissappeared. Well it actually didn’t, it was appropriated in various forms into apostate forms of Christianity that emphasise a holy society outside the Church. Spring Equinox is a very important part of the year related to fertility in various pagan religions. Rather than keep the traditional Jewish passover as the date for Easter, the Papacy switched to a system of moon sightings on Spring Equinox. Likewise Germanic and Slavic pagans have always associated eggs and hares with fertility. Traditions that have slowly seeped into apostate Christianity.
Thirdly, it is irrelevant whether or not Easter has pagan origins. It is also irrelevant if it has early church origins. What is relevant is that the Bible does not command it and therefore it can outright be rejected as an innovation of man. Like all manmade innovations, it has the appearance of wisdom while being perilous to the soul (Col 2:23). I’ts proponents use all kinds of sophistries – philosophical, emotional and historical but seldom Biblical. It might seem wise to us to set apart a day to celebrate the resurrection, but it never came to the mind of God who never commanded it and therefore we can reject such worldly wisdom as folly.
Fourthly, Rom 14 does not permit this kind of will worship. This is a complete misunderstanding of the context of that passage. Rom 14 is about permitting Jewish Christians to keep Old Covenant God ordained holy days during the intertestamental period, because of their weakeness. It is not a tacit approval of making up whatever we want as we go along. God rejects forms of worship that do not originate with Him. It’s also interesting to note that Rom 14 calls those who celebrate the holy days as the weaker brother. This should be instructive. Don’t take my word for it – feel free to consult Calvin, Gill, Poole and Henry on Rom 14. The Christian liberty of Rom 14 is a liberty from the Mosaic law, not liberty to make up forms of worship as we go along.
Many Christians have an idolatrous attachement to these days and need to repent in tears. As evidenced by the growing mockery, these mockings and compromise will become more pronounced as more Christians reject a simple faith for a new holy society project through various forms of Dominionism. Simply put dissenters throughout history were able to reject these holy days with ease because they were willing to suffer outside the camp rather than have a place of joy within it.
Heb 11:24,25 – “By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter;
Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;”
I highly recommend this series of articles by brother John Dukes of the Proto-Protestant blog if you would like to explore this issue further - https://proto-protestantism.blogspot.com/2013/03/holy-week-2013.html
Deo Vicit Mundum 