Hippity Hoppity (a politically incorrect article on Easter)

I was curious about the origin of the Easter Bunny, so I did some digging and here’s what I found. Remember, you’ve been forewarned by the title!

The Easter Bunny or Easter Hare got his start much like good old Kris Kringle – in Germany – or more specifically in the Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation. And just like Santa Claus, the whole point was to take an extremely important and foundational event in the Christian faith, slap a fuzzy round face on it and turn it into a reason to stay home from church to “spend time with your family.” (Oh yeah, political suicide going on here)

Why a rabbit? What’s with the eggs?

You guessed it – it’s really all about sex. Or more specificall, fertility. The Easter Bunny hops along in spring randomly spreading eggs everywhere it goes.

Bunny. Spring. Eggs. You can’t get more fertile than this!

And what’s with all this celebration of fertility? You guessed it – when you trace it all back down – we’re actually celebrating the Greek goddess of “spring-like fertility” named Eostra.

The worship of this goddess was so ingrained in the Greek culture (along with the two days of feasting and celebration that occurred every spring) that the Roman Catholic church decided to adopt some of its customs, give it a little name change and associate it with the resurrection of Christ. Your “mind brakes” might be screeching about now, but think about it: the word “Easter” isn’t anywhere in the Bible. It had to come from somewhere!

And you’ll love this…remember the traditional Easter dress every one of us girls had to wear as children? Yep, that tradition was started by the cult who worshiped Eostra; during the festivals, they had the maidens dress all in white like the goddess as a symbol of untapped fertility. (Cold shiver)

And why a chocolate bunny?

Actually, that one I get – everything is better when it’s made of chocolate.

Just a little more about the crazy egg thing…

It seems that it is traditional for Catholics to dye their Easter Eggs red to symbolize the blood of Christ. Part of the reason there was such an abundance of eggs for Easter was due to the fact that eggs were traditionally not eaten during Lent. However, early Protestants (who do not partake of Lent) didn’t stress over the quantity or redness of their eggs and decided that they liked the variety of colors used by the religiously indifferent to symbolize the many colors and varieties of flowers that begin to bloom in spring (Personally, I prefer the Paws kits that have stickers so you can make your eggs have the crazy eyes!).

Now, I could take this to a serious place and tie the fertility theme back to the blood of Christ because it was the shedding of His blood that birthed the New Testament church and the real whole point of Easter is to remember not only His broken body, shed blood and death on the cross, but that He died for the express purpose of being raised up and born again from death back into life. Why? So that we, who are already dead because of sin, can be born again into that same life with Christ!

For God so loved the world, He gave His only begotten Son so that whosoever believes in Him will not perish by have everlasting life. ~John 3:16

But, my faithful readers know me by now, and know I’m not gonna go to the serious place. Instead, I’ll leave you with this final reason why bunnies should NOT be associated with Easter:

~by Anessa Back

Beware the Lotus Eaters!

You have a difficult circumstance from which there is seemingly no escape. Suddenly, God gives you an idea that turns the situation around resulting in VICTORY! Your enemy is defeated! You celebrate! You rejoice! You’re now ready for the next step in God’s plan for your life! As you set off on your next great adventure, filled with confidence, you enter into a beautiful place of rest and peace. Surely this is your reward! You relax and take your ease, allowing your mind to rehearse your former victory over and over as you revel in your accomplishments. Now…where were you heading? Where was the next place you were supposed to occupy in the spirit? The drive you once had slips away as you daydream about places you might go and things you might do… someday.

Wake up! You have been lured into the land of the Lotus Eaters!

The Greek poet, Homer, wrote the fantastical journeys of the hero, Odysseus, and his men. Odysseus (you may recall from your school days) was the mastermind behind the Trojan Horse: a clever ruse that resulted in the Greek victory over the once impenetrable city of Troy. As you can imagine, the people rejoiced and celebrated their triumph, sailing away from Troy ready for more conquests. Riding high on their victory, Odysseus and his men make a raid on a city, plundering and pillaging goods.

As they escape with their treasures, Odysseus’s ships are blown off course and they find themselves on a beautiful island. The natives are peaceful and provide the men with lotus flowers for food. Soon, the men find themselves in a blissful state of tranquility. They rehearse the victories of days past and dream sleepily of a homeland they may or may not ever see again. Purpose is sucked away by apathy. Daydreams become clearer than reality. Motivation slips through their fingers like the sand in the hourglass of time that is wasting away. Unless they are awakened, they will sit idly by forever and never accomplish one more thing.

Think about it…how many of you can say, “I was once so on fire for the Lord, but now…I was once passionate about prayer, but lately… I used to lay hands on my family and believe for their healing, and I saw it happen immediately, but the last time… I remember the time I had a great financial need, and I sowed a timely seed only to see that need met supernaturally, but…” I’m not talking about rehearsing past victories as you face a new battle. I’m talking about the ways we find ourselves stuck from time to time, wondering how we got into a place of apathy when we know for a fact that we have experienced victory in the past. If we are not watchful and awake, we will find ourselves like Odysseus’s men: trapped in a sleepy state of contentment, happily rehearsing old victories with no motivation to move forward.

How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard? When wilt thou arise out of thy sleep? [Yet] a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep: So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth, and thy want as an armed man.

~Prov 6:9-11

Poverty of spirit will result in natural poverty. When we allow ourselves to fall into the lair of spiritual lotus-eaters, our motivation to press into the things of God slips away. A ceiling develops over our lives and ministry, and we begin living off stale manna from days gone by. We’re content with what we have already done and are not interested in pursuing more. We become worthless, ineffective, and forgotten. Generations of Christians have done this. Denominations have fallen victim to this. What about you?

The Church cannot afford to be content with rehearsing our past victories while ignoring the things God intends for us to take care of today, tomorrow, and in times to come. Friends, there is more in front of us than there is behind us! Our best is yet to come!!! So, put the lotus flower of contentment down, stop living in the past, and let’s get going! There are great adventures yet to be had in the Kingdom of God!

~Linda