A reader inquired: "I would like to know if you make any special consideration regarding Easter?" No, not from a religious standpoint. We have no instructions in the Bible for an "Easter service." The word Easter is used in the KJV Bible only one time (Acts 12:4). The ASV gives the proper rendering of the word where it is translated "the Passover." Holman's Bible Dictionary defines the Passover as: "The most important Hebrew feast, commemorating their deliverance from Egyptian bondage."
To make a holy day, or, a special day of worship where God has not instructed would be sinful. God did set a special day for us to remember the death, burial, and the resurrection of Christ, and it is not called Easter, but rather it is called "the first day of the week." (Mat 26:26-28) "And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body. And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it; For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins." (1 Cor 11:23-26) "For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread: And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do show the Lord's death till he come."
Many today will say, "but that does not say how often to eat the Lord's supper." We must go to other passages to see when it is to be observed. In Acts 20:7 we read where Paul waited seven days in order to meet "upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread. The term "to break bread" is used as a synecdoche, meaning: "A figure of speech in which a part is used for the whole." Christ said, "as often as ye eat." Paul waited till the "first day of the week." That is how often. How many weeks have a first day?
Many will say, "but that doesn't say every first day of the week!" But I know not even one religious organization that won't use I Cor. 16:1-2 to prove that there is to be a collection "every first day of the week." Note the same phrase, both in Greek and English: "Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye. Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come." Every week has a first day. Just as sure as it is a sin not to contribute as "God hath prospered" us "Upon the first day of the week" (meaning the first day of every week), it is a sin not to eat the Lord's supper "every first day of the week." Christ spoke of people such as the ones who invented Easter. "Lo, this only have I found, that God hath made man upright; but they have sought out many inventions" (Eccl. 7:29). "Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying, This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men" (Mat 15:7-9). We must be careful to worship God as he has instructed. Clearly Easter is the invention of man and not of God. "We ought to obey God rather than men" (Acts 5:29).
"If any man speak let him speak as the oracles of God" (I Pet. 4:11)
Don H. Noblin
For questions or comments about this article, email Don H. Noblin. If you decide to email me, please include the title of the article. Thank you.