Why Isn't the Church Keeping Watch?

³⁷ Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them. ³⁸And if he shall come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants. ³⁹And this know, that if the goodman of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched, and not have suffered his house to be broken through. ⁴⁰Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not. ⁴¹Then Peter said unto him, Lord, speakest thou this parable unto us, or even to all? ⁴²And the Lord said, Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his lord shall make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of meat in due season? ⁴³Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing. ⁴⁴Of a truth I say unto you, that he will make him ruler over all that he hath. (Luke 11:37-44 KJV)

Throughout the gospels Jesus tells the disciples to keep watch. Yet, I have never heard a sermon on the end times. I've heard plenty of sermons on believing, keeping faith, not following the world... I've read posts on whether Christians should wear leggings and tight clothing, whether we should listen to secular music, and how we should carry ourselves while dating. People may cite hypocrisy and accuse people of being false prophets, but rarely do I see posts on blogs dedicated solely to Christian ministry about the events of the end times. Why is that?

The only thing I heard as a child was "fire and brimstone." My Sunday school teachers and preachers never really explained what actually happens and I was absolutely terrified. I remember being about ten, answering the question "if you found a genie, what would you wish for?" with "that the end of the world never comes." I had no idea that the end of the world is a) already happening, b) the only way for the saints to go to Heaven, and c) Jesus' victory.

I have to thank the Left Behind series in part for my revelation, though the book is pure fiction and way off base. It at least got me to think about the topic, or rather study the topic—I've been thinking about the topic about as long as I've been a believer. Once I started actually reading The Bible I realized the Bible begins warning us of the last days long before we get to Revelation, before we even reach the New Testament. Even Jacob was concerned with telling his sons what would become of them in their last days (Genesis 49). How can one "keep watch" if they have no idea what to keep watch for?

Many will use the excuse that Revelation is the hardest book to understand in the Bible. This is probably the only thing scholars from every denomination, as well as non-believers, will agree upon. But it makes sense that the book is complex: it's a battle plan. No general would would reveal all of his cards ahead of the battle! Jesus warns of false prophecy throughout the Gospels. This is all the more reason to study. There are three schools of thought on the end times: those who believe that it already happened, that it is currently happening, and that it is going to happen in the future. There are people who believe in a rapture. There are people who think people go to heaven or hell as soon as they die (despite Revelation clearly stating that the dead were resurrected to be judged and then taken to Heaven or cast out). People place many men behind the mask of the antichrist without the slightest idea of his characteristics.

Is that not odd to you?

April was a busy month for me, so I didn't get to most everything I wanted, but maybe it worked out for the best. Now that I have more free time, I'll be able to go into this particular topic in much more detail. Next week I'll be starting a series on the End of Days. Check back to comment, question, opine, learn, and most importantly: keep watch.

³²But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father. ³³Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is. ³⁴For the Son of Man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch. ³⁵Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning: ³⁶Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping. ³⁷And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch. (Mark 13:32-37 KJV)

Previous Posts about the End of Days

Beware of Beliefs that Don't Add Up
The Sabbath, The Mark of God, and Still Debating Where Sunday Fits In
Concluding My Debate on Sabbath vs. Sunday

Religions of the World

A few weeks ago I talked about differences between Christan denominations, now, lets talk about differences between religions. When it comes to world religions the first that come to mind are the three Abrahamic religions,—Judaism, Christianity, and Islam—along with Hinduism and Buddhism. There are also Baha'i, Candomblé, Jainism, Santeria, Sikhism, Taoism, Zoroastrianism, and more. Also, there are Rastafari and Shintoism which many consider religions, while the practitioners do not consider it a religion. Furthermore, there are the concepts of atheism and agnosticism. While there are obvious differences between each religion (or belief), there are also many similarities. Remember, each religion has many sects (just as Christianity has denominations). Many religions have people who twist and turn the religion for their own purposes, but as you will see below, most religions are intended to inspire people to live a positive life, to provide hope, and to define the purpose or a way of life.

What is ______ism About?

Judaism

Judaism, one of the oldest religions of the world, follows the Talmud (known as the Old Testament of the Bible to some). The laws and practices of Judaism were first recorded by Moses, though the relationship between God and the Jews as His chosen people begins with the covenant made by Abraham and God before Moses' time. It is one of the oldest monotheistic religions of the world.

Christianity

Christianity is also an Abrahamic religion, in which Jesus is the fulfillment the Jewish Messiah. The Old Testament is used to teach the history of the faith, while the New Testament represents the new covenant in which Jesus has saved everyone (not just the Jews) by dying on the cross so long as an individual believes in Jesus' death and resurrection. Christians are meant to emulate their life after Jesus.

Islam

The third and final Abrahamic religion is Islam. Based on the prophecy of Muhammad. Muslims, follow the Qur'an and the 5 Pillars of Faith. These five pillars include the declaration of faith, praying five times a day, donating money to charity, the pilgrimage or hajj, and fasting (in the month of Ramadan).

Hinduism

Hinduism is most popular in India and Nepal. There is no "founder" of Hinduism nor a specific source as scripture. Due to the variety of practices, Hinduism may be considered a way of life as opposed to a defined religion by some. While Hinduism is a polytheistic religion, their deities are believed to be formed from the qualities of a supreme God. Hindus believe in reincarnation and karma.

Buddhism

Buddhist follow in the footsteps of Siddhartha Gautama in an attempt to reach nirvana (enlightenment). Buddhists believe in reincarnation and thus, that life is endless. There is no belief in a personal God in this religion.

Bahá'í

The Bahá'í religion was founded in 1863, making it one of the newer religions of the world. They believe that Bahá'u'lláh is a prophet who follows Muhammad. Unity is a principal part of their faith along with the belief that there is something valid in all world religions.

Candomblé

Practiced mainly in Brazil, this religion is a combination of Yorba, Fon, and Bantu beliefs. For this reason it is considered a syncretic religion. In this religion there are many lesser deities that serve one God, and these lesser deities look after and control each individual's destiny. Fulfillment of ones destiny is the primary concern for this religion and there is no belief in good or bad.

Jainism

Mahavira is considered the shaper of modern Jainism, and his teachings are recorded in the Agamas. Jainism is another religion that does not include a belief in god. It focuses on non-violence, not only between people but towards animals and plants as well. In Jainism, plants and animals have souls, just like humans and thus should be treated with respect and care. Like Buddhists and Hindus, they believe in reincarnation. They have 5 mahavratas (or vows) which are non-violence, non-attachment to possessions, not to lie, not to steal, and sexual restraint.

Rastafari

Developed from the ideas of Marcus Garvey, Rastafarian theology was formed in the 1930s. Rastas believe that blacks are descendants of one of the 12 Tribes of Israel and thus the chosen people of God and that Hailie Selassie I is God (or the second coming of Jesus). Rastas also follow a strict dietary law. Many Rastas do not consider it a religion and reject the idea of "isms."

Santeria

Santeria is also a syncretic religion born out of slavery in the caribbean. It mixes Yorba and Catholic beliefs. Adherents of this religion believe in spirits called Orishas which are mortal manifestations of God meant to aid humans. 

Shintoism

Shinto is a Japanese belief concerned with honoring spirits known as kami. Kami are not considered to be gods; rather, they are spirits who may intervene in human life. Practitioners of Shintoism do not consider it a religion but a way of life.

Sikhism

Sikh is a monotheistic religion founded by Guru Nanak in the Punjab province of India. Their focus on is on living a good life, by helping the less fortunate, treating everyone equally, being honest, etc., as opposed to rituals. Their scriptural book is called Guru Granth Sahib, and is considered a living Guru.

Taoism

Taoism (also known as Daoism) is a Chinese religion concerned with unity and opposites—Yin and Yang. There are many deities in this religion, however The Tao (which the religion is named for), is not considered a deity and is not worshipped. The Tao unifies and is connected to all things. Harmony, self development, and spiritual immortality are some of the religion's goals.

Zoroastrianism

Also a very old religion, Zoroastrianism was founded in Iran and was once the official religion of Persia. Zoroastrians believe in one God who was revealed to the prophet Zoroaster. Their holy book is The Avesta. Fire is considered the light or wisdom of God. Like Muslims, they pray several times a day.

Atheism & Agnosticism

Atheists do not believe in God, while Agnostics don't know if there is a god or gods. There are Agnostic Atheists (people who don't know if God exists but don't believe in God) as well as Agnostic Theists (people who believe at least one God exists but don't know for sure).

Quickview Comparison

Religion	Deity	Afterlife	Eternal Life	Reincarnation
Atheism	None	Probably Not	Probably Not	Probably Not
Agnosticism	Unknown	Unknown	Unknown	Unknown
Bahá'í	One	No	Yes	No
Buddhism	None	Nirvana	No	Yes
Candomblé	Many	Heaven	Yes	Yes
Christianity	One	Heaven/Hell	Yes	No
Hinduism	Many	Liberation	Yes	Yes
Islam	One	The Gardens/Hell	Yes	No
Jainism	None	Supreme Abode	Yes	Yes
Judaism	One	World to Come/Sheol	Yes	Conflicting Sources
Rastafari	One	Heaven on Earth (Ethiopia)	Yes	No
Santeria	One	Yes	Yes	Conflicting Sources
Shintoism	None	Yes	Yes	Into Kami
Sikhism	One	Union with God	Yes	Yes
Taoism	Many	Returned to the Tao	Unclear	Returned to the Tao
Zoroastrianism	One	Heaven/Hell	Yes	No

*Note, some religions are unclear on afterlife beliefs as they focus on present life, thus different sects may have differing beliefs. **Note, I do not profess to be an expert in all religions and thus the information provided is to the best of my knowledge with sources sited below.

References

[1] Agnosticism vs. Atheism
[2] Bahá'í
[3] Buddhism
[4] Candomblé
[5] In Depth on Candomblé
[6] Christianity
[7] Hinduism
[8] islam
[7] Jainism
[9] Judaism
[10] Rastafari
[11] Santeria
[12] In Depth on Santeria
[13] Shintoism
[14] Sikhism
[15] In Depth on Shinto
[16] Taoism
[17] Zoroastrian

Why You are NOT Like a Pizza Box

Below is a video of Pastor Jentezen Franklin comparing mankind to a pizza box that went viral today on my Facebook timeline. Initially, I didn't pay the video any attention until I saw that not only had a large number of my friends shared the video, but someone had commented "let me be empty!" under one of the posts. This seemed odd to me, so I decided to take a look at the video.

Initially, I was in total agreement with his metaphor. He begins by pointing out that a pizza box has a very low value, it's the pizza inside that gives it value. He likens this to people, suggesting that it doesn't matter what you look like on the outside but what you have inside is what makes you a valuable person. He goes on to say the pizza box is a vessel for the pizza, just as we are a vessel for God. This is a well formed and accurate analogy.  However, he doesn't stop there. He further postulates that we must be clean and empty (like the pizza box) to find God. This is where this sermon goes horribly wrong.

I got into a conversation with one of the posters about why I disliked his conclusion, and the more I thought about it the more I disliked it. So, I've decided to point out what is wrong with the statement that you have to be "clean and empty" for God.

1. The Issue of Cleanliness

We all know the saying "cleanliness is next to godliness," and while the Bible does place a lot of emphasis on cleanness, in Mathew 15 Jesus informs the Pharisees that it is perfectly fine for the disciples to eat/handle their bread without washing their hands. We'll give the pastor the benefit of the doubt that and assume that he didn't mean "clean" so much as pure and without sin. Most people believe that sin cannot exist in the presence of God—it seems that the pastor is making the assumption that God cannot exist in the presence of sin. This can be debunked easily. In Luke 7:36-50, Jesus saves a woman who is repeatedly called a sinner. Saul was a persecutor of Christians when Jesus appeared to him, saved him, and made him Paul the Apostle (Act 8-9).  God and Satan have a conversation in Job 1.  You get the point, you don't have to be devoid of sin (or "clean" as the pastor has claimed) for God to make use of you. If you let Him, God will do the cleaning once you meet.

2. Emptiness Leaves Room For Anything

Upon searching for an image of an empty pizza box
the above image from pixshark actually appeared
fairly high in the google search, proving
that anything can be placed in the pizza box.

Sure, a pizza goes into an empty pizza box... If the pizza box is in a pizza parlor. If the pizza box somehow ends up in a Burger King, someone might put a burger and fries in it. If the pizza box is on the street, someone might use it over their head as shelter from the rain or they might let their animal relieve themself in it so they can clean behind them easily. A pizza only ends up in the empty pizza box if the pizza box is in the right place. Furthermore, a shoddy employee can put a burnt pizza in the box. Or a half a pizza. Or the wrong pizza. There's nothing there to stop the wrong thing from being placed in the box. When you translate this from the metaphor back with real life, what fills and empty person depends on where that person is in life.

3. Emptiness is not a Positive

Again, when you move the metaphor from pizza box to human, you go from an empty pizza box to an empty human. An empty human is not something you want to be called. Empty in front of anything is pretty much a negative: empty headed, empty pockets, empty stomach, empty fridge... Empty is not good. To be empty is to be devoid, lacking, and without meaning/purpose (that is the definition of empty, actually). Emptiness is the number one cause of people spiraling into bad behavior: drug use, alcoholism, violence, depression... Also, with emptiness comes a desire to fill the emptiness, and the devil will prey on this desire just to steer people in the wrong direction.  You don't want to be empty. You want something inside you that is able to discern right from wrong. You want something inside you that gives you a desire to seek out God.

A Better Suggestion

If you want to make this pastor's metaphor work and compare yourself to an inanimate object, be like a vending machine. It's useful and valuable because of the product inside it, regardless of its dents, dings, scratches, etc., but it can tell the difference between a dollar and a piece of paper. This ability is not because its empty, but because it is filled with the mechanics it needs to differentiate between a sham and real money. Similarly, you should be filled with the ability to recognize right and wrong, truth and untruth. The vending machine has bolts and pulleys, you have The Word and prayer. So please, do not go into the world trying to be like a pizza box!

And Then There Was Light: Sonoluminescence

This week, I started to do a post showing the similarities and dissimilarities of various religions (much like I did in the last post for Christian Denominations). However, I came across this interesting video and decided to share it instead. The comparison of religions post is coming, though!

The above video is from BBC Horizon's An Experiment to Save the World. The researcher in the video is Dr. Seth Putterman who is a professor in the physics department at UCLA. His research covers sonoluminescence—the process of sound being turned into light.  This phenomenon occurs when a sound wave passes through a bubble of liquid, causing the bubble to first expand and then collapse. Upon collapsing the energy is released in the form of light. After noting that the light appears like a star, Dr. Putterman reveals in the video that the surface of the light bubble burns at tens of thousand degrees. The current question is whether the inner core is hotter and hot enough for fusion.

The scientific impressiveness of this is obvious; if it turns out that the inner core is in fact capable of nuclear fusion, the uses of this discovery are countless. What may not be obvious, and probably won't be mentioned by the science community is that this possibility was recorded over 3500 years ago in approximately 1400 bc. Genesis 1:2-3 says that God spoke to the waters and created light! How did Moses know that sound  (the sound emitted from God's voice in this case) actually can create light?

I've always found it interesting that scientists merely provide "scientific evidence" that the story told in Genesis 1 is completely plausible. The only real point of contention is the time frame, which makes sense as time is measured by man made units. For example, it is currently 2015 in America, but in Islamic countries it is 1435. Because both of these calendars were created during time periods we know much about and are still presently used, it is easy to translate between them and understand how the dates match up. However, we have no record from mankind during Adam and Eve's time on Earth. How do we know the unit of "day" is the same as our "day"? How do we know the Earth rotated at the same speed? There is a lot to be accounted for that could cause carbon dating to generate a different time frame. Regardless of the timing, it is amazing that people who didn't have telescopes, computers, space-travel, cell-phones, the concept of zero, or even schools could accurately predict modern day occurrences and discoveries.

Perhaps after I finish the post on different religions, I'll do "True Predictions of the Bible." Let me know what you think below.

References

Dr. Putterman's Research
The Sonoluminescence Experiment

What's Your Denomination?

As a child I  always wanted to know the difference between religions and denominations. Since my mom's family is mostly Methodist and African Methodist Episcopal (AME) and my dad's family is mostly Baptist, I attended services for all three denominations frequently. Yet, by the time I was in school learning about the reformation, I still couldn't define the difference in the three denominations. This only strengthen my curiosity in the difference between the denominations. Some differences in practices are purely the observance of man made traditions (which therefore have nothing to do with God), while others are the result of different interpretations of the Bible. If you are a believer, it is important to know not only what these differences in interpretation are, but also to read, pray, and determine where you stand. If you aren't a believer, it is also important to know that these differences exists, because perhaps one of these differences is affecting your belief (or rather lack thereof).

According to this appendix, there are 41,000 Christian denominations in the world. However, most fall under one family which is used to to classify the denominations. In this post, I will focus of the families of denominations (for example Baptist, as opposed to Missionary, Freewill, and Southern Baptist). Below, I have highlighted a few doctrines and ideals that differ from church to church. You will also find a series of graphs below for a visual overview of these differences and similarities. Furthermore, I have provided a few sources for further reading on specific denominations and/or views in case you want to know more (there is way too much to place in this one post).

Apocrypha

How many books are there in the Bible? Most Protestants will tell you 66, but those who consider the Apocrypha (or Deuterocanonical books) part of the canon (along with the Old and New Testaments) will give you a number far higher. The Apocrypha contains books which some churches recognize as canon (divinely inspired by God), some churches recognize as peripheral, and others reject. One view of why it should not be included can be found here, and a view a why it should can be found here. This was never mentioned in church when I was growing up, but before decide what you believe, you should probably decide which books you believe in...

Trinity

Why do Christians' consider their religion monotheistic? One of my Religion teachers posed this question in class one day. Most Christians will tell you there is God the Father (1 Corinthians 8:6), God the Son (John 10), and God the Holy Spirit (1 John 5:6-8). The Trinity (definition source here) is a doctrine that most denominations hold, which states that there are three divine beings (God the Father,  Jesus the Son, and the Holy Spirit) that co-exist in one Godhead.  However, not all denominations believe this. Non-Trinitarians believe that there are three separate beings. Some non-trinitarians believe that all three beings are one in purpose, while others demote one or more from the status of God.  This is a topic generally brushed over in Church as a given, however, it is one of the major ideas that separates denominations and thus worthy of deep consideration before deciding which you believe. For more on trinitarian views see this list of non-trinitarian views and this article on trinitarian views.

Day of Worship

Most people automatically think Sunday when someone mentions the Sabbath, however the Sabbath is actually Saturday, which is a point of contention amongst denominations as well. The question of whether to worship on the true Sabbath (Saturday) or on Sunday is one that may seem minor in the general scheme of things, but could be more important than we think. Verses such as Exodus 31:17 refer to keeping the Sabbath as a sign between God and His children. Some (myself included) believe this sign is the Seal of God mentioned in Revelation. An in depth discussion of this belief can be found here.

Salvation

John 3:16 says whoever believes in Jesus is rewarded by eternal life, but some denominations preach heavy emphases on good works are needed, furthermore declaring that salvation can be lost by evil deeds or lack of repentance. The road to salvation should definitely be at the top of the list for topics you should not just take for granted but actually study and affirm for yourself.

Predestination

Speaking of salvation, the choice to believe in and accept Jesus belongs to us, or does it? Some churches believe that people are #TeamHeaven or #TeamHell (I couldn't resist doing that) from the start. The root of this belief, for many, is in Jeremiah 1:5. Some cite the 144,000 of Revelation as evidence of predestination, while other churches believe that you alone are responsible for your salvation. Whether you are a believer in predestination or not will probably affect the rest of your views as well.

Purgatory & Hell

Purgatory, according to Catholics, is a place where those who believed, but were impure go to be purified before ascending to Heaven. Most other denominations reject the idea of purgatory. Hell on the other hand is something almost all denominations agree on. However there are some (predominately individuals as opposed to defined denominations) that reject the idea of eternal hell (See this wikipedia article on Annihilationism).

Diet & Image

Another thing denominations can't agree on is what we should and should not consume. Some denominations preach complete abstinence from alcohol, while others allow real wine during communion. Denominations like the Latter Day Saints (Mormons) believe you should abstain from foods that contain caffeine as well. Some churches suggest vegetarianism. In determining what you believe in regards to diet (among most of the other topics mentioned), I would suggest looking at Jesus—after all He is our perfect example of how to live. (Note some people question whether the word wine in John 2 refers to the alcoholic beverage or grape juice, as Daniel 1:8 suggests consuming wine is to defile one's self).

In addition to diet, many denominations disagree on the attire/image of a believer. Some image related customs that are forbidden or frowned upon by certain denominations are as follows: wearing of jewelry, tattoos, women wearing pants, tight and/or revealing clothes, etc.

...

*Note: For some sub-denominations could have different views. Also, the information provided is to the best of my knowledge and cited below. If you see a doctrine incorrectly attributed (or not attributed) to a denomination please comment below (or use the contact form on the site) so that it can be corrected as soon as possible. Also, it is easier to view the labels on the x-axis in full screen mode.

Sources

Christianity Comparison Chart
More on Trinitarian vs. Non-Trinitarian Views
Comparing Denominations (About.com)
A List of All Denominations
Angelicanism
Pentecostalism
Mormonism
Seventh Day Adventists
Quakers
Jehovah's Witness
Jehovah's Witness & Predestination
Anti-Apocrypha View
Pro-Apocrypha View
Books of the Apocrphya

John 3:16

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16 KJV)

In my personal experience, I find this to be the most quoted passage in the Bible. Yet, Easter, the holiday supposedly meant to celebrate the resurrection alluded to in the verse, is a convulsion of paganism that most professing Christians neither understand nor question. Every year, this year being no different, the bulk of Easter posts I see are of people flaunting their Easter dresses and suits, children and adults alike arrayed in colorful get-ups. With each post, I wonder more and more if these people have any understanding of the resurrection of Christ at all. Last year I wrote two posts—What is Easter? and What is Easter? (continued)—discussing the origins of the name Easter, the Easter Bunny, Easter Eggs, and the date of Easter.  This year, I wanted shift the discussion from the pagan holiday people are accustomed to celebrating to focusing on the actual resurrection.

Importance of the Date

There's a reason we're given a timeline of events leading up to Jesus' crucifixion and it has nothing to do with setting a date for playing dress up. Jesus and the disciples' last supper, as recounted in Luke 22, is during the Passover. Perhaps the general lack of focus on the Passover in Christianity stems from our Gentile origins, but nevertheless, the Passover is an integral part of the power and purpose of Jesus' resurrection. For those unfamiliar with the origins of the Passover, it was/is celebrated in remembrance of the 10th plague God brought upon Egypt before bringing the Jews out of bondage. This plague brought death to every firstborn in Egypt, except the Jews, who were instructed to eat nothing but unleavened bread for seven days, sacrifice a lamb, and then paint part of the door with the blood. God commanded the Jews to continue observing this tradition in remembrance of how God brought them out of bondage.

Jesus is/was the Passover lamb; this is why He is referred to as The Lamb of God (see John 1:29). Jesus' death on the cross occurs in accordance with the death of the Passover lamb (on the 14th day). Remember,  in Isaiah 53, it is said that the Messiah will be "cut off from the the land" and "brought as a lamb to slaughter." Jesus fulfills the prophecy of the Messiah not just because He was born of the virgin, nor that He rose from the dead, but that He was the perfect lamb who was sacrificed in accordance to the Passover. Therefore Jesus' resurrection has to occur in the propper sequence of the Passover events!

In 2014, the 14th day of Nisan (the month and day specified by God for the sacrifice of the Passover lamb in Exodus) was April 14, thus the resurrection must have occurred on April 16, yet Easter was on April 20. Next year (2016), Easter is on March 27 but the 14th day is on April 22, placing the resurrection on April 24. Very seldom does Easter actually coincide with the death and resurrection of Christ, because Easter is a pagan holiday.

The Celebration

God specifically commands the Jews to observe the Passover—

And ye shall observe this thing for an ordinance to thee and to thy sons for ever. And it shall come to pass, when ye be come to the land which the Lord will give you, according as he hath promised, that ye shall keep this service. (Exodus 12:24-25 KJV) 

If you read all of Exodus 12, and compare it to the New Testament, you will see that not once does the directness that God commands the Jews to observe the Passover appear in Jesus' discussion of events. Jesus does not explicitly command us to celebrate His resurrection—especially not in the manner of dressing up, hiding eggs, and/or giving speeches. The closest thing Jesus says to imply making a holiday of His resurrection is when He breaks bread with the disciples in the last supper in Luke 22:19. However, if you compare "do this in remembrance of me" to the specific outline and commandment to observe something forever, it becomes obvious that there is no mandate from God to perform any type of ritual celebration for the resurrection.

While the resurrection itself is a joyous occasion for believers—Jesus has triumphed over death and our sins have been washed away—the events themselves are extremely solemn and bittersweet. Remember, Jesus was beaten (John 19:1), mocked (Luke 22:63), spat upon (Matthew 26:67), crowned with thorns (Matthew 27:29) and hung on a cross to die. This was a sacrifice of great pain and suffering, a sacrifice deserving of thankfulness and humility. If there was to be a holiday or celebration, the days before the resurrection would not be equated to picking out cute outfits or decorating but to remembering and reflecting upon His sacrifice.

Jesus said "Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do" (Luke 23:34 KJV). That was over 2000 years ago. It is now 2015, the time is drawing near for you to know what you are doing.

What is Religion?

Eight years ago, I decided I would take Religion 101, otherwise known as "Introduction to Religion." As a South Carolinian who grew up attending a variety of Christian churches, I assumed we would study Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Buddhism, and Hinduism. I expected the class to be broken into units, where each unit focused on on of the previously mentioned religions. You have probably already surmised that this is not what happened at all. The class didn't talk about any religion specifically, but instead focused on the concept of religion itself and how it plays a role in our society. This class marked the first step in the direction of answers to all my questions.

Religion is defined by Dictionary.com as:

a set of beliefs concerning the cause, nature, and purpose of the universe, especially when considered as the creation of a superhuman agency or agencies, usually involving devotional and ritual observances, and often containing a moral code governing the conduct of human affairs.

Interestingly enough this could include science.

What this class did for me, above all else, was force me to think about religion in general. By laying aside the details of individual religions and focusing of the topic of religion. When you stop and take an honest look at the world you can conclude that religion has great power, it can persuade people to do wonderful things, but it can also persuade people to do terrible things. Often, man uses his own desires to interpret religious texts and abuses the name of God (or gods) to gain power.

Generally, when people think of religion, they think of doctrines and practices, perhaps even scriptures pertaining to that religion. More often that not, people follow doctrines and practices without stopping to question their purpose and connection to the beliefs. Sometimes this takes the form of people going through motions without actually having a belief, but other times it takes the form of carrying out motions or forming beliefs that were never meant to be a part of the religion.

Following the thinking brought on by Religion 101, I continue to study religion in general and to look at its effect of society historically. This month I'll be posting some of my thoughts, discoveries and unanswered questions.