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Gramster Rant: The Battle for Easter
The ongoing assault on Easter requires addressing dangerous falsehoods and recent developments that threaten its true meaning. Last week's discussion debunked the myth connecting Easter to Ishtar - linguistically and historically unrelated terms. Easter actually derives from "Oster," meaning dawn, with European language variants closely resembling "Passover."
While Passover celebrates God's communal deliverance of the Jewish people through the blood of lambs over doorposts, Easter commemorates individual salvation through Christ's blood. This connection illustrates beautiful continuity while maintaining distinct meanings - we're grafted into God's family through Jesus's sacrifice.
The Biden administration's unprecedented proclamation of "Transgender Day of Visibility" on Easter Sunday 2024 represents a direct challenge to Christianity's holiest day. Claims that this timing is coincidental ring hollow - this marks the first such presidential proclamation in American history. Presidential proclamations carry significant cultural weight, particularly ceremonial ones like those establishing Thanksgiving, Memorial Day, and the National Day of Prayer.
The contrast between New York City's Easter celebrations then and now tells the story - from illuminated crosses adorning skyscrapers in 1959 to rainbow lights in 2024. The White House even banned children from submitting religious-themed Easter egg designs this year while promoting transgender visibility.
The Path Forward: Three Critical Points
- Fear Not Jesus warned his disciples about coming trials but assured them not to fear. These things must come to pass, but He promises to be with believers until the end of the age.
- Guard Against Deception The explosion of false teaching requires vigilance. Whether it's claims about Easter's pagan origins or attempts to replace celebration of Christ's resurrection, Satan attacks from multiple angles.
- Stay in God's Word 2 Thessalonians 2 outlines what's happening: the spirit of lawlessness is already at work, God sends strong delusion to those refusing truth, but believers must "stand firm and hold fast to the traditions taught."
Salvaged by God Deep Dive: Getting It So Wrong
The American deficit illustrates how far we've strayed from sound thinking:
- Annual Tax Revenue: $2.17 trillion
- Federal Budget: $3.82 trillion
- New Debt: $1.65 trillion
- National Debt: $30 trillion
Removing eight zeros to create a household comparison:
- Annual Income: $21,700
- Money Spent: $38,600
- New Credit Card Debt: $16,500
- Credit Card Balance: $142,710
This financial insanity mirrors spiritual decline, where progressive Christianity descends from questioning Paul's authority to rejecting biblical truth entirely.
Right On or Way Off?
"When we die, God won't ask about the two men who got married, the girl who had abortion, the atheist, or the transgender person - He'll only ask how we loved them." WAY OFF! This appeals to virtue while enabling disobedience. The question isn't whether we know Jesus, but whether Jesus knows us.
"Confrontation possesses extraordinary potential especially when based on the word of God and empowered by the spirit of God." RIGHT ON! Biblical confrontation, while challenging, proves essential for speaking truth in love and combating deception.
"Faith is not faith until it is tested." RIGHT ON! While daily faith operates continuously, testing reveals and refines genuine faith's character. As scripture says, we're refined like gold through trials while maintaining hope in things unseen.
The message remains clear: Stay faithful, intentional in love and truth, and confident in salvation through Christ alone. True love speaks truth, even when uncomfortable, because apathy - not hate - is love's true opposite.