Is it Wrong For Christians to Give out Easter Eggs and Bunnies on Easter?
In my time I have discovered that Christians can cause lots of confusion about God. As Easter approaches we will begin to see all kinds of complaining that Christians are wrong to celebrate Easter by handing out Easter eggs, chocolate bunnies, and baskets. Some say “Easter eggs aren’t Christian” or “it’s a Pagan tradition to give out Easter baskets”. So we thought we’d address this guilt and condemnation that legalism can put on believers in Jesus Christ.
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Is it wrong for Christians to give out Easter Eggs, Bunnies, or Baskets?
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Is it okay for Christians to dress up on Halloween?
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Are Christmas Trees a Pagan Tradition?
The religious ego will run all over us to tell us these things are all wrong, but I submit to you that, in most cases, there is absolutely nothing wrong with these traditions. I’m not going to address this like some over-the-top religious fanatic. I want to be real with you – and I think Jesus would do the same.
Being a Christian is about the heart. It’s about believing that Jesus is the Son of God, sent in the flesh, dying on the cross, and being the full propitiation for sin. It’s about believing that Jesus was raised from the dead and that we too were crucified and raised with Him – through faith. Christianity is something we celebrate minute by minute, and not on a specific day such as Easter, Christmas, or Good Friday. Being Christian is about being in Christ moment by moment.
Colossians 2:16-17 Therefore no one is to act as your judge in regard to food or drink or in respect to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath day— things which are a mere shadow of what is to come; but the substance belongs to Christ.
The fact that you choose to give out candy on Easter or bring your kids to see the Easter bunny does not imply pagan worshiping. The reality is Christians do not worship Easter eggs or bunny rabbits. To us, it’s just something fun that we do with our kids and loved ones. Not for a moment do we elevate an Easter egg above Jesus. We are not bowing down and praising the Easter bunny. In the same way, we are not worshiping Christmas trees or calling on evil Spirits when we put on a costume for Halloween. What I am saying is this….in most of the cases, it’s not a problem for Christians unless you’re worshiping something other than Jesus. We are free in Christ to enjoy the man-made celebrations with our family and friends. They’re just silly days and fun excuses to give out candy and gifts to the people we love.
I personally think it’s a bigger concern when someone thinks we need to carve out a certain day to worship God. Worship is something we never stop doing. You don’t need a building, a special church service, or a special day to worship God. You worship God moment by moment as you give thanks and praise to Him and let Jesus live in and through you.
In summary:
Do you know Jesus as your personal savior and have you placed your faith in Him alone? Was there a time when you asked Him to save you from your sins and come into your heart? Do you believe in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus? If you have called on the name of the Lord then you are free in Christ and should not let people judge you over a silly celebration. You know who you worship, and you know the difference between a bunny rabbit and the God of the universe. Relax. Enjoy life.
Galatians 3:10 For am I now seeking the favor of men, or of God? Or am I striving to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a bond-servant of Christ.
Author: Mike Cynar
Mike Cynar was raised in a church setting where he frequently noticed that many attendees would eventually drift away. The church labeled these individuals as ‘back sliders’ or ‘fake Christians’ just looking for ‘fire insurance’. However, Mike realized the issue was rarely with these individuals but instead with the church’s message itself. The teachings heavily emphasized behavior improvement and one’s flaws, with only a fleeting mention of one’s identity in Christ. It felt as though every sermon was tailored to the church of Corinth, who as we know or committing sins that even unbelievers don’t partake in. This trend was noticeable not just in one denomination, but across Baptist, Catholic, Pentecostal, and many other churches. Upon understanding the true essence of the gospel – that our righteousness comes from Jesus’ actions, not our own – Mike was inspired to liberate believers from lifeless sermons and reconnect them with the genuine teachings of Jesus. He believes that one can nurture a vibrant and growing bond with Jesus, unhindered by rigid religious practices. And thus, “Jesus Without Religion” was born.
It turns out that it is grace that leads to repentance. And if our heart is to get others to walk in the Spirit and live a godly life, then the best approach is not a beat down sermon, but rather to remind other that it is only when we understand our true identity in Christ that we will live it out. Yes, it’s true, if you’re convinced that God thinks you’re a dirty sinner, you will ultimately continue a lifestyle that mirrors that view, but if you truly believe that even on your worst day, you are called holy, sanctified, justified, and will be presented blameless in the end, well, it turns out this is the secret to living out on the outside what has been worked in to the inside.
4 Comments
I absolutely agree with your article and I want only to critique you on two things. Technically I wouldn’t even say this is a critique but just a couple of thoughts when I read this.
Be cautious not to let your freedom in Christ make you indistinguishable from a non-believer. Be careful not to fall into revelry, nor embrace and celebrate the sins of others. (why would a believer be happy they are boasting in their damnation?) Not that we should condemn them, but if we truly love them then we should warn them as lovingly as possible, and flee from them while they are engaging in sin. If people are worshiping a false God(s), themselves, then yes we should be a witness to them, just be sure you know how to properly use apologetics and polemics and it helps if you know their arguments, but like Christ said on the Mount. “to be careful do not give dogs that which is holy, and do not throw your pearls before pigs, lest they trample them underfoot and turn to attack you.
We should live in Christ every moment but we should also have a time and place for reverence. Worship should never be casual or thoughtless. Worship should be a thoughtful and intentional expression of our love for God.
First time on your site, and I look forward to coming back soon.
God Bless,
Thank you for your comment.
You wrote: Be cautious not to let your freedom in Christ make you indistinguishable from a non-believer.
I’m not sure I receive that as a critique as you and I would both in lockstep with that statement.
I also agree with encouraging others to avoid sin, not to worship, false, gods, etc. Nothing that you wrote is anything that I would oppose, so I’m honestly not clear if my message somehow is leading anyone to think otherwise. Feel free to come anytime. God bless brother
I strongly disagree w/your take on this issue. Mostly bc I’ve listened to ex-witches who’ve become Christians & who have a ministry to help Christians open their eyes to the realities of evil spiritual dynamics that absolutely do go on during these celebrations. They don’t cut corners or water down in explaining what they’ve witnessed first hand.
Ex.: One ex-witch says Halloween is one of the highest ‘Holy’ days of wiccans. They prep for it all year long. Even to allow our children to participate- however innocently, by dressing up & going around collecting candy door to door, as well as giving candy from your home to them IS participating in & celebrating with the dark spiritual realm of evil spirits.
They even mention that wiccans go into stores where Halloween candy is sold & they purposefully cast spells over the candy.
What 1 young (ex-witch) mother now does w/her family, & what she suggests all Christians do, is to close your doors to this ‘celebration’, turn off the porch light, & then PRAY for all the families that pass by in your neighborhood that are ‘celebrating’.
Sorry sir, but this is exactly where the salt & light of Christians needs to separate us from the world’s customs. We ARE commanded by Jesus to “be set apart” & he tells us plainly we WILL look different to the world as a result.
Father God warned his chosrn people over & over again to not mix in w/the pagan cultures around them … bc they would forget their God & start blending in w/pagan culture.
Satan makes such mixing in look fun & innocent to our children. It’s an easy & deceptive way to get us to slip down the slippery slope of genuine spiritual darkness generation by generation & not even be aware we’re doing so. Just like what the Israelites did! Their subsequent blending in brought their own demise, by the very cultures they embraced erroneously. God didn’t cause their destruction. They did, by mixing in w/spiritual wickedness.
It’s an honor, joy, & stunning privilege to be chosen as HIS children by his mercy & grace. That walk comes w/intentional wisdom & purpose to “not go to the left or right” but stay on the narrow path via his light before our feet.
Your opinion on this cannot be a factor in deciding if it’s OK or not to celebrate what God would not & cannot be OK with. He knows where compro.ise will take us. Thus his seemingly hard fatherly guidance. His heart is for us, including a purity that sets us apart bc the world needs to see that difference – w/love!
If you were to bring up Christ & his most amazing atonement sacrifice for all of us in the midst of a secular Easter egg hunt, & it made everyone uncomfortable … who’s the one who needs to change up that apparent problem (at least to astute Christ-ones)?
The Lord tells us that in the last days things will get darker & more evil. People will be lovers of self ….
Courage to remain pure – for the very sake of the lost – is not an easy road. Jesus told us that much. His ways ARE sacrificial … FOR the lost. Not so we can blend in comfortably & look like the world!
What’s the better legacy? To show our children what Christsr real purity & sacrifice looks like, or to blend in w/the world & confuse our children & water down their faith too?
You need to listen to what ex-witches can reveal, & who are now sold out Christians trying to warn us of the real spiritual differences we must be aware of. Pure, in scriptural terms = unmixed & unblended. That’show Jesus lived. It’s how he’s commanded us to live. And he had some real strong words for the Pharisees who blended in a whole lot of confusing & unscriptural falsehoods.
God’s word still remains fully sufficient for ALL teaching & reproof.
My friend, it’s honestly a bit sad to see this taken so far. If you think a child walking around in a Mickey Mouse costume—or even a ghost costume—is participating in evil, I’d gently say you’re overthinking it. Halloween is what you make of it. Sure, some people turn it into something dark, but for many families, it’s nothing more than kids dressing up and knocking on doors for candy. That’s how it’s always been in my home. I participated in Halloween throughout my childhood, and so did my children. And we all love Jesus deeply. In fact, I suspect we may love Jesus more than you do, despite that, on the outside, to seem to meanwhile, I’m just not sure internally you’ve quite figured it out.
I’m not particularly interested in the opinions of ex-witches—and truthfully, it’s a little strange how many you claim to know. I’d encourage you to take another look at what it means to be the salt and light in the world. Being set apart doesn’t mean isolating from everything that’s culturally common. God isn’t panicking over little kids in cute costumes having a few pieces of candy.
I do think you mean well. But it seems like your views are shaped more by a legalistic church mindset than by the freedom we have in Christ. The kind of church that says don’t watch TV, don’t have a glass of wine, and definitely don’t go trick-or-treating. That kind of obsessive rule-keeping misses the mark—and misses Jesus. I’m betting it’s a very tense vibe in whatever church you attend.
Let’s be clear: your child’s faith won’t be shaken by wearing a costume and enjoying a light-hearted tradition. What will confuse them is hearing that anyone who believes in Jesus is saved and free from condemnation—unless, of course, they put on a costume and ask for candy. That kind of mixed message is what causes real spiritual damage. So, you need to be careful, trying to shape peoples heart based on your own personal views. You honestly sound like you’re suggesting that a child throwing on a costume and knocking on doors for candy is the equivalent of grabbing AD a Ouija board and calling up evil spirits.
If you feel called to spend your time listening to ex-witches, that’s your choice. But I’m perfectly at peace being guided by the Holy Spirit and the Scriptures.
Best wishes, my friend. 🙏