It comes as a shock to many that we in the churches of Christ do not celebrate Easter Sunday.  This fact makes us seem strange to many.  It causes them to think that we are something other than Christian.  For them, this Sunday is one of the most important on the calendar.  People will come out in droves to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. 

          Let us first establish why we do not celebrate “Easter” Sunday.  The New Testament teaches that everything that we do is to be done “in the name of,” or, “by the authority of” Jesus Christ.  “And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him” (Col. 3:17).  Not one verse in the New Testament exhorts us to celebrate a particular Sunday as “the” resurrection Sunday.  Not one time do we ever read of the church of the first century holding “Easter Services.”  Since we desire to pattern ourselves after the New Testament church, we do not hold Easter Services either. 

          It is true that Jesus was raised from the dead on the first day of the week.  One of this writer’s favorite texts is Mark 16:2-6.  “And very early in the morning, the first day of the week, they came unto the sepulchre at the rising of the sun…And entering in to the sepulchre, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, clothed in a long white garment; and they were affrighted.  And he saith unto them, Be not affrighted:  ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified:  he is risen; he is not here:  behold the place where they laid him.”  It is this day, the first day of the week, that has been authorized for Christian worship (Acts 20:7; I Cor. 16:1-2; Rev. 1:10).  Therefore, members of the church of Christ celebrate the resurrection of our Lord every first day of the week.  It not a “one-day-of-the-year affair” for us.  We remember our Lord’s victory over the grave fifty-two times a year. 

          Because members of the Lord’s church do not celebrate Easter, we are often unfamiliar with some of the terminology that is used by our denominational friends when they discuss this event.  In the remainder of this article, we want to set before you a few of the words that are used during this time of year as well as their definitions.

Easter:  The name given to the most important religious feast in the “Christian” liturgical year….The term developed from the Old English word Eustre (or Easte), which refers to the goddess of Anglo-Saxon paganism, originally of the dawn.  In pagan times an annual spring festival was held in her honor.

Lent:  The 40-day long liturgical season of prayer and fasting before Easter which represents the 40 days Jesus fasted in the wilderness.  In Western “Christianity,” Lent begins on Ash Wednesday and ends on Holy Saturday…The purpose of Lent is the preparation of the believer through penitence, prayer, self-denial, and almsgiving.

Ash Wednesday:  The first day of Lent, which occurs 40 days before Easter.  Ash Wednesday is so-named from the practice undertaken by “Christians” to show repentance of their sins.  They kneel before a priest who makes the sign of the cross in ashes upon their foreheads.  As he does this, he recites the words:  “Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return.”

Holy Week:  The week before Easter and the last week of Lent.  During Holy Week the events of the last week of Jesus’ earthly life are remembered.

Palm Sunday:  The name given to the Sunday before Easter, which commemorates the entry of Jesus into Jerusalem on a donkey in the days before His passion.

Good Friday:  The name given to the Friday before Easter, which commemorates the cruci-fixion of Jesus Christ and his death at Golgotha.  It is termed “good” because without it there could have been no resurrection.

Easter Vigil:  The first official celebration of the Resurrection of Jesus.  The worship service is held in the hours of the darkness between sunset on Holy Saturday and sunrise of Easter Sunday.  This is celebrated by the Catholic Church.

Sunrise Service:  A worship services on Easter practiced by some Protestant churches, replacing the traditional, ancient Easter Vigil.  The service is held early in the morning and is timed so the attendants can see the sun rise during the service.  The event commemorates the time of the day that Jesus rose from the dead on the first day of the week.

Eastertide:  Also known as Easter Season or Paschal Time.  The name was given to the 50 days from Easter Sunday to Whitsunday (Pentecost)….Eastertide is important in the “Christian” calendar as it celebrates the risen Christ with his teachings and appearances, as well as the beginnings of the “Christian” church.

          These are some of the main terms that are used by our religious friends during this time of year.  There are other terms that are used such as Maundy Thursday, but these are not as common.  In order to speak to our friends about spiritual things, we must have a working knowledge of what they believe.  Too, we never want to misrepresent anything they believe and teach.  Thus, we must spend some time learning about the things they believe.  It is interesting that not one of these terms is found in the New Testament of Jesus Christ.  This might be something that we could point out to those who use these words.  Every one of these beliefs and practices are of man-made origin.  There is nothing divine about them (See Matthew 15:7-9).

We have all heard the common expressions about opinions.  “Everybody’s got one.”  “You are entitled to your opinion.”  “If I want your opinion, I will ask for it.”  And the sharp rebuke that asks:  “Who asked for your opinion?”       

What is an opinion?  One definition is:  “a personal view, attitude, or appraisal.”  Another definition of opinion is:  “a belief that rests of grounds insufficient to produce complete certainty.”  Notice two things about opinions that we learn from these definitions.  First, they are personal.  In other words, not all people my hold to my opinion about something.  Second, opinions might be grounded in certainty and fact, but they can also rest on grounds insufficient to produce complete certainty.  In this article, let’s begin a brief study of opinions.

First, we can hold opinions in some areas and whether we are right or wrong does not matter.  Which car is the best to drive?  Which football team is best in the nation?  Where is the best place to live in the nation?  Which perfume smells the best?  Which surgeon is the best?  The answers to these questions do not really matter.  Hundreds and hundreds of differing opinions are held by man people on these issues.  Ultimately, it really doesn’t matter who smells the best.

Second, there are times when opinions are based upon uncertainty.  Perhaps the person has not formally studied the issue about which he has an opinion.  President Kennedy once said:  “Too often we…enjoy the comfort of opinion without the discomfort of thought.” Our view may come from hearsay information.  With access to so many media outlets today, this is an easy danger. Many of us have adopted opinions that are held by our culture and heritage.  Maybe a person has some information but has not gathered all of the facts.  This is the case with many atheists.  It may be that we hold to an opinion just because we want the opinion to be true.  This was the way the Jews behaved in the first century.  They rejected the Christ just because they did not want to believe He was the Messiah.

When opinions are based upon uncertainty, we need to do several things.  We need to acknowledge that this a belief that is not grounded in absolutes.  We need to make certain that we do not force this opinion on others.  We definitely should not make this opinion a test of friendship or fellowship on another person.  We need to be willing to set aside the opinion if facts come along that negate what we hold dear.  We should do some homework with regard to our opinion.  Some hold opinions that others know are not based in fact.  Those who hold to false opinions look foolish to those who have studied the matters.

Third, there are some issues involving opinions that spark some very evil emotions.  The reason emotions run high is because individuals are convinced that their well-being is at stake.  Politics and religion are the two main areas that cause heated disagreements over opinions.  Politics involve our personal well-being.  Religion involves our spiritual well-being.  People have argued, fought, divided, and killed over political and religious opinions.  In society today, many simply avoid these two areas of discussion.  At the Thanksgiving table, mom will often say:  “There are two things we will not discuss at this table, religion and politics.”

Fourth, opinions should never be allowed to give precedence to the Word of God.  Jesus said the Word of God is truth.  “Sanctify them through thy truth:  thy word is truth” (John 17:17).  When God’s Word sets for the truth on an issue, we must set aside our opinions and accept God’s divine revelation.  Solomon wrote:  “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart, and lean not unto thine own understanding” (Prov. 3:5).  In Proverbs 28:26, the wise writer stated:  “He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool…”

Many are of the opinion that baptism does not save.  Jesus, however, says that is does.  “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved…” (Mark 16:16).  Individuals need to set their opinions aside and accept the words of Jesus Christ.  Some are of the opinion that man can be saved by faith only.  The inspired James reveals that this is not the truth.  “Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only” (James 2:24).  Again, man’s opinion needs to give way to the authority of Holy Writ.  Many more examples could be given where the thoughts of man have been accepted over the plain teachings of God’s inspired Word.

Fifth, we must be careful not to elevate our opinions to the level of the Word of God.  Playing face cards is not a sin as some people believe.  All shorts are not sinful to be worn.  A person is not disrespecting God is he fails to use “thee’s” and “thou’s.”  It is not an evil act to eat food in the church building.  It is not a forbidden act to have a blood transfusion.  These are opinions that some have held as if they were the Word of God.  This was one the sins of the Jewish leaders of Jesus’ day.  They sought to bind their opinions upon others as if they were equal to divine truth (Ex., Matt. 15:16-20).

Sixth, sadly we have entered into a time in the history of our nations wherein some people not entitled to an opinion.  If you hold a particular opinion, you will be threatened or harmed.  If you hold a certain opinion, others will try to get your free speak rights taken from you.  If you hold to a specific belief you will shunned, persecuted, hurt, and, possibly, killed.  Some applaud those who attack others with a differing opinion.  Those who do so should be very careful.  One day, they may hold the opinion that is not tolerated by others.

Yes, everyone has his/her opinion.  We need to express our opinions with caution.  We need to change our opinions when they do not conform to the facts.  We do not need to force our opinions on others.  We certainly do not need to make our opinions equal to the Word of God.  And, when our opinions clash with God’s Word, we should joyfully give them up and accept the truth.  Lastly, we should never bring any harm to another who does not agree with our opinions.

The ant is mentioned only two times in the Bible.  Both references are found in the book of Proverbs (Prov. 6:6; 30:25).  This small creature, and, its seemingly insignificant mention in Scripture, however, provide gigantic lessons for human beings.

            The wise Solomon presents the ant to the sluggard in Proverbs 6:6-8.  He writes:  “Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise:  which having no guide, overseer or ruler, provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest.”  The sluggard is the “sluggish” and “lazy” individual.  Other words used to describe the sluggard are slouch, indolent, bum, loafer, good-for-nothing, slug, and couch-potato.  The sluggard can learn much from an insect that can be a pest to human beings.  Solomon counsels the sluggard to consider the ant’s ways, “and be wise.” 

            First, he notes that the ant does not have to be supervised.  He has no guide, overseer, or ruler.  The ant is self-motivated.  He does not have to be told what to do.  He does not have to have his actions monitored by a manager.  He does not have to be held accountable by someone higher up.  In our society today, there are many people who are not “self-propelled.”  They have to be told what to do.  They have to have someone constantly prodding them along to get something done.  If they are not told precisely what to do, they will do nothing.  When Paul addressed Christians who were slaves in the first century, he exhorted them not to be “menpleasers,” that is, those who worked only when strictly supervised.  Here are his instructions:  “Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God:  and whatsoever ye do, to it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance:  for ye serve the Lord Christ” (Col. 3:22-24).  All Christians should work heartily in every service they render.  It should not matter whether they are supervised or not.  They know that they are working for another who is higher up the hierarchal structure than their boss.  They are working for Jesus Christ. 

            Second, the ant works hard.  Solomon uses two words to describe the ant’s labors, “provideth” and “gathereth.”  Most of us have seen ants hard at work.  They are constantly “on the go.”  They do not take a break.  They do not sleep on the couch for hours at a time.  They do not sleep in.  They provide and gather.  This is how all Christians should work.  There are several illustrations of hard workers in the Bible.  Jacob worked hard for Laban.  He reviewed his years of work for his father-in-law in Genesis 31:38-41.  “This twenty years have I been with thee; thy ewes and thy she goats have not cast their young, and the rams of thy flock have I not eaten.  That which was torn of beasts I brought not unto thee; I bare the loss of it; of my hand didst thou require it, whether stolen by day, or stolen by night.  Thus I was; in the day the drought consumed me, and the frost by night; and my sleep departed from mine eyes.  Thus, have I been twenty years in thy house; I served thee fourteen years for thy two daughters, and six years for thy cattle:  and thou hast changed by wages ten times.”  As we read these words, we feel the burden of Jacob’s work.  It was difficult.  It was sacrificial.  It was unfair.  Yet, none of these deterred him.  He always put forth the necessary effort that made him a valuable employee.  We should all try to resemble Jacob in our labors.  Even when our work is hard and our boss is unreasonable and inequitable, we need to keep putting our best foot forward.

            Third, the ant does not have to rely on others for support.  The ant provides “her meat.”  The ant provides “her food.”  She does not have to have someone else provide for her.  She does not feel entitled to the profits of another.  She does not believe that others owe her something.  One of the things the Bible stresses is self-sufficiency.  Paul taught this to the church in Thessalonica.  “And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you; that ye may walk honestly toward them that are without, and that ye may have lack of nothing”(I Thess. 4:11-12).  In his second letter to this same church, he continued to exhort them to provide for themselves.  “For even when were with you, this we commanded you, that is any would not work, neither should he eat.  For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies.  Now them that are such we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work and eat their own bread” (II Thess. 3:10-12).  Paul did not just preach these words.  He practiced what he preached.  In I Thessalonians 2:9, he reminded the church of his labors among them.  “For ye remember, brethren, our labour and travail:  for laboring night and day, because we would not be chargeable unto any of you, we preached unto you the gospel of God.”  All Christians need to take responsibility for caring for themselves.  God does not authorize those who are strong and healthy to be partakers of welfare.  No, he teaches the strong and healthy to work and support themselves. 

            An ant is a very little creature.  However, he is able to teach us profound lessons.  He teaches us to work unsupervised.  He teaches us to labor diligently.  He teaches us to be self-sufficient.  Our present society needs a good dose of the “ant work ethic.”  May we as Christians never be grouped among the sluggards of the world.  May all who know us compliment us for working as hard as an ant.