It has been revealed that Easter was a borrowed practice by the people of Theotonic in the ancient Roman Empire in AD 352 to worship ‘Easter’ [the godess of fertility], but the early Christian Missionaries, in their attempt to convert the people into Christianity absorbed the practice as part of the celebration of the feast of Passover, thereby corrupting the name to Easter.
This revelation follows challenges by some religious scholars about the origin of Easter, claiming that the period does not have any connotation with the date of the death, burial, resurrection and ascension of Jesus Christ, as claimed by Christians.
Reacting to the challenge in an interview with ghananews247.com at a special mega indoor convention at Agona Swedru on the theme: ” Why Do You Seek the Living Among the Dead” the Founder of the Trainer for Heaven Chapel Evangelical, Pastor Isaac Kojo Baah admitted that though the origin of Easter by the people of Theothonic was paganism, the most important thing is that the early Christian Missionaries in Rome were able to convert the people to Christianity, coinciding with the death of Jesus Christ, hence the importance for every Christian to celebrate the event.
The Agona Swedru District Head of the Voice of the Lord Evangelical Church, Pastor Samuel Temeng who shared the same view said the occasion has become one of the most important events on the Christian calendar which nobody can change, irrespective of any perception one attaches to it.
He advised Christians to use the occasion to evangelize to the outside world so as to win more souls for the kingdom of God.
Meanwhile, the General Overseer of High Praise Prayer Min. Rev. Bohyeba Odoom has expressed regret how Christians of today have lost the essence of Easter and engaged in all manner of social activities that does not conform to the celebration.
He condemned the situation where Christians, particularly the youth have joined their worldly peers to embark on trips to beaches and other places in the name of celebrating the event.
He expressed the regret at a 14 Day Revival on the theme: ”My Agony Today Will be My Testimony Tomorrow” to commemorate the Easter festivity.
The founder and leader of the Glory Palace Min. Int. also in Agona Swedru, Prophet Edward Nana Ampaw on his part admonished Christians to use the occasion of Easter to show love and compassion to the less privileged in society such as orphans, widows and the needy, to demonstrate the true love of God who sacrificed His only begotten Son to save the world.
He described as unfortunate the situation where even the church honour the rich and neglect the poor.
According to Prophet Edward Ampaw, Christ came to die for all, irrespective of one socio-economic status or religious background, and therefore there is the need for the church to emulate this selfless character by Jesus Christ and not discriminate against the underprivileged.
By: Robert Ayanful