Ash Wednesday & Lent: Are They in the Bible?
That is the question posed by evangelist and revivalist Dr. Lance Ketchum on his blog Line Upon Line. Our response to Dr. Ketchum follows.
>Dr. Ketchum : "There is little doubt about the origins of what we know as Ash Wednesday. This day was part of the ancient pagan celebration centering around Easter."
1. Your post is largely a strawman in that Catholics and other Christians do not celebrate Easter, but Pascha, which is from the Hebrew meaning "Passover". Any use of the term "Easter" is not in reference to the pagan feast, but use of the vulgar (common) English.
2. Twice you claim that Ash Wednesday is of pagan origin, but never cite any proof of its pagan origin. You seem to be arguing for guilt by association. In fact, all the evidence cited (Genesis 3:19 KJV, "from biblical times...") seems in support of Ash Wednesday and not against.
>Dr. Ketchum: "We find the only mention of the word Easter in the King James Version, in Acts 12:4, and that reference is to the Passover, not a Christian observance. Further, it is an improper translation of the Greek word, and most Bible translations have corrected this error."
Interestingly, Luther uses Ostern (Easter) in his German translation of the Bible. Was Luther, the original Reformer, also in error?
Jerome's Latin Vulgate, long used by Catholics, uses "pascha" instead of Easter, or Ostern.
Its also interesting that you should cite the King James Version as the original 1611 King James Version includes a almanac which lists the dates for the First Day of Lent, Easter day, Ascension day, and Whitsuntide. Apparently, the staunchly anti-Catholic English Reformers had no objections or misgivings regarding the marking of these dates and considered them important enough for inclusion in the King James Bible.
>Dr. Ketchum: "Christians have no command or example that suggests we are to keep the Passover."
Um, do we not read in several gospels that Jesus and the apostles kept the passover? Matthew 26 and Mark 22 seem clear examples and we are told by Jesus to do this in rememberance of him (Mark 22:19) to boot. "This" was the passover. I find Jesus examples in the gospels sufficient. Every Lord's Supper is the Christian remembrance (memorial) of Passover.
>Dr. Ketchum: "The inappropriateness, and even sinfulness, of the Easter season is seen in the three seasons (the Carnival season, the Lenten season, and the Post-Easter season)"
This statement I find the most amazing. I cannot fathom a man of God actively discouraging people from acknowledging their sinfullness, discouraging repentance, and discouraging the opportunity to fall deeper in love with Christ. I find much in scripture that authorizes rejecting sin and returning to God.
Why do you actively seek to keep people from Christ?
God bless... +Timothy
BTW, I note that you go by Dr. (doctor). Does not the Bible say to "call no man rabbi" (Matthew 23:8). Your title of doctor is Latin for "Rabbi" (teacher). How are you authorized to deviate from scripture?
Related Posts:
1611 KJV Bible Available Online
Baptists Recovering Lost Catholic Treasure of Lent
Evangelical Christians Adopting Advent
Source: Ash Wednesday & Lent: Are They in the Bible?
>Dr. Ketchum : "There is little doubt about the origins of what we know as Ash Wednesday. This day was part of the ancient pagan celebration centering around Easter."
1. Your post is largely a strawman in that Catholics and other Christians do not celebrate Easter, but Pascha, which is from the Hebrew meaning "Passover". Any use of the term "Easter" is not in reference to the pagan feast, but use of the vulgar (common) English.
2. Twice you claim that Ash Wednesday is of pagan origin, but never cite any proof of its pagan origin. You seem to be arguing for guilt by association. In fact, all the evidence cited (Genesis 3:19 KJV, "from biblical times...") seems in support of Ash Wednesday and not against.
>Dr. Ketchum: "We find the only mention of the word Easter in the King James Version, in Acts 12:4, and that reference is to the Passover, not a Christian observance. Further, it is an improper translation of the Greek word, and most Bible translations have corrected this error."
Interestingly, Luther uses Ostern (Easter) in his German translation of the Bible. Was Luther, the original Reformer, also in error?
- 4Da er ihn nun griff, legte er ihn ins Gefängnis und überantwortete ihn vier Rotten, je von vier Kriegsknechten, ihn zu bewahren, und gedachte, ihn nach Ostern dem Volk vorzustellen.
Apostelgeschichte 12:4 (Luther Bibel 1545)
Jerome's Latin Vulgate, long used by Catholics, uses "pascha" instead of Easter, or Ostern.
- quem cum adprehendisset misit in carcerem tradens quattuor quaternionibus militum custodire eum volens post pascha producere eum populo
Acts 12:4, Latin Vulgate
Its also interesting that you should cite the King James Version as the original 1611 King James Version includes a almanac which lists the dates for the First Day of Lent, Easter day, Ascension day, and Whitsuntide. Apparently, the staunchly anti-Catholic English Reformers had no objections or misgivings regarding the marking of these dates and considered them important enough for inclusion in the King James Bible.
>Dr. Ketchum: "Christians have no command or example that suggests we are to keep the Passover."
Um, do we not read in several gospels that Jesus and the apostles kept the passover? Matthew 26 and Mark 22 seem clear examples and we are told by Jesus to do this in rememberance of him (Mark 22:19) to boot. "This" was the passover. I find Jesus examples in the gospels sufficient. Every Lord's Supper is the Christian remembrance (memorial) of Passover.
>Dr. Ketchum: "The inappropriateness, and even sinfulness, of the Easter season is seen in the three seasons (the Carnival season, the Lenten season, and the Post-Easter season)"
This statement I find the most amazing. I cannot fathom a man of God actively discouraging people from acknowledging their sinfullness, discouraging repentance, and discouraging the opportunity to fall deeper in love with Christ. I find much in scripture that authorizes rejecting sin and returning to God.
Why do you actively seek to keep people from Christ?
God bless... +Timothy
BTW, I note that you go by Dr. (doctor). Does not the Bible say to "call no man rabbi" (Matthew 23:8). Your title of doctor is Latin for "Rabbi" (teacher). How are you authorized to deviate from scripture?
Related Posts:
1611 KJV Bible Available Online
Baptists Recovering Lost Catholic Treasure of Lent
Evangelical Christians Adopting Advent
Source: Ash Wednesday & Lent: Are They in the Bible?
1 Comments:
Short note to savedbygracenotworks. Your comment was received and read, however, your generic Roman Road cut&paste is off-topic and was therefore deleted. Please keep comments germaine. No drive-bys.
God bless... +Timothy
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