Saturday, April 16, 2022

Why the Reformers Frowned on "Easter"

"Martin Luther and his fellow reformers forever changed Christianity
and the Western world. Their mounting opposition to Roman Catholic rituals, teachings and control over everyday life led to the formation of new faith groups, whose followers were collectively called Protestants. 

No religious practice was safe from the reformers' scrutiny, not even Easter..."(Protestants) were very big on regulating their worship exclusively by the scripture, and the Bible doesn't mention Easter or any Christian festivals," said Alec Ryrie.

But what was once a point of contention among believers has evolved over the centuries into a common celebration. Christians around the world — including Catholics and Protestants alike — will recognize Easter this weekend with pageantry, musical performances and even egg hunts....

Catholics at the time were required to go to confession and receive communion at least once a year. Most believers fulfilled this obligation during Easter week, and churches were flooded with unfamiliar faces.

For the reformers, high levels of participation didn't mean the church was thriving. They criticized Catholic rituals that focused believers' attention on celebrations, rather than religious teachings.
"Protestant ministers worried about superstition and idolatry, and what they called 'will-worship,' that is, worshipping in a way that humans have invented, not a way God has commanded," Ryrie wrote.
 
They saw the pomp and circumstance surrounding holidays like Easter as a distraction from the true work of religious leaders: helping church members develop strong personal faith." 
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