PASTOR JOHN COLLINS DAILY DEVOTIONAL: CHRISTIANITY AND PAGANISM

PASTOR JOHN COLLINS, EVANGELIST: THE MIRACLE OF THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS IS NOT ABOUT EGGS AND BUNNIES

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The Holy Bible is pretty clear on the definition of paganism and not worshiping anything or anyone but God.  The first commandment taught to the Hebrews is to love the Lord our God with all our heart, with all our mind, with all our soul, with all our strength.  No compromise.  Everything we’ve got.  Pastor John Collins of Love That Cross Ministries calls out the pagan practices that have been woven into the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ, Son of God.  The point of Easter, Resurrection Day, is that Jesus who came to the world as human was sacrificed and crucified, very painfully killed.  The miracle of the story is that He physically died and was resurrected, came back to life, proof that there is life after death.  The proof is that Jesus showed Himself after he died, very much alive, to hundreds and hundreds of people, that is documented in the Holy Bible.  Those hundreds of people suffered and died for that truth, standing boldly in the face of the Romans, even to death, declaring the truth. A lie wouldn’t have lasted three weeks. That proof is the truth of life after death. It is not about the hype and traditions of yet another holiday tied into pagan rituals.

“Jesus is not about bunnies and chocolate, ham and eggs or any paganism and yet it is what this world has chosen to associate with the miracle of the resurrection. Jesus is the proof that God has chosen to forgive the sinners of this world through the sacrifice of His beloved Son. The blood of Jesus was shed and His body was hung on a tree to be wracked with pain until the life left His flesh. Jesus came back to His people to prove that there is indeed life after death, there is a heaven to go home to and there is hope.” Pastor John Collins (April, 2018).

Pastor John Collins continues to bring revival across the United States just as he has been doing for the past decade.  Pastor John Collins is an evangelist and the head pastor of Love That Cross Ministries and John Collins Ministries.  Having seen so many people turn away from the church, God, and Jesus Christ, Pastor John Collins is committed to redeeming the Gospel so that the truth is heard.  Too many pastors preach what “tickles the ears”, meaning a feel good sermon that leaves the listeners feeling good about themselves instead of taking a look at what would please God and making that change in themselves.  Pastor John Collins preaches from the heart, and teaches us that we all have something that we can change, to work toward becoming better Christians; none of us, including Pastor Collins, have reached the perfection of Jesus Christ.  Becoming Christian is a work in progress for every day of our lives until we come face to face with God when we die. 

Pastor John Collins writes:

“But the angel answered and said to the women, ‘Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified.  He is not here; for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.’” Matthew 28:5-6 (NKJV).

What makes Christianity so special? Jesus! He was crucified and He was resurrected, seen by hundreds of witnesses and left His ministry in the hands of His apostles to take to the masses and tell of the miracle of His death and His rise from that death into life. Jesus is the Son of God. Jesus died for the sins of this world and was resurrected from death into life as the proof of the gospel and good news. This is what is celebrated with eggs and chocolate. This is what is celebrated with bunnies and ham. This is what has been confused with pagan rites and heathen practices in the church.

Jesus is not about bunnies and chocolate, ham and eggs or any paganism and yet it is what this world has chosen to associate with the miracle of the resurrection. Jesus is the proof that God has chosen to forgive the sinners of this world through the sacrifice of His beloved Son. The blood of Jesus was shed and His body was hung on a tree to be wracked with pain until the life left His flesh. Jesus came back to His people to prove that there is indeed life after death, there is a heaven to go home to and there is hope.

Christianity is the belief in the sacrifice of our Lord, it is the only way to the Father and it is not open to compromise. To have faith in the Son is to desire the Father and to seek to be obedient. To know who you worship is to trust in God and to know that the only way to achieve salvation is through Jesus. We need to let go of the traditions that do not honor the Son of God and to cling to the cross. It matters. The decorations and origin of the symbolism that is thought to be benign is foolishness indeed. Where traditions begin matters. Many choose to ignore the history of these pagan beliefs and think that the traditions that they have become are irrelevant. I know differently. It does matter because it is just another deception and lie that has been inherited by people who claim to know Christ and claim to love Christ above all. But, ask these believers to give up their traditions, give up the symbols and pagan ideas that represent their ‘holiday’ and see if they are willing. Too often, people cling to what comforts them and brings them joy and toss aside the beginnings with declarations of denial by claiming that, no matter the origin, they are worshiping in spirit and truth through the eggs and bunnies and chocolate and ham.

Christianity and paganism, paganism and Christianity. It is all mixed up. There is a lack of desiring purity in worship and a lack of desiring righteousness in faith. I choose to reject the trappings of this holiday and to honor my King with truth. The resurrection is a day of mourning for this world as too many have taken it for granted and too many have rejected the gift that has been offered. I will mourn for this world and yet give thanks to the humility of the King who obeyed His Father unto death and was resurrected unto life to sit down at the right hand of God.

“Then He said to them, ‘Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day, and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name, beginning at Jerusalem. And you are witnesses of these things.’” Luke 24:46-48 (NKJV).

LOVE THAT CROSS PASTOR JOHN COLLINS

Pastor John Collins has many sermons, blogs, interviews, recordings and other media that can be viewed by clicking on the links found within this post.  Pastor John Collins preaches every Sunday at 1000 Mountain Time on Heaven’s Country Radio with Marty Smith, winner of radio personality of the year for Christian broadcasting,  and can be heard at www.heavenscountry.com.  If you would like to speak to Pastor John Collins for prayer, ministering, or questions-not to debate-he can be reached through his personal email at jc65777@yahoo.com.  If you are interested in revival, Pastor John Collins is available to guest preach or speak to your group. Pastor John Collins is in it to win it for God.