Summary

In this episode, Jon and Jim discuss the difference between the Feast of First Fruits and Easter. They explore the pagan origins of Easter and how the Roman Catholic Church adapted pagan practices to create Easter as it is celebrated today. Jim shares his personal convictions and why he chooses to celebrate First Fruits instead of Easter. They discuss the importance of living in the middle ground and respecting the convictions of others. They also touch on the challenges of navigating family celebrations and how to approach these conversations with love and kindness. Finally, they preview the upcoming discussion on the Feast of Shavuot.

Chapters

00:00 — Introduction and Review

00:52 — The Difference Between Feast of First Fruits and Easter

03:18 — The Influence of Rome and the Roman Catholic Church

04:14 — The Pagan Origins of Easter

05:40 — The Goddess Esther and the Spring Festival

07:26 — The Roman Catholic Church's Adaptation of Pagan Practices

08:12 — Personal Convictions and Celebrating Easter

09:38 — Celebrating First Fruits

11:12 — Living in the Middle Ground

14:22 — Navigating Celebrations with Family and Friends

16:22 — The Importance of Personal Convictions

21:05 — The Dissatisfaction with Easter Celebrations

22:55 — The Challenge of Communicating Convictions with Family

23:23 — Reconciling Convictions with God's Commands

25:21 — Living in a Kosher Way

27:09 — Inviting Others to Discover the Beauty of God's Ways

28:31 — Looking Ahead to the Feast of Shavuot

33:08 — Conclusion

Takeaways

The Feast of First Fruits and Easter have different origins and meanings.

Understanding the pagan origins of Easter can influence personal convictions and choices in celebrating.

Living in the middle ground allows for respect and understanding of different perspectives.

Inviting others to discover the beauty of God's ways can be done with love and kindness.