By David Onwuchekwa
As Christians all over the world celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ today, it is pertinent, once again, to draw our minds to the true meaning of Easter and some misconceptions, the wrong way some who call themselves Christians celebrate the event.
The true meaning of Easter, at its core, is the celebration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, which is the cornerstone of the Christian faith.
According to the New Testament, Jesus was crucified, died, and was buried, and on the third day, He rose again, defeating sin and death and offering salvation to all who believe in Him. Read 1 Corinthians 15:3–4.
Easter is a celebration of hope, renewal, and victory through Christ.
Easter commemorates Christ rising from the grave. It fulfills Old Testament prophecies and affirms Jesus as the Messiah.
Paul said if Christ has not been raised, then faith is useless. Read 1 Corinthians 15:14. Easter symbolizes the believer’s own resurrection and eternal life through faith in Christ.
However, today some Christians celebrate Easter in a way that contradicts the essence of the event.
For some, it has become a time to focus more on Easter rice, chicken, stew, ofeakwu (local delicacy as sauce), cow and goat meat, turkey, assorted drinks and other consumables according to the size of the pockets of the celebrants than on Jesus. This, of course, overshadows the true spiritual meaning of the celebration.
There are others who treat Easter as just a family or social holiday rather than a sacred day of worship and reflection. That is doing it the wrong way.
True Christians should not neglect the significance of Lent or fail to engage in prayer, repentance, and spiritual growth leading up to Easter.
It is regretable that some people have used the moment of the celebration to practice one-day Christianity, attending church only on Easter Sunday without living a life that reflects the resurrection power on a daily basis.
It is absolutely wrong to mix pagan traditions with Christian practices in a way that distorts or dilutes the message of the resurrection.
During Easter, a time meant for reflection, renewal, and celebrating peace, love, and sacrifice, some youths engage in behaviors and activities that contradict its essence.
These can range from immoral to outright criminal activities that counter the essence of Easter.
Many youths use Easter as an excuse for wild parties, often involving alcohol and drugs, which can lead to irresponsible behavior.
Easter events, parties, or getaways sometimes become settings for casual or risky sexual behavior, contradicting the season’s message of purity and renewal.
Some mock or trivialize religious practices or use sacred symbols inappropriately during festivities.
Disrupting community peace through graffiti or damaging public or private property during celebrations can never be part of the celebration.
Some groups exploit holiday gatherings for initiation rites or violent clashes, often masked as Easter “celebrations.” Easter events sometimes serve as cover for the distribution or consumption of illegal substances.
As the celebration leads to increased movement and festivities some bad elements convert it to a period to engage in pickpocketing, burglary, or phone snatching.
With more online transactions during holiday sales and giveaways, some youths engage in scams, phishing, or identity theft.
Youths who drive under the influence of drugs during celebrations put lives at risk, causing accidents and fatalities.
All of these behaviors contrast sharply with the values of Easter which is a period for sacrifice, redemption, compassion, sober reflection and peace.
