The Date of Easter

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Why does the date of Easter move?

Q: Why does the date for Good Friday always change? Sometimes it is in April, and this year it is March. Is Good Friday the correct date when our Lord Jesus Christ was Crucified for us? Thomas, South Africa

A: First you understand that Christians do not regard one day any more than another. Every day is the day of salvation, every day we rest in God's Sabbath. 2 Co. 6:2, Heb. 4:1-11.

The Jewish festivals, and periodic celebrations, are finished, obsolete, Heb. 8:13; they were mere shadows pointing to the reality in Christ (Heb. 10:1-12). Halleluia! That is where we stand, and rejoice in our freedom from the bondage of the Law, and religion.

We refuse to return to what the Holy Spirit calls those, weak and beggarly ceremonies. (Gal. 4:9-11 Tyndale 1534) We reject the blustering of religious traditionalists, and embrace the Word of God who says,

Let no man therefore trouble your consciences about meat and drink, or for a piece of an holy day, as the holy day of the new moon, or of the Sabbath days, which are nothing but shadows of things to come, but the body is in Christ. Col. 2:16-17 Tyndale 1534

Isn't that Good News? You see why we love the Tyndale version.

However, we know that not all Christians have caught-on to the freedom we have in Christ, and so God exhorts us to be patient and understanding of such ignorant believers. (Ro. Ch. 14) Therefore we use the traditional "holy days" like Christmas, Passover, and Easter, as a further platform for proclaiming the Gospel.

It makes no real difference to a Christian upon which precise day of our calendar Christ was crucified or born; what matters, is that every day, in every way, we proclaim and embody the Good News of what He's done for sinners. Come on you Saints!

Religion makes a fuss over dates and human traditions; real Christians ignore them, and get on with Father's business.

Now, to answer your question, why does the blasphemously titled "Good Friday" move around the calendar.

The fourth century Council of Nicea decided to have an annual remembrance of the death, and celebration of the resurrection of Christ, at the time of the Jewish Passover.

The timing of the annual Passover is related to the Paschal (Spring) Full Moon. According to the Hebrew calendar it begins on the fifteenth day of Nisan. Therefore the Easter festival is timed in relation to approximate dates of the Paschal Full Moon, rather than a fixed annual numerical date. These approximated dates were agreed centuries ago by the Council of Nicea. Wake up at the back!

You can tell it is a human invention, rather than a divine instruction, because the religious crowd are still arguing over when Easter should really be.

Thus, the Orthodox cult hold it according to the Julian calendar, and the rest wiggle it around in the Gregorian calendar. This year, 2008, we held the earliest Easter in living memory.

Thank God He's done away with "religion", and set us free from such nonsense. Let's be busy doing what He's told us to, until He comes back. Get after those precious sinners Thomas!

Praying in Tongues

Q: I'm 15 years old, and have just recently received the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. I spoke in tongues when I received Him, but since then, it doesn't feel as natural as it did the very first time. It feels like it's me doing random babble, not speaking a supernatural tongue with the influence of the Holy Spirit.

Also, how often should I pray in tongues? Every day, every time I feel the need, when? Also, I have family members who are not Christians who might think it weird to hear me speaking in tongues. I'm not embarrassed about the tongues, just about what they would think if they heard me. Can someone help me with this? Jake

A: What a wonderful testimony to be saved and Spirit-filled at fifteen. Praise God you were not stupid like me; I was 34 before receiving Christ.

Stay clean, Spirit-filled, and obedient, so that God can use you.

Genuine tongues are always under the control of the speaker (1 Co. 14:32); the message is inspired by God, but you do the speaking or praying using your tongue. You can stop and start at will. It all works by faith, not feelings. So you will know yourself if you are "just babbling in the flesh", or if you are truly led by the Spirit to use tongues. Check in your spirit, and you will learn the difference.

People do sometimes use tongues in the flesh, and it is an embarrassment.

The key is to be led by the Spirit, and stay in step with Him, He will let you know when.

Simple isn't it?

Give yourself time to become fully Spirit-conscious, because you've spent the last 15 years merely body and mind conscious. Soon you will understand what Smith Wigglesworth meant when he testified, "Some days, I don't even know I have a body." He wasn't talking about New Age "out of body" experiences, he meant he was so Spirit-conscious, he lost awareness of the distractions.

You already show wisdom in asking about your family. Yes, if they think you are going bonkers, smile understandingly, and do it more quietly. We are trying to love them to Christ, not frighten them by perceived "weirdness". But there will be times when the Lord wants to use tongues as a sign to unbelievers, so He will prompt you when to be louder.

How often should you use tongues, and when? You guessed... when the Lord leads you.

Get some of the Kenneth Hagin books on the baptism, he's explained it all wonderfully, and they are fun to read.

Heaven is excited about you Jake, don't let Him down Bro. Stand up for your Saviour, and He will stand out in you wherever you tread.