How do you respond to 'Happy Easter' ?

Status
Not open for further replies.

JimmyH

Puritan Board Senior
I know there are two other threads going that address the topic of pretended holy days, but I'm so annoyed with people wishing me "Happy Easter", that I wanted to post a separate thread to see if others share that annoyance. Not only outside of church, but believers in my congregation are 'wishing' me happiness on this day.

Reading the 'Good Friday' thread I feel convicted that I have respond with 'same to you', or 'Happy Easter' in kind. However, it really does annoy me. In December when someone wishes me a Merry Christmas I frequently respond, "Bah humbug !" Assuming they know Dickens' A Christmas Carol they'll get it. Otherwise they probably think I'm daft. Anyhow .. when someone wishes you a Happy Easter do you humor them or correct them ?
 
Happy Sabbath Day to a church member and Happy Easter to others lol. Actually, I think my annoyance about this holiday has more to do with my pride than with any righteousness I may have.
 
It depends. I often smile or say hello, since it seems more like a greeting. Today I responded to a fellow church member with a "I don't observe." He asked, genuinely, "you don't celebrate the resurrection?" I said I celebrated it every week. That appeared satisfying to him but we were interrupted, so I'm not sure if I needed to make the connection for him or not.
 
Generally, the best policy is to be polite and say "Thank you" in appreciation for the thought underlying the good wishes. Depending on how well you know the person speaking, it may be expedient to add something like, "Of course, I celebrate the resurrection every Lord's Day."
 
I'm happy about Easter. This morning, hundreds of folks who don't regularly show up got to hear an evangelistic sermon from Psalm 16.
 
I just give a simple 'Thank You'. I was there. Sanctification is not instantaneous. We need to be patient with people like the Lord was with us.

I dislike the (un)holy days. I avoid them as best as possible. But, I have learned to look on people with grief and sadness for their bondage to any day except for the Lord's day and not with disgust.
 
"Thanks! But, I don't celebrate Easter..."
This has led to some good conversations in the last few days that I hope to continue, Lord willing.
 
Like this?


No, don't be like groundskeeper Willy. Just wish people a good day and be pleasant.

Every Easter and Christmas I get tired of the Truly Reformed Virtue Signalling that goes on. Not celebrating Easter or Christmas is the Reformed version of proclaiming to everybody that you do Crossfit or are a vegan.
 
Every Easter and Christmas I get tired of the Truly Reformed Virtue Signalling that goes on. Not celebrating Easter or Christmas is the Reformed version of proclaiming to everybody that you do Crossfit or are a vegan.

That point is one of the reasons why I steer clear of cage-stage cyber-Covenanters and others on social media. They are only succeeding in bringing shame on their principles.
 
That point is one of the reasons why I steer clear of cage-stage cyber-Covenanters and others on social media. They are only succeeding in bringing shame on their principles.
"We've got 52 resurrection Sundays a year!" isn't the best response to someone coming from an easter service. It just sounds smug and pedantic. Whether we agree or not with the day, I believe Romans 14 comes into play, and our primary duty is love and unity. I am glad Christ is proclaimed on Good Friday. And I am glad many who do not otherwise go to church at least come during this time. Let Christ be shown to be wonderful...and his people shown not to be insufferable knuckle-heads.
 
I tend to concur with this statement:

“If the churches do religiously celebrate the memory of the Lord’s nativity, circumcision, passion, resurrection, and of His ascension into heaven, and sending the Holy Ghost upon His disciples, according to Christian liberty, we do very well approve of it.”

—Second Helvetic Confession, 24.2​

If people want to celebrate Easter, and even call it “Easter,” or “Resurrection Day,” or whatever, you won’t really find me objecting. What I object to is making the observance or the refraining from the observance of it a test of faithfulness to the Lord.
 
I tend to concur with this statement:

“If the churches do religiously celebrate the memory of the Lord’s nativity, circumcision, passion, resurrection, and of His ascension into heaven, and sending the Holy Ghost upon His disciples, according to Christian liberty, we do very well approve of it.”

—Second Helvetic Confession, 24.2​

If people want to celebrate Easter, and even call it “Easter,” or “Resurrection Day,” or whatever, you won’t really find me objecting. What I object to is making the observance or the refraining from the observance of it a test of faithfulness to the Lord.

Well put. I fear that both extremes can be a distraction from what is really important.

Thank you for the balanced insight.
 
Presbyterians rejected the 2nd Helvetic on this point. Moderating. Get back to the OP and let's not litigate the arguments against pretended holy days yet again here; start new threads on specific questions or be satisfied looking the large number we have in archive. Also, don't bad mouth others who can't defend themselves here.
 
I feel better about not equating disputing the greeting as if defending the faith. Maybe winning the argument and losing the man/woman. Since I'm relatively new ... maybe 5 years out of my 70, to being Reformed, I'm not experienced in living out some of the doctrine. This thread takes care of one aspect of that doctrinal experience.
 
Like this?


No, don't be like groundskeeper Willy. Just wish people a good day and be pleasant.

Every Easter and Christmas I get tired of the Truly Reformed Virtue Signalling that goes on. Not celebrating Easter or Christmas is the Reformed version of proclaiming to everybody that you do Crossfit or are a vegan.
Wow, this is a Simpsons golden nugget. Thank you for this Pergman!
 
Last edited:
Anyhow .. when someone wishes you a Happy Easter do you humor them or correct them ?
I don't observe "Easter" as a "holy day." But I know that's lost on most folks. And trying to score points for the strict position with the average person I think is unfruitful. When someone wishes me a "Happy Easter" I will usually return the salutation, "Happy Easter to you."
 
My wife and I got through Sunday morning with only one couple saying "Happy Easter." The fellow pastor and his wife know our views, and I think they said it just to rib us a bit.

Since our pastor said from the pulpit three years ago, the he celebrates the resurrection every LORD's day, and no need to make a special note of it, most in the congregation have the same view. It's refreshing.
 
'Thank you. Have a good Lord's day!' (I did this at a PCA I attended where non-celebration of such days was looked upon with suspicion. This greeting not only was non-offensive in that context, but some people would start greeting me and each other with a 'Happy Lord's day' for weeks afterwards.

If I'm in the right context, I will say 'Thank you, but I don't observe Easter.' or something like that.)
 
I think a response that recognizes that there are genuine differences among those who are Reformed is appropriate. It ought to be a humble response. It is too easy to confuse rejection of holy days with pride, as in "I'm more holy and biblical than you are." On one level, a person who rejects all holy days except the Sabbath could still say, "He is risen indeed," for that is what we all believe. If it is necessary to bring up one's views, it ought to happen to the church court as an attempt to convince the church court of a particular view. I, for one, do not think it is particularly appropriate to offer a curmudgeonly response to another congregant. I think Chris brings up a good point: how is the address being intended? Is it a mostly simple greeting? Or is it an attempt to foist holy days on those who in conscience cannot accept it? This distinction needs to be kept in mind, I think.
 
I think a response that recognizes that there are genuine differences among those who are Reformed is appropriate. It ought to be a humble response. It is too easy to confuse rejection of holy days with pride, as in "I'm more holy and biblical than you are."

Yes, Lane, the above is precisely what I meant by the cage stage mentality. And I do think it is fair to describe such an attitude as indicative of virtue-signalling. Untold damage has been done to the RPW and its application by the manner in which certain views have been articulated. To be fair, though, those who defend festivals can be equally as sanctimonious. As a child, I recall some Christians being referred to as "pagans" for not going to church on Christmas. Others frown on people "profaning" Good Friday by engaging in ordinary work or leisure activities.
 
Maybe I'm too old, but who responds to personal greetings with meme type Facebook responses or rudeness? As far as the issue itself, it is because the Presbyterian church has fallen so far away from her principles that this is even an issue. Lane, I don't understand your comment about church courts.
I think a response that recognizes that there are genuine differences among those who are Reformed is appropriate. It ought to be a humble response. It is too easy to confuse rejection of holy days with pride, as in "I'm more holy and biblical than you are." On one level, a person who rejects all holy days except the Sabbath could still say, "He is risen indeed," for that is what we all believe. If it is necessary to bring up one's views, it ought to happen to the church court as an attempt to convince the church court of a particular view. I, for one, do not think it is particularly appropriate to offer a curmudgeonly response to another congregant. I think Chris brings up a good point: how is the address being intended? Is it a mostly simple greeting? Or is it an attempt to foist holy days on those who in conscience cannot accept it? This distinction needs to be kept in mind, I think.
 
I think a response that recognizes that there are genuine differences among those who are Reformed is appropriate. It ought to be a humble response. It is too easy to confuse rejection of holy days with pride, as in "I'm more holy and biblical than you are." On one level, a person who rejects all holy days except the Sabbath could still say, "He is risen indeed," for that is what we all believe. If it is necessary to bring up one's views, it ought to happen to the church court as an attempt to convince the church court of a particular view. I, for one, do not think it is particularly appropriate to offer a curmudgeonly response to another congregant. I think Chris brings up a good point: how is the address being intended? Is it a mostly simple greeting? Or is it an attempt to foist holy days on those who in conscience cannot accept it? This distinction needs to be kept in mind, I think.
The text I copied in bold above is precisely what hindered me from making an issue of the greeting. Thanks for the alternative response of 'He is risen indeed.' Appropriate as can be, and not 'holier than thou.'
 
I didn't have any Happy Easters on the Sabbath. The Have a happy Easters before the Sabbath received a Have a good weekend. The Did y'all have a good Easters have received a We actually don't do Easter, but I had a good Lord's Day.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top