Latest / Fulfilled with Rebecca Sheehan / Ep. 3 - Christ and Cadbury Eggs: Unwrapping the Tale of Two Easters

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Ep. 3 - Christ and Cadbury Eggs: Unwrapping the Tale of Two Easters · Fulfilled with Rebecca Sheehan

• 0:08
  SPEAKER_01: Hey everybody, welcome to Fulfilled.
• 0:11
  SPEAKER_01: I'm your host, Rebecca Sheehan.
• 0:13
  SPEAKER_01: First of all, Happy Holy Week.
• 0:15
  SPEAKER_01: I'm sure a lot of you are busy prepping for Easter,
• 0:17
  so there's no better time to delve into a topic I've been
• 0:20
  intrigued by ever since
• 0:21
  SPEAKER_01: becoming a Christian.
• 0:22
  SPEAKER_01: It's what I call the Tale of Two Easter's.
• 0:26
  It's decorating eggs,
• 0:27
  planting brunches,
• 0:28
  baskets,
• 0:29
  and of course,
• 0:30
  the Easter Bunny.
• 0:31
  SPEAKER_01: But then there's the other Easter, the actual reason we celebrate.
• 0:36
  Starts with Palm Sunday,
• 0:37
  Jesus riding into Jerusalem,
• 0:39
  a humble king on a donkey.
• 0:41
  SPEAKER_01: Then Jesus shares the last supper with his disciples,
• 0:44
  SPEAKER_01: after which he's betrayed,
• 0:45
  SPEAKER_01: tried,
• 0:46
  SPEAKER_01: and crucified on Good Friday.
• 0:49
  And just when it seems like all hope is lost,
• 0:51
  Easter Sunday changes everything.
• 0:54
  SPEAKER_01: the tomb empty.
• 0:56
  SPEAKER_01: And the resurrection wasn't just a miracle.
• 0:58
  SPEAKER_01: It was and is the ultimate triumph in the heart of the Christian faith.
• 1:03
  SPEAKER_01: So here's the big question.
• 1:05
  SPEAKER_01: What does that have to do with Easter bunnies and Cadbury eggs?
• 1:09
  Here to talk about the origins of our secular Easter traditions
• 1:12
  and how we can
• 1:13
  SPEAKER_01: balance that with bringing our families closer to Christ is Amy Davison,
• 1:17
  SPEAKER_01: co-host of the Mama Bear Apologetics podcast.
• 1:21
  SPEAKER_01: If you're not familiar,
• 1:22
  Mama Bear Apologetics is a group of Christian mama bears
• 1:25
  dedicated to equipping
• 1:26
  SPEAKER_01: families through books,
• 1:27
  SPEAKER_01: a podcast,
• 1:28
  and other online tools to defend and teach the Christian faith
• 1:30
  to their kids.
• 1:32
  That includes navigating cultural challenges like the tale of
• 1:35
  two Easters.
• 1:36
  SPEAKER_01: Amy, thank you so much for joining us today.
• 1:39
  SPEAKER_00: Thank you for inviting me, Rebecca.
• 1:40
  SPEAKER_00: I really appreciate it.
• 1:41
  SPEAKER_01: So one of my favorite resources of yours are your holiday guides.
• 1:45
  SPEAKER_01: We found your Christmas guide,
• 1:46
  SPEAKER_01: I think,
• 1:47
  SPEAKER_01: two years ago,
• 1:47
  and it totally revolutionized the way we celebrate Christmas
• 1:51
  with our family and
• 1:52
  SPEAKER_01: Christmas morning.
• 1:52
  SPEAKER_01: It was so wonderful.
• 1:54
  So that's why I thought of you guys for Easter when I wanted to
• 1:56
  do this episode.
• 1:57
  So I'd love to delve into your Easter guide,
• 2:00
  which is available free on your website.
• 2:02
  SPEAKER_00: You just put in the email and you can get it right to your mailbox.
• 2:05
  SPEAKER_01: You address a lot of the questions that kids have about Easter,
• 2:08
  SPEAKER_01: including the roots of a lot of our secular traditions.
• 2:12
  SPEAKER_01: So starting with the Easter Bunny,
• 2:13
  SPEAKER_01: where does the Easter Bunny come from and why does he bring presents?
• 2:18
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, so the Easter bunny is actually a fairly recent development.
• 2:21
  SPEAKER_00: So this happened around 1857 that the Easter bunny started coming in.
• 2:24
  It was through German tradition where children would actually
• 2:28
  build little nests
• 2:29
  SPEAKER_00: with sticks or grass or a bonnet or even a shoe.
• 2:33
  SPEAKER_00: And what was believed is that if you were good,
• 2:36
  then the Easter bunny would lay eggs in the little nest or the
• 2:40
  bonnet and you would
• 2:40
  SPEAKER_00: find those on Easter morning.
• 2:42
  Sometimes it would be if you came back from church,
• 2:44
  that's where the eggs would be.
• 2:46
  SPEAKER_00: Wait, pause for a second.
• 2:47
  SPEAKER_00: Bunnies don't lay eggs, though.
• 2:48
  SPEAKER_00: I know.
• 2:50
  SPEAKER_00: I don't understand this connection.
• 2:52
  SPEAKER_00: I know.
• 2:53
  And so that's where things get a little wonky when it comes to
• 2:56
  researching why this came about.
• 2:58
  SPEAKER_00: There were eggs that was given.
• 2:59
  SPEAKER_00: That was primary.
• 3:00
  And what has been theorized is that there was a recorded
• 3:03
  instance of two children
• 3:04
  SPEAKER_00: who were going to look for the eggs.
• 3:06
  SPEAKER_00: And when they went outside to the nest that they had built,
• 3:09
  SPEAKER_00: they saw that there was a rabbit in the distance that was bounding off.
• 3:12
  And the children jumped to the conclusion that it was the bunny
• 3:15
  that laid the eggs.
• 3:16
  And so that's where kind of this idea that,
• 3:18
  oh,
• 3:18
  maybe the eggs came from the bunny.
• 3:20
  SPEAKER_00: Now,
• 3:20
  there was some later theories that was toward the end of the
• 3:24
  1800s to the beginning
• 3:25
  of the 1900s that tried to link the whole Easter bunny and the
• 3:29
  laying of the eggs
• 3:30
  SPEAKER_00: to Oshetara,
• 3:31
  which is like this springtime goddess that was worshipped in
• 3:34
  ancient pagan culture.
• 3:35
  SPEAKER_00: And what had been suggested,
• 3:36
  SPEAKER_00: and this was completely offhand by a professor who was like,
• 3:40
  SPEAKER_00: well,
• 3:40
  SPEAKER_00: you know,
• 3:41
  SPEAKER_00: bunnies are sort of known for fertility.
• 3:43
  So maybe bunnies are tied into this ancient fertility worship
• 3:46
  because within pagan cultures,
• 3:48
  there were always goddesses that were worshipped to try and
• 3:51
  bring about fertility.
• 3:52
  SPEAKER_00: So now how did this lead to the bunnies laying the eggs?
• 3:54
  SPEAKER_00: Well, there was a story that was created.
• 3:56
  SPEAKER_00: that there was a bird that was actually laying beautiful eggs,
• 3:59
  SPEAKER_00: and the goddess got jealous of this bird,
• 4:01
  SPEAKER_00: and so she turned him into a bunny instead to sort of mock it.
• 4:05
  But the bird was so sad about being turned into a bunny that
• 4:08
  once a year during the springtime,
• 4:09
  SPEAKER_00: she was allowed to lay the colored eggs again.
• 4:12
  SPEAKER_00: I know.
• 4:12
  SPEAKER_00: It's like, it's such a wild stretch.
• 4:15
  And what's frustrating is to try to actually track it down of,
• 4:18
  okay,
• 4:18
  where did this start?
• 4:19
  SPEAKER_00: It was becoming sort of this,
• 4:20
  it's called a just so story to where when people are looking
• 4:24
  for an origin to something,
• 4:25
  SPEAKER_00: it's like a fairy tale.
• 4:26
  SPEAKER_00: They just sort of make it up.
• 4:27
  SPEAKER_00: And so that's what we see.
• 4:28
  SPEAKER_00: And this started within the late 1800s and it just sort of caught on.
• 4:32
  SPEAKER_00: Then you had the marketing,
• 4:33
  SPEAKER_00: you know,
• 4:33
  SPEAKER_00: of the bunny being with like the dress and having the eggs.
• 4:35
  SPEAKER_00: And then it caught on within commercialism, much like Santa Claus did.
• 4:39
  SPEAKER_00: So...
• 4:40
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah,
• 4:40
  SPEAKER_00: it's pretty interesting when you try to look in the history,
• 4:42
  SPEAKER_00: trying to track down where the origin came from.
• 4:44
  It's a bit of a mystery because we actually don't have a lot of
• 4:47
  historical anchors
• 4:48
  SPEAKER_00: for some of these beliefs that came about around that time.
• 4:51
  SPEAKER_01: The mystery of the Easter bunny.
• 4:53
  SPEAKER_01: Who knew?
• 4:54
  SPEAKER_01: Man, who knew?
• 4:55
  So I feel like there's this pervasive fear among Christians
• 4:58
  about pagan roots to traditions.
• 5:01
  When we think of things like bunnies and eggs,
• 5:04
  we do see anchors within paganism.
• 5:06
  SPEAKER_00: Like paganism, they often use and worship deities, animals.
• 5:10
  SPEAKER_00: Food will be incorporated within to worship,
• 5:12
  SPEAKER_00: but that is common within all cultures and all religions.
• 5:15
  SPEAKER_00: So if it's one of those things to where it's like,
• 5:17
  SPEAKER_00: oh,
• 5:17
  SPEAKER_00: well,
• 5:17
  we don't want to use a bunny because that may or may not be
• 5:19
  tied to paganism.
• 5:20
  SPEAKER_00: Well, honestly, anything could be tied to paganism.
• 5:22
  SPEAKER_00: I mean, think of us putting on new clothes for Easter.
• 5:25
  SPEAKER_00: I mean, there's going to be a pagan anchor.
• 5:27
  SPEAKER_00: to putting on a new outfit in celebration of a holiday.
• 5:29
  SPEAKER_00: That's just synonymous with all culture.
• 5:31
  And so there's always going to be some peg and root because one
• 5:33
  thing we have in
• 5:34
  SPEAKER_00: common are the foods that we eat and the animals that we see.
• 5:37
  SPEAKER_00: I think what Satan likes to do is he likes to make us fearful of forms of
• 5:42
  SPEAKER_00: celebration in a way to distract us from focusing on Jesus.
• 5:46
  SPEAKER_00: And sometimes I think when it comes to
• 5:48
  SPEAKER_00: holidays and things.
• 5:49
  When we think of something innocuous as maybe having an Easter
• 5:52
  basket or going out
• 5:53
  SPEAKER_00: for brunch with family,
• 5:54
  SPEAKER_00: it's,
• 5:54
  SPEAKER_00: oh,
• 5:55
  SPEAKER_00: wait a second.
• 5:55
  SPEAKER_00: Couldn't that actually be pagan?
• 5:57
  SPEAKER_00: But God is not a fool.
• 5:58
  SPEAKER_00: He knows our hearts.
• 5:59
  SPEAKER_00: He knows what we are doing.
• 6:00
  SPEAKER_00: And it's an act of adoration toward God through our Easter celebrations.
• 6:04
  So I think we need to be careful not to allow Satan a foothold
• 6:07
  and hyperanalyze
• 6:09
  every little thing in fear of we might be accidentally
• 6:12
  worshiping some sort of
• 6:14
  SPEAKER_00: pagan deity.
• 6:15
  Because if we are following after Christ,
• 6:17
  then that's where our heart is.
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  SPEAKER_00: That is where our pursuit is at.
• 6:19
  So I just want to kind of maybe offer that as a little bit of encouragement.
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  SPEAKER_00: Because there's always,
• 6:22
  SPEAKER_00: you know how it always is,
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  SPEAKER_00: like on Facebook or Instagram,
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  SPEAKER_00: you'll see that little post that comes up that's like,
• 6:27
  SPEAKER_00: oh,
• 6:28
  SPEAKER_00: Ishtar was actually Easter.
• 6:30
  SPEAKER_00: And this is just a Christian incorporation of this ancient worship.
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  SPEAKER_00: And that was debunked like hundreds of times.
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  SPEAKER_00: But yet it's easy to retweet.
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  SPEAKER_00: And now,
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  SPEAKER_00: you know,
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  SPEAKER_00: a lot of Christian parents see this and say,
• 6:40
  SPEAKER_00: oh,
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  SPEAKER_00: my gosh,
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  SPEAKER_00: you know,
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  SPEAKER_00: we shouldn't call it Easter.
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  SPEAKER_00: We shouldn't dye eggs.
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  We definitely shouldn't have any chocolate bunnies because what
• 6:45
  if we're actually
• 6:46
  SPEAKER_00: incorporating pagan worship?
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  SPEAKER_00: And turns out it was complete falsehood.
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  And so I think we need to be careful as parents not to let fear
• 6:52
  distract us from
• 6:53
  SPEAKER_00: the true meaning of the season,
• 6:55
  SPEAKER_00: which is the celebration of the resurrection of Jesus,
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  SPEAKER_00: because that is where our hope is found.
• 6:59
  SPEAKER_01: I love that.
• 7:00
  SPEAKER_01: That's such a refreshing and liberating perspective.
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  I feel like one of the fears in addition or instead of the
• 7:07
  paganism thing,
• 7:08
  SPEAKER_01: at least which I have,
• 7:09
  is that my kids will focus too much on the gifts and the
• 7:13
  commercial aspect of it.
• 7:14
  SPEAKER_01: Why do you think Easter has become so commercialized in recent years?
• 7:18
  SPEAKER_01: I know it wasn't always this way.
• 7:21
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
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  SPEAKER_00: You know, I think all holidays used to be a little more simple.
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  SPEAKER_00: You know,
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  SPEAKER_00: I mean,
• 7:26
  SPEAKER_00: when we think of little women and how,
• 7:28
  SPEAKER_00: you know,
• 7:28
  SPEAKER_00: Christmas was they each were given a book and one little present.
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  And now the tree has to be overflowing with presents for it to
• 7:34
  actually be seen as
• 7:35
  SPEAKER_00: a good Christmas.
• 7:36
  Or I've noticed with Easter over the past few years that it's
• 7:39
  like they're trying
• 7:39
  SPEAKER_00: to make it a second Christmas to where...
• 7:41
  These ads from like Target and Walmart are showing these
• 7:44
  massive presents for Easter.
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  SPEAKER_00: I'm like, what in the world?
• 7:46
  SPEAKER_00: It's like, you know, a basket, some jelly beans and some peeps.
• 7:49
  SPEAKER_00: And I mean, that was Easter.
• 7:50
  SPEAKER_00: And now it's trying to become this big thing.
• 7:52
  SPEAKER_00: So why the commercialism?
• 7:54
  SPEAKER_00: Honestly, money.
• 7:55
  SPEAKER_00: It is a marketing campaign.
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  It's a way to get people to spend more so that they can give
• 8:00
  their children an
• 8:01
  SPEAKER_00: experience that they think the children need to have a good childhood.
• 8:05
  SPEAKER_00: I mean, like mom guilt, dad guilt is huge.
• 8:08
  SPEAKER_00: And it's easy to manipulate parents to where, oh, your kids need this.
• 8:11
  SPEAKER_00: Whereas,
• 8:11
  SPEAKER_00: you know,
• 8:11
  SPEAKER_00: if your child is loved,
• 8:13
  SPEAKER_00: if you have a few fun traditions that your family is doing,
• 8:16
  SPEAKER_00: they are not missing out compared to the kid who,
• 8:19
  SPEAKER_00: you know,
• 8:19
  SPEAKER_00: gets a new bike on Easter or all these giant toys.
• 8:22
  SPEAKER_00: Now,
• 8:22
  SPEAKER_00: I think traditions are important because as we see,
• 8:25
  SPEAKER_00: even throughout the Old Testament,
• 8:26
  SPEAKER_00: when they are talking about teaching one's children,
• 8:28
  SPEAKER_00: we're commanded in Deuteronomy 6 to speak about God often.
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  SPEAKER_00: Like when we're rising,
• 8:32
  SPEAKER_00: when we're laying down,
• 8:33
  SPEAKER_00: when we're going for a walk,
• 8:34
  SPEAKER_00: when we're at the meal,
• 8:36
  We're supposed to do that as we see through ancient Jewish
• 8:38
  practices like Passover.
• 8:40
  There is symbolism within the herbs that are used,
• 8:42
  the smells,
• 8:43
  the taste,
• 8:43
  the sounds.
• 8:44
  SPEAKER_00: And that's because all of those will elicit memories.
• 8:47
  SPEAKER_00: So when we think of traditions and Easter traditions,
• 8:49
  what we can be nurturing with our kids is what's the tradition
• 8:52
  that when my kids
• 8:53
  SPEAKER_00: See it,
• 8:53
  SPEAKER_00: smell it,
• 8:53
  SPEAKER_00: hear it,
• 8:54
  SPEAKER_00: taste it,
• 8:54
  SPEAKER_00: that they think of Jesus,
• 8:56
  SPEAKER_00: that they think of our family together in worship.
• 8:58
  SPEAKER_00: Like,
• 8:58
  SPEAKER_00: for example,
• 8:59
  SPEAKER_00: for me,
• 8:59
  the smell of burnt candle wax always brings back the smell of
• 9:03
  German churches that
• 9:04
  SPEAKER_00: we visited when we were stationed in Germany.
• 9:06
  And it always brings me back to the candlelight service at
• 9:08
  church when we were worshiping God.
• 9:09
  SPEAKER_00: And so with our children,
• 9:11
  SPEAKER_00: you know,
• 9:11
  SPEAKER_00: we can do fun Easter traditions like,
• 9:14
  SPEAKER_00: you know,
• 9:14
  SPEAKER_00: we mentioned in our Easter guide,
• 9:15
  SPEAKER_00: the resurrection rolls or even the English tradition of hot cross buns.
• 9:19
  SPEAKER_00: You know,
• 9:19
  SPEAKER_00: you can be baking this with your children and talk about how the cross is
• 9:23
  SPEAKER_00: reminiscent of the cross where Jesus was crucified.
• 9:26
  And the spices that are used within the hot cross buns are
• 9:29
  reminiscent of the
• 9:29
  SPEAKER_00: spices that were rubbed on the body of Jesus after his crucifixion.
• 9:33
  SPEAKER_00: And even they'll shred up orange rind.
• 9:34
  SPEAKER_00: And the orange rind represents the bitterness that comes with loss.
• 9:37
  SPEAKER_00: But we have also the sweetness of the hope of Christ as well.
• 9:40
  When we are using these beautiful traditions that we are
• 9:43
  incorporating sensually,
• 9:44
  SPEAKER_00: meaning like smell,
• 9:45
  SPEAKER_00: taste,
• 9:46
  SPEAKER_00: touch with our kids,
• 9:47
  SPEAKER_00: then that will help trigger memories with the focus being on Christ.
• 9:50
  SPEAKER_00: And that's what we're called to do.
• 9:52
  SPEAKER_00: That's how children learn best.
• 9:53
  SPEAKER_00: And so for us,
• 9:54
  it's just how can I find as a family some amazing traditions
• 9:57
  that we could do that
• 9:58
  SPEAKER_00: not only nurture our fellowship as a family,
• 10:00
  SPEAKER_00: but keep it centrally and focused on God.
• 10:02
  SPEAKER_00: That's amazing.
• 10:03
  That's what we should be doing with our kids because that's
• 10:05
  what they'll remember
• 10:06
  SPEAKER_00: and maybe even pass on to their own children.
• 10:08
  I love the idea of starting traditions that tie to all these
• 10:10
  different senses
• 10:11
  SPEAKER_01: because you're right,
• 10:12
  SPEAKER_01: that is how memories are truly formed.
• 10:15
  So for those who don't know,
• 10:15
  the resurrection rolls have the marshmallow melts,
• 10:18
  right?
• 10:19
  SPEAKER_01: So it's like Jesus disappearing from the tomb.
• 10:22
  SPEAKER_00: Yep, yep.
• 10:22
  SPEAKER_00: And it's great because you use that Pillsbury dough that you wrap up.
• 10:25
  SPEAKER_00: So,
• 10:26
  SPEAKER_00: I mean,
• 10:26
  you're not even having to make the dough if you're a dual
• 10:28
  working parent and you're busy.
• 10:29
  SPEAKER_00: You know,
• 10:29
  SPEAKER_00: it's a great recipe to do because,
• 10:31
  SPEAKER_00: yeah,
• 10:31
  SPEAKER_00: you roll a marshmallow in butter and cinnamon and
• 10:34
  SPEAKER_00: And sugar.
• 10:34
  And then what you do is you roll it up in the sort of puff
• 10:37
  pastry and you bake it in the oven.
• 10:39
  SPEAKER_00: And when you pull out the puff pastry and break it open,
• 10:41
  SPEAKER_00: the marshmallow will be gone because it's dissolved.
• 10:44
  SPEAKER_00: But the sugar, the cinnamon's all right there.
• 10:45
  SPEAKER_00: And that's to remind us that,
• 10:46
  SPEAKER_00: yes,
• 10:47
  SPEAKER_00: after Jesus rose from the dead,
• 10:49
  SPEAKER_00: 40 days later,
• 10:49
  SPEAKER_00: he ascended into heaven.
• 10:50
  SPEAKER_00: And so, again, hope, excitement while teaching biblical truth.
• 10:54
  SPEAKER_01: What other sorts of activities would you recommend?
• 10:56
  SPEAKER_01: I mean, they're the ones that our kids have brought home from school.
• 10:59
  Like I actually just unpacked some of them yesterday when I
• 11:01
  unpacked our Easter things.
• 11:02
  SPEAKER_01: If you're watching this,
• 11:04
  this little activity where each of these different colored
• 11:06
  beads represents a
• 11:07
  different part of the Easter story and you read about it and
• 11:10
  then you string them
• 11:11
  SPEAKER_01: on this little pipe cleaner and make a bracelet.
• 11:13
  And then there are the eggs you fill with different aspects of
• 11:15
  the story too.
• 11:16
  SPEAKER_01: But do you have any other ideas or suggestions?
• 11:19
  SPEAKER_00: Well,
• 11:19
  SPEAKER_00: and luckily like Mardell's or your Christian bookstores and things,
• 11:22
  SPEAKER_00: they usually have really cute crafts.
• 11:24
  SPEAKER_00: I mean,
• 11:24
  you could do a cross where you cut that out in construction
• 11:26
  paper and then you
• 11:28
  SPEAKER_00: paste in different colors of tissue paper.
• 11:31
  What's fun about that is they can actually put that on their
• 11:33
  window and then the
• 11:34
  SPEAKER_00: light will come through.
• 11:35
  SPEAKER_00: And it gives the illusion of stained glass.
• 11:37
  SPEAKER_00: And so there's crafts and things for the little ones.
• 11:39
  SPEAKER_00: But for the older ones,
• 11:40
  what we really want to do is help them understand the meaning
• 11:43
  of the story of
• 11:45
  SPEAKER_00: Christ's death and resurrection.
• 11:47
  And what kids are really wanting,
• 11:48
  especially teenagers,
• 11:49
  Gen Z,
• 11:49
  Gen Alpha,
• 11:50
  is they want answers.
• 11:51
  SPEAKER_00: They want evidence.
• 11:52
  SPEAKER_00: So a really great video that you can watch,
• 11:55
  SPEAKER_00: Lee Strobel,
• 11:55
  SPEAKER_00: has a video with regards to the resurrection,
• 11:58
  SPEAKER_00: a case for the resurrection,
• 11:59
  whether or not it was actually possible for Jesus to have
• 12:02
  arisen from the dead,
• 12:03
  SPEAKER_00: what are the other
• 12:04
  alleged suggestions that could have happened that Jesus
• 12:06
  actually just survived the
• 12:07
  SPEAKER_00: crucifixion or everybody just hallucinated his resurrection.
• 12:10
  SPEAKER_00: So that's a really great resource.
• 12:12
  SPEAKER_00: So that's Lee Strobel's case for the resurrection.
• 12:15
  SPEAKER_00: And then,
• 12:15
  SPEAKER_00: you know,
• 12:15
  SPEAKER_00: of course,
• 12:16
  SPEAKER_00: there is The Passion done by Mel Gibson,
• 12:19
  SPEAKER_00: which is a phenomenal movie,
• 12:20
  SPEAKER_00: but it's not one to enter into lightly.
• 12:22
  SPEAKER_00: So you really need to make sure that your kid is emotionally
• 12:25
  SPEAKER_00: ready to witness what an actual crucifixion looked like.
• 12:28
  But I think that's also important and meaningful because it's
• 12:31
  so easy as we're
• 12:32
  SPEAKER_00: reading scripture to think,
• 12:32
  SPEAKER_00: oh,
• 12:33
  SPEAKER_00: he was flogged.
• 12:34
  It's something that we don't recognize as being as traumatic as
• 12:37
  what it is.
• 12:38
  SPEAKER_01: It was very impactful the first time we saw that movie.
• 12:41
  SPEAKER_00: Oh, man, everybody in the theater was wrecked when we saw it.
• 12:44
  And I think it was the first time people actually grasped what
• 12:46
  he went through.
• 12:47
  SPEAKER_00: And so I think for older ones,
• 12:49
  SPEAKER_00: there's an important time for that as well to actually say,
• 12:51
  SPEAKER_00: OK,
• 12:51
  SPEAKER_00: this is what Jesus did for us.
• 12:53
  SPEAKER_00: And the reason why I say that's so important is because right now,
• 12:56
  SPEAKER_00: progressive Christianity is taking hold in a lot of churches.
• 12:59
  SPEAKER_00: And what progressive Christianity teaches is that you are not sinful.
• 13:02
  SPEAKER_00: You're just messy.
• 13:04
  And so,
• 13:04
  you know,
• 13:04
  Jesus didn't have to die for your sins because you're not a
• 13:06
  sinful person.
• 13:07
  SPEAKER_00: There's this humanistic view of, oh, you're all good.
• 13:10
  And,
• 13:10
  you know,
• 13:10
  it'll make your kids feel bad if you tell them that Jesus died
• 13:13
  for their sins.
• 13:13
  And actually,
• 13:14
  one progressive Christian mom referred to it as cosmic child abuse.
• 13:17
  Her advice on Easter was don't tell your kids that Jesus died
• 13:20
  for their sins.
• 13:21
  SPEAKER_00: Don't tell them they're sinful.
• 13:22
  SPEAKER_00: Just do the fun little Easter egg hunts.
• 13:24
  SPEAKER_00: And if you want to go to church, that's fine.
• 13:26
  SPEAKER_00: But don't tell them that stuff because that will make them feel bad.
• 13:29
  SPEAKER_00: Wait a second.
• 13:29
  SPEAKER_00: If the cross is real, then without the cross, we have much to be pitied.
• 13:33
  So why in the world would we leave off the one aspect of our
• 13:36
  faith that is core to Christianity?
• 13:38
  SPEAKER_00: And so that's why we need to be speaking life into our kids,
• 13:41
  because so many teens today are being groomed by culture to be
• 13:45
  hyper empathetic,
• 13:47
  hyper emotional as part of that social emotional learning to
• 13:50
  where they want kids
• 13:51
  SPEAKER_00: to acquiesce to other people's beliefs.
• 13:54
  SPEAKER_00: if those other people claim that their feelings are hurt.
• 13:56
  And so what that means is that ultimately Christianity will be
• 13:58
  tossed to the side
• 13:59
  SPEAKER_00: because for some people,
• 14:00
  SPEAKER_00: Christianity hurts their feelings.
• 14:01
  SPEAKER_00: And so what we need to do is say instead,
• 14:03
  SPEAKER_00: okay,
• 14:03
  SPEAKER_00: wait a second,
• 14:04
  SPEAKER_00: let's actually go to the evidence.
• 14:05
  SPEAKER_00: And if it's true, we're going to stand firm in truth.
• 14:08
  SPEAKER_00: And here's why we know it's true.
• 14:09
  SPEAKER_00: Here's why we can stand firm in this.
• 14:11
  SPEAKER_00: And for kids, especially teenagers, that's what they're wanting.
• 14:14
  SPEAKER_00: They want evidence.
• 14:15
  SPEAKER_00: They don't want to be in a situation where
• 14:17
  SPEAKER_00: To where the only response they have to why do you believe this is,
• 14:19
  SPEAKER_00: well,
• 14:20
  SPEAKER_00: because mom and dad said so,
• 14:21
  SPEAKER_00: or because I went to church.
• 14:22
  SPEAKER_00: It's no,
• 14:22
  SPEAKER_00: baby,
• 14:23
  SPEAKER_00: you are intelligent,
• 14:24
  SPEAKER_00: you are clever,
• 14:25
  and you have the responsibility to be able to understand why
• 14:28
  you believe what you believe.
• 14:29
  SPEAKER_00: So let's dive in.
• 14:30
  And for this Easter,
• 14:31
  let's actually look at the evidence for the resurrection.
• 14:33
  SPEAKER_01: That's scary to think that.
• 14:35
  SPEAKER_01: kids are being taught that they're not actually sinful.
• 14:38
  SPEAKER_01: I mean, think of all the implications of all of that.
• 14:40
  But really,
• 14:40
  I mean,
• 14:41
  that is the integral aspect of the gospel that they're just
• 14:44
  skipping over.
• 14:45
  SPEAKER_01: I mean, you can't do that.
• 14:46
  And so we need to recognize that's going on in our culture and
• 14:49
  it's starting to
• 14:50
  take root everywhere to where now we need to prepare our kids
• 14:52
  to recognize it and
• 14:53
  SPEAKER_00: stand firm against it.
• 14:54
  SPEAKER_00: And so especially with regards to the resurrection and Easter,
• 14:57
  SPEAKER_00: these little tweets that come through talking about,
• 14:59
  SPEAKER_00: oh,
• 14:59
  SPEAKER_00: Easter actually has pagan origins.
• 15:01
  SPEAKER_00: No, it doesn't.
• 15:01
  SPEAKER_00: And here's the evidence why.
• 15:03
  SPEAKER_01: So related to speaking the truth to our kids and equipping them,
• 15:08
  SPEAKER_01: and this can also be a broader question too,
• 15:10
  SPEAKER_01: how do we respond when our kids ask why their friends at school,
• 15:14
  SPEAKER_01: for example,
• 15:14
  SPEAKER_01: are only celebrating with the bunny and eggs and not going to church?
• 15:18
  SPEAKER_01: In other words,
• 15:19
  SPEAKER_01: how can we strike a balance between not sounding condescending,
• 15:23
  SPEAKER_01: for example,
• 15:23
  SPEAKER_01: if we responded by saying,
• 15:24
  SPEAKER_01: well,
• 15:25
  SPEAKER_01: those families are just wrong,
• 15:27
  SPEAKER_01: but also not compromising what we know to be the truth?
• 15:30
  SPEAKER_01: Because if we respond with something like,
• 15:33
  SPEAKER_01: well,
• 15:33
  SPEAKER_01: we just have different beliefs than they do,
• 15:35
  SPEAKER_01: it sort of unwittingly equates our belief with their non-belief,
• 15:40
  SPEAKER_01: watering down what Christ did on the cross.
• 15:43
  SPEAKER_00: That's a great point,
• 15:44
  SPEAKER_00: because if we just say,
• 15:44
  SPEAKER_00: oh,
• 15:45
  SPEAKER_00: well,
• 15:45
  SPEAKER_00: some people have different beliefs,
• 15:46
  SPEAKER_00: then that might implicitly suggest that relativism,
• 15:50
  SPEAKER_00: this idea that all beliefs are equally valid,
• 15:52
  SPEAKER_00: there is no objective truth,
• 15:54
  SPEAKER_00: it might communicate that to our kids.
• 15:55
  SPEAKER_00: So what we do is we kind of put it within a redemptive arc.
• 15:59
  SPEAKER_00: So how you do that is whenever you're talking about an issue,
• 16:01
  SPEAKER_00: you first want to affirm God's original design.
• 16:05
  SPEAKER_00: point back to that there is sin that led to brokenness,
• 16:07
  SPEAKER_00: but that Christ came to redeem and there's hope after that.
• 16:10
  So when it comes to,
• 16:11
  well,
• 16:11
  why is that family just celebrating with the eggs,
• 16:13
  the bunnies?
• 16:14
  SPEAKER_00: It has nothing to do with Jesus.
• 16:15
  SPEAKER_00: It has everything to do with the Easter bunny.
• 16:17
  SPEAKER_00: Well,
• 16:17
  SPEAKER_00: then what we tell our children is,
• 16:18
  SPEAKER_00: well,
• 16:18
  SPEAKER_00: baby,
• 16:19
  SPEAKER_00: we know that Christianity is true and it's not just true for us.
• 16:22
  SPEAKER_00: It's true for everyone.
• 16:23
  SPEAKER_00: This is absolute.
• 16:24
  But every person has free will,
• 16:26
  meaning every person can choose to either accept Jesus or not.
• 16:30
  SPEAKER_00: And some people choose not to accept Christ.
• 16:32
  SPEAKER_00: And instead,
• 16:32
  what they do is they celebrate with bunnies and eggs because
• 16:35
  that's what they think
• 16:36
  SPEAKER_00: Easter is all about.
• 16:37
  SPEAKER_00: Now, sweetheart, is that what Easter is?
• 16:39
  And then give the kids time to respond,
• 16:41
  no,
• 16:41
  that's not what Easter is about.
• 16:42
  SPEAKER_00: Okay, baby, what is Easter?
• 16:44
  SPEAKER_00: You're absolutely right.
• 16:44
  SPEAKER_00: That's what Easter is about.
• 16:47
  SPEAKER_00: Now,
• 16:47
  SPEAKER_00: how now are we to treat our friends,
• 16:51
  SPEAKER_00: classmate,
• 16:51
  SPEAKER_00: whatever it may be,
• 16:52
  SPEAKER_00: and they don't celebrate,
• 16:52
  SPEAKER_00: how are we supposed to treat them?
• 16:54
  Well,
• 16:54
  every person,
• 16:55
  regardless of whether or not they believe in God,
• 16:57
  is made in God's image.
• 16:59
  SPEAKER_00: And what that means is that they have inherent worth and dignity,
• 17:01
  SPEAKER_00: and we treat them respectfully.
• 17:03
  SPEAKER_00: Now, what this also means is that
• 17:05
  SPEAKER_00: When we are to love God and then love our neighbor as ourselves,
• 17:09
  SPEAKER_00: that means we don't lie to our neighbor as well.
• 17:11
  So if friend,
• 17:13
  coworker,
• 17:13
  whatever,
• 17:13
  ever asks you,
• 17:14
  well,
• 17:14
  why do you celebrate Easter?
• 17:16
  Then you get to,
• 17:18
  with gentleness and respect,
• 17:19
  give a defense for the hope that is within you.
• 17:21
  SPEAKER_00: Here's why I celebrate Easter.
• 17:22
  SPEAKER_00: Because 2,000 years ago, Christ died for the payment of my sins.
• 17:25
  SPEAKER_00: And three days later, he arose, conquering the grave.
• 17:29
  SPEAKER_00: And he taught and spoke for 40 days and ascended into heaven.
• 17:32
  SPEAKER_00: And one day he's going to come back.
• 17:33
  Now our kids have an opportunity to give that apologetic
• 17:37
  response for why they
• 17:38
  SPEAKER_00: celebrate Easter.
• 17:39
  And you can tell your children,
• 17:40
  you know,
• 17:41
  some people,
• 17:41
  it's not going to be a big deal to them.
• 17:43
  SPEAKER_00: Oh, okay.
• 17:43
  SPEAKER_00: And they'll move on.
• 17:44
  SPEAKER_00: Other times you might get a little pushback, especially as a teenagers.
• 17:47
  And so what we want to do is focus on the truth of God and
• 17:50
  really emphasize that it
• 17:51
  SPEAKER_00: is absolutely true for all people.
• 17:53
  SPEAKER_00: But yet we all have free will.
• 17:55
  SPEAKER_00: So some people will choose to reject Jesus.
• 17:57
  SPEAKER_00: But what is our obligation?
• 17:58
  SPEAKER_00: To love people as our neighbors and made in the image of God.
• 18:02
  to speak truth to those neighbors and do so boldly,
• 18:05
  and then to pray for them.
• 18:07
  SPEAKER_00: And hopefully they will come to know Christ as their savior.
• 18:09
  SPEAKER_00: And so that's what we can do with our kids to help them understand,
• 18:12
  SPEAKER_00: hey,
• 18:12
  SPEAKER_00: not everybody shares our belief,
• 18:13
  SPEAKER_00: but that doesn't mean that their belief is equally valid.
• 18:16
  And some people will not accept Christianity,
• 18:18
  but that doesn't mean we stop praying for them.
• 18:20
  SPEAKER_01: That's a great answer.
• 18:21
  And what I'd like to add to that is that a lot of people aren't
• 18:25
  choosing to reject it.
• 18:26
  SPEAKER_01: Maybe they just don't know about it yet.
• 18:28
  SPEAKER_01: Like my background,
• 18:29
  SPEAKER_01: for example,
• 18:30
  I grew up Jewish and I was not exposed to the New Testament at
• 18:34
  all until I got older.
• 18:36
  SPEAKER_01: And so, you know, I didn't I didn't reject it.
• 18:38
  SPEAKER_01: I just didn't know.
• 18:39
  SPEAKER_01: So,
• 18:39
  SPEAKER_01: I mean,
• 18:40
  SPEAKER_01: to be able to have a way to sort of gently explain it to people,
• 18:44
  SPEAKER_01: too,
• 18:44
  SPEAKER_01: I think would be really valuable.
• 18:46
  SPEAKER_01: Oh, absolutely.
• 18:47
  SPEAKER_01: That's a great point.
• 18:49
  SPEAKER_01: Wrapping up, I love to end each episode with a meaningful Bible verse.
• 18:53
  Is there one that you'd like to share that either relates to
• 18:56
  Easter or just a verse
• 18:58
  SPEAKER_01: that is personally one of your favorites?
• 19:01
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, so my favorite is Colossians 4, 6.
• 19:03
  SPEAKER_00: And let all your conversations be heaping with grace,
• 19:07
  SPEAKER_00: but seasoned with salt so you know how to respond to everyone.
• 19:10
  And that is just an encouragement for us to interact and look
• 19:13
  at the people around
• 19:14
  SPEAKER_00: us and see them how God sees them.
• 19:16
  SPEAKER_00: That if they are lost and have not accepted Christ as their Savior,
• 19:19
  SPEAKER_00: they are someone who's worthy of the truth.
• 19:21
  SPEAKER_00: And so to let our conversations be full of grace,
• 19:24
  SPEAKER_00: because we were once just like the lost sheep,
• 19:26
  SPEAKER_00: we were once just like them.
• 19:28
  And yet someone saw in us that same image bearer status that
• 19:31
  everyone has.
• 19:33
  SPEAKER_00: And they took the time to speak lovingly and truthfully to us.
• 19:36
  SPEAKER_00: And so that's the encouragement is whether it's your children,
• 19:38
  SPEAKER_00: your coworker,
• 19:39
  SPEAKER_00: your family,
• 19:40
  SPEAKER_00: or your friends,
• 19:41
  see them as Christ sees them and be unashamed to speak truth in
• 19:45
  love to them with
• 19:46
  SPEAKER_00: regards to Jesus.
• 19:48
  SPEAKER_01: I love that because when you said that,
• 19:49
  I can immediately think of the people in my life who have done
• 19:52
  that to me.
• 19:53
  So how inspiring to be able to be the person that brings other
• 19:57
  people to Christ.
• 19:59
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah.
• 20:01
  SPEAKER_01: Well, that wraps up today's episode.
• 20:03
  SPEAKER_01: A huge thank you to Amy Davison,
• 20:05
  SPEAKER_01: co-host of Mama Bear Apologetics podcast,
• 20:07
  SPEAKER_01: for joining us and sharing such valuable insights.
• 20:11
  SPEAKER_01: Now,
• 20:12
  SPEAKER_01: Amy,
• 20:12
  if people want to connect with you on social media or delve
• 20:15
  deeper into Mama Bear Apologetics,
• 20:17
  SPEAKER_01: where should they go?
• 20:18
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, so just hopping on mamabearapologetics.com.
• 20:21
  SPEAKER_00: That's M-A-M-A, bearapologetics.com.
• 20:25
  SPEAKER_00: You're going to get all of our podcasts, blogs.
• 20:27
  SPEAKER_00: We've got an entire resource page where if you click on resources,
• 20:30
  SPEAKER_00: it's a huge book list of all of our favorite sources.
• 20:32
  SPEAKER_00: We all got together and nerded out and got our favorite books.
• 20:35
  SPEAKER_00: So if you are looking for a book or a resource, it'll be there.
• 20:37
  Plus all of our guides for,
• 20:39
  gosh,
• 20:39
  we've got Easter,
• 20:40
  we've got Christmas,
• 20:40
  we've got Halloween.
• 20:42
  We are there to help you to know and stand firm in the faith
• 20:44
  with your kids.
• 20:45
  SPEAKER_01: Halloween, maybe that'll be our next episode.
• 20:47
  SPEAKER_01: Lots to talk about there.
• 20:48
  SPEAKER_01: Well, thank you to all of you, our amazing listeners, for tuning in.
• 20:54
  SPEAKER_01: Your support means so much.
• 20:55
  SPEAKER_01: So if you enjoyed today's conversation,
• 20:57
  SPEAKER_01: be sure to subscribe and leave a review wherever you get your podcasts.
• 21:01
  SPEAKER_01: Until next time,
• 21:02
  SPEAKER_01: stay inspired,
• 21:03
  SPEAKER_01: keep trusting in God's plan for your life,
• 21:06
  SPEAKER_01: and we'll see you next time.