Relationship

Easter is coming soon. You can tell because the Wal-Mart shelves are crammed with toys and baskets and candy, lots of candy, most of it some pastel shade. You can tell because the church signs are in full marketing mode.

We don't practice easter or christmas or any of those other adapted pagan celebrations.

We haven't for some time.

But some of our extended family just doesn't seem to have grokked our rejection of these unholy days.

This is now leading to a moment of decision: a long-time family friend wants to have an "easter" party for our children. He's a decent guy and no doubt he thinks he is doing something nice and fun for them.

What harm can it be? All our children know what easter is about and why we prefer to observe a Passover celebration and focus on the redemption Christ provided during this time. That being the case, how could a few easter eggs and some candy be bad, right?

Besides, if we decline, it will hurt his feelings, and that would be bad, right?

Wrong.

If we go, we will be teaching our children that it OK to compromise, especially if it brings a little pleasure or it helps to maintain a relationship. We teach them to put sense ahead of knowledge and relationship ahead of God.

This is one of those subtle devices the world employs to move you, however slightly, toward the broad and easy road.

Will it hurt our friend to say we can't go, maybe, but it would be more damaging to not stand firm.