After Easter
I often marvel how the most unreligious people in the world, suddenly become Bible experts leading up to Easter. Television networks of every conceivable background begin airing anything and everything about the life, history and times of Jesus. From the old standby, John Houston’s, The Bible; Bill O’Rilley’s, Killing Jesus; and most recently, The History Channels, Jesus: His Life; you can find the most unscriptural, theologically mishandled, and void of serious value programs and shows, being broadcast around the clock. Additionally, as much as I hate to say it, many of the “Christian” movie makers are just as bad at producing portrayals of Christ that miss the scriptural mark, as the secular Hollywood studios. What is it about the Bible that so many people in the name of “creative license” feel the need to deviate from the events as portrayed? I have always found the narratives, as they are written in the Bible, to be as entertaining and exciting as it can get. You can’t make that stuff up!
But, what about after Easter? Will all those shows go back in the can till next year? Will we go back to watching the usual garbage the program directors’ line out for our mindless enjoyment? Will we tuck our consciences away for another year when the Jesus stuff becomes acceptable programming again next Easter? Unfortunately, yes. Because, as pious as some folks want to be during the religious super bowl of Sundays and the spiritual equivalent of New Year’s resolutions at Easter, most will quickly return to continuing their life’s struggle with the usual failings, while spending yet another year with regret waiting for the next opportunity to get a presumed fresh start.
Many preachers plan big services for Easter Sunday, because it is the one day of the year that most people will likely decide to attend church. The marketing kicks in ‘big time’ for weeks leading up to the ‘big day.’ Like I said, Super Bowl Sunday, for church. They are right about attendance. People do look for the right moment to make a fresh start. And Easter Sunday, for many, provides that opportunity. But the reality is that we can make a fresh start every day. Lamentations 3:21-23, states, “This I recall to mind, therefore I have hope. Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, because his compassion's fail not. They are new every morning, great is your faithfulness.” (NKJV).
Every day is the right day, and a great opportunity to come to God. He is not a God that is only available fifty-two Sundays a year for a couple of hours a day. If that is the case, what do we do if we need God on one of the other days of the year? What is it about a day that makes us want to be better people? In the movie, As Good as it Gets, Jack Nicholson’s character made the honest confession, “You make me want to be a better man.”
For as much as people want to downplay the power and influence of God on their lives; remembering the sacrifice Jesus was willing to make for each and every one of us, should provoke us to be better Christians. Easter does do that for many. What other day can do that? Which day of the year influences a Muslim to be a better Muslim? When does a Hindu decide to be a better Hindu? What day of the year does an atheist decide to be a better atheist? The better question is, what other religion in the world, draws people to love God and each other, more than Christianity? That’s the significant difference between being a follower of Jesus and just being religious. Christ’s love and sacrifice for us, demonstrates a love willing to give a life for one another, rather than to take life from one another.
What will we be thinking about after Easter Sunday? Will we be one of the many that attended a local church building on Easter Sunday? Do we normally go to church on Sunday or is Easter and Christmas about it for us? Did we enjoy the service? Did we get anything out of it at all? Were we disappointed or let down in any way? Will we be planning to go again before next year or will this be the last time, we think about going for a while? Better yet, do we plan to be better people? Will we make the choice to carry the Easter promise with us everywhere we go, and every day we live? While I truly apologize for all the questions, I really want to stir our hearts to think of the real purpose and meaning of Easter. A story that reveals through the death and resurrection of one man, that we can turn our lives from the guarantee of death, to the hope of resurrection, and the promise of eternal life. After Easter, Jesus lived. And after this Easter, we can continue to live also.
Dr. Randall Mooney
But, what about after Easter? Will all those shows go back in the can till next year? Will we go back to watching the usual garbage the program directors’ line out for our mindless enjoyment? Will we tuck our consciences away for another year when the Jesus stuff becomes acceptable programming again next Easter? Unfortunately, yes. Because, as pious as some folks want to be during the religious super bowl of Sundays and the spiritual equivalent of New Year’s resolutions at Easter, most will quickly return to continuing their life’s struggle with the usual failings, while spending yet another year with regret waiting for the next opportunity to get a presumed fresh start.
Many preachers plan big services for Easter Sunday, because it is the one day of the year that most people will likely decide to attend church. The marketing kicks in ‘big time’ for weeks leading up to the ‘big day.’ Like I said, Super Bowl Sunday, for church. They are right about attendance. People do look for the right moment to make a fresh start. And Easter Sunday, for many, provides that opportunity. But the reality is that we can make a fresh start every day. Lamentations 3:21-23, states, “This I recall to mind, therefore I have hope. Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, because his compassion's fail not. They are new every morning, great is your faithfulness.” (NKJV).
Every day is the right day, and a great opportunity to come to God. He is not a God that is only available fifty-two Sundays a year for a couple of hours a day. If that is the case, what do we do if we need God on one of the other days of the year? What is it about a day that makes us want to be better people? In the movie, As Good as it Gets, Jack Nicholson’s character made the honest confession, “You make me want to be a better man.”
For as much as people want to downplay the power and influence of God on their lives; remembering the sacrifice Jesus was willing to make for each and every one of us, should provoke us to be better Christians. Easter does do that for many. What other day can do that? Which day of the year influences a Muslim to be a better Muslim? When does a Hindu decide to be a better Hindu? What day of the year does an atheist decide to be a better atheist? The better question is, what other religion in the world, draws people to love God and each other, more than Christianity? That’s the significant difference between being a follower of Jesus and just being religious. Christ’s love and sacrifice for us, demonstrates a love willing to give a life for one another, rather than to take life from one another.
What will we be thinking about after Easter Sunday? Will we be one of the many that attended a local church building on Easter Sunday? Do we normally go to church on Sunday or is Easter and Christmas about it for us? Did we enjoy the service? Did we get anything out of it at all? Were we disappointed or let down in any way? Will we be planning to go again before next year or will this be the last time, we think about going for a while? Better yet, do we plan to be better people? Will we make the choice to carry the Easter promise with us everywhere we go, and every day we live? While I truly apologize for all the questions, I really want to stir our hearts to think of the real purpose and meaning of Easter. A story that reveals through the death and resurrection of one man, that we can turn our lives from the guarantee of death, to the hope of resurrection, and the promise of eternal life. After Easter, Jesus lived. And after this Easter, we can continue to live also.
Dr. Randall Mooney
Comments
Post a Comment