Easter morning has come! In a contest between death and life, with God, life wins! We who believe in Jesus as the Christ speak about life and growth, wonder and joy. This event, the resurrection, changed a timid group of disciples into bold proclaimers of God’s Good News. It has brought hope and change to our lives. It is also what we have to share with the world. But looking from the viewpoint of ‘the world’ what does that mean? What exactly do we offer the world?
Here are some thoughts:
We offer an understanding of the Divine that is both personal and infinite… Jesus has made known the Presence of God among us. Other religions speak of deity but Jesus presented a God who enters our human condition to show us how life can be lived.
We offer the opportunity to enter into a personal relationship with God… Jesus’ life, teachings, death and resurrection give evidence of the self-giving love that characterizes the best of relationships. It is not just knowledge of what has happened in the past but knowing the presence of God in our daily lives today.
We offer a larger world view that leaps beyond logic and pure science inspiring poetic awe… It is one thing to appreciate the universe as it is, it is much more to see what this universe we are part of gives evidence of. The inspiration to create beauty comes from the Author of all wonders!
We offer an inclusive community… Jesus gave us example of the worth and value of everyone teaching us that we learn and grow in our awareness of God’s truth and wisdom …together. His disciples, Peter and Paul gave further evidence of this: Peter, as his vision from God ‘enlightened’ him to see no distinction between Jew and Gentile; Paul, expressing in his letter to the Galatians that there is no longer Jew or Greek, no longer slave nor free, no longer male and female for all are one in Christ Jesus.
We offer hope not dependent on our perfection… Buddhism offers a rather convoluted path of works to achieve the state of Nirvana. Even Islam, which shares Abraham as a Patriarch with Jews and Christians, is quite ‘works oriented’. Jesus offers us the unique understanding of grace. Our desire to live and joy in living a righteous life comes from a thankful heart for a gift already given.
We offer an understanding of life that involves truly serving others just as Jesus did… With the eyes of Christ we see the many needs around us, with the heart of Christ we feel the urge to reach out, caring even as Jesus did. There is no greater purpose and meaning in life than ‘giving away’ our lives for the sake of others.
We offer a morality, centered in a faith life that fosters mutual respect, self-giving love and a sense of intrinsic worth. Self respect and the respect of others around us is something learned. Honest humility and an ability to listen to others are also practiced arts. In the church, how we live comes from our identity as children of God and fellow workers with Christ. Instead of blowing about in the winds of cultural and social whims, we are anchored by our identity in faith.
We offer the world, and governments (including our own) a critique from the outside measured, neither by national interests, nor by corporate profits (the bottom line) but by God’s desire for justice, peace and a concern for the most vulnerable among us.
All this and the fun of gathering in worship! That’s what the church of Jesus Christ is all about. Hey, we aren’t perfect – we never claimed to be. But we choose to live. Easter is our invitation to leave the tomb behind and enter LIFE as something to be celebrated and lived!
For two thousand years people have come to churches, gathered under the Lordship of Christ, chosen to be baptized as believing in and following Jesus as the Christ. In spite of all the wrong some may do in the name of God and Christ, in spite of a history of human failures to live this life out – we will go on trying, for there simply is no more full truth that satisfies body, mind and spirit.
Let us celebrate and live in the promise!
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