We live within a society today that has a diminishing view of Christianity. Actually, there is a diminished view of religion in general. According to polls, more people identify themselves as atheists or non-religious than at any other time throughout our nation's history (and for that matter, the history of the world). These non-religious people seek to remove anything that has a religious overtone to it from the public square or from the public discussion.
We have seen many people try to remove the true meaning of Christmas, by not allowing nativity scenes in public places or allowing Christmas carols to be sung in the schools. The courts have ruled that prayer is not allowed in public schools, as it violates the non-Constitutional clause of separation of church and state. We have people suing the government to have the words 'one nation, under God' removed from the pledge of allegiance or the words 'In God We Trust' removed from our currency. There is an antagonism toward God in this country.
And now, we have Easter. Where I work, it is now referred to as Spring Break (as if we needed a break from spring only a couple of weeks into the season). There are many at work that are offended by calling this tiem of year Spring Break, even amongst those who are not very religious or do not go to church at all. However, this so-called 'Spring Break' happens to coincide with Easter (as it also does with many public schools today). We also celebrate 'Winter Break' (a mere 4 days into winter, when a break is not needed) at a time that coincidentally falls at the same time as Christmas.
Anyway, Easter is a season that now emphasizes baskets of candy and goodies, easter egg hunts, and easter bunnies (although I am still trying to figure out the connection between the bunny and the eggs). It is a time for new fashions in the stores, when women can wear white shoes, the unofficial beginning of spring.
Are these things bad? No, they are n ot. They are innocent things that have no evil or no malice attached to them. However, they are used by many to distract from the real meaning of Easter. Our focus becomes the giving and receiving of goodies from each other. For many, they have no understanding of why there actually is a holiday we call Easter.
Easter is a time when many people who are normally un-churched might actually go to church. Many churches today, though, water down the real reason behind Easter in favor of a feel good message about being kind to your fellowman, peace on earth, etc. These churches may give a cursory mention to the resurrection of Jesus Christ, but that is not their focus. They treat it as a nice story to go along with the holiday, not the reason for the holiday.
The ironic thing here, at least in my eyes, is that churches today are busy telling us to be kind to our fellowman, to help them out in times of need, to give of ourselves to those less fortunate. Yet, they fail to teach how Christ did that for us by coming to earth to die for us. They will give us examples of how we can help out each other. Yet they do not take the opportunity to tell others what Christ did to help us to avoid an eternity in hell.
I am not bemoaning the need to be kind to our fellowman and to help others out in times of need. As Christians, we are to do that. However, we are also told to tell others about the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ and what that means for our lives and where we will spend eternity.
Oftentimes, we will read a story, whether in the newspaper, on the internet, in a magazine, about a hero what risked his/her life to save another person. I remember hearing the stories immediately after 9/11 of the police and firefighters who went into the World Trade Centers in order to help others get out. Many of them did not get out alive. They gave of their lives so that other lives could be prolonged here on earth. These men are true heroes, and I am not trying to diminish by one iota the things that they did that day.
However, these men gave of their lives so that someone else could spend several more years here on this earth. These men laid down their lives so that others could live. That is noble and they should be honored for the sacrifice they made. We have no problem telling others about these heroes who gave of their lives. However, we have a Savior who died on the cross to save us from our sins. He died, not just so we could live a few years longer here on earth, but so that we could spend an eternity with Him in heaven, yet we are somehow afraid to share this others?
The Great Commission tells us to go out and tell others about Christ. We are not to keep it a secret and save it only for other Christians. Why would we do that, as they already know the reason for Christ's death? Why are we not out telling others that this time of year is not just for a break in our lives to take it easy for a few days? We should be out letting others know that Jesus Christ is the reason we celebrate Easter.
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