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Do we have something radically different to offer the world this weekend?

“Are we using our freedom to make this Good News plain? Or are we so separatistic that we have no connection with unbelievers; or are we so worldly they don't know we have anything radically different to offer?"
(Quote from Desiring God/John Piper)

(An attempt to look biblically at culture and the Gospel, in relation to Resurrection Sunday)

Today (Good Friday), we remember the death of our Lord, Sunday we celebrate His resurrection, and daily we await His return. All of history is pivoted on Christ’s death and resurrection. Beginning in Genesis: Creation, the Fall and the first Messianic prophesy, throughout the old testament and both Israel’s and all of mankind’s history, leading up to what we have recorded in the Gospels. And now, as we await Him returning in Judgement, we proclaim that Gospel to a lost world…and we teach our children how to know, love, and live in relationship with Jesus–Messiah.

May God help us as we seek to share the Gospel, and as we teach our children may they understand the call to holiness, the gravity of being polluted by the world, and the call to be willing to even die for their faith (and to never compromise).

God’s people, especially in relation to “missions”, love to quote James 1:27 about True Religion…we love that we can serve God and live out “true religion” by caring for orphans and widows – which, although it is an enormous task when looking at global statistics, seems tangible, in that we can easily “check it off of a list” by doing something as simple as “donating $1/day” as a child sponsor (which of course isn’t what it means – and we shouldn’t be “checking things off of a list”, but living, from the heart, fully for the Lord -my point is, that it seems "tangible" and that we forget the last part)…

… what about the last part of that verse? What about keeping ourselves from being polluted by the world? And, are we “radically different?”; are we offering something radically different to the World?

What about holiness (and not legalism)? How do we seriously keep ourselves, teach our children to keep themselves, and show the world that we are to be holy - as He who called us and saved us is Holy? How do we celebrate His death and resurrection, declare the Gospel to the world, use the culture of the world as a stepping stone to share the Gospel AND remain unpolluted, separate, different, and HOLY? And, as we strive to do that personally and in our own families, how do we also “contend for truth”, confront the "culture of the church", live unashamed of the Gospel (Romans 1), and use things in the culture to share the Gospel?

I think that we can and should use the culture around us as “teachable moments/objects”, and it is important both at home and abroad in cross-cultural settings, to be aware of the culture and have discernment in using it as a stepping stone to share the Gospel. 

In any cross-cultural setting, we can learn, study, research and know the best way to connect with people – but not to bring those things (cultural objects and traditions) into the Church.  We can talk to children about what children see in the world surrounding Easter (and every other holiday), without bringing those things into the church. 

I believe that Churches (congregations/leadership) should leave it up to individual families to choose how to celebrate (all holidays) in their own homes or in their own communities, while keeping what we have IN Church (as part of a Sunday morning service) as sacred, set-apart, and holy (and of course recognizing that we are the Temple and we are the Church - not a building nor a service)…

I think it is a shame that we would open our doors so that unbelievers feel welcomed, while then possibly causing little ones who are part of our congregation, to stumble. (Just to clarify: I do not think it is a shame to open doors to unbelievers, but it is a shame to do it WHILE causing believers to stumble –and historically, unbelievers come to church for Easter and Christmas anyways -with or without eggs and a bunny) … Some believers will feel compelled to stay home and not be able to attend a church service, out of their conviction to keep themselves and teach their children to keep themselves separate from the world –which then prohibits them from celebrating one of the most “sacred” holidays with their family (together with other believers). I can easily choose to not attend the rec centre when the Easter Bunny is there, but should I have to choose not to attend church when the Easter Bunny is there? 

I would suggest, that if a Church does want to have an Easter bunny, why not have a separate event on Saturday?! (and many churches do this - and I wouldn't bring my children, but they wouldn't miss corporate worship nor a Resurrection Sunday celebration that way)). If you do a Saturday event with an “Easter Bunny”, then you can invite families to come back the next day for “Resurrection Sunday” (sans bunny at church and sans Easter egg hunt at church -do it all on Saturday). 

The passage in Acts 17 tells us that Paul was “going through the market preaching the Good News about Jesus and the Resurrection”, and he was angered about all of the idols that he saw throughout the city...

Using this passage (Acts 17) in relation to Easter, would be to look at what Paul said at the end, about needing to repent and to change their old way of thinking – he related to their culture and then basically told them to leave their culture and to recognize that God does not dwell in temples, etc. – he mentioned the altar, he didn’t use the altar. We can mention the bunny without using the bunny too…

Another way of looking at Acts 17 in relation to Easter, in today’s culture, would be, (as someone mentioned to me a while back):

“Just as Paul went through the market place and then spoke in public, using the culture of that city to point to Christ, I think if we were to imitate Paul, we would go to the community Parks and Recreation Centres, while they are celebrating Easter, and would preach the Gospel and let them know that what they are celebrating or using to celebrate Easter is not what Easter is really about - and then preach the Gospel and the Resurrection.  Paul didn’t bring their symbols (or the altar to the unknown god) into the synagogue/, he used them as an example to speak truth in a public place).” 

Again, the question is (examine yourself and your church), "Do we have something radically different to offer the world?" ...

Here is a great, and FREE Sunday School Curriculum for Easter!! Teach your children and your church apologetics by ordering the complete ABC curriculum, or just use the FREE seasonal lessons, available here: https://answersingenesis.org/sunday-school/easter/



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