I must admit, I do not care much for Easter. The one day of the year that most people go to church is the one day of the year that I would prefer to stay home. (And this has nothing to do with the pagan celebration of the spring equinox.)
As I sit back and watch the church advertisements roll in, there’s one common theme I see among the churches vying for your annual attendance. The day that Christians recognize as the day our Lord rose from the dead seems to be all about entertaining kids.
Will someone please tell me what colored eggs, grass filled baskets, pastel hats, face painting, bounce houses, coloring contests, chocolate bunnies, and jelly beans–all of which are being endorsed and even performed in many churches this weekend–have to do with the resurrection of the Lamb of God? The disciples did not celebrate the resurrection as a “holiday,” but they did celebrate the passover, which I’m certain did not include a ham dinner.
All of this “stuff” serves only to diminish the truth and reality of the day. And sadly, the churches that are supposed to be lifting up Christ so that all men will be drawn unto Him, have acquiesced and now do just as much to distract the sinner from the meaning of the day as does the rest of the secular world.
The once-a-year church goers will flood churches all across America tomorrow, never to be seen or heard from again until next Easter (except maybe some at Christmas). This is a fantastic opportunity for pastors to present the gospel to those who would never sit through a sermon any other time. My experience has been, however, that this opportunity is usually squandered on a vain attempt to make those in attendance feel “comfortable.”
This Sunday is a day when the greatest shows are put on: The goats adorn themselves with their Sunday best and put on a show to appear as though they’re as spiritual as everyone else. The pastors put on their show too. Their marketing strategies will crescendo this Sunday as they put on display their best humor, finest story-telling abilities, and most stunning oratory prowess in an attempt to prove to the unregenerate visitors that they’re just like them and just as worldly as them but they have Jesus as an icing on their cake. And this is all done to secure the return of those once-a-year attendees, while Christ and His gospel simply take a back seat.
Resurrection Sunday in America has become a display, but not of the risen Lord.
Soft, feel-good messages about how the resurrection of the Son of God can help improve your life, finances, marriage, etc. will be the sermon de jour in far too many congregations tomorrow. Pastors, hoping that some of the visitors will return, will shove the message of sin, judgment, wrath, and propitiation aside in order to not offend or upset those who need to hear this truth the most.
If you are a pastor reading this, and you are planning on offering a gentle, watered-down, comfortable “talk” to those in your Church tomorrow, I encourage you–no–I beg you to reconsider. This will be the one and only opportunity for many people to hear the true, unadulterated gospel of Jesus Christ, and tomorrow it will be your responsibility to deliver it to them.
Please, take just a moment and read this brief plea I wrote to pastors back in 2007: A Sobering Call to Pastors, Preachers, and Teachers.
And for those of you who are going to lay it on the line and preach a Sinners-in-the-Hands-of-an-Angry-God type Edwards sermon this Sunday, not caring one bit if someone is offended by the preaching of the cross because it’s your job to do so, then I commend you and offer this post as an encouragement: Thank You: An open Letter to Faithful Pastors.
Oh, and have a very happy Resurrection Sunday, for He is risen!.
Christ Alone Wyoming 
Thanks for this article. It’s sadly true. Having been part of a “super-church” for many years, I witnessed this debacle year after year. The children wearing their bunny ears and parading in a line around the church whilst proud non-Christian grandparents beamed lovingly. What of the gospel? No, don’t want to offend anyone! Let’s make it warm, and fluffy and comfortable so that they’ll be keen to return to our super-relevant-super-church. Meanwhile, the proud grandparents could die and slip quietly into hell, but hey??? At least we didn’t offend them!
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Pilgrim,
Thank you for sharing your thoughts. This is so sad..and so true! Only a few churches in our area (we’re in the deep South) have even planned any special commemoration of Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection. The majority are planning Easter Egg hunts, “powerful Sunday morning worship” (with a convenient extra service thrown in for all those once a year visitors), and eliminating Sunday evening service so people can celebrate the holiday with their families. I hope just a few of these churches will offer messages that convict people of their sinful condition, and point to Jesus’ atoning death and trimuphant Resurrection!
A Blessed Resurrection day to you and yours!
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Indeed, I dare say most main-line and evangelical churches have been largely conformed to the culture. This is a significant example thereof.
It is refreshing to belong to a church that does not celebrate any days. We honor the Lord each Sunday with preaching, reading, prayer, praise, and communion. The last is a sober reminder of how sinful we are in contrast to how holy and without sin Christ is; a celebration of His gift to those called. No one other than Jesus, who is the Christ, is able to offer Himself as a sacrifice for sinners.
Praise God!
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Spot on, Pilgrim! Same stuff up here in Canada, unfortunately. This one’s for my files. Thank you.
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Hello from New Zealand. Cannot say this applies to church in Auckland New Zealand. My church in particular puts on a stage play which is advertised to the public as “The Easter Event” and is very professional and presents the story of the death of Jesus Christ on the Cross and His resurrection and the gospel message follows which invites people in the audience to declare their faith in the Son of God who died for their sins and make a commitment to turn from their sins and live for God and many always go forward.
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Isn’t the fact that all these other activities are so prevalent and wide-spread proof that Easter is not really about the Resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ?? Even most of the churches which believe it is about the resurrection come up with a play, musical to “tell the true story of Easter.” And as the lady noted above, these often end in “invitationals” …… Aren’t even these plays and musicals a worldly way to try to present the gospel, as you have pointed out, God’s intended way is the “foolishness” of preaching”, relying on HIS WORD and HIS SPIRIT to do the work in lives.
Why would we want to confine the celebariton of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ to a certain day. Aren’t we supposed to be a living celebration of his resurrection every day of our lives???
Peter 1:3
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,”
Philippians 3:10,11
“That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;
If by any means I might attain unto the resurrrection of the dead.”
I Peter 1:3
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
And our hope for the future:
John 11:25
Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead , yet shall he live
Romans 6:5
For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:
Revelation 20:6
Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.
Sometimes our best testimony is a refusal to participate/give credence to something. There is GREAT liberty in not having to be a part of anything to do with Easter.
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Stella Marie – You have stated things very well. Easter is much like Christmas; the world loves the day as it has been turned into another circus. The truth of the fact that Jesus rose may be preached, but how many preach on the resurrected life that he came to give his followers? How many preach on our being crucified daily whereby we must die to self and forsake this wicked world? How many preach during their alter calls with that sappy music in the background that the way is narrow, painful and totally contrary to what we by nature want to do? Few I would imagine as you won’t get a lot of takers if you start to reveal the truth about being a disciple of Jesus.
Yet what one will find in will be much pageantry as people don their “Easter” best, syncretistic egg hunts to corrupt the youth, unBiblical dramas, concerts, and of course copious eating of sweets and all other manner of food. All the things the world loves as they keep the spring festival.
And finally I will state that the church is once again showing her love of mother Rome as she is following the Roman liturgical calendar; a calendar you will not find in the Scriptures nor enjoined by the apostles. So many observe lent now, they keep the “high holy” day of “Good” Friday and do the obligatory Easter celebration. I imagine they also keep Palm Sunday as well. All showing that many Christians are closer to Rome than they know.
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I used to “get saved” every Easter. For several years, Charlton Heston led me to the Lord, I’d read the Bible for a little while, and get enough “religion” before I went right back to my old ways. Much like so many in America.
Praise to Almighty YHVH for His love and the resurrection of Christ, and for showing me the truth of my vileness, and His love in saving me!
Happy Resurrection Sunday!
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Happy Resurrection Sunday to all my brothers & sisters here at DefendingContending! God Bless you all!
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Amen to all that Stella Marie said and more……
I heard this quote today in a sermon:
“If we start playing with the death of Christ, looking to change it; it won’t be long before other things go by the wayside.”
I celebrate the death, burial and resurrection EVERYDAY, not when the calendar dictates!
As for X-mas…..that is another subject altogether……I will only say He was born to die. And I praise God for it.
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Hello Brother Mchael,
My husband and I read your article on Christmas, it was very good. I have to agree with your connection with the Catholic Church in the above statement. It is dificult to understand how so many people can abhor the doctrine of the Church of Rome/Babylon and yet embrace her festivals and other customs. Many, many Catholic practices are creeping into the Protestant churches…….people do not even realize what they are doing. Often people get angry if you even try to point it out to them. I am so glad the Lord Jesus Christ delivered me from all that…ALL Praise to him for stooping to a sinner such I.
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Just wish to say thank you to you all at Def Con for everything you do. My husband and I have learned much and appreciate it. Trusting in the Lord and His word to show us how to worship Him in spirit and truth. Your articles are so very helpful in this as well.
God bless you. Every day we celebrate His resurrection!
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What can I add to all the comments? Just a hearty “well said, Lad!”
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Brother Amen!
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Answer to Stella Marie’s comments: “How would you do it?”. Shouldn’t we be more concerned about the Holy Spirit’s presence on the message rather than the medium used? Especially when the Holy Spirit brings conviction of sin righteousness and judgment. Do you watch TV? Is not your heart moved when you watch movies that portray the suffering and resurrection of Jesus Christ? A play can also do this when prayed for. God does not put Himself in a box. God uses all things to bring people into His Kingdom. I am so blessed to be in a Church that has the presence of the Holy Spirit and proclaims the Gospel every Sunday morning and night and we always see people being convicted by the Holy Spirit and turning from sin to serve God. What is so wrong with this? It is disturbing that anyone could criticise this.
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Sophie, the end does not justify the means!
And no, God is not in a box, therefore He needs
no man. Period!
My answer to “how would you do it?”
I wouldn’t.
I get as far away from any of it as I can.
The worldly (pagan) aspects of all holidays is so interwoven into everyone’s celebrations that you
couldn’t separate them if you wanted to.
Therefore, you cannot have anything to do with
the “unfruitful works of darkness”.
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I am so blessed to be in a Church that has the presence of the Holy Spirit and proclaims the Gospel every Sunday morning and night and we always see people being convicted by the Holy Spirit and turning from sin to serve God. What is so wrong with this? It is disturbing that anyone could criticise this.
And how many of those people, so moved by emotion, “dedicate their lives” to God…for a little while. They read their Bible, they go to church, they sing the songs, they get their kids involved…for a little while. Then, the emotion wears off, and going to church on Sunday morning cuts into their “weekend family time” at the lake, or their kids’ ball practice. Or, as our Lord said, “The cares of the world choke out the seed and he becomes unfruitful” (Matthew 13:22). But nah, that never happens…right? That’s a lie, because I know many people who have done that very thing.
I know…I was one of them once.
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Just because you were one of them does not mean that everyone else is like that too. Who set you up to judge peoples motives or their hearts.
Is God not sovreign? If His Church has problems then trust Him to deal with it. The Church is not perfect just as you yourself are not perfect. The only good thing in each of us is Jesus.
I feel stunned when I see such animosity towards your own brothers and sisters who are your blood bought family.
The false prophets and teachers will have their day. God is not to be mocked.
The Bible says “You will know them by the love they have for each other”. The world mocks us when they watch us tearing each other apart.
Let us walk in love towards one another. When you see wrong then pray pray pray. Love never fails.
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Sophie,
What you call “tearing each other apart” is nothing more than exposing false teachings for what they are. I guess you would say Paul was “tearing apart” those false teachers he exposed? What about Jesus’ exposing the false teachings of the Pharisees – was he “tearing” them apart?
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This is the last comment I will leave. I am specifically referring to the negative comments made about my own Church which I love dearly and we have such a wonderful atmosphere of love and the presence of the Holy Spirit and it disturbs me that the above comments are directed to attack my Church when none of you have been there and just presume. I have a deep love for my brothers and sisters in my Church and we all love each other deeply. It almost feels like you want to believe that Churches are bad just because there are some out there like that.
I won’t comment anymore.
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We have a real warped definition of “love” these days!
What is true love?
Telling someone the truth, snatching some from the fire!
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Sophie, take the bible and look deep into the doctrine of the Apostles and Christ as Paul said; Rom 16:17 Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offenses contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. That means all of them.
Those doctrines are being attacked all to much as of late, and if you love God get into his word, immerse your self in it. and read read read
2Ti 2:15 Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
Did you hear that? It said God, not men. And the Apostles are insired by God. Read acts chp 8. it’ll give you an ideal where the catolic church got its start. theres an article by Dr.E.L. Martin called “Simon Peter versus Simon the Sorcerer”. Goggle it and read it its long but there is a lot there that makes sense.
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jonathan,
Thanks for the note about that article. I’ve begun reading it and find it captivating.
http://www.reformation.org/simon_peter_versus_simon_magus.html
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With each passing Easter I see the secular media getting far more blasphemous and rank in thier usage of Christian things eg. The crucifixition.
The worst thing I saw though, was a church in New Zealand displaying a heinous sign with Mary and Joseph in dialogue not fitting to mention.
Shame on you who are so weak and wordly!!
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Sophie,
Since your first question was directed toward my comments, I am going to reply tho’ I am gettin to it late. I do not observe the ressurection on a set calendar day, it is a continuous part of my walk with the Lord Jesus Christ. I started out just like Pilgrim expresses in this article, hating the “holidays” because I knew most of the “trappings” had nothing to do with the Lord Jesus Christ. I tried to put the emphasis on “holy” things for those days…..never worked. We were later introduced to the teaching on the Catholic Church, Babylon, Paganism and idolatry. YES, ALL these things have CURRENT applications,. There is no way to make a day which originated in unholiness, holy. If the root is rotten the fruit will be also. I also came up in a church I would have described EXACTLY like you church. I MADE commitment after commitment, year after year. I could never last, because they were all of the emotions, flesh, ect. What time I may have appeared to have some “consistency”, it was only becasue I was conforming to those around me or the last sermon I heard, not the work of the Holy Spirit….IN me. Then the Lord truly saved me.
I do not know you but I am asking you to do me a favor…..Do…. 1. immerse yourself in the Word of God. 2. Determine in your heart and mind that nothing will be rejected because you think it judgemental or unloving…… SEEK AFTER the TRUTH of the Scriptures at all costs. A true Christian will embrace the truth no matter how much it hurts. 3. ask the Holy Spirit to teach you from the Word…..
I hope that the God of the universe who condescends to save wretched sinners, and conform the saved to the image of his Son, meets with you in these activities.
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Johnathon,
I have started looking at the article you suggested. Who is Dr. E. L. Martin?? In the book, Two Babylons by Alexander Hyslop, he makes a case for the Babylonian Mystery Religion ( Catholic Babylonian Christianity) being passed down to The Catholic Church for preservation…… I have never read anything on the Simon Magus connection …..very interesting.
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I’m not sure who he is but someone sent this to me and I think he really did his home work, All I know about the man is that he’s no longer in this world and it seems to me he must of been some kind of a history buff. ??? not really sure.
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Right on with this message, Pilgrim. I am so tired of the easter egg hunts. It’s all around, everywhere and in your face. I just want to focus on the death and RESURRECTION of our Lord Jesus. I pray pastors will use the Passover weekend to powerfully present the Gospel and invite people for repentance at the altar, salvation, pray for them, and urge them to not only ‘get saved,’ but to also become disciples of Christ and stick with it. We need to get our ‘new fish’ mentors and spiritual parents who will check on these baby Christians, pray with them, and we should pray God will provide for them brothers/sisters in the Lord who will hold them accountable and be encouraging friends.
In Christ, (NOT ishtar)
Sharon
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