Living in the Shadows

But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 1 Corinthians 15:20 (ESV)

Over the last several days I have read comments by several well intentioned Christians that the Church should not celebrate Easter. They claim, as the basis of authority for their opinion, that Scripture does not expressly commend the observance of Easter, and that to do so is a regression into Romish superstition. To this argument I have only one word; bunk. If this appears too blunt of a response, I apologize. I did refine it quite a bit, however.

Perhaps these people have forgotten that the people of God are to celebrate and declare to the world the mighty works of God, as in Psalm 92 or in Psalm 106; or as in Psalms 115 to 118. Or perhaps we have forgotten the greatness of the resurrection of Jesus from the dead. Perhaps we have personalized the Cross so much that we limit Christ's work to merely getting ourselves into heaven. If so, shame on us, for we are living in the shadows.

I look forward to the day when we will put aside our petty squabbles, and begin again to ponder anew and share the great hope of God making all things new, as he has adequately and sufficiently demonstrated to the world through the death and resurrection of His Anointed Christ, the Lord Jesus. With the resurrection of Jesus from the dead, God has declared Jesus his Son with power, that we might walk in newness of life. Instead of hiding in the shadows, we should walk in the open glory of the Risen Christ, declaring to men that their greatest enemy, death, has been put to death.

John Donne, better than most of our contemporaries, got it right when he wrote,

DEATH be not proud, though some have called thee
Mighty and dreadfull, for, thou art not so,
For, those, whom thou think'st, thou dost overthrow,
Die not, poore death, nor yet canst thou kill me.
From rest and sleepe, which but thy pictures bee,
Much pleasure, then from thee, much more must flow,
And soonest our best men with thee doe goe,
Rest of their bones, and soules deliverie.
Thou art slave to Fate, Chance, kings, and desperate men,
And dost with poyson, warre, and sicknesse dwell,
And poppie, or charmes can make us sleepe as well,
And better then thy stroake; why swell'st thou then;
One short sleepe past, wee wake eternally,
And death shall be no more; death, thou shalt die.

Our rallying cry to all men tomorrow, and everyday, must be and needs to be, "The LORD's Anointed Christ, Jesus, has put to death death itself. Now, come to Jesus and live."