Because today, April 4th, is Easter Sunday, one of the two "great holidays" of the religious world, I would be remiss if I didn't offer you some thoughts on the observance of it. And, to spare you a lot of head-scratching, I won't even try to explain how this particular Sunday got to be designated as being "Easter." Suffice it to say that it is purely a man-made holiday that, because of the method of calculation, can be celebrated on any Sunday between March 22nd and April 25th each year. It all depends upon the "Vernal Equinox." ('nuff said).
And, like most of man's holidays, they may have started out with noble causes or intentions, but somehow and in many ways, commercialism rears its ugly head. It's my estimation that, with the exception of the Christmas holidays, Easter is the next most commercially exploited holiday we have in society. And, when we take a few moments to think about it, it's not all that hard to understand how this happens.
If you designate a particular day as a "highly religious" day, then it falls right into line that you must have appropriate "attire," appropriate "gifts", appropriate "meals"and appropriate "programs." You could substitute "special" for the word "appropriate" here because to the aforementioned religious world, this is a special day. Perhaps it's special because it's one of two days a year that a lot of people actually attend a church service of some sort.
Speaking of "programs," I see where they've gotten to the "special" level of requiring the attendees to purchase tickets through a ticket agency in order to be able to attend one of them. They don't call them "programs" however, they call them "pageants." Taking that scheme a step further, a couple of years ago one of our local denominations actually required a ticket for anyone who wanted to attend one of their Easter services.
When I think about the commercialism of this day, combined with all the pageants and "sunrise services," the purchasing of special clothing, flowers, egg-coloring paraphernalia and baskets, and especially the aforementioned "tickets," my thoughts can't help but be directed to the commercialism of the Temple in Matthew the 21st chapter. Interestingly, this event and it's condemnation by Christ, occurred on the Sunday prior to His crucifixion. Much of the religious world calls it "Palm Sunday" because of the triumphal entry into Jerusalem that day. Oh yeah, there are quite a few "religiously celebrated" days surrounding this Easter Sunday celebration. And, they all have "special names" too.
Speaking of Christ's entry into Jerusalem that 1st day of the week, I once read about a musical/movie entitled "Jesus Christ Super Star" wherein the triumphal entry was depicted. There was a song that the "crowd" was singing as He rode in on the donkey and some of the words in it were: "Christ you know I love you, did you see I waved."
I liken the thought brought by the singing of the crowd to a lot of the pomp, pageantry and religious accouterments of today. IE: "Jesus, you know I love you, did you see my new clothes I wore today? Did you see me attend church today? Can you see how religious I am today?"
This just causes me to think that this is the way a lot of people think these days. That, if they attend a couple of worship services a year, wear special clothing or attend a pageant somewhere, then they are righteous. I mean, if I actually do something of a religious nature, especially on a "high holy day," then Christ will be pleased. Will "see that I waved."
Well, let's just wrap up my thoughts on this Easter Sunday editorial by reminding you of a few spiritual thoughts. You know, it's not how we look outwardly that counts. It's not the clothes we wear that make us righteous. It's not even what we "profess" (read "wave") that makes us pleasing to Christ. We can put on all kinds of religious-looking accouterments, attend special events and pageants, even if we've spent money to buy tickets for them, but don't you think this fits with what Christ said in Matt. 7:21 about those who profess to be religious, that call Him Lord, Lord and yet not be pleasing? To be condemned even though appearing religious?
It's in that same verse that we see who will be pleasing - who will "enter into the kingdom of heaven: 'those that do the will of my Father which is in heaven.' " You see, it's not the outward appearance of righteousness, it's the inward "being" righteous that counts. That is what's pleasing to God. Oh, we can dress up the outside of us to the nth degree and attend all kinds of religious-like functions but, unless the "inside of the cup is clean" then it doesn't matter how decorated or pretty the outside is. (Matt. 23:25-26)
In thinking about the words of Jesus in Matt. 7:21-23 and applying them to this lesson, I have a mental image of a lot of people "in that day" saying "But Jesus, didn't I attend some Easter pageants where they reenacted your crucifixion? Didn't I buy new clothes just to attend a worship service on Easter Sunday? Didn't I involve myself in "religious things" on some of your "special days?" IE: "didn't I call you "Lord, Lord?" Read verse 23 for the answer they'll receive.
In paraphrasing Christ's teaching in that passage, He's basically telling everyone that looking religious and saying His name won't cut it. In today's vernacular, He's saying that one has to "walk the walk" and not just "talk the talk." That you have to be obedient to His Word and not just pretend to do so. Notice that He tells us what "obedience" entails in verse 21: "Doing the will of my Father."
As it pertains to this day, Easter Sunday, this day is no more special or holy than any of the other Sundays of the year. Part of this "obedience" to God entails the observing of Christ's death, burial and resurrection every 1st day of the week. (Acts 20:7, 1Cor. 16:2 & 1Cor. 11:26) That means every time the 1st day comes around. Not just one "special Sunday" a year. This Sunday, that happens to fall on April 4th this year, is no more significant as a day of worship than any of the Sundays of the year. In conclusion: this Sunday is NOT a "special" Sunday based on any Bible scripture. It is only "special" because it is an invention of man and as such, is NOT OF GOD!
Ron Covey
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