Does Easter Still Matter?

Easter is right around the corner, and many people in the US will find someplace to go to church. Let’s be honest, it’s kind of a tradition to go to church on Easter and Christmas, even if you don’t go to church. I used to invite my unchurched friends for these Sundays and end it with, “It’s practically un-American to not go to church on Easter/Christmas!” It always got a laugh, and often ended up in them showing up.

But, does Easter really matter? Go beyond the eggs, bunny, lilies, and kids dressed up in pastel colors, what makes Easter such a special and enduring event? How is it that some guys death and supposed resurrection over 2,000 years ago still matters today?

Some would point to the fact that as a nation our founding was essentially as a “Christian” nation, and therefore it is hardwired into our culture. As true as this may have been some 200 years ago, I would more than hesitate to say that America is a Christian nation today…so in just a few days why will people who never go to church the other 364 days (or this year 365) wake up early, fight their kids into clothes they hate wearing, and trudge over to an hour plus long service where they already know the story…are the Easter Egg hunts really that good?

I believe that the answer to why it still matters can be summed up in four words shaped into the form of a question…

“What if it’s true?”

You see, I believe that in the heart of every person, no matter how irreligious or even anti-God they may be, is this lingering doubt of, “what if it’s true?” What if Jesus really was God in the flesh? What if he really did resurrect after three days in the grave, defeating sin and death? What if Jesus really is the only way to have a relationship with God?

I believe that Easter and Christmas attendance are peoples way of ‘hedging their bets’ against the “what if”. I believe people go to church on those days waiting or hoping to hear something that will answer that question and spark that dimly glowing ember in their souls, that cries out for more than this! I believe they are longing for a connection with someone or something beyond themselves that gives context, meaning, and purpose to who they are and why they exist, and they are hoping that this year they find it!

If it’s true, Easter is a story of hope, and as humans we are all suckers for hope! But, it’s more than that, Easter is about redemption, renewal, and a reawakening of the soul. If Easter is true if offers the potential of a profound and intimate encounter with the divine, and it soothes the longing for something more than just what we can see. And for those who dare to entertain the question, “What if it’s true?” Easter becomes not just a holiday but a journey—a journey of faith, discovery, and transformation. So, as Easter approaches, let me challenge you to explore the depths of its potential significance, and perhaps, a truth that transcends time itself.

I’ll see you Sunday…I mean it’s practically un-American not to go to church on Easter!

Dave