1ChurchVoice

After death . . .

I treasure the "end" of Julie's Holy Week reflections. Here's one, key quote:

Some will argue that Christianity and Easter are much more than this picture of Jesus as I've painted him and his relationships. I'd say most Easter celebrations I've attended are about less.

She reaches her conclusion:

This year, I stayed home and dyed eggs with my husband and kids. As MLK Jr would call it, I was a conscientious objector to church-ified Easter. This Easter is the day my faith died. It is now utterly in ruins, in a tomb waiting for some kind of resuscitation...

Amen.

As I grow older and think more about the resurrection and what it means, and what it doesn't mean, I'm less sure that I understand any of it.

Like Julie, I've been disillusioned more than once by the institutional church. But one thing I am sure of: the life in Christ we are part has a non-reducible, unchangeable pattern.  First there is death, and then there is resurrection.  Another way to say it:  After failure, loss, hurt, abandonment, and regret, there is redemption.  It sounds like Julie is in the middle of death.

I will pray for her, and it will be a prayer filled with confidence. Somehow, Jesus always brings resurrection.

Living in Two Worlds

As readers of this blog will note (if there are, in fact, ANY readers of this blog), over the past couple of years I have learned about a postmodern approach to faith.  That approach, perhaps more rightly described as encountering Jesus with a postmodern worldview, has been tremendously energizing to my faith.  I have found myself praying more, studying scripture more, thinking about Jesus more.  It’s been great.

But I also realize that we live in a time, and I live in a place (Houston, Texas), where modernity reigns.  For evidence, look no further than Minute Maid Park (the Houston Astros’ stadium), where two mega-churches will combine this Sunday for a concert/worship service.   The Houston Chronicle covers it.  The money quote:

"If this were about Second Baptist and Windsor Village only, I wouldn't do it," said Caldwell, who pastors the largest United Methodist Church in the nation with more than 15,000 members, most of them black.

"This is about bringing men and women, boys and girls under one roof to celebrate the resurrection of our lord and savior Jesus Christ and then encouraging those persons who decide to develop a personal relationship with Jesus to go to the church of their choice," Caldwell said.

And just in case you wondered to whom this event is being directed, here’s a description of the sermon:

They will share the preaching duties. Young will present the "forensic evidence" for the resurrection of Christ. "(The Apostle) Paul said if the resurrection is not true, then we are all fools," Young said.

Caldwell will follow with "the practical power of Jesus Christ, his willingness and ability to transform our lives."

Yep, first we’re going to scientifically prove that Jesus was resurrection, and then we’re going to tell you how that can make your life happy.

I’m a bit sad that 40,000 people will be there, and I do pray that something good will come of it.