This Easter, stay with the gospel

Easter used to be one of the most attended worship days of all the holiday Sundays. In my observation over the last decade, there has been a marked decline in Easter worship attendance. Easter is sort of an inside ballgame event for Christians. Unless you are into bunny rabbits and egg hunting, there is not much of a national appeal to this holiday.

There are a couple of reasons why I think Easter attendance may have fallen on hard times. First of all is the decline of the church culture. When I was a child, it was expected of almost everyone in the community to attend some type of church on Easter. It seemed only the hardened sinners and reprobates stayed at home. Most people had a church identification and usually Easter was the time annual attenders would show up. Reflecting on how times have changed in regard to the unchurched, I remember my pastor deridingly chide the Easter-lily Christians. He would dismiss the service by saying, “Merry Christmas, because some of you I won’t see again until next Easter.” Cultural pressure was on people to attend church whether they had a real relationship with Jesus as Lord and Savior or not. You can see there are actually positives about the decline of a church culture. At least people attend more out of a sincere interest rather than an obligation to satisfy societal expectations.

Perhaps as a corollary to the loss of church culture in the de-emphasis on Easter is the uncomfortable presence of the Risen Lord. Jesus lays claim that He is the King of everyone’s life. He demands submission to His will. Jesus is seen as a helpless baby at Christmas. In our current culture Christmas is an opportune time to reach people. Christmas is less threatening to those who do not know Jesus as Lord and Savior. Christmas is now the most church-attended event for those who are unchurched. Let’s take advantage of it by putting forth quality appeal and establishing gracious relationships with those who need our Savior.

Easter is not the premier front door to believers as it once was, but it still provides tremendous opportunities to touch lives. Relationships still bring people inside the walls of the church building. Unbelievers will come if believers will invite them. It works! Events done with excellence continue to draw people. Service evangelism is much needed to show the community that Jesus is alive. Doing acts of mercy or service turns heads. People recognize genuine care when they see it. But all of the “do good” activities like painting a house or providing a food pantry fall short if the gospel is not presented to the recipients of the benefits. Show the love of Jesus during Easter by ministering in a tangible way.

Above everything, proclaim the gospel of the Risen Lord during public worship on Easter. Be sure Jesus is the focus of whatever is done. Jesus bodily, physically resurrected from the dead. The gospel is empty without the resurrection of Jesus. Tell people the Good News that He is alive! A special “thank you” to all the faithful pastors, church staff and church members who stay with the message of the gospel.