Hm...
Recently I received a packet in the mail with some faith guides in it - for sale. You know, the color pamphlets that say "What you should know about...Lent" (for example.) I have seen these guides before and actually skimmed a few. They never really caught me, but I thought they might have some useful tidbits for those who weren't raised in the church.
But...they also have some fairly self-help theology in them, that can veer those with and without a connection to the church in the wrong way. I don't think it is intended to "steer folks a certain way" but rather, the set-up of a "How To" book is the culprit.
For instance - the one that just crossed my desk was "What You Should Know About Lent." Good enough...many people have no clue about Lent, its history, its practices, etc... As I flipped through the pages I was caught by the tremendous power that was given to humanity in our salvation.
Here's the biggest red flag for me, "Lent prepares us so we may fulfill the promises of Easter."
WHAT!?! We can fulfill the promises of Easter? Aren't the promises of Easter new and eternal life in and through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ? Can we take on the cross so that the promises of Easter are fulfilled? Isn't that God's gift to humanity, the whole point of Easter and our need of a Savior in the first place? If we could fulfill these promises (and here I ask, are they God's promises or ours?) why would we need God, Jesus Christ, or Easter at all?
Wow. I mean, don't get me wrong. There are some good tidbits in here, some really good ones. But once something like self-salvation is put forth, well all the rest really doesn't matter does it. This pamphlet tell us that WE have the power to bring about new life. That WE are the ones who will fulfill God's promise. This is a How To of a modern world. A How To that gives us all the steps and all we need to do is follow the directions and all will be saved.
I pray that God's word, Jesus Christ is heard and seen in this upcoming season of Lent - heard and seen as the salvific word and life that it is. We can't save ourselves...and God knows that, so God sent God's son to die on the cross for us. So we don't have to. We are called to follow after Christ, to take up our cross, to die to sin, and live into this NEW life that is given through Jesus Christ.
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2 comments:
im not trying to be rude about it but you shouldnt call it easter because for christians its not easter its simply ressurection day...easter is the name of a goddess and it started out that people named it that way to honor this goddess...look it up
Thank you for your comment...it is true there is debate over the etymology of the word, Easter (or Ostern in German.) This is a debate that has been ongoing since Bede in the 8th century (at least that is when it was tied to the etymology of the goddess Eastre.) This is a debate I am not a part of, and neither is the majority of the global church.
But here's the great thing: language and meaning is a fluid system, and sure there may be some potential common meanings at the base - although many times the languages and translations are so old we lose track of where it all started - what these mean today, in the hands, mouths, minds, and hearts of the people is quite different. Language is contextual and people use language and adapt it.
What is the joyous thing in all of this is that there is space for conversation, debate, and disagreement.
I will continue to use the culturally accepted term Easter - for we are an Easter people, a people of the resurrection, a people of the dawn of new life (look up the meaning of the original name - Eastre - that you point to).
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