How I love the blessed reminder that Jesus Christ left Heaven for earth to make peace between God and man. He accomplished that by dying the cruelest of deaths in our place and rising again three days later, redeeming sin鈥檚 hostages, and breaking the power of the inner darkness it creates.
I read with interest an online blog article for pastors and church leaders titled, 鈥淲ays to attract people to church on Easter Sunday.鈥�
Suggestions included hosting a family photo booth, using Justin Bieber songs during worship, providing tasty treats to the congregation, hiring an Easter bunny costume, bringing in a moon bouncer and announcing door prizes for attendees.
While I completely understand the motive behind the list, I question the premise that the Church must 鈥渓ure people in鈥� using secular marketing techniques.
Jesus Christ delivered the most attractive, desirable, joyful, freeing and life-giving message in the universe. Peace with God is possible. Sincerely confessing our sins to God means he fully forgives and forgets them. Death 鈥� formerly our worst enemy 鈥� no longer holds power over us. For those who embrace Jesus Christ, eternal life and youth are a certainty after death 鈥� in a place where sickness, dying and sorrow will be no more.
That news applies no matter who we are, what we鈥檝e done or when we did it. How much sense does it make to downplay it and upstage it with... a moon bouncer?
But for the last several decades, in an effort to get non-believers to attend church, many Western congregations have re-fitted their churches and church programs into mini-versions of the rest of the First World 鈥� consumer friendly venues with glam and gliz galore and regular enticements to outsiders to join the 鈥渇un鈥�.
And yet, according to recent surveys, it鈥檚 not working.
With humility, because the Bible says Christ鈥檚 church will triumph, I ask, if Christian churches in the West continue 鈥渕arketing our product鈥� in the same the way as society in general, will we not be forced to KEEP doing things like the rest of the world. It鈥檚 an unwinnable race 鈥� but to where? 聽
I鈥檓 reminded of a sign I saw on another vehicle while driving one day. 鈥淲here are we going again, and what am I doing in this handbasket?鈥�
Jesus鈥� gave a simple invitation 鈥淐ome to me, all who are loaded with heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.鈥� At the same time, he warned that only a few will choose him 鈥� that the way of the cross is hard, and the road narrow and full of persecutors. Christians in the Third World face that reality daily.
When the twice-a-year church attendees show up for Easter Sunday, let鈥檚 not present infinitely lesser gifts. Let鈥檚 offer what they may not even realize they thirst for. Hope. Meaning. Fulfillment. Let鈥檚 show them lives who have been changed by a living Saviour. It鈥檚 the most we can offer 鈥� inside and outside our church doors.
Let鈥檚 give them Jesus 鈥� front and centre.
