Missing the point

Last Sunday was Easter.  We were assisted in our praise of the resurrection by trombone and trumpet with the processional hymn - spectacular in our small congregation.  A few people remarked to me that it was a beautiful service.  To which I responded, "It's hard to wreck Easter."  Hard, but not impossible...

I am distressed to say that I once attended an Easter Sunday service where someone thought it would be a good idea recite an alternative creed.  This is alarming enough as the word "alternative" should be used only with words like "rock" and "therapy."  But not half so alarming as the creed itself.  It began as I recall, "I believe in butterflies and bunnies..."  I experienced this sentimental twaddle many years ago, before I was a follower of Jesus and even then I thought it piffle.  (How often can one use "twaddle" and "piffle" in one sentence?)  Missing from this theological marvel was any reference to Jesus' resurrection from the dead.  As much as I am warm to beautiful and cuddly animals, butterflies and bunnies are slightly less spectacular than destroying the power of death.  Although, to be fair, I have never seen the Monarch Butterfly migration site in Mexico.  I hear that's quite good.  Nope.  Still doesn't cut it.

Today I was forwarded an article reporting on the Easter service the President apparently attended.  Here's a quote:
"At Saint John’s Episcopal Church, Rev. Luis Leon talked about things you might expect from an Easter sermon: love, hate, peace, faith and belief. "

Yes.  Things you might expect from an Easter sermon. Too true.  I concede that "love, hate, peace, faith and belief" are an improvement over insects and rodents, but still.  Could we not just say, "Alleluia, Christ is risen!  The Lord is risen indeed, Alleluia!" (We did.)  In all of those vague and silly attempts to make Easter or Christianity "relevant" or something like that, we are ignoring the elephant in the room. He who was dead is alive again.  

Let me repeat it for those who had the misfortune of attending a "relevant" Easter service this week - He who was dead is alive again.  Jesus, crucified, died and buried lives.  Mary Magdalene running from the tomb to tell the disciples "I have seen the Lord."  Men in shining robes asking those coming to the tomb that Sunday morning, "Why do you seek the living among the dead?"  That is what Easter is about.  Nary a bunny in the story.

For some reason some have come to feel the resurrection is embarrassing or irrelevant.  How can it possibly be more embarrassing than the above-mentioned creed?  You might think it irrelevant to you.  I can assure you that the dying friend I visited this week finds it terribly relevant - and we will all be in her situation some day.

If we as Christians are going to be held in derision for something, let it be for proclaiming the Gospel - Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again - rather than sentimental and TRULY irrelevant claptrap.

Alleluia, Christ is risen!  Everything else is missing the point.