What Do You Think About Easter?

Matthew 28:5–6

⁵ The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. ⁶ He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay.

In reading an article on Barna.org titled Most Americans Consider Easter a Religious Holiday, But Fewer Correctly Identify its Meaning a few years ago I came across some interesting findings.  Below is some quoted material from that article.

Who Celebrates Easter as Religious Holiday?

The types of Americans who were most likely to express some type of theistic religious connection with Easter were evangelicals (93%), attenders of large churches (86% among those whose congregation has 500-plus adult attenders), born again Christians (81%), and weekly churchgoers (77%).

Republicans (77%) and Democrats (71%) were more likely than were independents (59%) and non-registered citizens (51%) to say Easter has religious meaning for them.

In terms of age, members of the Boomer generation (73%, ages 45 to 63) were among the most likely to describe Easter as a religious holiday for them, compared with two-thirds of Elders (66% of those ages 64-plus) and Busters (66%, ages 26 to 44). The youngest adult generation, the Mosaics (ages 18 to 25), were the least likely age segment to say Easter is a religious holiday (58%), reflecting the increasingly secular mindset of young adults.

Wrestling With Sin Part II

Jude 1:24-25

24 To him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy— 25 to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen. NIV84

As part of my calling and my profession – I do a number of funerals.  Funerals are usually sad events but for some they are sad and happy events (let me explain).  If the deceased were a Christian – you know – one of those born again types – not just a church goer but a true believer in Christ – death is usually met with joy because it is the transition time between this life and the next.  This is a time that Christians live for – really!

That doesn’t mean there isn’t a measure of sadness for Christians at funerals.  I know when my father died in 2012 – it was a sad time yet a joyous time.  Dad had lived his life in so many ways for Jesus and I had and have no doubt he heard well-done – good and faithful servant when he arrived in heaven.  For Sunday only church goers – funerals probably bring a number of other emotions and thoughts into play.  Doubts and fears probably surface if they haven’t been sold out for Jesus in their walk.  For folks who have little or no faith – funerals probably bring a whole list of other emotions and thoughts as well.