You know, I realize that I’m probably not like a lot of Christians, in that I am very relaxed in my relationship with Christ to the point that I will share my experience of knowing Him with anyone that cares about having the discussion, but for the most part I pretty much figure I’m in their life just to love them.
At Easter, I’m also not one that feels the necessity to scream above all of the commercial pressure to buy eggs, Easter baskets, and clothing to remind everyone else of what the"real reason for the season" is. The truth is that all religions have celebrations at this time of year commemorating one thing or another, and even for those with no religious affiliations, most of humanity just feels the urge to celebrate the newness of life at the awakening of Spring! In fact, I’ve always loved making the kids Easter baskets and I love seeing the kids all dressed up on Easter morning. I’ll be the first to bite the ears off of chocolate bunnies and hide the eggs for the kids to find after dinner.
And yet, there are a couple of seasons each year that seem to bring out the worst in people, trying to promote their religious causes as heard around restaurant and family tables across America. To be honest, I find that arguing over which religion is the right one or the wrong will most often minimize or destroy the very spirit that every religion claims drives them … one of love… for God and each other. Instead we need to be right, standing staunch in our religious and intellectual convictions, as we enlighten all the black sheep of the family (and anyone else within earshot) to the superiority of our traditions and teachings.
You know, I am perfectly aware that Jesus probably wasn’t born on December 25th, and He probably didn’t resurrect to new life on the first Sunday in April, and furthermore I don’t care. I don’t claim the name of Christ because of what I’ve been taught, or how I was raised to believe. Although I consider myself an adopted child of Judaism through my belief in Christ as the Messiah, I know that my Jewish friends wouldn’t see it that way…and that is where we get caught and stay… in the argument over who is right. That, my friends, is why people run away in droves from religion. Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam, Mormonism, Christianity, Judaism (and the list goes on...) – we all do it. Like I did at one point in my life, many adopt the attitude that “I’m not religious, I’m spiritual”…and we form another religion of our own making, believing once again that we are right.
I am not a Christ-follower because of my religion. I am a Christ-follower because of my relationship with Christ. You see, after I tried living my way for most of my life, messing things up again and again, I finally came to a place of sweet surrender and let go in the arms of God. It’s impossible to explain, but like Mary Magdalene at the tomb that morning some 2,000 or so years ago, my eyes were opened to a new dimension of existence – one where I recognized my truest self, my life was in Him. We grew into a deep relationship of trust – not one of rules, regulations, and religion. Just a friendship where I know He has my back – no matter what. It’s relaxed, it’s pure, it’s easy – like sitting with your best friend.
So with my Easter bonnet on, and my chocolate bunny ready, I celebrate the abundance and new life of Spring with everyone else this year. I also celebrate again the new life that I realize is very personal and special to me, where I left all the brokenness of my past and entered into a new dimension of life with Him. The words of an old song express it best for me – “I’ve just seen Jesus, and I’ll never be the same again!”
Happy Easter everyone – however you celebrate it!
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