Say this with me:
‘I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth.
And in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary; suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead and buried; the third day he rose from the dead; he ascended into heaven; and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence he shall come to judge the living and dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit; the holy universal Church; the communion of saints; the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body; and life everlasting. Amen.’
That is the Apostle’s Creed, the faith all Christians confess. What about Easter, do you confess that too?
Each year when Easter comes around we try to figure out what to make of it. Looking at what others do for guidance doesn’t always help either.
On the one hand it seems that those who consider themselves secular are the truest believers. They have been talking about Easter holiday plans for months, stockpiling chocolate eggs, and busy sharing recipes for gluten-free hot-cross buns.
On the other hand you have some who consider themselves the truest believers and who reject any observance of Easter because they see it as at best a secular celebration, and at worst a heathen festival. These look down their noses at their ignorant and corrupted fellow Christians who should know better than joining in with semi-pagan festivals.
Then there are those who take the opportunity to meet on Good Friday to contemplate the suffering and death of the Lord Jesus, leaving with sadness, but returning on Easter Sunday to celebrate and rejoice in the resurrection of his Son. “He is risen!”
I guess that is what I’ll be doing this coming Easter weekend…and every Lord’s Day. Join me. ‘I believe in God…’