Someone once asked, “After the resurrection, what do you do for an encore?” The season of Easter extends until Pentecost (May 20 this year), but there is no doubt there’s a let down after Easter Sunday – not just in worship attendance, but a kind of spiritual let down as well. Where do we go from here?
The New Testament is all about what it means to live in a post-resurrection world. The resurrection of Jesus from the dead wasn’t the end of the story; it was just the beginning. We write the conclusion to the story with our lives. One of my favorite quotes about the resurrection of Jesus is from Clarence Jordan, who wrote, “The proof of the resurrection of Jesus Christ is not a rolled away stone, but a carried away church!”
Are we “carried away” enough to risk some discomfort for the sake of others’ comfort? Are we “carried away” enough to speak up when we hear a racist or sexist comment or “joke?” Are we “carried away” enough to trust in the goodwill of others and not assume the worst about them? Are we “carried away” enough to risk abuse ourselves by standing with those who are victimized by prejudice and hatred? Are we “carried away” enough to walk toward those with whom we disagree and build bridges of understanding rather than walls of separation?
You don’t have to be a Christian to do these things, but Christians ought to be among those who lead the way.
The New Testament is all about what it means to live in a post-resurrection world. The resurrection of Jesus from the dead wasn’t the end of the story; it was just the beginning. We write the conclusion to the story with our lives. One of my favorite quotes about the resurrection of Jesus is from Clarence Jordan, who wrote, “The proof of the resurrection of Jesus Christ is not a rolled away stone, but a carried away church!”
Are we “carried away” enough to risk some discomfort for the sake of others’ comfort? Are we “carried away” enough to speak up when we hear a racist or sexist comment or “joke?” Are we “carried away” enough to trust in the goodwill of others and not assume the worst about them? Are we “carried away” enough to risk abuse ourselves by standing with those who are victimized by prejudice and hatred? Are we “carried away” enough to walk toward those with whom we disagree and build bridges of understanding rather than walls of separation?
You don’t have to be a Christian to do these things, but Christians ought to be among those who lead the way.
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