As usual there has been something of a fuss made of an organisation taking the word Easter off their eggs. I have to say something like that just doesn't bother me. The sooner we wake up and realise that we live in a post Christian culture the better. Christianity is an increasingly small part of our nations thinking, it plays little part in moulding national policies and laws or in people's everyday actions. So why does this sort of thing surprise us? Why do people protest this?
What is the correct reaction? Easter gives us a prime opportunity to tell people the gospel, not moan about the word being removed by a secular organisation from their publicity or products. Easter is good news to tell people, yet if that isn't know or realised then surely that is our fault for not making it known. Surely this just shows us again the scale of the need for us to go and tell people all about the great news Easter marks.
The result of Jesus resurrection was a spirit filled, passionate and galvanised community that revolutionised the world as they told everyone the good news of Jesus and the redemption now available in him. Sadly we seem to be more interested in writing a letter of complaint than talking about Jesus to our neighbours or our community. Do we get as het up about people's eternal destiny as about Cadbury's packaging? Someone is unlikely to buy a chocolate egg see the world Easter and drop to their knees in repentance in an aisle in ASDA. In fact when scouring my Bible I can't find that evangelisation strategy in there. And yet, again and again, in scripture when a friend, or even a stranger, in love shares the gospel with someone they turn to Christ. Perhaps we ought to redirect our efforts.
While I'm here let me mention another bug bear of mine. Why, oh why, do christian organisations put conferences on during Easter? Seriously? Why not use a half term? As far as I'm aware, unless I'm missing something, there are no obvious evangelism opportunities in October or February and May half term. But Easter. Easter is a time when we ought to be telling friends, family, neighbours all about Jesus. When local churches ought to be on mission in their communities, inviting friends, family and neighbours to a service, making the most of every opportunity. And yet this is when thousands of Christians leave their home church and gather in holiday centres away from those who need the gospel. (I know the teaching helps, I know the arguments for such conferences, it's the timing I'm bemoaning.)
I wonder is it just Cadbury's who are missing the good news of what Easter is all about?
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