Reflections at the end of Resurrection Day

I’m in the weary state where the eyes barely want to stay open. It’s been a long day, but it’s been a fine day. In fact, it’s been a fine weekend. For three days, I’ve been calling people to reflect upon the twin realities of their own hapless estate on the one hand and the incredible victory that Christ accomplished over sin, hell and the grave on the other. Now I sink into my easy chair and reflect on that reality myself.

One of the challenges a pastor faces is that of preaching the classic and timeless themes in a manner that captures the heart. It’s impossible to meet that challenge apart from the work of the Spirit. It’s also impossible unless I allow myself to be transfixed by the message.

In today’s Seattle Times, an article about the head of the Episcopal Church in Western Washington discussed, among other things, the declining membership in the movement. What does one do when membership drops from 38,000 to 31,000 over the past 20 years, even as the general population is growing? Bishop Rickel poses the possibility, “Maybe the ship we’re trying to keep afloat doesn’t need to float any more. Maybe we need to dock it and do something else.” Rev. Rickel isn’t proposing that the ship of the church itself be docked, but some of the forms in which she presents herself. He argues for openness to newer, creative models… from more conversational worship services to house churches. At the same time, he is calling his flock back to the basics of the faith, stating that it’s difficult to evangelize the world with our particular message “if we don’t even know what it is ourselves.” I agree!

The article gives me pause to think about our church and how she is doing. Is it time to steer her gently toward safe harbor (where other old ships languish from sitting idle)? I hope not. I want to hang onto the hope that the simple, powerful and transformational message of Resurrection Day is enough to refurbish any ship, no matter how much she leaks. I’m not contending that we shouldn’t revisit the model. I just hope that the model isn’t the main thing, but that the message is. I don’t just hope it – I believe it with all my heart.

Around the world today, the ancient refrain was echoed in multiple tribes and tongues:
Jesus Christ is risen!
He is risen indeed!
I loved hearing it in our congregation. I know that other pastors feel the same. It reminds us that the same power which raised up Christ from the dead will quicken our sometimes lifeless churches and renew them by his grace.