When the sun breaks over the Eastern horizon on Easter morning, the world will wake to another somber day filled with unjust war, economic crisis, and continued bigotry even after the miracle of resurrection.
Why such a dark start to Easter morning?
Because after 2,000 years of celebrating the resurrection of Jesus and the timeless salvation associated with this one moment in history, Christians must face the stark reality that not much has changed.
Tyrants still wield too much power and influence.
Economic inequality divides the wealthy from everyone else.
War is still employed to accumulate resources.
Migrants are still rejected instead of welcomed.
Disease still wreaks havoc on the most vulnerable.
White supremacy grows stronger, as people of color grow tired.
Religious irrationality continues to shape public policy.
Nonconformist communities return to their closets.
In other words, with all due respect to the Apostle Paul, the world has in no way taken Jesus seriously so that “every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
In fact, the worst at following Jesus’ example are those very people who bear his name. Since the day Christianity embraced the ways of Empire, Christians have evolved into a powerful force in the world seeking conquest, conversion, and control over others.
Long gone are the days when Jesus told his followers to “love God with all of their heart, mind, and strength, and love others as they would love themselves.”
Forgotten is his mandate of “proclaiming good news to the poor, freedom to the prisoners, and giving sight to the blind, setting the pressed free, and proclaiming the year of the Lord by forgiving debts.”
Silence has fallen on the encouragement to “love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.”
And “turning the other cheek” has become an act of weakness rather than strength.
The stark truth of this moment is that the Christian Church has failed.
HOWEVER…
As Sunday morning breaks yet again, an Easter Rising fills my heart, my mind, and my soul. If there is one truth I’ve learned from following the Indigenous Palestinian Jewish Rabbi from Nazareth, it is to never give up.
Never give up waking in the morning, even when you’re dead.
Never give up standing up for freedom, even when those in power keep taking it away.
Never give up speaking out for inclusion, even when doors are shut in your face.
Never give up stepping forward for justice, even when the system is built on injustice.
The beauty and brilliance of the Easter story is that death does not win. In fact, when the cold, bitter darkness of this world seems to have taken away every ounce of light from the human narrative, the small embers of resurrection smolder.
Easter Rising means that the final answers have not been submitted.
Tyrants do not have to win.
Income equality can be achieved.
War can be abolished.
Migrants can be welcomed.
Diseases can be cured.
White supremacy can lose its hood.
Religion can be freeing.
And diversity and inclusion can be celebrated.
As Easter morning breaks for the world this morning, let’s keep in mind what this day truly means.
As Jesus taught and lived, we are no longer bound by the world’s oppressive systems—even the grave answers to a higher authority.
We are free.
Free to live.
Free to laugh.
Free to love.
Happy Easter!
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CEO of Good Faith Media.