HE IS RISEN! WHO CARES?
Scripture: ACTS 10:34-43, PSALM 118:14-17, PSALM 118:22-24, COLOSSIANS 3:1-4, JOHN 20:1-18
HE IS RISEN!! .... WHO CARES?
Kenneth Kroohs
Acts 10:34-43; Ps. 118:14-17 & 22-24; Col. 3:1-4; John 20:1-18
Easter - 2000 .. EASTER SUNDAY
April 23, 2000
Alleluia! Christ is Risen!!! The Lord is Risen indeed! Hallelujah!!!
Is halleluiah your real and honest answer? ... Or did you say it just because the book said to? ... Is your real answer: Who cares? .... What difference does it make in my life? ... No big deal.
I suspect the second reaction is more prevalent than the first ... even among people who attend church. Time and time again I have heard people comment about the importance of Christian ethical behavior .... but never caring about Easter ... not concerned about Good Friday and not believing for a moment that Easter makes any difference in their lives.
And their question is very reasonable ... what difference does it make? .... OK, even if we accept the classical Christian response, that the crucifixion and resurrection means we have been saved ... we have been freed from our sins ... that for all eternity we will walk on streets of gold and sing "hosannas" ---- on key, which for me would be heaven.
Even if we accept that --- Who cares? Lots to happen between and then. And if that decision has been made then I don't have to worry about it ... right? So, who cares that the tomb was empty and that Jesus rose from the dead? Even if, as Paul continually insists, our baptism joins us into Jesus' death and resurrection, it really doesn't make any difference in my daily life.
You may be expecting me to refute that statement ... the truth is, for many people, Easter makes little or no difference in their lives and that is very sad.
Easter is a time of great joy because it does mean we are saved ... it does mean we are freed from sin ... it does mean that the light of the world has returned! Those are all joyful statements but not the kind of statements which seem to affect us in any direct way. .... But they should.
How does t ...
Kenneth Kroohs
Acts 10:34-43; Ps. 118:14-17 & 22-24; Col. 3:1-4; John 20:1-18
Easter - 2000 .. EASTER SUNDAY
April 23, 2000
Alleluia! Christ is Risen!!! The Lord is Risen indeed! Hallelujah!!!
Is halleluiah your real and honest answer? ... Or did you say it just because the book said to? ... Is your real answer: Who cares? .... What difference does it make in my life? ... No big deal.
I suspect the second reaction is more prevalent than the first ... even among people who attend church. Time and time again I have heard people comment about the importance of Christian ethical behavior .... but never caring about Easter ... not concerned about Good Friday and not believing for a moment that Easter makes any difference in their lives.
And their question is very reasonable ... what difference does it make? .... OK, even if we accept the classical Christian response, that the crucifixion and resurrection means we have been saved ... we have been freed from our sins ... that for all eternity we will walk on streets of gold and sing "hosannas" ---- on key, which for me would be heaven.
Even if we accept that --- Who cares? Lots to happen between and then. And if that decision has been made then I don't have to worry about it ... right? So, who cares that the tomb was empty and that Jesus rose from the dead? Even if, as Paul continually insists, our baptism joins us into Jesus' death and resurrection, it really doesn't make any difference in my daily life.
You may be expecting me to refute that statement ... the truth is, for many people, Easter makes little or no difference in their lives and that is very sad.
Easter is a time of great joy because it does mean we are saved ... it does mean we are freed from sin ... it does mean that the light of the world has returned! Those are all joyful statements but not the kind of statements which seem to affect us in any direct way. .... But they should.
How does t ...
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