Three Easter Lies Church Leaders Tell
Here we go, tomorrow is Good Friday and of course less than 36 hours after everyone leaves Friday night services, many will gather again for Easter. Last year was the strangest year I can remember as Easter was 100% virtual due to the quarantine from what was then a new and mostly mysterious pandemic.
My first year working on a church staff at Easter was 1996. I had started my vocational ministry career the previous summer, and was completely unaware of what I had signed on for.
In the subsequent decades, I have experienced Easter at eleven different churches (on staff at 7 of them) and have seen a lot of the same playbook executed in different settings. Stepping back in 2020 was incredibly revealing, and as we re-engage with Easter I would love to share what I believe are three lies we can often hear as church leaders during Easter.
1) Easter. It’s the SUPERBOWL for Church!
Hmm. Does this mean Tom Brady rolled the stone away? Should we assume Detroit Lions’ fans can never really understand what it’s like? Why have I never seen an awkward half-time show at an Easter service?
I would have enjoyed being in the meeting where someone determined it was a good idea to take the greatest event in all of history - the resurrection of Jesus Christ, the defeat of death and the promise of eternal life - and say “let’s compare it to a football game!”
I can see that playing out.
Pastor: “Guys, people aren’t getting what a big deal the resurrection is. We need to meet the people where they’re at. We gotta speak their language.”
Youth Pastor: “Hmm. Maybe we can say the resurrection is like having Taco Tuesday on a Wednesday!”
Worship Pastor: “No, it’s gotta be bigger. World Cup maybe?”
Youth Pastor: “No, that only applies to the entire world. Let’s be more America-centric. NBA Finals?”
A dramatic pause before the room erupts in laughter.
Pastor: “Obviously we need to go Superbowl. It has action. Suspense. The energy, though, that’s usually from the commercials.”
Everyone: “NAILED IT!”
Here’s the thing. The cross and the resurrection represent something greater than anything else that has ever happened, will ever happen, or could ever happen.
It’s unlike anything. And that’s the point.
2) I Need to Go All In for Easter
Hey, I’m all about the “stake in the ground” “turning point” events that we can often point to in our lives and say that was where things changed. If that happens to be Easter weekend for you, I love it. People need to know Jesus. Guys, we were CREATED to know God. Jesus tells us in John 17:3 that eternal life is about knowing Jesus. I get it. I’m on board.
My problem is there’s a downside of going all in on Easter. It can be steep. There are so many pastors, leaders, even volunteers who will spend these three days teaching, speaking, shaking hands (maybe), singing, greeting, caring for children and more. Most people will never really see the incredible drain on these ministry leaders as they pour themselves out to go “all in” on Easter.
Uh Rob, they signed up for this. They know the cost. They want to pay it.
Except I’ve seen what happens Monday.
You probably don’t think about Monday.
I’ll tell you what happens.
They follow up on all the guests. They prepare for whatever visitor friendly series is starting next week.
They keep going.
Often the next service centered around the resurrection is a year away, all while the drained staff work so hard to convince themselves they are leaning into the power of that same resurrection.
It’s okay to be tired. It’s okay to step back.
If you know a Pastor who will lead services this weekend, I can promise you they are tired.
A text, a prayer, a Starbucks Coffee, a thoughtful gift will go a long way.
Let them know you see them.
Let them know you are for them.
[And if you have a lake house or a condo somewhere, offer them free lodging in May. If you have means, pay for them to go on vacation. Make them step back with their family. Your investment in them will matter beyond what I could ever say in words.]
Otherwise many of them will just keep pressing forward.
I read this recently. It was penned by an amazing woman who was married to a pastor before he died by suicide as he struggled with his mental health.
You have everything you need,
You don’t have to try so hard,
You are enough just as you are,
You are loved just as you are,
You have nothing to prove,
You are worthy of rest,
And your mental health matters too.
Going all in on Easter has a cost.
Let’s take the pressure off this weekend.
God is big. He’s always at work.
This weekend, next weekend, and forever more, He is changing lives.
Go all in on Jesus instead.
You can afford to spread your passion over more than one day.
He’s not going anywhere.
3) Good Friday and Easter are When We Celebrate the Death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ
Guys. If we say this. If we hint this. If this is what we communicate, people might start to believe us.
Uh Rob, now I’m annoyed with you. This IS when we celebrate these things.
NO, IT’S NOT.
If you know Jesus, if you have experienced the power of the cross, the forgiveness of sins.
If you have grabbed hold of the redemption that Jesus bought you on the cross, and embraced the power of the resurrection.
If you embrace the truth that for those who believe, the same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead now lives inside of you.
If this is you.
WE NEVER STOP CELEBRATING THOSE THINGS.
Ever.
It’s never just a day.
We’ve taken this ridiculously amazing event and boiled it down to a holiday weekend.
Presidents Day. Labor Day. Easter.
Nope.
Let’s not make the mistake of shifting from the power of the cross and the might of the resurrection to the next topic, leaving this one behind.
Without the message of the cross and the resurrection, there ARE NO OTHER MESSAGES.
Let’s not forget that.
And so, whether you are a church leader or not, hear my heart in this.
Easter weekend is great. I’m a fan.
Just don’t expect me to force all of my energy into these days like it’s a sporting event. I don’t see Jesus asking us to do that. Ever.
I want to be excited about Jesus in a new way every morning.
I hope the cross and resurrection can impact me just as powerfully on a Tuesday in August.
Instead, I want to do what I can to help introduce people to Jesus this weekend.
Lots of people come to church on Easter.
Here’s a secret though. People come to church any weekend when you invite them.
It doesn’t have to be Easter.
So enjoy this weekend. Celebrate Jesus in these days and beyond.
Just keep it in perspective.
Because Monday is coming.