Easter Sunday 2011

Of course, today is THE day for Christians around the world.  Regardless of the petty theological intricacies or disciplines/practices that we tend to allow to divide us, this day is something we all agree on. 

One of Wesley’s favorite sayings (attributed to Augustine) supports and encourages this unity we should enjoy as Christians:  “In the essentials, unity; in the non-essentials, liberty; in all things, charity.”  And, then the question arises, what are the essentials??

Traditionally, we go back to the Apostles’ Creed or to that well-known passage of Scripture from Ephesians: “There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all” (Eph.4:4-6, NASB).

I know of no Christian who would deny the truths expressed in the Apostles’ Creed even if they don’t claim it as their own.  Ephesians teaches us that even though we may say that we’re of different churches, there is really only ONE CHURCH.  That one Church is born of the wind of ONE SPIRIT.  That one Spirit imparts to us a calling of ONE HOPE, a calling to share the unstoppable hope that is found in the Good News of Jesus Christ.  That same Jesus the Messiah is the ONE LORD.  That one Lord we may know by and through that ONE FAITH…that act of trust and confidence when we accept and receive the grace offered to us.  And, by the ONE BAPTISM, we proclaim to all that we have taken that step of faith to follow that one Lord.  And all of this possible because of our Creator—our ONE GOD AND FATHER—who permeates our reality and calls to us unceasingly and lovingly, hoping that we will turn and follow and live faithfully.

My Baptist friends and I may not see eye-to-eye on some issues regarding baptism; my Anglican friends and I may not agree on issues of liturgy; my Presbyterian friends and I may not understand the grace and call of God in the exact same way; my non-denominational friends and I tend to have divergent opinions on church government…however, we are all completely agreed on today—Easter!  Today is the day we celebrate Jesus’ triumph over death.  What a weekend!  Our sins pardoned on Friday…and our eternal hope confirmed on Sunday.  What more do we need?

We hope you have had a wonderful Easter morning, Easter day…that you know the peace that only God can give to us.  And, may this Resurrection Day be a day, a time, of new beginnings for you and yours. 

The Herrins…in Monterrey, Mexico