Easter People in a Good Friday world

Abiding Presence, along with countless other Christians around the world, is celebrating Easter.  We made our way to the tomb to find it empty and now we join those first disciples running from the tomb shouting “He is risen!  He is risen indeed!”  We are Easter people; those who have been made new by the resurrection of Jesus Christ.  We are Easter people, attempting to live our lives in light of the resurrection, daily discerning the will of God.  The only issue is that we live in a Good Friday world.

In his book, Easter People in a Good Friday World, author James Hofrenning describes a “Good Friday World” as one that experiences the presence of sin and evil.   As Easter people, how are we to live in the midst of this reality?  A better question is how are we to discern the will of God, living in a world that experiences sin and evil which we do to each other.

I for one am very good at passing judgment, being convicted of a position or opinion, and have on a time or two quoted scripture to combat an argument.  These types of moral judgments and decisions are made daily and for the most part reflect who I am.  Selfish, dishonest, and fearful, I so often seek to please only me.  As an Easter Person I am called to discern the will of God more so than my own will.  I am called to have a sacred heart in a secular world.  This is hard stuff to do!

Some people make decisions based on past events and focus on commandments, rules, and a sense of obligations.  Others consider the future, focusing on goals, values, and consequences.   If we are to be Easter People, those made new in Jesus Christ and guided by the Holy Spirit, then we need to consider making decisions not solely on commandments or consequences.  We are Children of God, Easter People!  What would this Good Friday world look like if the decisions we made rested in our identity as children of God, seeking only to do the will of God?

How do we discern this?  How do we truly reflect and know what God is asking of us in this Good Friday World? To discern the will of God and make wise decisions in this world requires us to use not only our minds but to listen to our hearts as well.  More so it means that we need to spend time in prayer and conversation with the one who has claimed us, freed us, and redeemed us.   As you kneel in prayer, be open to the abiding presence of the Spirit that Jesus promised who will teach us everything and remind us of all that Jesus has said. 

Blessings,

Pastor Steve