“Wouldn’t it be great if children growing up in Christian homes looked forward to additional God-centered holidays…. I like Richard’s idea of a ‘Looking Forward Day,’ as in “looking forward to a new heavens and a new earth, where righteousness is at home” (2 Peter 3:13).” - Randy Alcorn
“Proposal to secularize the civic calendar prompts controversy.” - CToday
Another Easter season has come and gone. It’s Easter Monday (yes, that’s really a thing) as I write this, and I thought it might be a good time to share a few thoughts about the meaning and significance of the season, as I understand it.
These ideas really crystallized in my mind as I was driving home from a ministry appointment on Good Friday afternoon, searching for something meaningful to listen to on the radio—yes, even Christian radio—as the traffic raced past me. How many of these people, I wondered as I watched the cars, even know that today is Good Friday? More importantly—how many people in our churches remember that it is Good Friday?
“… ‘maundy’ comes from the Latin word for ‘mandate,’ or ‘command.’ At this first celebration of Communion, Jesus gave His disciples ‘a new command,’ that they should love and serve each other…. washed their feet.” - Breakpoint
“First. I do not agree that it is never appropriate to question or criticize a person’s expression of devotion to God. Biblically speaking, sometimes critique is necessary because one’s devotion may be misplaced or in error” - Ref21
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“We’ve never done that here before.”
That brief statement was intended to provide a comprehensive resolution to my introduction of an Advent candle into the services of the church I pastored several years ago. I had asked each of the deacons to begin one of the morning services during the four Sundays of Advent by lighting an Advent candle and sharing a two-minute testimony regarding the importance of the season.
I thought that the mounting popularity of Advent calendars, candles and wreaths within evangelical (i.e., non-liturgical) churches would allow our small fellowship to enjoy this simple ceremony—possibly forging a meaningful new tradition. At least it would be better than two more minutes of announcements, I surmised.
