23 Mar 2008 - Happy Easter

 

He is RISEN! The man who just two and a bit days ago was being whipped, mocked, beaten, humiliated, falsely accused and executed is ALIVE. Death hasn't finished him off.

That's the message of the Gospels for today and the wonderful news that we celebrate this Easter Day. Well some of us do. I read with a certain reluctant degree of acceptance this week that in a survey in the city centre just last week, only 4 out of 10 people knew what Easter was actually about. And that was in the shadow of the Cathedral!!!

The vast majority believed it to be an American holiday to celebrate Spring. Amazing, truly amazing, that the highest, holiest day of celebration for over 2 millennia is now reduced to a card, a fluffy bunny or chick, and vast rivers of chocolate!

How could this have happened? What has happened to our society that we have replaced a simple, fantastic, wonderful celebration of outstanding importance to all of creation with such a tacky and materialistic shopping and eating frenzy? Well, I believe I know.

Yet again its down to the apathy and rejection of the perceived image of the faith we are sharing today. The Christian faith has been sidelined by something more exciting, more instant, more zazzy than its' dour, Gordon Brown like appearance. Stuffy, cobweb covered, and pointless to people who have so much diversion in the modern techno world.

And, you know, it really is the architect of its own demise! Our predecessors have become victims of their own greed and power crazed ideology. For centuries the Church wallowed in immense wealth, in the seeking of control over the masses it was created to serve, and thereby people have come to despise it. And so the message has gotten lost. If you have known me for some time you may well glaze over as I say this, but my mantra for the past 20 years has been 'when two or three are gathered in my name, they will form a committee, pretend they can't hear me, and do what the heck they like'. Yet it is sadly true.

I say the message has been lost but you know it hasn't. It is all to do with perception and belief. Belief in yourself, knowledge of just who you are and how very important you are. And then realising that your importance is only valid when you put it to the selfless use of others.

Just like that man did in Jerusalem all those years ago. He was very clever. He didn't need a vast marketing plan, teams of PR gurus pumping out his message then, and he don't need it now. All through the years of selfish greed, stealing and murdering, political intrigue and the occasional Thornton's choccy egg or two, somewhere, in the silence, in all the cacophony of piped music, 'Big Issue' sellers and nightclub pamphleteers, through the smells of hot dogs in Piccadilly, Kouros on Canal Street and urine at Victoria Station, through the screaming of a Baghdad Hospital, or the Kop at Anfield (I can't bring myself to mention the place up the road here in Manchester lol, just can't), there is a quiet still voice persistently saying 'I have risen, so can you'.

The problem we all face in the modern world is that we want it NOW. INSTANT credit, INSTANT gratification and, the less work we have to do for it the better. And that's one of the reasons why this simple message has been lost over the years, because people perceive that it takes hard work and commitment. You know what? It does and it doesn't.

Did He bring out tonnes of paperwork and small print? NO

Did He use the huge media at His disposal to flood the market with ads? NO

Did He tantalize the people round Him with offers that just weren't too good to be true? NO

Did He insist that they all went through a screening process to see if they were the 'right type' of people for this new group? NO

Did He preach over the heads of those gathered to hear Him and talk down to them? NO

So in that respect, it it didn't take hard work. However the commitment came in the following way:

What He did do was travel the area telling people in simple, straightforward plain speak that all it took to belong was to accept that you are not the be all and end all, that wealth and luxury are no insurers for the next life, and to love one another WITHOUT EXCEPTION. Then, He promised that He would come back to prove that if you followed those simple ways of living, peacefully and with joy and assurance in your heart of a promised return on your investment, that eternity would be an assured place for you, with all the wealth, all the riches and grace you could wallow in, like Augustus Gloop in the chocolate river in Wonka's Chocolate Factory. And HE DID. He came back and showed Himself, to fulfil all He had promised would happen, and to confirm that God really is in charge.

So let's start right here, right now. I give you the Cillit Bang of promises on His behalf. It's easy. Just 2 simple instalments gives you ownership if eternal peace and joy, health and wealth beyond even that which David Beckham and Julia Roberts might have.

You can be who you really want to be with this once in every second offer, its not time limited, it's not Buy One Get One Free. It's not new, its as old as time but its' as fresh as your baby's bottom in new Snugglies tight fit nappies,

Just call our helpline now, 01010 PRAYER, or tap into our ether site, www.believe.me.org.uk.net.com and say 'here I am, I want it, I need it, give it to me'. Or for an even quicker response, why not just go out there and live it. Don't hide it away with your baubles bangles and beads, let the Spirit of God live in you by your actions. He doesn't need 'Homes under the Hammer' to do a telly makeover, He's not interested in DFS' latest leather suite offer, He just asks you to let Him rest there a while whilst you go out there and let Him work through you in the way you live. You don't need fancy frocks, you don't need titles or positions of quasi authority, you just need to listen to that still quiet voice within you saying to you 'Here I am, I have risen, come, be with me'.