It is common to make light of those who only attend church services on Easter and Christmas. The light-hearted term is “Chreaster.” However, I have avoided making sarcastic remarks about this widespread phenomenon. And, there’s a good reason.
I believe there is a hidden message in the fact that people only attend worship on holy days. Of course, there are the people who attend because they feel as they ought to. However, the real reason may be much deeper.
It is on Easter and Christmas that people can be reasonably assured that they will hear the heart of the Gospel. On Christmas, we hear that God interrupted history by sending Jesus to mend and save a hurting world. And on Easter, we hear that there is life after death that far transcends the best we might expect here on earth.
Sadly, some preachers and churches use the occasion of Easter also to remind others that just as there is life after death, there is only eternal punishment for nonbelievers. We must remember that Paul said nothing can separate us from the love of God; not life or death….To me, that clearly implies that God offers the opportunity to choose Christ even after death. In addition, we must remember that final judgment is God’s prerogative, and God’s alone—not ours, not any human’s.
On Easter we celebrate– in a very iconic way—that through a single death, we are offered life.
Christ is risen. He is risen indeed.
Michael O’Bannon, Pastor