What Does It Matter?

I have noticed an alarming rise in the number of murder/suicides. Particularly disheartening are those involving parents and children. Just yesterday, I read an article about a man who killed his estranged wife, their teenage daughter, and his sister and nephew before killing himself (http://www.comcast.net/articles/news-national/20090408/Alabama.Four.Dead/). Today, the news reported the story of a woman who rented a gun at a shooting range, and after a seemingly enjoyable time together, the woman shot and killed her son and then herself (http://www.comcast.net/articles/news-national/20090408/FL.Gun.Range.Death/). Everyday, there are reports from all over the world of similar happenings.

With so many people hurting to the point that they are taking not only their own lives but the lives of the people they should love, I got to thinking about things and I have to ask, “What does it matter?” I will post a series of blogs, all of which will pose this question. The blogs are not meant to condemn anyone's beliefs or lift anyone’s beliefs above another’s. They are simply meant to make us think about what is most important in the grand scheme of things.

The first in my series will address the issue of Easter Sunday. Future blogs will address other topics as they occur.

What does it matter if people want to continue to call what has become known as Resurrection Day Easter Sunday? I know the history of the term Easter. I also recently read an online article that said part of the reason the Christian holiday of Easter is celebrated in the way and on the day it is has its origins in trying to save the lives of missionaries and tribal converts. The story goes that when witnessing in certain areas missionaries found it expedient to allow certain tribes to keep their rituals, with the understanding that the rituals had to be “Christianized” (http://wilstar.com/holidays/easter.htm). Thus began the combining of the already celebrated time of the resurrection (a celebration that began as early as the time of Jesus’ disciples) and the pagan worship of the goddess Eostre.

The question remains, though, what does it matter if children innocently want to collect Easter eggs or eat sugar-coated marshmallow bunnies and chicks? Yes, these things symbolize the worship of the fertility goddess. But, fertility also represents life, something only God can give. Instead of worrying about our being pagan or heathen-like (heathen being a word I would never recommend one use in front of the non-believer; the dictionary specifically says it is intended to be an insult, something a believer should never do) because we practice certain Easter traditions, why not teach our children that the symbols they see at Easter represent the life Christ has given us. Really, take a moment and ask yourself, “What does it matter?” Do non-believers come to Christ when we are adamant about not calling a particular day Easter? When we are so hard-nosed on issues that do not affect our salvation do we accomplish our goal of showing God’s love to others, of loving them in spite of our differences of opinion? Are we harming believers or non-believers, either one, if we allow them to keep their childhood Easter traditions? Personally, I think the answer to the question at hand is, “It doesn't matter.”