New Holy Day for Holy Week

Eggstravaganza!! Easter Egg Saturday!! Yayyyyy! Not Really!

The Problematic Action: Christian churches have adopted this tradition as a ministry outreach event for their community. Due to health concerns, time, and money churches get Easter egg materials donated by congregants by collecting loads of chocolates, Smarties, Peeps, jelly beans, and plastic eggs. Then on Saturday churches hold an Easter egg hunt on the church property or at a local park and invite the community to come and enjoy a day of Easter egg hunting, food, and games. The event is designed to extend an invitation for the community to join the church for Resurrection Sunday the following day.

Oh, but why?!:

What do Bunny Rabbits and eggs have to do with Holy Week? Nothing!

What does Easter egg hunting have to do with the day between Christ’s death and resurrection? Nothing!

What does propagating a PAGAN ritual/celebration have ANYTHING to do with the significance of Holy Week or the significance of unconditional love and forgiveness? Nothing!

Run Jesus run!

My Response: JESUS!!! I should end with that but I must complicate the matter. I see that Eggstravaganzas are a means, or a tool, in evangelizing to communities. But shouldn’t the epic masterpiece of the timeless Gospel of Christ be more than good enough? I do not think, no matter how hard I try to justify it, that churches should have Easter egg hunts as an outreach tool. Especially when that outreach tool is planned for and prayed over MORE THAN Resurrection Sunday at the church! Holy Week itself is quite personal but I think there should be a shift to “participating” in the days of Holy Week with the church body and inviting the community to participate as well. I’m not talking about simply inviting the community just to the church building but going out to the community “Paul Revere” status and proclaiming, “Christ Jesus is dying! Christ Jesus is dead! Christ Jesus was buried! But He will rise again!!!” I’m also not talking about being insensitive to others and forcing the Gospel upon them but in intentional acts of love and sincerity plead the ONLY MESSAGE WORTHY LOOKING ABSOLUTELY FOOLISH FOR!

Jesus does not need a cute little bunny and Chicken eggs to proclaim his message no matter how “effective” it is!

Christ’s humiliation, pain, torture, a mangled body beyond recognition, and his ETERNAL LOVE are good enough.