Happy Easter 2018
BY Herschel Smith
6 years ago
I recall in seminary training with Dr. C. Gregg Singer discussions surrounding the compromise the early and mid-20th century churchmen made with Darwinism (for more, see A Theological Interpretation of American History). Being all sympathetic as they were, they wanted a “system” of theology that mitigated the embarrassment young students felt when they went off to college and heard professors knocking their theology of the supernatural.
The Auburn Affirmation is one such compromise, yet there are many, many more in American history (and indeed all of church history). But in the compromise there was death. The Scriptures cannot contradict the Scriptures, and the first rule of Biblical hermeneutics is that upon encounter with the difficult passages, Scripture interprets Scripture. If a particular passage seems to you to say something that contradicts a plainer and simpler and easier to understand passage, then your view of the particular passage is wrong and needs correction in order to maintain a logically consistent system of theology.
So it is with the resurrection. It isn’t a metaphor, it isn’t a nice story, it’s not trying to teach us something about life. It’s a historical fact without which there is no atonement or justification for sins. It’s the Father’s stamp of approval on the vicarious sacrifice of His only Son, our Lord. If Christ had stayed in the grave, we would too. Paul says it better than me.
3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, 5 and that He appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. 6 After that He appeared to more than five hundred brethren at one time, most of whom remain until now, but some have fallen asleep; 7 then He appeared to James, then to all the apostles; 8 and last of all, as to one untimely born, He appeared to me also. 9 For I am the least of the apostles, and not fit to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. 10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me did not prove vain; but I labored even more than all of them, yet not I, but the grace of God with me. 11 Whether then it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed.
12 Now if Christ is preached, that He has been raised from the dead, how do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? 13 But if there is no resurrection of the dead, not even Christ has been raised; 14 and if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is vain, your faith also is vain. 15 Moreover we are even found to be false witnesses of God, because we testified against God that He raised Christ, whom He did not raise, if in fact the dead are not raised. 16 For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised; 17 and if Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins.
I recall sitting in class with Dr. Singer wondering what kind of idiot would exchange the resurrection for comfort among the pit vipers in a college classroom, for compromise is never wise and never brings truth or surety. Compromise is for losers.
Jesus is alive. He is risen! Celebrate.
On March 31, 2018 at 10:41 pm, SGT.BAG said:
He is risen, indeed !
On March 31, 2018 at 11:24 pm, StillSworn said:
Because He lives, all fear is gone.
On April 1, 2018 at 12:40 am, DAN III said:
Have a blessed Easter Mr. Smith.
On April 1, 2018 at 7:57 am, ragman said:
A Blessed and safe Easter wish to all! He died for us and is now risen. He is with us in our darkest hours, we are never alone.
On April 1, 2018 at 11:18 am, Dave Willis said:
There are far too many incidences in my life that speak of God’s presence and guidance. I believe fully that Jesus rose on the third day, and awaits his believers’ presence in heaven with him.
On April 1, 2018 at 11:43 am, Guy Gardner said:
Amen, He is alive and sits at His Fathers right hand even now. Soon, very soon we pray, He will return as the Lion of Judah and take us home. Happy Easter and Happy Passover to all.
On April 1, 2018 at 1:34 pm, Heywood said:
Very nicely stated. Maybe you could help NPR a bit with their theology.
On April 1, 2018 at 3:29 pm, Fred said:
Nobody, at the time, denied the tomb was empty. The lie persists to this day that his apostles took his body. 10 of them were beaten, stoned, whipped, drawn, crucified or by other means tortured unto their death. They never changed their story. They never tried to back out. They never even gave conflicting accounts of the Son of God.
If your not sure that this religion of the risen Christ is true then show me where those of any other religion would be tortured to death. The leaders of the muz won’t do it, they send the 70 IQ idiots. The leaders of the commies won’t do it albeit they’re all to happy to kill somebody else for their belief. The leaders of the Nazis wouldn’t do it, same as the commies.
Nope, there’s only one religion that’s provably not a cult because the leaders were the first to die starting with Christ himself. Even dieing grueling, torturous, days long deaths and they never backed down. Nobody then and nobody now denies that the tomb was empty.
Yes, he arose from the dead. He walked, He talked, He showed his mortal wounds, He sat at meat, and He teached, over 500 souls. He yet lives.
Hey! You don’t have to pray to dead saints or pray to martyrs or pray to the virgin mother. He’s alive, He’s alive, He’s alive. Pray to Him! He is risen indeed.
On April 1, 2018 at 5:44 pm, Bill in Lexington,NC said:
While I have considerable disdain for organized religion, I cannot deny the Christ.
On April 1, 2018 at 6:53 pm, scott s. said:
I have to say I have never understood what is meant by the term “organized religion”. What is the alternative?
On April 1, 2018 at 9:12 pm, Fred said:
“Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them, Ye rulers of the people, and elders of Israel, if we this day be examined of the good deed done to the impotent man, by what means he is made whole; be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole. This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus. And beholding the man which was healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it. But when they had commanded them to go aside out of the council, they conferred among themselves, saying, What shall we do to these men? for that indeed a notable miracle hath been done by them is manifest to all them that dwell in Jerusalem; and we cannot deny it. But that it spread no further among the people, let us straitly threaten them, that they speak henceforth to no man in this name. And they called them, and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John answered and said unto them, Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye. For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.” – From Acts 4
Surely we are commanded to pray together and strengthen each other and meet for the purposes of worship but it doesn’t take much organization to spread the gospel and apparently, the apostles didn’t really give one wit about the organized religion of the day. They simply did what God said.
On April 2, 2018 at 3:56 pm, Pat Hines said:
Brad Hutto is the white analog of James Clyburn at the state level. He votes almost exactly the same as Clyburn.