Easter Sunday is just a few days away and that means a huge push to invite friends, co-workers and family members to church.
You might’ve already seen the outrageous Easter promos on Facebook: helicopter egg drops, carnivals, live shows with animals, extravagant giveaways—we’re talking iPads and cars, people—and guarantees that this Sunday will be the “most awesome Sunday in the history of ________ church!”
In fact, I bumped into a few video promos from pastors that were so intensely over-the-top I think I had a mini panic attack.
It reminded me of the Starburst “Land of Intensity” commercial…
Now, I’m not against the idea of leveraging large events for the Kingdom—or being excited, for that matter—but I think there’s something important to discuss when it comes to over-the-top promos, crazy sermon titles and cirque du soleil Easter services.
Are we over-selling the wrong things?
These events might draw crowds, but it always fascinates me that Jesus wasn’t concerned about crowds—he seemed to avoid them. So I think it’s worth asking—would the Apostle Paul splurge for a $3,000 helicopter egg drop if the funds where there? Would Jesus retitle his sermons to attract more listeners if we reasoned with him? Would the early church exchange the power of authentic community for a chance to host a car giveaway, you know, to get more Gentiles in the game?
OK, maybe that’s not fair, but still, you get the point.
I think we have a ton of freedom to do outreach and ministry in a way that we believe is most effective. In no way am I trying to make a rule about how we should do church, or Easter Sunday, but I think we might be leaning too hard in the wrong direction at times.
When we push our church people to invite their co-workers and unsaved family members because it’s going to be “insanely awesome” I think we’re making a statement. We’re subtly whispering, “The Gospel isn’t good enough to get you here.”
The problem is—the resurrection doesn’t need help.
The three words, “He Is Risen,” don’t need a booster chair or a push from behind to be incredible—they can stand alone, all by themselves, as the three words that changed the world forever.
What if Easter became the Sunday that, instead of focusing on inviting people—it was focused on sending?
What if instead of asking our church people to bring their neighbors, we asked them to think deeply about cultivating relationships with the unsaved—to woo them with the goodness and the power of the Gospel—and sent them out?
What if instead of egg drops from Blackhawks, we showed the world the very power of God by loving deeply and loving well—in the name of Jesus.
Is that enough? What’s your take?
*Side note: if you have an over-the-top Easter service planned, I pray the Gospel expands and God uses it for His glory. I’m just asking some questions here.
