As we enter the vibrant season of Easter—a time filled with celebration and joy in the Christian calendar—I find it imperative to address a critical issue that often lurks beneath the surface of our festivities. Many individuals and communities come together to jubilantly celebrate Easter Sunday without fully accepting Jesus Christ as their personal Savior.
This phenomenon raises essential theological questions that deserve careful consideration, particularly from a systematic theological perspective.
At its core, Easter embodies the ultimate expression of God’s love and the pivotal moment of resurrection, which signifies victory over sin and death. The resurrection of Christ is not merely a historical event; it is the foundation of Christian faith and invites believers into a transformative relationship with Him.
Thus, to celebrate Easter without a personal commitment to Jesus diminishes its profound significance and leads to a superficial understanding of our faith.
1. Easter and the Call to Relationship
Easter is not intended to be a mere celebration of an event; it represents an invitation into a living relationship with Christ. The resurrection is a declaration of hope, illuminating the path to salvation for those who accept Jesus as Lord and Savior. Without this acceptance, the joy of Easter becomes an empty ritual. The Apostle Paul reminds us in Romans 10:9–10 that, “If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” The act of celebration must be rooted in confession and belief; otherwise, it risks becoming an exercise in futility and cultural tradition.
2. Cultural vs. Spiritual Celebration
In many societies, Easter has become largely cultural—a time for family gatherings, feasting, and community events. While these practices are not inherently wrong, they can lead to a form of celebration that neglects the spiritual significance of the day. As systematic theologians, we must critically analyze how cultural practices shape our faith and challenge the Church to ensure that our celebrations point to Christ. Celebrating Easter without recognizing the necessity of personal faith risks replicating a tradition that merely honors the moment while forgetting the Savior it commemorates.
3. The Risk of Presumption
Furthermore, we must examine the assumptions that often accompany our Easter celebrations. There is a danger in presuming that participation in communal worship or observance of Easter rituals equates to true faith. Jesus Himself addressed this issue in Matthew 7:21–23, where He warned that not everyone who calls Him “Lord” will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only those who do the will of His Father. A celebration divorced from genuine faith is a hollow exercise that does not fulfill the intended purpose of Easter.
4. The Call to Authentic Faith
As Christians, our celebration of Easter must lead to an authentic faith that transforms lives. The resurrection calls us to reflect critically upon our beliefs and our individual relationships with Christ. It challenges us to ask ourselves difficult questions: Are we truly living out our faith? Does the resurrection inform our daily lives and decisions? The call of Easter is to embrace a personal relationship with Jesus that transcends cultural norms and leads to genuine transformation.
5. A Hopeful Invitation
As we rejoice in the hope that Easter brings, let us not forget our responsibility as the Church to articulate the truth of the Gospel. Our communities are watching. By living out and sharing our faith authentically, we can invite others into a deeper understanding of Easter’s meaning. We must emphasize that the celebration of the resurrection is incomplete without an acceptance of Christ as our Savior—a relationship that provides a firm foundation for our hope and joy.
The true essence of Easter lies in its capacity to transform lives through faith in Jesus Christ. As we gather to celebrate the resurrection this season, let us commit not only to the festivities but also to the profound truth of our faith. May we inspire those around us to move beyond mere celebration into a genuine encounter with our risen Lord, recognizing that in Him lie our hope, salvation, and true joy.
Rev. Agaba Moses
Chaplain, Uganda Christian University – Bishop Barham University College, Kabale
Anglican Church, North Kigezi Diocese
