This past week me and my wife began to prepare our hearts for what us Christians refer to as Holy Week, starting at Palm Sunday and ending the following Easter Sunday. I began to reflect on what Easter means to America; more specifically, what Easter used to mean to Americans. I find myself wondering what it was like for those first settlers that left behind everything they had ever known; to come and cross a vast never ending body of water to live in a harsh and unwelcoming environment. How did they celebrate Easter? Did they run to their local store to gather eggs and Easter bunny chocolates for their family parties? It is very doubtful that is the case. Although we don’t have extensive records and first hand accounts detailing what Easter looked like for many of the first settlers, we have good indication through their beliefs and moral principles to believe that they took this celebration seriously. They took the resurrection of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ seriously. It may also be true that the settlers didn’t celebrate Easter as many modern churches do, dedicating just one day out of the entire calendar year to the resurrection of Christ. For these settlers with a deep connection to their local churches and strong sense of connection with their God didn’t need to limit the resurrection to just one day. This was an ever present reality for these men and women. They crossed the ocean because of the resurrection, they sacrificed their old lives because Christ first sacrificed His life for theirs. So when I think back to what Easter meant to these first settlers, it meant everything. It was the basis for their being in the Americas. It was the very foundation of the colonies they sought to establish. Granted some did a better job laying down that Christ lead foundation than others. This was the glue and the fabric that held these colonies togethers. The life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ was the motivating factor for the American founding. Don’t believe me? Here is an excerpt from the very first civil compact made in the American colonies:
“In the name of God, Amen. We, whose names are underwritten, the Loyal Subjects of our dread Sovereign Lord King James, by the Grace of God, of Great Britain, France, and Ireland, King, Defender of the Faith. Having undertaken for the Glory of God, and Advancement of the Christian Faith, and the Honour of our King and Country, a Voyage to plant the first Colony in the northern Parts of Virginia; do by these Presents, solemnly and mutually, in the Presence of God and one another, covenant and combine ourselves together into a civil Body Politick, for our better Ordering and Preservation, and Furtherance of the Ends aforesaid.”
These men and women made a vow before God to bind themselves together as a social compact “for the Glory of God, the advancement of the Christian Faith, and the honor of their king and country.” The order of this list matters, although it can be easy to glance over. First, the glory of God. Second, the advancement of the Faith. Lastly, for the honor of the King and country. The Lord was at the forefront of these settlers' minds; He was their light in the darkness. For them, the priority and foremost concern was serving the Lord Jesus Chirst as His loyal followers. Why? Tying it back to Easter, for these settlers this life was transitory. They had an eternal mind set and vision for their legacy. This all stems back to over 2000 years ago on that first Easter when Christ conquered the grave and established Himself as King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Sadly, many Americans have disconnected their faith from their country, or have rejected faith entirely. I see no way forward for this country unless we stop and look backwards towards the true meaning of Easter. America wouldn’t be here, your parents probably wouldn’t have met (If you’re American), we wouldn’t have these freedoms and this beautiful country that we call home. Then there is the obvious fact, America is the greatest country in the world. As I write this article, Joe Biden, the current President of the United States declared March 31st, which is Easter Sunday as “Transgender Day of Visibility.” Once again the left aligns themselves against Christianity and against the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. However, the good news is that Truth always wins and Truth is a person and that person is King of Kings and The Lord of Lords. It’s time for America to wake up and for the Church to continue its job of discipleship. Christians are on the winning side of history and have the authority from God to salvage this nation and restore it to its proper mission, “for the glory of God, the advancement of the Christian faith, and for the honor of the United States of America.” With this mission in mind, Easter will no longer be an American Past Time, but it will be our future.