“The great disti
nctive of Christianity is the person and work of Jesus Christ who lifts the whole conception of divine revelation to a new order.” (Theologian, Carl F. H. Henry).
Knowing that Resurrection Sunday is this week I was curious about what has changed concerning people’s perspective as it relates to the historicity of the resurrection.
It is apparent that the acceptance of the resurrection of Jesus Christ has fallen on hard times. There was a poll taken in 2013 concerning western society’s perspective on the resurrection. In just one year, Americans who believed in the resurrection sunk from 77% to 66%. Knowing of this decline in the belief of the historical, physical resurrection of Christ, those of us who believe ought to pray diligently for those who do not.
Certain Ironies
Some don’t believe in the supernatural resurrection of Jesus Christ, yet they still believe in the supernatural. I am finding that the unbeliever still looks toward things that are “spiritual” in nature. Knowing this is helpful to create meaningful dialogues about spiritual issues. This is in our favor when we talk to skeptics; they are drawn to the supernatural and spiritual things.
Interestingly, some think it is perfectly natural to accept two opposing beliefs without flinching. As current atheist Jeffery Lowder surmised, “I think it is rational to both accept and reject the resurrection.”
How should we then respond to this playbook of doubts, skepticism, and unbelief? We must stand firm, yet remain kind, and point out that the resurrection is either historically correct or just plain fiction; it cannot be both. How important is it to understand this?
The Importance of the Resurrection
So how important is the resurrection? The resurrection of Jesus Christ is the very hinge upon which the Christian faith turns, for if there was no resurrection, there is no future. If there is no future, there is no hope and if there is no hope, we just live for the moment and all things temporal. As the resurrection becomes less accepted, we will subtly move from a framework of a future “utopia” to a “dystopian” outlook where the future is bleak and hopeless.
If the resurrection could be proven a hoax, Christianity would crumble as a total ruse with little redeeming value. To even say that Jesus was a “good moral teacher” becomes nothing if He was not raised from the dead.
But it is not a lie nor a fabrication, but verifiable historical fact.
Resurrection Sunday is that day where we acknowledge that no one but Jesus “has marched into the world of death and defanged it, marched through it and left it in disarray, stripped away its sting and triumphed over it.” (Carl Henry). God has exalted Jesus into His eternal realm to rule and to reign throughout eternity. This is why we can collectively say, “He is Risen! He is Risen indeed!”