Categories: uncategorized
Date: 06 April 2007 19:03:50
Did anyone see the news story about Somerfield, the UK supermarket. They issued a press release to advertise their Easter offers. In this they made reference to the reason for the holiday.....
To celebrate the birth of Jesus.
I must admit that this did shock me, for all of 30 seconds. Then I released how out of touch most people are today with the church and Christianity. Just take a look at the religious broadcasting on our major TV channels - or lack of it.
In years gone by you could count on the BBC & ITV (our 2 main channels), at least, to run a film on Good Friday and Easter Sunday. Even if it was just The Robe, Barabas or The Greatest Story Ever Told. Occasionaly ITV would even run Jesus of Nazareth. Now we're lucky if we get that much of a mention in our schedules.
As one person said on the radio, Easter is now the holiday of the Half Priced Sofa or Kitchen. Christianity is taking more and more of a back seat in our country.
Just look at how spirituality is dealt with on TV. We now have more programmes like Most Haunted or TV series such as Medium or Tru Calling than real religious programming. National Geographic run things like The Judas Gospel or have baked documentaries on the "discovery" of the Tomb of Jesus. When you watch these you find that they have very little religious content or discussion.
Even Christian TV channels or satellite seem to be more about our religion increasing your wealth, requests for donations to further "God's" work, or bringing immediate happiness than real teaching. Does the Bible really say that following Christ will bring financial rewards? I thought that we were supposed to think of others and helping those less well off rather than material rewards for ourselves.
Maybe its because society has become more personal in its outlook. Think of yourselves first. Satisfy your needs and than think of others.
As U2 said: "My God doesn't need your cash!"
Easter should be a time of thanksgiving for the sacrifice made by Jesus to relieve us from the sin we have. A joyous occasion when we celebrate the reparation of our relationship with God. Man has found a way back to the Lord, He has conquered death to bring us back to His love and grace. Not because we deserve it but because He loves us.