Stained glass window
This post is my contribution to the April synchroblog The Resurrection Hoax.
If the resurrection did not happen, how would the world be different? How would I be different? Would it matter? I have spent a lot of time over the last few days thinking about these questions.
In some ways it is hard for me to conceive of a life which does not revolve around my belief in the resurrection of Jesus. I became a Christian as a teenager, entered medical school because of that decision and then went into medical missions because I believed that was what God wanted me to do with my life. Resurrection living is part of the fabric of my being. It gets me up in the morning, it inspires my day and it sets my priorities in all that I do.
I think resurrection life is part of the fabric of all humankind whether we believe in Jesus or not. The ways of God are written on our hearts. Without the resurrection there is no life in our world at all. Every act of kindness, every gesture of love, every tear of compassion proclaims that Jesus resurrection life is active in our world, transforming what is broken into wholeness, what is captive into freedom, what is despised into love.
Would my decisions have been different if I did not believe in the resurrection of Jesus? Some would have been, others would not. Fundamentally what would have been different is the motivation for my life. Belief in the resurrection has inspired me to be concerned for others and not just myself, that I suspect is something that I know does not come from me but from God.
Would the world be different if the resurrection did not happen? I like to think so. The resurrection gives us love and compassion. It gives us joy and peace, and it places within us an ache for the hurting and the forgotten, for the poor and the suffering. And more than anything it gives us hope that one day God’s dream for a restored world of peace and love and abundance and wholeness will come into being. Without the resurrection I am not sure that these things would ever be attainable.
3 comments
I just stumbled across your blog and am enjoying the thoughtful content. Although I am a Christian, I do want to point out, in regards to your comment about The Resurrection bringing peace and love to the world, that love and peace, both in varying degrees just like now, existed before the Resurrection and before Christ walked the earth and didn’t suddenly increase after the fact. The Resurrection of Jesus simply brought to completion the act of redemption—-hence, “It is finished!” The peace and love part is entirely up to us. We can, Christian (and non-Christian), either choose to love others, as we are called to do, and live peaceably among our fellow men, as we are also called to do, or we can choose a different path. Christianity/Christians in no way has the corner market on love, peace, joy, etc. We each, regardless of which faith we do (or don’t) adhere to, have the capacity to daily CHOOSE how we will live our lives and how we will impact the lives of others. It saddens me when I hear others say that only a Christian is capable of loving others unselfishly and with abandon or able to feel burdened for the poor and hurting—that is not Godly truth.
Christine – although I struggle when it comes to believing in the physical resurrection of Jesus I firmly believe that God’s work and the way of Jesus brings life out of death. I believe that the spirit of resurrection lives within us and acts as a guide and inspiration.
1. 12 disciples disappointed and return to their former profession
2. Memories of Jesus will quietly fade with passage of time .
3. Some die hard christian movement surfaces but for suppression of the jews will eventually die out
4 No basilica, no church, no Christmas, no easter , no bible
5.The Roman and greek religion will shape Europe as much as it’s laws and custom do
5. Judaism will not be recognised as it is now but another one of the eastern religion.
6 Islam will not exist either or a in different form.
7 Europe enlightement will suffer
8.. Europe and nearly the world is entrench in idol worship.
9 suicide and depression.
10. No exorcism. Satan will always be appeased by sacrifice of idols.
11. Human sacrifice will continue
It is a dark world!