Ok, so it has gone far enough folks. "PC" now officially stands for "plum crazy". We started this crazy train in the 60's with the prohibition of public prayer in the schools. Then we protected our kids from the Bible by not allowing it to be read or taught as a document of faith in the public school system. Then we changed Christmas and Easter vacations to winter and spring breaks respectively. (Come to think of it, changing Easter break to spring break wasn't such a bad idea after all. I would hate to think wet t-shirt contests and dancing half naked in Cancun were in any way associated with the Christian faith.) A few years ago cities became so concerned about offending some pagan family that they removed nativity scenes from the public square. So could it get any more absurd? Just read this news article from Ohio.
MUNSON TWP., OH -- A community in northeast Ohio wants to take the word "Easter" out of this year's annual egg hunt. The White House is preparing for its annual Easter egg roll, a tradition dating back to 1878. However, trustees in Munson Township believe a government sponsored egg hunt should *not* include a religious holiday in it's name and have renamed their Easter weekend event to "The Spring Egg Hunt".
"It's traditionally been called an Easter egg hunt for years and years and people are little bit too touchy," resident Michelle Nelson said.
AAARRRRGGGGHHHH!!!! (That represents me pulling out my hair and thinking words ministers should reserve for sermons where they can be said and not considered curse words.) Are you kidding me? There could be very little in this great wide world of ours that is more removed from the Christian faith than pink bunnies and plastic eggs. It was years before I could even consider it as a harmless kids activity. I probably wrote a passionate sermon condemning the Easter bunny to the flames of eternity somewhere in my not too distant past. Now he is too religious?
Alright, let's be fair about this. If we are going to give the Easter bunny the boot because he is too religious for our post-Christian society, then some other icons have to be abolished as well. What could be more religious than cupid at Valentines Day? How many precious souls have been scarred for life by the image of this heavenly creature on a card from some secret admirer. It's hard to get more religious than an angel. Unless it is the chief of all fallen angels. To be fair, if the Easter bunny goes; so does Satan. We can't have the devil running around on Halloween. That's religious symbolism and we can't have our kids exposed to any such thing. And Santa has got to go too. Doesn't the "PC" police know that Santa is just a derivation of the word saint. We can't have that; can we?
Let's be real. Our world is full of reminders of our faith. Those who try and shield our children's eyes from God's world have an awful big task on their hand. And who are they trying to fool. They know the truth; they just don't want to submit to an almighty God. Read Romans 1:19 - 20.
"They know the truth about God because He has made it obvious to them. For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see His invisible qualities - His eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God."
The story in Ohio isn't all bad. It ended well. Why don't we all take a stand for our rights just as this home builder did in Ohio.
"Meanwhile, a Munson Township home builder has invested $600 to put the sponsorship in private hands ad the *Easter* back in the egg hunt."
GOD BLESS YOU SIR!
Amen to that! People in this country are supposed to have religious freedom yet it seems everyone is free to worship their religion UNLESS that religion is Christainity and then we are not suppose to speak the name of Christ or let anyone know that we are HIS followers for fear of offending someone. Well guess what, I am offended by being told I'm not allowed to freely worship MY God! In spite of others efforts I will worship my God, my Christ that gave his life for me and will not be told that I can't
Posted by: Cathy Mullins | April 19, 2011 at 02:43 PM
I sent you an email to read about an Oregon school system renaming egg hunt to spring spheres... Eggs are round!
Posted by: Tami Ford | April 19, 2011 at 02:50 PM
Ditto on what you and Cathy's comment said! It actually doesn't surprise me anymore... but still... makes me mad/frustrated. PC= Plum Crazy is right!
Pastor... on another note... I just want you to know how much my husband and I enjoyed the worship service Palm Sunday... wow! We attend the 2nd service and also subscribe to your podcasts. The music was a blessing (especially 'His Eye is on the Sparrow'...wow). Also... the message and how you presented it was SUCH a blessing and Spirit filled! It reminded me of the song 'WHY' sung by Nichole Nordeman. It's sung from a little girl's perspective on the day Jesus was crucified. I cry every time I listen to it. Thank you Pastor Ken for letting God speak through you in creative ways...
Posted by: Kendra Joyner | April 20, 2011 at 02:02 PM
Bro. Ken, I have a good one for you. Today I exerted more energy than I usually do when I preach. I was pumped! I was so excited and animated that my wife was able to answer a question asked by one of our nephews: "What does a bunny have to do with church?" My wife, looking at me, said, "He hops."
Posted by: Anthony Baker | April 24, 2011 at 09:15 PM