Last Easter season was rough- and that is an understatement. *applause*

It was the first lockdown(going into 3rd lockdown in Ontario) as well as the time when I felt the most unsettled. Things were falling apart for me. My certainties of the faith I was given were no longer thunder and lightening, but a stilling breeze being stifled by a hot and humid summer.

I had so much to learn, so much to unlearn, and very little tools to properly process things, so emotionally, I was on high alert 100% of the time. It was also hard to find anyone who can relate and then not judge me or dismiss me for my questions or concerns. I would test the waters with a general observation and often get pushback for even stating said observation.

Evangelicalism is wired-obviously- but for a denomination that values truth, I found myself having to forgo authenticity for safety’s sake, and I think that’s saying something. As long as you agree verbally, and nod when you’re supposed to nod, then somehow you’re in good standing. And though I was told that “God looks at the heart,” I was able to find very few people who allowed me to bear my heart without condemning, giving ultimatums, or reacting in outrage. My heart that was hungry for truth and broken by weaponized scripture, I could no longer hide it, but why did I even have to?

This Easter season I found a little easier. I was able to listen and sing along to some worship songs and even listen to sermons regarding resurrection. I wanted to find a way of reframing it for myself. I’ve done this before with a few other concepts where I was able to demystify the literal and magical religious and parse out something a bit more tangible and often, even more profound.

During holy week, I listened to a few podcasts of “The Bible for Normal People” (highly recommend) and I watched an interview that Bruxy Cavey did a few years ago about the resurrection-and so. much. clicked.

This is what I came up with:

Jesus may not have gone down to hell, fought a literal Devil, got the literal
keys to death and hell in a glorious battle of ancient mystical beasts
Marvel-style, but the teachings of a man we call Jesus remain.

“…whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16

Believes: puts their trust in the truth of the words of this man Jesus
Have eternal life: a life of value, a life that lives on through the works of kindness, inclusion, and love

The promise of eternal life is not for some distant future time of glory and exaltation in a different dimension, with angels and cherubs at our beck and call, pouring endless wine, us munching on grapes, seeing the reflection of our mansion in the streets of gold. I mean, maybe it is, but maybe, just maybe the eternal life we’re promised for following the teachings of Jesus is a life of forgiveness, fulfillment, joy, service- a life of ultimate- read: eternal– value.

Dr. King’s life is one of those. His words and work are living on through the ages. His passion is still felt though his heart no longer beats.

A life lived not in self-indulgence that our privilege gives us, but instead using that privilege to share it with those less fortunate. Using our titles to exalt the lowly. Using our funds to support the destitute. Using our power to free the oppressed.

The divine isn’t risen because the divine never died. It lives on in this continuous thread being woven in history through people who call out injustice, challenge religion, fight oppression, and work to bring peace to earth and goodwill towards all humankind.

Jesus may or may not have risen from the dead in bodily form, in fact, a miraculous birth/conception and death/resurrection story was a very common embellishment for hero-turned-legend-turned deity (likely what happened with the story of this revolutionary Jewish Rabbi who was crucified by the state at the behest of the religious elite, and, as common for criminal executions, most likely tossed into a mass grave.)

But the teachings live on and so does the hope.

Every time we welcome the stranger, protect the sex worker, affirm the LGBTQ+ person, provide resources for the widow and the fatherless, support legislation for universal health care, reject consumerism and capitalism which exploits, protect the planet, etc., we are proclaiming life. We are, in a tangible and real way, giving a second chance for life, improving life, or even saving life from a premature death (LGBTQ+ youth has a higher suicide rate in non-affirming spaces).

The divine never died but rises through each of us who choose to join in eternally valuable work that will benefit generations to come.

And to that I can say: risen indeed.