I’m writing this on Easter, the day Christians celebrate the resurrection of Jesus from the dead. It’s always been a special day in my life. Growing up in a Christian family with a minister father, we always celebrated the day in both a religious and secular way.
Church was paramount and always joyful and celebratory. Easter baskets filled with candy and exciting Easter egg hunts added to the special experience. I never really questioned the idea of resurrection from the dead while I was growing up. I’m not sure I even thought about it when I experienced my first family death of my grandmother. It wasn’t till seminary, when I wasencouraged to understand Scripture (other than literally), that questions and wonder arose.
I still have questions. I still wonder.
Both parents have given me some inkling of the meaning of life, death and what lies beyond. They both communicated this to me as they were dying. For instance, my father was ill and unlikely to get well. My mother asked me to talk with him about death, as I had recently expressed interest in the ministry. With some trepidation, I entered his bedroom and sat down by his bed. Eventually I approached the big question of how he was feeling about his illness and possible death. He was quiet for some time. Then he said, “I believe it doesn’t make much difference what you have, or what you do, what’s important is who you are. If that’s what you believe, you can die anytime. What do you think?”
At the time, I was blown away. I didn’t know how to respond. Now, I understand it also as a statement of human longevity. We tend to think our things or our deeds will last indefinitely. My memoir will still be read by someone in 2126. That apple tree I planted will still be producing for the next generation. We tend to ignore the integrity of our personhood; the unique, im-material essence of who we are. Who “are” we? Is that eternal?
And my mother. I was also able to be with her as she was dying. She was awake. I was just sitting quietly with her. Suddenly, she was animated. She was saying things quietly I wasn’t able to hear, with smiles and quiet laughter. I came close and asked her what was happening. She told me she was communicating with old friends who had died and they were welcoming her. I wanted to know more, but when I interrupted her again, her smile disappeared and it was clear her attention needed to be elsewhere. She took her last breath later that day.
I have not seen or experienced bodily resurrection. Spiritual resurrection? Yes. It happens all the time.
These days, I worry about those who read Scripture and the story of the resurrection in a literal way. They assign events of the day to the prophesies of Scripture like mind readers or fortune tellers. They lay their hands on those in power as if they were given by God to bring about God’s will on earth. They compare rulers to Jesus and his resurrection. “God always has a plan. On the third day he rose, he defeated evil, he conquered death, hell and the grave. And because he rose, we all know that we can rise. And sir, because of his resurrection, you rose up. Because he was victorious, you are victorious. And I believe that the Lord said to tell you this. Because of his victory, you will be victorious in all you put your hands to.”
So said Paula White-Cain, Trump faith adviser, at the White House Easter celebration on last Wednesday. Equipped with the mantle of Jesus Christ placed upon him, this morning, on Easter Sunday morning, the president wrote on his Truth Social account: “Tuesday will be Power Plant Day, and Bridge Day, all wrapped up in one, in Iran. There will be nothing like it!!! Open the F***in’ Strait, you crazy bastards, or you’ll be living in Hell – JUST WATCH! Praise be to Allah.”
Apparently, given leave by his mantle of divinity to express himself in no uncertain terms, Iran may well experience the wrath of the Almighty.
Paula White-Cain is not alone in offering the president her blessing. One commander told his troops: Trump “has been anointed by Jesus to light the signal fire in Iran to cause Armageddon and mark his return to earth.” That commander is simply following the leader of the Department of War, who also holds apocolyptic religious views and believes in purposeful killing of infidels, hosting Christian nationalists at Pentagon worship services and tatooing “Deus Vult” (God wills it) and “kafir” (Infidel) on his body.
I’m afraid this Easter my parents are turning over in their graves, in dismay at what is happening in this country. Easter is about life, not death. It is about peace (even forgiving those who kill you), not about vengeance and war. Easter is about resurrection, not an assignment to a bloody hell.
As the sun rises this Easter morning, I’m celebrating the resurrection understanding of my parents, that affirms life and love and rejects the false prophets of doom and destruction. May it be so for many.
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