Baskets with Plastic Grass

What would be better than brick walls built around a city to protect our identity as Christians? What if we get our girls new dresses, our boys new (pink but with a manly pattern) ties, and we carry baskets with plastic grass and eggs made of chocolate and peanut butter?

What other worldview would ever make sharing sweets an expression of identity? Bacchus was the old god of partying, and there was much feasting and drinking done in his name, but it always led to men and women losing control, and usually someone ended up dead. How did the candy company executives and advertisers and store owners convince so many modern consumers to buy tasty but empty calories? Materialism does not have answers.

People can eat candy as a distraction from death, but only Christians can eat candy while rejoicing in death. Of course, our rejoicing in death only comes because we know who died and why He died and what happened three days after His death. Jesus died for our sins, He was buried, and He was raised on the third day. That’s why we are a people who smack talk death, “Where is your sting?”

I’m actually giving another exhortation to parents here. There is no moral law requiring that you buy your kids Easter candy, there is no law against it either. But when your kids ask in times to come, “What do these baskets of plastic grass mean?” it is your obligation to tell them why. We buy and give and share sweet things because Christ’s resurrection has established a world of buying to give and share that He is good.

Kids, Jesus Christ is risen from the dead and “the joy of the Lord is your strength”! (Nehemiah 8:10)