The darkness from which Easter emerged was the result of what looked to be tragedy.

In her latest book, “Learning to Walk in the Dark,” the theologian Barbara Brown Taylor writes:

“Resurrection is always announced with Easter lilies, the sound of trumpets and bright, streaming light. But it did not happen that way. New life starts in the dark. Whether it is a seed in the ground, a baby in the womb, or Jesus in the tomb. It starts in the dark.”


One who vowed to change the world, did no such thing, his adversaries crowed.

He promised others a better life, only to lose his own.

He talked of hope and love, only to be betrayed and abandoned by the ones who knew him best.

Even after 2,000 years, even after 2.5 billion followers, there are those who still wonder if Christianity really has overcome the darkness.


They look at the killings, intolerance and oppression that have been committed in its name. They see believers who have no interest whatever in being servants; how the most comfortable and affluent among them will press on a crown of thorns at the slightest criticism, even as others around the world are being slaughtered.

They see a church that spends more time fighting with people rather than loving them, and defending the faith, rather than living it.

They know that while believers may have heard what Jesus said, some missed what he meant. And they yearn to see an authentic expression of the faith.


But Christianity is not for quitters. There are always been more misses than hits. Forgiveness, loving without limits, and achieving greatness through servanthood defy human nature and every understanding of what it means to be successful in this life.

The question is how you define victory.

Christianity is not incumbent upon popularity, acceptance, or membership. It does not matter if most Christians aren’t very good at it, or if every church in the world closed its doors tomorrow.

It is incumbent upon Easter, which was born in darkness, but didn’t remain there. It couldn’t. Darkness and light can’t abide in the same space.

That’s the crux.

The central belief that humankind has been rescued by its  creator from its greatest fear; the idea that life is no longer subject to death — the ultimate darkness — is what Easter is about.


On Twitter: @cgoshayREP