Good Friday? Really? Really.

Today Christians everywhere celebrate Good Friday. The irony in that thought is one that has always intrigued me.

Think about these words: “celebrate Good Friday”.   In some church traditions we do not have funerals.  We “celebrate a home-going”.   Whenever I preside at a “home-going” I find myself explaining this for non-church goers.  “I know most of us are sad today, but we are not here to mourn a death, but to celebrate the life of our dearly departed friend and loved one. We are here to celebrate a home-going!  Somebody say “Amen”!”

Of course, there is a little amateur psychology in changing the tone of a funeral service.   But the idea comes straight from the theology of Good Friday.  We mark the day of the horrific assassination of the Son of God by calling it “Good”.  We know his death and suffering were the outcomes of fear and injustice.  But we also know that Jesus came here to die.  And in his ugly death, all of Creation obtains access to eternal life.  Oh yes that is good.

Whenever I talk about the Mainline Christian tradition, I say that we are in the midst of a “Good Friday” season.  It looks like death and decline. But in truth, God is doing a new thing in our midst; God is not through with us yet.  It is Good Friday!  Hallelujah!

Questions for Reflection

·       How might church leaders think, plan and lead differently if we changed the language of decline to a conversation of resurrection?

·       How is God calling all settings of the church to live into a Good Friday season?

·       How do we imagine and envision the future of the church on the other side?