Only Christians Understand the True Value of Easter

Despite all the talk about church attendance being down, we can take comfort that Easter will almost certainly be around for a long time. This is because it has a shiny silver lining. It’s a huge moneymaker.

Back in 2023, the Nation Retail Federation (NRF) said, “Consumers planned to spend a collective $24 billion on Easter this year, up from $20.8 billion in 2022 and the previous record high of $21.7 billion in 2020.”

NRF’s 2023 Easter Spending survey showed that US adults planned to spend an average of $192.01 on Easter, with candy being the top purchase for 90% of respondents.

So, that’s one Christian tradition (like Christmas) that will remain as long as the world loves making money.

While candy may be on the minds of many, millions across the country also take an obligatory trek to churches at Easter—because that’s the thing to do. And, among that number, almost all know that the visit to church is done as a remembrance of Jesus dying on the cross and rising from the dead.

“Our Easter message is simply that salvation from death is by grace, through faith.”

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However, I know from experience that only a few of those many can tell you how His death on the cross can benefit them 2,000 years after the fact. Most of these annual churchgoers think that He died as an example of how we should live. We are to love our enemies and be forgiving, as seen in the example He set from the cross. We are to strive to imitate Jesus and, in so doing, earn our way to Heaven.

So, our message at Easter needs to gently but decisively correct this terrible error. We do this by opening up the Ten Commandments to show sin in its true light, explaining how Jesus bore the punishment due to us so we could escape divine wrath. Our Easter message is simply that salvation from death is by grace, through faith.

Here now are four practical ways we can use Easter to reach the lost:

1. Remember the effectiveness of a personal invitation. Make sure to reach out to non-believing friends, share your excitement about Easter services, and extend a warm invitation. Remember to emphasize the welcoming atmosphere of your church, including any free coffee or donuts!
2. Organize special community events around Easter that are open to everyone. This could include an Easter egg hunt for kids, a free community meal, or some charity event—perhaps free dry-cleaned used clothing. Use these occasions to rub shoulders with your neighbors and to invite them to join your church’s Easter service.
3. Use social media platforms to share your church’s Easter events. If you don’t know how to do this, someone in your church is bound to be an expert. Create engaging posts that highlight the positive aspects of the celebration and extend an invitation for people to join. Consider using targeted ads to reach a wider audience.
4. Create opportunities for open dialogue about Easter and its significance. Host an after-service discussion, a Q&A session, or informational sessions that provide a space for non-believers to ask questions and learn more about the Easter celebration and your church. All this could be done around a delicious, free lunch. That old adage is true: The way to a man’s heart is through his stomach.