Perhaps now more than ever, the mastery of language is more essential. In recent memory we have seen whole words redefined. Racism has lost nearly all meaning. Feminism has evolved to more demonic levels. Conservative Inc. feels the need to add “biological” as a modifier to “males” when describing men. In short, there are many complicated language battles in our culture in this present moment. Sometimes we need to abandon terms because they’ve been coopted, like how I contemplate abandoning the term pro-life because of feminist infiltration. Other instances, an easy adjustment to language can instantly provide results. Resurrection Sunday is one such instance.
Growing up, I celebrated Easter. It was only in the last few years I’ve begun to call it Resurrection Sunday, and my mindset is immediately improved. The etymology of Easter has clear pagan origins. But where Christmas has coopted pagan practices, Easter has subverted them. American decadence has certainly made attempts to subvert Christmas in the past. Although currently, I would posit that trends like taking “Christ” out of “Christmas” faded away.
The name Easter obfuscates the meaning of the holiday, to say the least. On top of that, American decadence and the mythos that rabbits lay eggs has children taught the wrong message of the holiday from the very beginning. The solution to replace or restore Resurrection Sunday as the proper name is a simple fix that resolves much of these cultural struggles.
Resurrection Sunday points to an event from the past: the resurrection of Christ. It also points to an event in the future: the resurrection of the living and the dead. Most importantly, it points to the good news that Jesus has the power over sin and death and paid our ransom with His blood.
The liberals are masters at changing the definition of words and pivoting when certain words no longer fit their narrative, such as the massive shift in woke ideology from equality to equity. The most liberal churches already deny the bodily resurrection, so quite frankly, we already know how they will attack this language shift. And we should be prepared to argue that a merely symbolic resurrection is not with celebrating.
The power of language is undeniable, and it is the only behavior change, other than repentance, I am advocating for here. This simple shift towards mastering language forces people to acknowledge the claim that Christianity makes, in the way Easter does not. As we become an evermore biblically illiterate generation both within and without the church, this tactical language shift is an effective change we can make with very little cost.
