Gairney Bridge

My wife was preparing a lesson for the Women of the Church Bible study at Midlane Park, and she read an interesting passage to me. The book being used is Wallace Tinsley, Jr.’s  View from the Top: Studies in the Life of Joseph. It is written specifically for WoCs and the like, but the words, imho, are profitable for all of God’s people to hear. They are are also a sobering reminder of the things we celebrate (or should celebrate) every Lord’s Day with regard to our Lord’s glorious resurrection.

In the chapter in question, Tinsley points out that Joseph functioned as a type of Christ. For example, there is a sort of “resurrection” motif that comes forward when Joseph is discovered to be alive and well in Egypt. Discovering that Joseph was actually alive was a cause for celebration, especially for Jacob and Joseph’s brothers. Tinsely then proceeds to note:

In fact, as the remainder of the lives of Joseph’s family was constantly lived in light of Joseph’s “resurrection,” so must every day of the believer’s life be lived in the light of Jesus’ Resurrection! …Don’t wait for Easter. You don’t have to save up all year. The Lord doesn’t want you to invent your own calendar for celebrating His Resurrection. He established the timetable for us. Why do you think we don’t observe the Sabbath on the last day of the week? … He arose on the first day of the week — hereafter ever to be given a new name: THE LORD’S DAY.

The Bible has nothing to say about celebrating something called “Easter.” How could we possibly seek to do justice to the impact of the Resurrection in our lives if we put it off for 363 or 364 days every year? No! Celebrate! He is alive! Your sins have been forgiven and the grave is opened wide. He’s alive!

Having tipped one sacred cow of the modern church, Tinsley proceeds to another (albeit related), in discussing the observance of the Lord’s Day:

Most believers in America — most pastors in America — have forgotten what it was to live the latter six days of the week in light of having celebrated the Resurrection by setting aside the entire Lord’s Day. Beloved, don’t go to the store on Sunday. Don’t make someone’s daughter wait on your table while you eat in a restaurant filled with believers after morning worship. Set the day aside.

“Don’t make someone’s daughter wait on your table…” Wow, I hope those words are eye-opening. Tinsley finally adds these sadly sobering words:

If you do [set aside the Lord’s Day in this way], you’ll stick out like a sore thumb and be much more resented by the world-aping Christian community than by your unbelieving neighbors. On the other hand, you will be recognizing in a biblical way the life-changing fact that Jesus is alive.

I wonder how true this is in the experience of other Christians. I know the harshest criticism against the Lord’s Day (in my experience) have come from fellow Christians (who cry, “Legalism!”) and not unbelievers (who generally understanding, interesting enough). Of course, your mileage may vary, as a visitor to this blog sometimes says.