Mary, Mary…How do You Make Your Garden Grow…?

“Mary, Mary quite contrary

“How does your garden grow?

“With silver bells, and cockle shells

“And pretty maids all in a row.”

This ancient nursery rhyme is disputed as to its origins.  Many believe it is a question asked of Queen Mary I of Scotland.  This, according to some, is a nursery rhyme regarding how Mary would help her kingdom to grow in the midst of her often married, childless and dysfunctional reign.

But, what if the rhyme were changed to be questions asked of the church?  What if it were to say…

“Christian, Christian quite converted

“How does the Garden of Christ grow…?”

I know, it may sound a little strange.  But, in 1Corinthians Paul refers to the church as God’s field or garden.  How does the church really grow and flourish?  How does any local church – or the church universal – grow to God’s glory?    How does its growth take place? 

Consider this quote from the great Charles Spurgeon:

“…let me beg you to remember that Jesus Christ is still alive.  Simple as that truth is, you need to be reminded of it.  We very often estimate the power of the church by looking to her ministers, her ordinances, and her members.  However, the power of the church does not lie there; it lies in the Holy Spirit and in an ever living Savior.  Jesus Christ died, that is true, but He lives again, and we may come to Him today just as that anxious father did in the days when our Lord was on earth.  It is said that miracles have ceased.  Natural miracles may have, but spiritual miracles have not.  We do not have the power to work either kind.  Christ has the power to work any kind of miracle, and His is still willing and able to work spiritual miracles in the midst of His church.   I delight to think of my Lord as a living Christ with whom I can speak and discuss every situation that occurs in my ministry, a living Helper to whom I may bring every difficulty that occurs in my own soul and in the souls of others.  Do not think that He is dead and buried!  Do not seek Him among the dead!  Jesus lives and is as able to deal with these cases of distress and sorrow as when He was here below.”

So then…the question:  Christian,Christian how does your church grow?

The answer:  I have no power to make it grow, but the living, resurrected Jesus Christ can – and will - do it through His people.  If we want a church to grow, it will happen by the living power of Christ!

Those Deviled Eggs

Those Deviled Eggs

I once came across some interesting facts regarding the Easter egg.  It seems that the tradition of exchanging eggs came from other early cultures.  Many early civilizations, including the Egyptians, Romans, Chinese and Persians had rituals involving eggs. 

            When the gospel expanded throughout the world, the Church used these opportunities to convert not only people, but their way of thinking also.  The church took the practices of their everyday culture and transformed them into symbols of their new-found faith in Christ.  The egg became the natural symbol of the new birth that comes through the resurrection of Christ.

            Many legends developed throughout the centuries that tied eggs directly to the story of Christ’s resurrection.   One story says that Simon of Cyrene was an egg merchant and upon returning from the crucifixion, he discovered that all his hens’ eggs had turned a rainbow of colors.  While this is a far from fact, it is a fun legend to tell.

Another tradition says that one of the apostles was telling a woman about the resurrection.  Not believing him, she looked down at her apron which was filled with eggs, and said, “If these eggs turn red, I will believe.”  They immediately turned blood red.  Legend has it that this final story began the Christian practice of coloring eggs (particularly red) at Easter.   

So what does this mean?  Should we color and exchange eggs at Easter?  What do the Scriptures say about Easter eggs?  Quite frankly, the Bible says nothing at all about Easter eggs, but it does speak to matters of idolatry, paganism, and false worship.  It seems that some, because the coloring of eggs was a practice used in pagan cultures in the past, believe that egg dying and egg hiding is wrong to do now.

            So, that is the question.  Does a dyed and hidden Easter egg represent idolatry because pagans did it long ago?  In the New Testament the Corinthian church was having trouble with what to do about the meat that had been sacrificed to idols.  The pagan temples, after sacrificing animals, would turn around and sell the leftover meat in the marketplace.  It was good meat (remember, they did not have the local grocery meat department), but some Christians felt it had been defiled because of the pagan worship.  Should they eat it or not? 

            In 1Corinthians 8:4 the Apostle Paul says, “…we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is no other God but one.”  His point was that, while the meat had been sacrificed to idols, the idols were really nothing – and certainly they were not true gods.  In fact, there is only ONE GOD.  His conclusion is found in 1Corinthians 8:8.  He says, “…food does not commend us to God; for neither if we eat are we the better, nor if we do not eat are we the worse.”  His point was that some ridiculous observance to some false god did not make the meat – which had been created by God – violated or bad.

            Certainly, clear immoral acts such as adultery, sexual immorality, lewdness, foul language, and dishonesty are sin.  But dying and hunting Easter eggs in the context of family, friends, and fellowship is not sin.  If one is dying and hunting eggs with the express purpose of pagan worship, IT IS CERTAINLY WRONG!  However, if one is simply celebrating the resurrection of Christ and the Easter season with God centered and family centered celebrations that happen to involved eggs – to God be the glory!   Or…as the Greeks say – “Christos Anesti!”     “Christ is Risen!”