But here's what I want to know: why?
Why do those Sundays mean more than any other day to you if you aren't a believer in Jesus Christ?
Going to church doesn't get you bonus points. It won't get you into heaven, and it's not what is going to save you. So I don't understand why you would bother going to church at all if you don't care about what it actually means.
Sometimes, I don't like going to church. I'm just being honest here. Sometimes I wish I could sleep in on Sunday mornings. Other people are all, "I don't go to church." And I think, "Man, that would be nice to have an extra day to sleep in."
Because in my selfish, sinner's mind, OF COURSE it would be nice to sleep in! (Some people go to church on Saturdays, which is fine too; my church just doesn't have that option.)
Still, I get up, every Sunday (or at least most Sundays), because I get the undeserved privilege of meeting with God along with fellow believers, and because God commanded it of us. It's not because I get brownie points or because I'm better than you.
Listen: I am not.
Listen: I am not.
But if you don't care about meeting with God, and if going to church on days like Easter Sunday or Christmas is a checkmark on your morality list, then I don't think you should bother coming at all.
Now, I'm sure this might make some people mad. I'm not saying don't ever come to church if you're not a Christian. It's good to come to church, and everyone is (or should be, in a perfect world) welcome no matter your background or the fact that you're wearing jeans or slacks or you're a former drug dealer or whatever your story is. Yes, Christians are hypocritical, which is a common reason I hear for people not going to church. But the fact that we're all hypocritical sinners is exactly the reason we need to go to church!
I wish everyone went to church. But why go just on special holidays? We celebrate Easter because we are rejoicing in Jesus's resurrection, but we also do that every week. Going to church on Easter is essentially the same as going to church any other Sunday. There are just more pastels, and you can be sure you're going to sing the old hymn Christ the Lord is Risen Today.
I guess my convoluted point here that I've been thinking about this week is: why do you go to church on Easter Sunday? Are you thankful for Jesus's sacrifice, or are you going because it's your yearly church check-in?
Sometimes, for me, it's hard to go to church. Right now with my job stuff, it's been hard to pray, hard to trust, hard to be joyful. But I also take comfort in this promise:
So we do not lose heart.
Though our outer self is wasting away,
our inner self is being renewed day by day.
For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us
an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison,
as we look not to the things that are seen
but to the things that are unseen.
For the things that are seen are transient,
but the things that are unseen are eternal.
-1 Corinthians 4:16-18
Christ the Lord has risen today.
Love's redeeming work is done.
Death in vain forbids him rise.
Christ has opened paradise.
Alleluia.