The foremost nation in the world killed its worst enemy a few days ago. That nation and most of the world erupted in celebration of that death. The following weekend a news reporter published an article regarding the response of that nation’s clergymen regarding the event, especially to and in their churches. The consensus of many was reflected in the following comment by a certain pastor: “I didn’t address it. I chose not to respond to it. I don’t think we as clergy can celebrate the death of anyone. It’s a contradiction to what we teach.” I doubt not at all their honesty and sincerity. In fact, on the Sunday following the killing, being Mother’s Day, I dare say they in their worship services celebrated their mothers’ lives and virtues and memories, no one’s death. And I venture to say that their message in every church meeting follows the same pattern: They celebrate good people’s lives, no one’s death. That is not to be the case in the churches of Christ! On Mother’s Day, Christians rightly celebrate (i.e., extol or praise) our mothers in appropriate places and manners. But in our worship services, that day is recognized foremost as the Lord’s Day (Revelation 1:10), and on every Lord’s Day we celebrate – extol and praise – the death of someone! We do so in our singing – as when we join the heavenly hosts in singing (as in Revelation 5:9-12):
“You were slain, And have redeemed us to God by Your blood Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, And have made us kings and priests to our God; And we shall reign on the earth. ... Worthy is the Lamb who was slain To receive power and riches and wisdom, And strength and honor and glory and blessing!”
We do so in our preaching – for our ministers ever remind us that “we preach Christ crucified” (1 Corinthians 1:23; cp. 2:2). We do so at the Lord’s Table – “For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes” (1 Corinthians 11:26). We do so because Christ’s death was also ours – because “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me” (Galatians 2:20; cp. Romans 6:20). We do so because “God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world” (Galatians 6:14). It does not surprise me that the death of Jesus Christ is not celebrated in churches of manmade religion. After all, as they readily affirm, “It's a contradiction to what we teach” to “celebrate the death of anyone”.
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