It's Friiiiiiiiiiday

Like many Protestants, Good Friday has never been a big deal for me. As a kid, all my Catholic friends, and some Lutheran ones, made a big affair out of it. My church didn't.

Easter Sunday was our special day. Maybe because we already attended church on Sunday, so it was easier. Good Friday required something extra. But they told me it was theological too. I was taught that the resurrection was the validating event for Good Friday - 'If Christ be not raised, then your faith is in vain.' It was as if, 'the more you believe in Easter, the less you'll believe in Good Friday.' They said, 'The Catholics never get Jesus off the cross, we believe in a resurrected Christ.' Or, 'We're an Easter church, not a Good Friday church' (they, of course, were wrong about that, because, if my denomination had to pick a day, we'd have been a "Pentecost" church, if anything.)

But I still wonder why many Protestants make so little over Good Friday. We vote with Tony.. it's Friiiiiiiiiiiday! And every thing is dark and looks like it will be lost. Let's get it over with!

However, I wonder if there's another factor. Easter is easier to 'sell' to people so desperate for uplifting thoughts. Easter is bright, sunny, exciting and full of hope. It is about joy, excitement, discovery, and new life. That sells today. Friday is about pain, agony, blood and death. No wonder many of us don't made a big deal about Good Friday.

However, the focus of Christian theology is not just on an unoccupied Sunday morning tomb, but also on an occupied Friday cross. I feel the need for more 'Good Friday' in my life, even though it is not a pick-me-up day. I've paid a price for downplaying good Friday.

1. Downplaying Good Friday allows me to downplay SIN.

That's what the cross is about. On Friday I am reminded that I am a sinner, that I've broken God's law. I am guilty... stained.. convicted. I've been "bad." Frankly, I'd rather be told how great I am, how wonderful humanity is, what great potential I have. These things encourage me, build me up. I feel better hearing about self esteem than self sacrifice. It's hard to do that on Friiiiiiiiiiday.

2. Downplaying Good Friday allows me to downplay JUDGMENT.

Because of my sin I am guilty of death... "the wages of sin is death." On Friday I see the wrath of God. Not a twisted vindictiveness, or unloving rage, but a certain justice for sin. In God there is nothing irreconcilable between wrath and love. Such problems occur only in my limited thinking. God is just and therefore will punish sin. He is not a doting grandfatherly Mister-Rogers-in-the-sky overlooking sin and reassuring us that we are