What would be different?

Today in Sunday school, we discussed Jesus on the road to Emmaus focusing on Jesus' question to Cleopas and his companion (who I think is his wife), "What are you discussing together as you walk along?" Other translations call it "disputing" so they were evidently pretty fired up in their discussion. It's pretty clear they were talking about what had happened with Jesus- his crucifixion and the implications of his reported resurrection. I would imagine that one or both of them was skeptical that it really happened since it was women who were claiming that he was alive and the people in that time didn't put must stock in the words of a woman. After Jesus shows up, whom they can't recognize, they get what would be the greatest Bible study ever- Jesus connecting himself with the Old Testament, probably focusing on the sacrificial system and the prophecies. Then, just as they recognize him, he vanishes removing all their doubt of his resurrection. They immediately return to Jerusalem and find the disciples and fill them in. I bet it was the quickest trip between Jerusalem and Emmaus they had ever made.

One of the application questions that was asked by the teacher was what would be different in our lives if Jesus simply been another martyr rather than having resurrected from the dead. Members of the class gave what you might call "Sunday school answers" about living in fear or having to continue sacrifices. I can respect Sunday school answers because they are often at least mostly true. But it got me to thinking how much would things really change in our churches if Jesus hadn't truly been raised? I have a suspicion that most of the things that go on in church can go on just fine without a resurrected Jesus. I mean do we really need Jesus for us to be able to realize our best life now? How about 10 steps to a better you? Or even (treading wearily) how to have a better marriage or fix your finances (for a much better and more intense discussion of this go here and then here- or don't because it's a little uncomfortable).

One of things I love about my church is that the gospel is front and center every Sunday- music, scripture, sermons, Bible study, etc. We just completed 15 days of concentrated prayer with a focus on "gospel renewal" based on Psalm 80:3, "Restore us O God; make your face shine upon us, that we may be saved." What is gospel renewal? To me, it means that the Jesus, the cross, our sin, his grace must always be at the forefront of what the church is all about. Take those things away and the church is nothing more another self help or social club.