Because nothing says “Christ is risen!” more than … a button that says “Christ is risen!”

I get emails from the American Family Association.  And today’s was … entertaining.

I invite you to join other believers in wearing and giving away these “He Lives” Easter buttons.

Create an opportunity to lead a friend, neighbor or even a stranger to the cross of Jesus Christ. Keep several in your pocket or purse; ready to give someone a button when they ask. This beautiful button with its even more beautiful message will be a powerful silent witness of Christ’s resurrection.

Also available for display on your vehicle is a 5 1/2″ glossy sticker with the same beautiful and effective message as the buttons.

Easter really does mean, HE LIVES! So visit store.afa.net and wear ’em and share ’em.

Purchase enough for your entire church or civic group by getting a Display Box or Church Pack of Easter buttons and stickers.

Okay, does anyone really think that wearing a button with some crosses* that says**, “Easter means HE LIVES!”*** is really going to bring someone to Christ?  “I was wandering, lost, alone, wondering what the purpose of life was.  Then I saw your button, and the Spirit came to me, and I was saved.”

Um … seems unlikely.

These buttons are, instead, clubby “Look at us! We’re devout right-thinking Christians” buttons, advertisements for self-righteousness and ostensible salvation.  Oh, and they make the AFA a nice little “suggested donation” profit.

Yeah, just what Jesus would do. Because he was all about the public display of religious affiliation.

* The cross would seem to represent Christ’s death. For his resurrection, and as a reference to Easter (vs Good Friday), wouldn’t you want an image of the empty tomb?

** In addition to the AFA’s website name, which is an interestingly self-aggrandizing advertisement to blend with the “beautiful message.”

*** actually “Easter” is the name ( “Eostre” ) of an Saxon goddess of “fertility and sunrise” whose Vernal Equinox feast day roughly corresponded to the lunar-based date of the celebration of Christ’s Resurrection … and so was used (per Venerable Bede) by the Saxons as the name (along with various traditions) for that celebration.