Photo: Alamy | Op-ed by Summer Lane
Easter is a time of reflection and remembrance – a holy moment every year where Americans and Christians around the globe stop to consider the story and sacrifice of a carpenter named Jesus who was crucified on a Roman cross, buried deep within a tomb, and rose again on the third day, defeating death and usurping Satan.
The story never fails to thrill. On the third day after his death, Jesus – Son of God, fully man and fully deity – made his triumphant return to life, turning death backward on itself and fulfilling a salvation prophecy made in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3:15): a promise to overcome Satan, save mankind from the horrific consequences of sin, and to bring humans back into direct fellowship with God, as was intended.
“He is not here; he has risen!” the angel told Mary Magdalene upon discovering Jesus’s empty tomb. “Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: ‘The Son of Man must be delivered over to the hands of sinners, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.’” (Luke 24:6-7)
The story of the resurrection of Christ is not just a children’s fairytale or a mythological legend passed down from generation to generation. It is a singular flash of brilliant hope in a hurting world and, indeed, it forms the very cornerstone of the Judeo-Christian values of American culture and society.
In fact, this integral foundation upon which America was born proves just how profoundly a nation’s worldview and moral compass affect its direction.
“Blessed in the nation whose God is the Lord, the people he chose for his inheritance,” says Psalm 33:12. By contrast, Isaiah 1:4 offers this sobering warning: “Woe to the sinful nation, the people burdened with iniquity, the offspring of evildoers, the children who act corruptly!”
America has been blessed indeed over the years, not only as the freest nation on Earth, but also as the most financially prosperous. Yet under the Biden administration, it seemed as if America – a towering bastion of strength and moral superiority – faded into obscurity, bowing before an altar of radical agendas and weaponized identity politics.
There could be no clearer example of this than when Joe Biden shockingly declared Easter Sunday 2024 as a national “Transgender Day of Visibility” in an obvious affront to Christians everywhere – just one offense in a long list of anti-Christian agenda items touted by the previous administration.
Contrast this to the current Trump administration, which has wisely pivoted back toward America’s religious founding and called on Americans to not only reflect upon Christ’s sacrifice on the cross, but also vowed to protect Christianity nationwide.
Consider this stunning and thoughtful statement from President Trump’s Holy Week proclamation:
“Through His suffering, we have redemption. Through His death, we are forgiven of our sins. Through His Resurrection, we have hope of eternal life. On Easter morning, the stone is rolled away, the tomb is empty, and light prevails over darkness—signaling that death does not have the final word.”
How long has it been since a president has given such credit or praise to the God of the Bible and to the cherished beliefs of the Christian church? It seems almost impossible that just one year ago, the nation was groaning under the weight of increasingly anti-American tyranny.
In fact, it was this very tyranny that seemed to rouse the American spirit to action, spurring them toward the ballot box in November 2024, eager for a change in leadership – a return to common sense American values, basic truths, and respect.
“This week, we pray for an outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon our beloved Nation,” President Trump wrote in his statement. “We pray that America will remain a beacon of faith, hope, and freedom for the entire world, and we pray to achieve a future that reflects the truth, beauty, and goodness of Christ’s eternal kingdom in Heaven.”
Truly, America stands on the verge of greatness, rooted in moral goodness, thanks of course, to President Trump’s leadership over America, but moreover, thanks to God’s mercy in paving the way for him to win re-election last year.
“When the godly are in authority, the people rejoice; but when the wicked rule, the people groan,” Proverbs 29:2 says.
Good leadership is an excellent reason to rejoice, and this Holy Week, Americans have a lot to be thankful for. Life in America is far from perfect, but under the Trump administration, things are looking up.