Greetings in Christ,
If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied.
1 Corinthians 15:19 (ESV)
The core of the Christian faith is the death and the resurrection of Jesus. We confess and believe that not only did Jesus die on the cross, but we also confess and believe that He rose physically from the dead.
There many things that are a part of the Christian faith that, though important, are not necessary to be a Christian. However, we cannot let go of truth of the resurrection. If we do, we cease to be Christian. We may be religious, we may be spiritual, we may be wonderful people, but if we do not confess and believe that Our Lord Jesus was raised from the dead, then we are not Christian.
I write this after reading what several pastors of the ELCA wrote in an online pastor's forum. They freely admitted that they believed Jesus lived and died, but they refused to confess that He was raised from the dead. It did not fit with modern science that someone could be raised from the dead was their argument.
It is one thing to struggle with one's faith and the things we confess, and it is another to flat out reject them. If Jesus is not raised from the dead, then why are these people allowed to be pastors? Far worse if they are teaching their parishes that Jesus is not raised from the dead, they are endangering their salvation.
There are many things that we in the Church can discuss and compromise upon, however, the death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ is not one of them. As long as I have breath in my lungs, I will proclaim the Risen Christ among you.