Comments on: Church Is: Closed

By: ...in the outer...

...in the outer... — Tue, 13 Dec 2005 07:17:18 +0000

Celebrating Christmas

Megachurch bashers are at it again. This time around it has to do with Christmas services. I hadn’t noticed it earlier, but apparently the news that many of the larger churches around the country have decided not to hold any services Christmas m…

By: Javan Lapp

Javan Lapp — Fri, 09 Dec 2005 15:27:52 +0000

Tim, your first point under what is wrong with not having church on Christmas Sunday is that in the beginning God set aside a day to worship Him. However, we do not keep this day today. Sunday is not the day that God ordained in that way; it was Saturday. I understand your concern, but I see nothing wrong with not having church. Church has become such an institutional thing where we go and sit and “worship.” This, I do not believe, is what God wants of us. God wants us to serve Him with our lives. We wants us to worship Him all the time and rest in Him every day of the week. Of course getting together with other believers is vitally important. But why must it be Sunday?

You ask what our mission is. It should not be to get together and sit in comfy pews to listen to a monologue that makes us feel good about ourselves and how we have received God’s Son who came while the rest of the “secular culture” is denying Him and how surely this must be a sign of coming judgment etc. (I’m not trying to be harsh, I’m trying to be critically engaging.) Our mission should be to LOVE. To live lives that display peace and stand for peace, lives that display His love to all people, lives that are involved in the lives of hurting and under-priveliged people. If we can sit around debating about what Christians should do on Christmas, I think we have lost our focus.

In the peace of our Lord, Javan Lapp

By: Tammy Smith

Tammy Smith — Fri, 09 Dec 2005 03:35:52 +0000

We will be in church as well. What a great day to worship our Lord. What a mixed message the mega churches are sending. Family day? Ah Sunday is the Lords Day! Wow.. Thanks for the article and sharing your thoughts on it. Have a great and bless Christmas.
Tammy

By: hannah

hannah — Thu, 08 Dec 2005 23:33:31 +0000

Gene Edward Veith of World Magazine wrote a great article that should answer a lot of your questions, Annalise. Check it out at http://www.worldmag.com
Tim,
this is sad! thanks for bringing it to our attention. we need to be praying for the leaders of these churches. even my church (of 500 people) isn’t holding a service on sunday, but on saturday night. grr….i’d much rather listen to a sermon and worship with the body than forget it as my family and i do gifts…backwards, backwards. Lord help us!

By: Tim

Tim — Thu, 08 Dec 2005 13:22:27 +0000

annalise,
I’ll get back to you on that. Thank you for bringing it up!

Gabriel,
It somewhat like what I said “People who don’t want to attend church on Christmas Sunday are showing who it’s all about: and it’s not Christ. It is obvious that those who want to “be at home” do not want to be in the presence of the Savior.”

I believe that some would be “out of town” but that shouldn’t mess you up. People don’t just leave work right? I know that even those who work in the church need time off, but on a special Sunday? Wherever the staff is, I think the above statement covers what I think about it. But it is an interesting theory.

Everyone else,
I really hate to bring you sad news every day. Don’t be depressed! Remember in spite of all this what the TRUE MEANING OF CHRISTMAS IS!

By: John Willis

John Willis — Thu, 08 Dec 2005 04:14:26 +0000

How terribly sad. I am always pleased when Christmas falls on a Sunday, for that is truly a day to worship. The sabbath honors God, as is commanded, and Christmas honors the Virgin Birth - what better way to honor the Father than to be in Church on Christmas day?

By: Gabriel Bertilson

Gabriel Bertilson — Thu, 08 Dec 2005 02:15:44 +0000

Some callers on our local talk radio station suggested that these megachurches closed simply because all their staff would be out of town on Christmas day. I don’t find this theory very convincing based on what the spokespeople for the megachurches said, but what do you think?

By: Lindsey

Lindsey — Thu, 08 Dec 2005 00:37:43 +0000

That’s a sad piece of news. I think you’re absolutely right, though, Tim. Thanks for letting us all know.

By: Justin

Justin — Wed, 07 Dec 2005 23:27:43 +0000

I think the Willow Creek spokeswoman said it all and illustrated the mistake of the ’seeker-sensitive’ church. As you said, Tim, the church is a place for believers to come together and worship as a body. Evangelism is when we make the effort and go out to the unsaved to share the Gospel. It’s great to bring non-christians into a service, please do! But what they should see there is the body of Christ worshipping Him, rather than the entire service being focused on the visitor.

By: annalise

annalise — Wed, 07 Dec 2005 22:56:56 +0000

I think it is so good to hear that there are people in this ungodly world who care so deeply for God and his son. I’m glad that people are upset that some churches won’t be having services on Christmas. It says a lot about you when you care.

Have you ever done a search on Christmas? The origins? It’s very informative. And I am not trying to make anyone mad or to argue but, although it’s true that Jesus birth is important because without it he woudn’t have come here and died for us, and also that, like you said, his death is much more important, we need to think about what the bible says. Is there any evidence that Jesus celebrated his birthday? Is there any evidence that he celebrated his death? Did he ever tell his followers to celebrate his birthday? Did he tell them to memorialize his death?

What was the weather like in Bethlehem during December? Was it cold? Would the shepherds be outside with their sheep in the cold if it was cold in December in Bethlehem?