Posted on 12/16/2004 1:23:28 PM PST by Gamecock
Christmas Eve Service. Vestiges of papacy. Knox and Gillispie are rolling over in their graves.
It's not even clear that Wesley was a Christian when he was still an Anglican. He recounts his own spiritual experience following his return to England from America and his initial contacts with the Moravians.
A serious question, if you would please?
What set of circumstances would, in your view, legitimize or warrant a Christmas Eve service? If every holiday had an 'eve' service? Or maybe if a Christmas Eve service emphasized, well what? and maybe excluded what?
Wesley remained an Anglican after his Aldersgate experience.
It would require a positive command from the Word of God in order to consider it legitimate.
"We have no superstitious regard for times and seasons. Certainly we do not believe in the present ecclesiastical arrangement called Christmas. First, because we do not believe in the mass at all, but abhor it, whether it be sung in Latin or in English. Secondly, because we find no Scriptural warrant whatever for observing any day as the birthday of the Savior; and consequently, its observance is a superstition, because not of divine authority." (CH Spurgeon)
Ok, just so I'm clear:
The Word of God isn't going to change and you presently do not know of (or do not so interpret) anything in the Word of God that lends any legitimacy to a Christmas Eve service, no matter what the service content or no matter any revival throughout the remainder of the year.
Right?
Nothing could ever legitimize any Christmas eve service, in your view?
So TC, what are you going to do on Christmas eve?
Should they deliberately not have a service on Christmas eve, just to spite all the dead pagans?
We have New Years Eve services too. They last till after midnight. I wonder if that it evil since the Calendar is based on an incorrect assumption about the year of Christ's birth. TC, do you "celebrate" the new year in any fashion? Do you celebrate the Fourth of July? You do realize that we did not get our independence on the fourth of July in 1776 don't you? We really didn't achieve independence until the British just ran out of fight. Do you know what day that was? Without looking?
Friday night ... I'll be home with my family. We often have the extended family over on Friday evenings for dinner.
Then I trust they would do nothing different from any other Friday night (in the case of this year). That one Friday of the year would be no more or less special than any other Friday. After all, God didn't call it special.
While I understand your reaction, topcat54 has some deeply held beliefs which we aren't likely to change no matter how we 'press', but we might understand those beliefs better if we inquire patiently.
What if Christmas fell on a Sunday. Would you object if the pastor gave a sermon on the birth of the Lord?
Correct.
"Unless I am convinced by the testimony of the Holy Scriptures or by evident reason ... I consider myself convicted by the testimony of Holy Scripture, which is my basis; my conscience is captive to the Word of God. Thus I cannot and will not recant, because acting against one's conscience is neither safe nor sound. God help me. Amen." (Martin Luther)
He called the Birth of Christ special. Do you set aside at least one day out of the year to specifically celebrate that event?
And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. (Luk 2:10-11)
I think the lurkers would be interested as well.
Thanks,
Marlowe
Ok, allow me to explore this from from the negative.
In your view then, churches which do hold Christmas eve services are what? __________ Idolotrous? Blasphemous? Heretical? (these seem pretty harsh words so please fill in the blank with yours)
And accordingly, you would what? Leave such a church, or rebuke the pastor/elders, or simply not attend said services? What action, if any, would you take?
Correct. God doesn't call it special. Man calls it special. Man cannot make things holy by fiat declarations.
What if Christmas fell on a Sunday. Would you object if the pastor gave a sermon on the birth of the Lord?
As long as he didn't make it a habit. I would be more concerned if he preached on say, Luke 16 or Romans 5, and people left disappointed, feeling cheated out of a "Christmas" sermon.
The revolution was called the "Presbyterian rebellion" in Britain.
Meanwhile, the Methodists etc. opposed it.
You can pus the abuse button if you want, but I think that is pretty selfish of you. Why would you care what others thought? Why should you judge their motives?
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