Posted on 12/16/2005 5:33:00 AM PST by FerdieMurphy
I keep reading about churches that are going to be closed on Christmas day, which falls on a Sunday this year.
What’s up with that? The word ‘Christmas’ comes from ‘Christ mass,’ which is the Roman Catholic service, or mass, for celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ. Christmas falling on a Sunday should be viewed as a special occasion, with people excitedly looking forward to going to church that particular day, not using it as an excuse to close the church doors.
Churches that are deciding to not hold services on Sunday, December 25th, are making a huge mistake. Now, I know the churches planning on not being open on Christmas Sunday are giving lots of justifications for their decision, including the following:
The church is supposed to be reaching out to the unbeliever, and if they won’t come on a regular Sunday, they are less likely to come on Christmas.
The church should promote family, and Christmas as a time for family, not being in church.
Last time Christmas fell on a Sunday, people didn’t come.
Getting help on that day will be hard, and won’t be worth the effort, as we expect a low turn out.
These are all excuses. Cop-outs. They are not credible justifications for being closed on Sunday. Concerning the first excuse, I have to ask, “What about ‘CEO Christians’ (Christmas and Easter Only)?” One of the few times of the year these ‘nominal’ Christians may come to church, and the church doors are shut! This could be the year these people get serious about their faith and their salvation, and the church is skipping this opportunity to reach these folks.
The second excuse is simply ridiculous. What better place for a family to be together, especially on Christmas Sunday, than in their house of worship? Do these ‘pastoral leaders’ think it’s more beneficial to the family to stay at home in their pajamas with bed head? The last two excuses are nothing less than a damning indictment of our churches today and the lack of faith of those who attend.
For crying out loud! It’s going to be Christmas on Sunday! People should be flocking to their churches, not skipping out. The doors should not be closed, but thrown open so that not only can people get in, but so that those passing by can hear the joyous singing coming from inside from those celebrating what this special holiday is truly about.
What’s next? Are these churches going to start closing their doors when the 4th of July hits a Sunday? What about other holidays when they fall on a Sunday? Why not close on Super Bowl Sunday? We are headed down the road where churches will be open only nine months out of the year like schools (Hey, let’s take the summer off from worshiping our Lord and Savior.). Closing the churches on Christmas Sunday this year is definitely a step in the wrong direction.
Parents, think of the precedent you are setting if you stay at home this Christmas Sunday. What are you teaching your kids? You say, “It’s just one Sunday,” but your kids will get the message that playing hooky from church is okay, and it can grow to missing a lot, to not going at all. Is our commitment to our faith so weak that we’ll bail from church attendance at the least inconvenience?
This shouldn’t be viewed as an inconvenience, but a wonderful stroke of good fortune. I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else but church when Christmas falls on a Sunday. To the church ‘leaders’ who will be skipping church this December 25th, I say, “Do as you wish, but you are jeopardizing your credibility as leaders in a House of God. How can you criticize a member for skipping out on Sunday services to go hunting during deer season, or fishing in the summer, if you pick such a significant day to skip out?” As for my family and me, we’ll still open presents and have a wonderful Christmas dinner, but we’ll work our schedule around the true reason for the season and be at church on Sunday December 25th.
Easter is dependant on the solar calendar.
It is the first Sunday after the first full moon after the Spring Equinox. It can be anywhere from March 22 to April 25.
Friend, I believe you're taking "liberties" with that passage, by reading it completely out of context. :)
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