Christian 'megapastor' blasts believers on Dec. 25 dispute (defends decision to close)

World Net Daily ^ | December 19, 2005

[NYer]

With many large churches across the U.S. announcing they won't be open on Christmas Day, some pastors are defending their decision to stay closed, even going so far as to blast those who question their motives.

Among them is Jon Weece, pastor of Southland Christian Church in Lexington, Ky., who received complaint e-mails from Christians in all 50 states.

"I was deeply saddened by the knee-jerk response of the Christian community as a whole to give the benefit of the doubt to the media and not a church or a brother in Christ," Weece said in his Dec. 10 sermon. "I'm still troubled that more Christians in this community specifically did not stand up for us knowing what this church represents."

(Audio of the entire sermon is available here.)

Weece blamed Satan the devil for using the Christmas issue as a distraction, prompting Christians to bicker among themselves.

"People are not the enemy," he said. "The devil is, and it is obvious that he has been at work in this situation."

Weece said the services being offered on Christmas Eve were still technically the "first day of the week" if one went by the custom of starting days at sunset, which some believe was the case in Jesus' day.

He went on to note: "Christmas began as a pagan holiday to the Roman gods, and if we were to really celebrate the historical birth of Jesus, it would either be in January or mid-April. I'm only pointing out the historical technicalities not out of intellectual arrogance, but again because of the illogical, ill-informed and even hypocritical arguments that were aimed at me personally this last week."

Weece also said Jesus himself walked all over opinion and tradition: "Do not lose sight of the controversy that Jesus incited by turning traditions on their head. And always remember in the economy of Jesus, the one whose birthday so many are claiming to be so passionate about, Jesus placed value and emphasis on people over policy and procedure and protocol every single time."

Meanwhile, the largest Christian church in South Florida has reversed itself on its closure Christmas Day, and now says it will be open for a single service next Sunday morning, Dec. 25.

Calvary Chapel of Fort Lauderdale now promoting its Christmas Day service online after initially announcing a Dec. 25 closure

Calvary Chapel of Fort Lauderdale originally decided to give its members and workforce a day off to spend with their families on Christmas, even though it falls on Sunday, its traditional day of worship. Instead, it had scheduled a slate of extra services for Saturday night, Christmas Eve.

Pastor Bob Coy

"I've been called a bad person and a shame to Christianity," pastor Bob Coy told the South Florida Sun-Sentinel. "It made me realize that many people misunderstood our motives."

But after an onslaught of negative public reaction from both inside and outside his congregation, Coy had a change of heart.

"Say it isn't so," read one e-mail, according to Coy. "You're shutting your doors on Jesus' birthday. I'm appalled at the message you're sending to the community."

Coy also was advised by some church members who said they wouldn't be able to attend services on Christmas Eve, and preferred to come on the actual holiday.

"Christmas is filled with unrealistic expectations," he said. "I don't want to fuel that. If people need Jesus on Christmas, I want to make Him available."

The entire issue has exacerbated the national Christmas controversy at a time which many believe is supposed to harken back to the Gospel of Luke's "peace on Earth."

"There is no biblical mandate that we meet on Sunday, only that we meet," writes Larry Baden in an online messageboard. "This is clearly a nonessential issue. Nobody's orthodoxy stands or falls on having a Sunday service. Nobody's salvation depends on having a Sunday service."

Minister Jeff Chitwood contends: "I think the issue centers on canceling worship on a day that is supposed to be centered on Christ. Too many times the church accuses the world of taking Christ out of Christmas but now the church is the one changing things because a day centered on Christ conflicts with schedules. What kind of message does it send to those who we have condemned in the past? At our church we are rescheduling service times but not eliminating the opportunity to worship on a day centered on Christ."

One poster said true worship is about much more than just singing or attending a church service.

"The way I greet my family when I go home from work is an act of worship. The way I talk to my co-workers. The dedication I give to my employer. The passion and inspiration I find in teaching or writing or editing or reading or mowing the lawn or ironing my shirts. ...

"Let's all just focus on God this Sunday. He's a big Guy. I'm sure those who look for him will find him – even if they don't set foot in a church building."

[xzins]

1Co 10:23 - All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not.

This demonstrates that it's possible to have some things that are not sinful but also not be the best decision. These are the words of the Apostle Paul.

[A2J]

Attending Church as an "obligation" is the lowest form of devotion one can show toward the Creator. But it is a form of devotion.

Unreal.

[Larry Lucido]

Good for him?? He was talking about someone else's church affairs! I don't agree with those 5 or 6 church's decisions but then I don't go there or pastor them. Guess he didn't have much else to talk about last week.

[A2J]

Bump #54.

[Free Baptist]

"Liturgy?" "Liturgical calendar?" "Feast of Annunciation?" "Saturnalia?" It's much easier just to take the Bible and believe God's Word. (Colossians 2:8-16). No man is bound to holy days in New Testament Christianity.

[afnamvet]

Being that the churches referred to in New Testament were families meeting in homes, people who don’t go to a "cathedral" are really closer to having “church” in the biblical sense of the word.

You are correct. A church is a body of believers who gather together to worship God, share His word and pray for one another's needs. BTW, Merry Christmas to you and yours.

[azhenfud]

"If someone chooses to mark his birthday that day by going to a building with a bunch of other people and singing some songs, that is great. If someone chooses to gather with their family and celebrate that way, who is to say that is wrong?"

Superficially, that may be correct. But if I wanted to gather at the meeting house with other believers and you choose to keep the doors shut, it's wrong. Besides, I don't know your habits and am not pointing specifically at you, but VERY few who claim as you (the place of worship makes no difference) take the opportunity to worship at all outside the setting of gathered believers.

[SoothingDave]

Did the prophets of the Old Testament go to "church"? Did they hangout in the temple? Nope.

You think the OT prophets didn't attend Temple services? On what do you base this?

My problem with your statement is that someone can love God and never enter a church. The whole church concept as we know it today is man contrived. We are told to not forsake the gathering of believers. I can do that at my house, their house or even Starbucks for that matter. It has nothing to do with my love for God.

Getting together with your own hand-picked friends and family is not a "gathering of believers." The Church is public and open to all believers, not just a private meeting.

If someone chooses to mark his birthday that day by going to a building with a bunch of other people and singing some songs, that is great. If someone chooses to gather with their family and celebrate that way, who is to say that is wrong?

Again, public versus private. Worship is supposed to be a gathering of all believers, not a bunch of little private parties.

SD

[A2J]

I say that someone attending Church because the Church, speaking as God's representative on earth, mandates you attend,

Chapter and verse please.

From the bible, of course.

[A2J]

Yep. I believe there has to be at least one other person present, besides the priest, because the Mass is a public, not a private event.

In addition, that extra "person" can be valuable as a deterent to crime by the priest.

[azhenfud]

"No, getting people to believe that going to church is going to save their soul is Satan's objective."

True - to a point. Yet again, one may wish to gather to worship with believers - not for the reason you think - but because worshipping in a SANCTUARY affords a sense of peace not found in other environments.

[SoothingDave]

In addition, that extra "person" can be valuable as a deterent to crime by the priest.

Don't be an ass. It greatly devalues anything else you say.

SD

[Free Baptist]

Yes, in the megachurch mentality, we wonder if there is any difference between Christmas and Superbowl Sunday. Weece says that people are not the enemy, "the devil is..." The megachurch metality is a blending of churchianity with the course of this world, with which the devil, who is the prince and power of the air is directly involved.

New Testament Christianity causes separation from the world's course, and it produces STRANGERS and PILGRIMS with regard to the course, styles and fashions of this world. It is the way of those who give no place to the devil, and see the entertainments and distractions of the world as an unholy and Christ dis-honoring course, if followed.

[JamesP81]

Good for him?? He was talking about someone else's church affairs! I don't agree with those 5 or 6 church's decisions but then I don't go there or pastor them. Guess he didn't have much else to talk about last week.

The bible states that we are to exhort our brethren when they need it to help them follow Christ as closely as possible. As much as I believe in church autonomy (that's the baptist in me talking), if you're church claims to be christian, what it does is the business of all christians, everywhere. The 'church' after all is defined as the believers in Jesus Christ.

When my pastor mentioned megachurches closing, it was only like a 2 minute spot in the sermon. It mostly concentrated on the commercialization and secularization of Christmas. This was something of a sidenote, although a worthy one at that.

[Salvation]

You can take part in the Mass too.

If you are not Catholic, you are invited to come up for a blessing during Communion. Just indicate you don’t wish to receive the Eucharist by crossing your hands over your chest.

I see you live in Maryland. Here is a link to the diocese in your state since I don't know exactly where you live.

Maryland Parishes by County/Map

[A2J]

Consider, the prophets of the Old Testament for example.

There's your problem.

[JeffAtlanta]

VERY few who claim as you (the place of worship makes no difference) take the opportunity to worship at all outside the setting of gathered believers.

Exactly my point - a person that only worships when at church is not a believer in the first place.

Being a believer is not a two hour a week exercise. Being a true believer means that Christ is at the center of your world. The church building is just a meeting location for fellowship.

[BeHoldAPaleHorse]

"I was deeply saddened"

Is Weece related to Tom Daschle?

[OKIEDOC]

Hot Damn! all along I thought that churches were in the business that concerns Christmas.

There is no justification for churches being closed on Christmas day and the local nude bar being open for a booming business.

[MamaB]

The Southern Baptist Church that I attend is having a service on Sunday morning. It is also having a service on Christmas Eve. I am not sure about Sunday night. I won't be here to go.