Posted on 12/19/2005 6:23:54 AM PST by NYer
That is an excellent article. I absolutely agree with the points made, especially with the "consumer mentality at work".
There are plenty of people who warm a pew in church but have never had a change of heart brought about by repentance. Those people will claim to be Christians but present no evidence of it in their life.
bump
We have several services (our building only holds about 2,000, and we need 3 services to deal with the crowds.)
Anyhoo,one of our regular services is Saturday evening, so we're turning our Saturday evening (Christmas Eve) service into a coprorate worship service...bringing in enough chairs and setting up outside to provide seats for 5000 people.
No way, could we reorganize everything between Christmas Eve and early Sunday AM, so no services on Christmas. I see absolutely nothing wrong with the scenario...we are not "forsaking the assembling of ourselves" as the Scripture says, we're just trying to find a time for a corporate service where we can accommodate the most people.
Funny line from one of the pastors was...come to Christmas Eve service, if you don't get the message and show up for Christmas morning, they'll be a sign on the door that says "See you at Easter."
The Bible says, Do not forsake the gathering together with fellow beleivers. These churhces have decided to "focus on the family" rather than "focus on Christ."
Priorities used to be God, family... Now it's Family, maybe God.
I think he's right on target. Thanks for the link.
We're having normal schedule on Sun a.m. but no church in the evening.
Jesus is "the reason for the season". It's not about presents, Christmas trees, lights, santa claus, or any other peripheral "fluff". It's about Jesus Christ, our Lord. If people who profess to be Christian cannot get themselves to Church on Christmas, then they really are lost.
I'm proud to be a Cathlolic, btw.
I find it ironic that the RC's are weighing in disapprovingly. I know many members of their church who, because of the " it counts " mentality of the Saturday evening mass, have not been up and out on a Sunday morning in years. I think that the Christian churches should be open on Christams, but I think the RC's ought to hold their fire.
Apples and oranges. Individual Catholics may avail themselves strictly of the Saturday evening services. The Church itself does not only hold such services. If a Catholic Church held only a Christmas Eve Mass and none during the day on Christmas, that would be analogous. That isn't the case.
SD
well put..
I am sorry, I do not understand. If a member of your church goes on the 24th, Chrismas Eve, must he then go on the 25th, Chrismas Day ?
These folks are simply setting their own schedules. They are not forsaking anything.
I know churches who meet once a month...that's how they're organized. Their leadership makes that call.
In this instance, these folks have made a local decision based on their analysis of the situation. I think they send an awful message, but it is not a sinful decision, imo.
>>we're just trying to find a time for a corporate service where we can accommodate the most people.<<
Church worship is about giving God the glory and honor He is due, not about accommodating people.
The Sabbath was created for man; not man for the Sabbath...
No. Vigil Masses (night before) satisfy the requirement to attend on a Sunday or Holy Day.
Catholics can criticise these "megachurches" for being closed on Christmas Sunday, because Catholic Churches are never closed on Christmas or Sunday. It matters not if some of the Catholics will attend vigil Masses. They still have the choice of attending a vigil Mass or a regular Sunday Mass.
SD
Personally, I think it is up to the individual churches, or their respective organizations, to decide if they have a Christmas service on Sunday or not. What troubles me are the Christians who are not members of these churches condemning their decisions. It's in the same class of arguements that one denomination has against another. Disgusting. People need to keept their own church and not dictate the business of another.
That's true.
FYI, the reason is because that by taking Communion, the person would be saying through his actions that he believes what Catholics believe when taking Communion: that he is receiving the body, blood, soul and divinity of Christ. In effect, he would be lying through his actions. (But non-Catholics are welcome to attend Mass otherwise.)
OTOH, Christians in Orthodox Churches are permitted to take Communion in Catholic churches.
Permitted by us Catholics, not necessarily by their own Church's rules.
SD
The reason why vigil Masses "count" is because evening is considered part of the following day. My understanding is that this way of reckoning days is carried over from Jewish practice.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.