Posted on 12/19/2005 6:23:54 AM PST by NYer
Then what were Paul and Peter and the other Jewish Apostles doing in the Synagogues on Saturday? Just visiting?
You mean to imply that the Baptists knew what the New Testament Christianity is all about? My dear friend, there was no Bible to tote around for many centuries, and then it was in a languge only few understood, and even fewer could read, or afford for that matter.
On the contrary, "keeping Sunday" is not an essential issue. And because you are "pissed off" over it, spiritual immaturity is not your only problem - your emotional immaturity will guarantee that you will stay that way.
OK, then I guess you won't mind when your town decides to celebrate the 4th of July next year (Tuesday) on the 8th of July (Saturday) because it's more convenient...?
A stunning remark.
We never have a Christmas morning service. We have young pastors, and they celebrate with their families. I don't think it is worth arguing about. As for the 4th...fireworks are on saturday which is rarely the actual 4th. In my opinion, this is much ado about nothing.
I love my church. I always go on Christmas Eve. I don't care. I suppose if our parish wanted Christmas day services then we would have them. Personally, I like the fact that our young pastor is with his children-tough job being a Pastor.
The bible says good works will not guarantee you a place in heaven. But if Christ is in your heart usually the fruit of the spirit manifests itself in good works.
'I don't need a church building to be close to God'
I do take offense to that. My church doesn't even have a building. We meet at a local school. It cost too much money for us to afford a building. We are in San Jose, California, and it cost over a million dollars just to buy a house.
We've even lost our school several summers. One year, we had to meet at another church on Saturday night. We almost didn't have that, so we were thinking of just meeting at local parks on Sunday mornings.
In California, it is very hard to find truly devoted Christians. I've been to a number of churches, and I found them either promoting the homosexual agenda or the other extreme promoting operation rescue and very hate oriented.
The church that I am with now is full of very nice people that are more into real service than anything else. They'd rather spend money helping other people than buying a building to hold services.
Go check out the Baptist churches in Texas. Very elaborate!
So, his excuse is that December 25th doesn't really mean anything...
He more or less is upset that people dare question him. Well, when you close church on Christmas, prepare to be questioned.
Some people are perpetually pissed off. God must be very pleased that they spend their life seeking out petty things to be pissed off about.
Churches do things all the time that I think are silly - rather than getting pissed off, I just don't go to those churches.
Waitaminute! When did P-Marlowe get promoted to "heretic"? I thought that was my job!
Ah one who see's truth :>}. I do wonder how many demanding the doors be open Christmas Day actually hold positions in the church? And now let's consider the most over worked and likely least recognized workers in the church the women. Yes the one who plays the piano, organ, runs the nursery, lower ages Sunday School Classes, organizes fund drives etc. Hey what about mom huh?
Would Jesus want to see mom worked to the near ends of her physical and mental capabilities trying to host the family in for Christmas, cook meals, keep house, and plan Sundays lessons as well? An over worked mom who didn't go out of town and has relatives visiting her home perhaps? What about the complainers? How many complaining actually hold positions in the church and will be out of town Christmas Day? Who will do your job then? You made an obligation to the church when you took the job to be there right? Yes uh but gosh we want to see our families back in Dogpatch. Why do you think it right for you to go out of town on one of the most sacred days of the year and let someone do your work at your church?
A Christmas Eve service should suffice as much so as any Family Gathered At Their Homes in HIS Name {where He shall be also} enjoying peace, Celebrating Christ birth, and helping mom out as well.
You are in error.
Your position is not orthodox or Reformed. You are a heretic.
From the Westminster Confession of Faith:
VII. As it is the law of nature, that, in general, a due proportion of time be set apart for the worship of God; so, in His Word, by a positive, moral, and perpetual commandment binding all men in all ages, He has particularly appointed one day in seven, for a Sabbath, to be kept holy unto him:[34] which, from the beginning of the world to the resurrection of Christ, was the last day of the week: and, from the resurrection of Christ, was changed into the first day of the week,[35] which, in Scripture, is called the Lord's Day,[36] and is to be continued to the end of the world, as the Christian Sabbath.[37]
VIII. This Sabbath is to be kept holy unto the Lord when men, after a due preparing of their hearts, and ordering of their common affairs beforehand, do not only observe an holy rest all the day from their own works, words, and thoughts about their wordly employments and recreations,[38] but also are taken up the whole time in the public and private exercises of His worship, and in the duties of necessity and mercy.[39]
IMHO, let the pastor knock himself out. If He sincerely belives His works for the Lord are better served in canceling a service, then more power to him.
From my perspective, if I were a pastor-teacher, I don't know of many other grander opportunities to witness about Christ to believer and unbeliever alike than on Christmas Morn.
Of course, he does nothing to try to get his church to be the church. He doesn't organize anything to do that.
He is just putting on a good show for his congregation.
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