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."

[NYer]

Five churches in the country close on Christmas, and everyone else is in a tizzy. I don't go to any of those churches, and will be at Christmas service. I just don't get it.

What’s It All About? (Catholic vs Evangelical Christian view of family)">

[Larry Lucido]

My pastor didn't have nice things to say about closing church on Christmas this past Sunday.

So his speech was in response to a parishoner's request to close on Sunday, I take it? If so, good for him.

[Salvation]

Thanks for posting this.

[A2J]

Church worship

Bingo!

This is not about whether it is right or wrong to meet on Christimas Day but rather the worship of a building that is believed to be somehow more sacred than any other (even the home).

This is more about paying homage to a man-made structure than it is worshipping God, who can be worshipped just as well as in a hospital, home, or dirty back alley than in any "church" edifice.

[Free Baptist]

Thank you, Landmark Missionary Baptist Church. I'm interested. I don't know if I can get to Illinois on Christmas day, but please send your address to us in a private message, would you?

[A2J]

The Sabbath was created for man; not man for the Sabbath...

Great Scripture.

Let's see how the Pharisees twist this one.

[Larry Lucido]

False analogy. I see now this is an pitiable attempt by a committed Catholic to badmouth evangelicals generally (and I'm saying this as a protestant defender of Catholic tradition on these boards). I'm really disappoined, NYer. You know darn well (and if you don't, then get out sometime), that virtually all evangelical churches will be having Christmas services this year. 5 or 6 won't.

[JamesP81]

Well, if we take your example further, then shouldn't "church" be open and congregants expected to attend every day?

Uhh, no.

Tradition elevated to equal status with Scripture is exactly what Jesus spoke against. Are we listening?

Jesus was also in the Temple on every Sabbath and observed the law. While I don't advocate a return to living by the Law, I think we're listening quite well.

[Larry Lucido]

Salvation, I love you (and NYer), but please read my #87 for another perspective on this whole phony dust-up. I think this is quite unfortunate.

[A2J]

Catholics can criticise these "megachurches" for being closed on Christmas Sunday, because Catholic Churches are never closed on Christmas or Sunday.

Just more opportunity to molest the masses at the masses?

[j_k_l]

"Maybe you should read it again. Consider, the prophets of the Old Testament for example."

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

How about John the Baptist? Nope.

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.

This thread is rather silly. First, December 25th is most likely not the day Jesus was born. We really don't know. 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?

[azhenfud]

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

It's always been Satan's objective to keep people out of church. Some people happen to be his aides.

[Salvation]

I second NYer's invitation!!

Here is a link to Mass Times in Parishes throughout the U. S. (I would call to verify first.)

[JamesP81]

So his speech was in response to a parishoner's request to close on Sunday, I take it? If so, good for him.

Well no, no one at our church actually seriously considered not having services on Sunday, he was addressing the issue of the megachurches closing on Sunday in the larger context of his sermon, the subject of which was the perversion of Christmas.

And I agree - good for him.

[JeffAtlanta]

While I don't advocate a return to living by the Law

Why not? You are using the law to bolster your case.

Believers are instructed to live by faith and not the Law.

[A2J]

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.

Bless you for telling the truth!

If only most people would understand that most of what they call "church" has pagan roots, they'd be less critical of others.

But then again, maybe not.

[SoothingDave]

This is not about whether it is right or wrong to meet on Christimas Day but rather the worship of a building that is believed to be somehow more sacred than any other (even the home). This is more about paying homage to a man-made structure than it is worshipping God, who can be worshipped just as well as in a hospital, home, or dirty back alley than in any "church" edifice.

Uh, yeah. OK. No one worships the buliding. Get a grip.

Perhaps you aren't aware of this, but Catholics worship God by offering the Perfect Sacrifice of the Son to the Father, making this Sacrifice present in our midst and applying it to ur own lives and souls.

This certainly can take place anywhere, but it is good to have a fitting place on earth for this worship and sacrifice.

We don't attend Mass because of the building.

SD

[JeffAtlanta]

It's always been Satan's objective to keep people out of church. Some people happen to be his aides.

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

For most people, going to church just to go is worse than not going at all because it gives them a false sense of security.

[Free Baptist]

"Christians can be the most nasty people to deal with. Sunday is the messiest, rudest day of the week in the food and beverage industry when people come by after church for dinner."

The rebuke is probably appropriate. Thanks, Shawnlaw. Many pastors probably scolded their congregations yesterday for not getting to church regularly, but then went to a restaurant after the morning "worship" (we must use that word rather loosely), and rudely treated the people who might be in church, if they didn't have to be in the restaurant to serve the church folks. We understand.

Me too. We visited a church yesterday of which we are not members (we are 500 miles from our home church at present), and we were invited out to eat. We accepted. So, the folks who cooked and served could not have been in church. Guilty, except I hope that I was not taken as rude by the folks in the restaurant. That restaurant had an ensemble singing Christmas carols. 'Twas nice.

[Salvation]