Many so-called churches are doing the unthinkable this Christmas as they call for services to be canceled. Even encouraging other churches to do the same. For no other reason than that this year Christmas falls on Sunday. This whole plan to cancel church on Christmas sounds like something the enemy would encourage. Not members of church leaders who claim to be entirely given over to God and the furtherance of the Gospel. Has the entire reason for the season been forgotten?
With the state of the modern church, this really shouldn’t surprise any of us. But I never expected to see so many churches planning to do just this. Sure some who claim faith would be willing to miss church on Christmas but to think of entire churches and even pastors canceling service is for lack of a better term insane. In my eyes and I believe even through the lenses of scripture there is no better day to have church than Christmas Day.
Just imagine what faithful old men would have to say about such a concept. Men and women who risked life and limb every time they wanted to have church. People who wanted nothing more than to freely practice the faith they were viciously persecuted for. Think of the letter the Apostle Paul would write the American Church. The very man who penned the verse calling for more church attendance in the last days. Something we seem to be further into every day as news like this continues to arise.
Hebrews 10:25 (NLT)
25 And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.
2 Timothy 3:1-5 (NLT)
1 You should know this, Timothy, that in the last days there will be very difficult times. 2 For people will love only themselves and their money. They will be boastful and proud, scoffing at God, disobedient to their parents, and ungrateful. They will consider nothing sacred. 3 They will be unloving and unforgiving; they will slander others and have no self-control. They will be cruel and hate what is good. 4 They will betray their friends, be reckless, be puffed up with pride, and love pleasure rather than God. 5 They will act religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly. Stay away from people like that!
Honestly, my heart aches to see the church following lock and step with the culture of the world. Both seemingly work hand and hand to further remove Christ from Christmas. Making this once revered day even more about self and pleasing the flesh than about God. Never did I think Christians would be the very ones helping and even leading in this wicked charge. Those opposed to Christianity and the enemy must be thrilled with the news that even many of those who claim the faith don’t want to be bothered to visit the church and give glory to God this Christmas.
I realize the strong language I have used thus far, but it reflects the strong take I have on this subject. No excuses or justification can be given for canceling church when two days set aside for the Lord overlap as they do this year. This only exposes the self-centered, lazy, and worldly spirit alive in many churches today. Many have tried to sight travel and low turnout as reasons to just forgo the whole idea of church this Christmas. What kind of backward logic is this? Doesn’t scripture say that the angels rejoice when just one sinner repents? Should not every church be open and ready to receive even one repentant person this Christmas?
Luke 15:10 (NLT)
10 In the same way, there is joy in the presence of God’s angels when even one sinner repents.”
Never is the concept of Jesus more on the minds of the world than during the Christmas season. At the same time statistics show that the holiday season is one of the most difficult times of the year for many. Divorce, suicide, drug use, adultery, and depression all spike this time of the year. All because people are searching for an escape from their broken lives and the hurt that haunts them. Are we not called to take to all people at all times the only message that will truly set them free? Shouldn’t we be rushing to throw the doors of the church open wide on such a monumental day of faith as this? Just waiting to accept, nurture, and love the broken. Following the example of our Lord Jesus Christ and doing as He commanded.
Matthew 28:19–20 (NLT)
19 Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. 20 Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
Psalm 34:18 (NLT)
18 The Lord is close to the brokenhearted;
he rescues those whose spirits are crushed.
John 13:34–35 (NLT)
34 So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. 35 Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.”
The number of people in our services should never be a concern regardless of the day. Even if it’s only a preacher and one soul in a massive auditorium. That one soul is worthy of the opportunity of hearing the word of God preached and having the lights on. Do you think the Apostles decided not to preach the message of Christ because the crowd wasn’t large enough? Never and even Jesus the greatest teacher who ever lived never did that. Instead, we see them taking every opportunity to share the Gospel. Even to just a single person. So why would any Christian want to waste the great opportunity of sharing their faith when the Lord’s day and Christmas Day overlap?
John 4:25–27 (NLT)
25 The woman said, “I know the Messiah is coming—the one who is called Christ. When he comes, he will explain everything to us.” 26 Then Jesus told her, “I Am the Messiah!” 27 Just then his disciples came back. They were shocked to find him talking to a woman, but none of them had the nerve to ask, “What do you want with her?” or “Why are you talking to her?”
Acts 5:42 (NLT)
42 And every day, in the Temple and from house to house, they continued to teach and preach this message: “Jesus is the Messiah.”
Acts 19:8 (NLT)
8 Then Paul went to the synagogue and preached boldly for the next three months, arguing persuasively about the Kingdom of God.
Acts 8:29–31 (NLT)
29 The Holy Spirit said to Philip, “Go over and walk along beside the carriage.” 30 Philip ran over and heard the man reading from the prophet Isaiah. Philip asked, “Do you understand what you are reading?” 31 The man replied, “How can I, unless someone instructs me?” And he urged Philip to come up into the carriage and sit with him.
The call should not be for less church but for more. We should be encouraging other Christians and even non-Christians to hold off on their normal Christmas activities for just a little while. Choosing to instead put the one whom the Holiday, meaning Holy day, gets its name from. Though I realize such a call is like speaking to a brick wall in our modern Christian culture. Seeing that so many have lost or let go of the concept of putting Christ before themselves.
Matthew 6:33 (NLT)
33 Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.
John 3:30 (NLT)
30 He must become greater and greater, and I must become less and less.
Sadly though it seems even in various factions of the church the true meaning of Christmas has been lost. Today it is simply seen as a day of family, fun, indulgence, self-gratification, and a free pass on gluttony. Lacking any true focus placed on the birth of Christ. A birth that represents much more than a life entering into the world.
The Birth of Jesus was the moment salvation entered our world. It is when God humbled himself, stepped down from the throne of Heaven, and took on the flesh of a man. All to die an unimaginably horrible death on the cross so we could be saved. Jesus knew all that was before Him and was willing to face it all to save us while we were yet sinners. Can we not put aside ourselves for one day, just one morning even, to honor Him? To thank Him for His undeserved free gift of love to our broken world?
Matthew 1:23 (NLT)
23 “Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel, which means ‘God is with us.’ ”
Luke 2:9–11 (NLT)
9 Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them. They were terrified, 10 but the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. 11 The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David!
Philippians 2:5–8 (NLT)
5 You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. 6 Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. 7 Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, 8 he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross.
Romans 5:8 (NLT)
8 But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.
Could it be said that a better day exists to gather with the body of Christ and offer Him praise for all this and more than when the Lord’s day and Christmas overlap? It seems to me that those who truly love the Lord and serve Him whole heartily would share in the mindset of David on such a day. Glad to have the blessed opportunity to go to the house of the Lord. There will be other days for complete rest and time with family. In fact, there is the Saturday before Christmas as well as the Monday after that the majority of people will have off work in observation of the Sunday Holiday to focus on just that. So let all the people of God enter into His courts with glad tidings and a song of thanksgiving on our lips this Sunday, December 25th, 2022.
Psalm 122:1 (NLT)
1 I was glad when they said to me, “Let us go to the house of the Lord.”
Psalm 100:4 (NLT)
4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving; go into his courts with praise. Give thanks to him and praise his name.
Yes, it is possible to put God first, offer songs of praise, pray, and even experience the presence of God move at home. Many of us know very well how possible it is to do, having to do just that in 2020. But the simple question is will you really do it? Will you give God the same focus, time, energy, and reverence that you would in church? I know myself the answer would be no. I believe the same would be true for many others who are honest with themselves. Our homes are filled with countless distractions on a regular day let alone Christmas.
Will God truly receive the honor He is worthy of as we wrangle overly stimulated kids ready to tear open gifts, make a special breakfast, and try to fit in all our favorites Christmas movies? By choosing to attend church in person we eliminate all that for a short time and can really focus on God. Then when we get home everything else will still be there waiting for us. Nothing lost but something greater gained. Truly, I believe the Christmas experience at home will be better after a morning spent in church. Our children won’t remember the gifts we give this year when they are old. But putting ourselves aside for a moment to put God first by going to church even on Christmas could cement their faith for years to come.
Proverbs 22:6 (NLT)
6 Direct your children onto the right path, and when they are older, they will not leave it.
I understand that not everyone will agree with my stance on this issue and that’s fine. Praise God we don’t have to agree on everything, but we do have to be cordial. I ask those with other viewpoints to do two things. First, remember the scriptures that say the heart is deceitful above all things and that a man’s ways seem right in His own eyes. It’s very easy to convince yourself you are right and write off every opposing message even when you’re wrong. Sadly this seems even more true when it comes to satisfying the flesh over the spirit. Secondly, don’t neglect prayer on such an issue of faith. Seek the wisdom and guidance of God concerning what to do this Christmas.
From all of us at Every Day, Apostolic Merry Christmas and God Bless!
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