The lost claim it is the spirit of the season, Jesus isn’t needed
There are many well-meaning Christians that have bought into the idea that Jesus and His virgin birth become secondary. This is driven by the worldly concept that it is not necessary to believe in Jesus to celebrate Christmas. Over the years, Christians in the West have been willing to accept this idea. Instead of being firm in the acknowledgement of what Christmas is – recognizing the birth of Jesus, the Son of God – Christians have taken the route suggested by the lost world. Celebrate the season, wish others “happy holidays” but whatever you do, do not “push” Jesus on anyone. No one wants to be considered as offensive so Christians adopt the world’s view to avoid being labeled as radical, judgmental, or pushy.
This attitude is now manifesting itself inside the church. This year, many churches have decided to cancel Sunday Christmas services since Christmas, once celebrated as the birth of our Lord and Savior, has been transformed into a time exclusively for families. The church has continued to adopt many of the lost world’s views on the interpretation of Christmas and of not needing the necessity of Jesus to celebrate Christmas.
If the church isn’t Christ-centered…
From my point of view, there is a holiness that accompanies Sunday when Christmas happens to fall on a Sunday. Throughout the New Testament, the church is called the bride of Christ. When a church decides it’s not convenient to meet on Sunday because it happens to be Christmas, that local assembly of believers are turning their backs to the one they proclaim to love and want to serve. Christians worship the Lord not because it is convenient or it fits into our schedules. A church that is not Christ-centered will easily adopt the world’s view of conveniences and inconveniences. I believe the reason many churches are even having the discussion to cancel Sunday morning services are because it has lost its first love.
The person tried to justify their pastor’s stand by claiming more people will come to a Christmas church service if it wasn’t held on Sunday – Christmas morning! This is another “Babylonian expediency” and comes with its own set of dangers. If the bride of Christ cannot make the time for her Lord and Savior on the date celebrated as His birth, then how can the bride claim to be Christ-centered? One of the missions of the church is to reach out to the lost world. Another of the missions of the church is to edify and strengthen those members that make up the local body of Christ. To neglect the saints of God in favor of reaching the lost is not only irresponsible, it runs contrary to the teachings of Jesus and the apostles.
I write this not with a spirit of legalism…
I have come to understand and appreciate the common sense and simplicity of Christ’s message. Whatever we love is what we place as being first in our lives. Even Jesus taught that wherever our treasure is, our hearts are there as well. Our society is full of social Christians who see their faith through eyes of convenience and not through a heart led by faith. It must break the Lord’s heart when He hears Christians say, “well, I know God understands…” Would we be so understanding if a family member chose to go out with their friends and not celebrate our birthday? Would we be understanding if we gave someone our very best, yet they only did token acts in return?
As my regular readers know, from 1988 to 2006 I was living a lie. For all practical purposes, I was a social Christian. There was no real spiritual growth and no real sign of Christ dwelling within my heart. When I actually received Jesus as my personal Lord and Saviour, something changed within my heart. I no longer saw the things through eyes tainted by sin and the flesh. I was aware of God’s infinite grace towards me. As I have continued to grow in my faith I no longer see things the same way. If God could send His very best to redeem me then I owe Him nothing less than my best in all that I do – even if the world considers it to be inconvenient!
