Services Cancelled Due to Christmas
By Zeke Flores

During the holiday season, we hear much about Christmas. Some speak of "putting Christ back in Christmas." Others bemoan the fact that retail stores "leave Christmas out" of their ads and replace the term "Merry Christmas" with "Happy Holidays." Still others grumble about the increasing "secularization" of Christmas and remind us, "Jesus is the reason for the season." Everywhere we look, there seems to be some complaint, with religious people complaining the loudest, about Christmas and its celebration.

Then, in an enormous show of hypocrisy, large and small churches across the land cancel worship services when December 25 happens to fall on Sunday. Their rationale is that there will be a very low turnout of worshipers because people will be too busy with holiday festivities, so instead of making worship "inconvenient," they cancel services altogether. One man commented, "Let's not impose the church on people. Let's not make church in any way inconvenient." Another woman, a spokesperson for an 8,000-member church, said they'd have multiple worship services on Saturday because, "We believe that you worship every day of the week, not just on a weekend, and you don't have to be in a church building to worship." (Both comments are from an article in the Houston Chronicle; page F4, Dec 10, 2005.)

People who know their Bibles are aware that there is no Bible authorization for celebrating Christmas as Jesus' birthday, or for that matter, for any religious reason. For centuries, Christians have tried, without making much headway, to educate the religious and nonreligious masses about the truth pertaining to this holiday. This does not for a moment mean that we should stop trying, but I'd like to think about the woman's comments quoted above.

It's true that we offer our very lives as "worship" to God (Romans 12:1-2). Everything we say and do must reflect honor and obedience to Him, "so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light." (1 Peter 2:9) It's also true that Christians do not need to be in a "church building" to worship, as Christians themselves are the church, the very place where God dwells (1 Corinthians 3:9,16). But, there are some things that we, as Christians, can do only on Sunday, regardless whether it's a holiday or we expect a low turnout.

We're told to "stimulate one another to love and good deeds" and "encourage one another." We do this only by "not forsaking our assembling together, as is the habit of some." (Hebrews 10:24,25) While this stimulation and encouragement should occur any time we assemble, the Lord stipulated in His word that some things must be done on a certain day--the first day of each and every week.

While we may pray, sing, and preach at any assembly, on any day of the week, these two worship elements--the Lord's supper and giving-- are restricted to the first day of the week, every week. Nothing--not a holiday, and certainly not the expectation of a low turnout-- absolves us from our obligation to partake of the Lord's Supper and give of our means!

When members of Christ's church decide to stay home on December 25, instead of gathering with the church to worship, that decision speaks volumes about their devotion to the Lord and their general spiritual condition. Those who do attend, in spite of the busyness of the day and the fact that there probably will be fewer brethren present, also proclaim much about their devotion to the Lord and their spiritual condition.

Nothing--certainly not a man-made holiday--should keep us from exercising our obligation and privilege of worshiping God on the first day of every week, every time we meet on the first day of the week! Let us show the Redeemer that our devotion to Him is not diminished in spite of what others may do.

This article, although out of season, is priceless! (KMG)


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