Are you having church on Christmas Day?

newlamb said:

We are having a service Christmas Eve, of course, and the normal 2 services Sunday a.m. with Sunday School. I think the Sunday evening service is out, though.

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Yeppers Same here. Except there will be no Sunday school I'm sure.
Jan

We will have the morning service

New_Wineskin said:

I think that it is a great idea . In fact , at least once a month off would be a great idea - allow the people a time outside of a meeting and think about simply being with the Lord .

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People have 6 days a week to "think about simply being with the Lord". We should always be thinking about being with the Lord. We should constantly be in a state of fellowship, no matter where we are or what we're doing. Even when we're working, we should be focused on doing it as unto the Lord. Giving people time off church doesn't mean they're going to take that time to reflect on the Lord.


To the OP:

Yes, my church will have service Christmas Day. Every church I've ever attended on a regular basis has had church on Sunday even on Christmas. The only time church has ever been canceled is when the weather is so inclement that it would be dangerous to go out. The service might be shorter, but there is always a service.

immersedingrace said:

People have 6 days a week to "think about simply being with the Lord". We should always be thinking about being with the Lord. We should constantly be in a state of fellowship, no matter where we are or what we're doing. Even when we're working, we should be focused on doing it as unto the Lord.

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I have 7 days a week to do those things . I must be special .

Giving people time off church doesn't mean they're going to take that time to reflect on the Lord.

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People in "church" doesn't mean that they are reflecting on the Lord , either . If one *is* doing those things that you mentioned that people "should" do , then taking off "church" would mean nothing as they know that the Lord is not confined in a couple hour meeting a week . However , I consider that many people go to "church" because they are under the impression that they "must" and unaware that they can have all of those things outside of a scheduled meeting .

Yes, Sunday AM
No, Saunday PM
but we'll be out of town and not going to church with the folks we're staying with, so guess we're taking time off & reflecting on the Lord

akasmom said:

Yes, Sunday AM
No, Saunday PM
but we'll be out of town and not going to church with the folks we're staying with, so guess we're taking time off & reflecting on the Lord

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Is there a reason why you won't go to church with the people you will be staying with?

Yes...only one service time though.

New_Wineskin said:

I have 7 days a week to do those things . I must be special .

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Ok smarty pants! I thinkn you know what I meant.

New_Wineskin said:

People in "church" doesn't mean that they are reflecting on the Lord , either . If one *is* doing those things that you mentioned that people "should" do , then taking off "church" would mean nothing as they know that the Lord is not confined in a couple hour meeting a week . However , I consider that many people go to "church" because they are under the impression that they "must" and unaware that they can have all of those things outside of a scheduled meeting .

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That's true as well. However, I simply meant that many people feel the need for structure of some sort. A time and a place to focus on the Lord.

Whereas I agree that some people feel the "need" to go to church because they are "unaware" that God exists elsewhere, the NT does tell us not to give up "meeting together" (Hebrews 10:5). To me, that says that we also need fellowship with one another within the body of Christ. We need the encouragement of others. Again, yes, we can get that outside of church, however, many don't have the time outside a regularly scheduled "meeting" to do that. I for one don't work in a Christian environment and don't have the opportunity to fellowship with many Christians outside of church except on the day that has been set aside for that.

Interestingly enough, I think all of us expect attendance to be lower on Christmas Day than it would otherwise be. The excuse is that people go out of town. Seems we all ought to go to assembly wherever we are, and we should take our heathen families with us!!

Danny

NacDan said:

Seems we all ought to go to assembly wherever we are, and we should take our heathen families with us!!

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Yup - don't ask them - let's just drag 'em in by the hair, kickin' and screamin' folks!

After all - it's for their own good!

God bless, love Sue

You have a point though Danny - maybe we could ask someone we think wouldn't want to go, to come along to something this Christmas. Worst that can happen is they say no.

We are have the 2 regular Sunday morning services but no evening service.

Yes we do, but if I thought I needed more time with my family, I wouldn't go.

Svt4Him said:

Yes we do, but if I thought I needed more time with my family, I wouldn't go.

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But which is more important? God or family? Is it so hard to take a couple of hours to spend time with the Lord in His house on His birthday? Even if it is not possible for some people to go - why on earth would a minister cancel services? Even if only one person comes through the door to be ministered to shouldn't there still be services?

Haha, no way. I feel no need to leave my house on Christmas morning. I can have "church" with my family wherever we are. No need to get dressed and go hear someone preach, watch a play, etc.

If I were celebrating Christmas with family that wasn't born again, I wouldn't drag them to church either. If they were in my house, they would be in "church". Church isn't a building. Having church is having 2 or more gathered in His name. I would give them the Gospel while they were in my house. They don't need to go to church to hear about God if they're around me.

Br. Max... You sound a tad religious about this whole thing. "God or family?"... You can celebrate and be with God while you're at home with your family. In your nice, warm house in comfortable clothes and warm food ready to eat. Just like what my family and I will be doing.

I don't know about you, but my house is His house. My body is his house. I can celebrate his birthday anywhere. If he told me to go to the church building, I would. Otherwise, there's no need.

Even if my church was having a service in the building, I don't think I would attend on Christmas morning.

FireOfGod said:

Haha, no way. I feel no need to leave my house on Christmas morning. I can have "church" with my family wherever we are. No need to get dressed and go hear someone preach, watch a play, etc.

If I were celebrating Christmas with family that wasn't born again, I wouldn't drag them to church either. If they were in my house, they would be in "church". Church isn't a building. Having church is having 2 or more gathered in His name. I would give them the Gospel while they were in my house. They don't need to go to church to hear about God if they're around me.

Br. Max... You sound a tad religious about this whole thing. "God or family?"... You can celebrate and be with God while you're at home with your family. In your nice, warm house in comfortable clothes and warm food ready to eat. Just like what my family and I will be doing.

I don't know about you, but my house is His house. My body is his house. I can celebrate his birthday anywhere. If he told me to go to the church building, I would. Otherwise, there's no need.

Even if my church was having a service in the building, I don't think I would attend on Christmas morning.

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I love the whole "God can come to me" thing. What did God say to Abram? Did he say stay home and I will make covenant with you? I'm not saying that you cannot worship God where ever you are - but there is a definite instruction in the Bible to be in attendance upon the Lord's House, an instruction to search for and meet God outside of our comfort zones, an instruction to gather together as a body to worship, and instruction that we are to seek first the kingdom of heaven.

Br. Max said:

I love the whole "God can come to me" thing. What did God say to Abram? Did he say stay home and I will make covenant with you? I'm not saying that you cannot worship God where ever you are - but there is a definite instruction in the Bible to be in attendance upon the Lord's House, an instruction to search for and meet God outside of our comfort zones, an instruction to gather together as a body to worship, and instruction that we are to seek first the kingdom of heaven.

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Weeeell I didn't say, nor would ever say "God can come to me".

God isn't in a far away, distant world in the first place. He lives inside of me. The Lord's house is the church. The Lord's house isn't a church building, it's church. Wherever God's welcome. He is welcome in my house, in fact, my house is His house and His house is my house.

I, by all means, am rarely in my "comfort zone". I'm more uncomfortable than I am comfortable, really. I see nothing wrong with being in my own house with my family on Christmas morning.

Why is it such a big deal to be in church on Christmas morning anyway?

FireOfGod said:

Weeeell I didn't say, nor would ever say "God can come to me".

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Good. Because I've bumped into too many people with that mind set.

God isn't in a far away, distant world in the first place. He lives inside of me. The Lord's house is the church. The Lord's house isn't a church building, it's church. Wherever God's welcome. He is welcome in my house, in fact, my house is His house and His house is my house.

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So let me ask you this - if your house is His - would you give it away if He asked you? Would you make your family homeless if God had need of your house for someone else? Be careful what you say. You may find yourself obliged to something quite other than what you intended.

I, by all means, am rarely in my "comfort zone". I'm more uncomfortable than I am comfortable, really. I see nothing wrong with being in my own house with my family on Christmas morning.

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And what is wrong with teaching the kids delayed gratification by taking them to church first. The whole seek first thing.

Why is it such a big deal to be in church on Christmas morning anyway?

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Because On that day we remember the sacrifice of the father in sending His Son into the world to be given up for men. Because on Christmas we rejoice at the coming of the savior. Because on Christmas more than most any other time of the year we are one family and should gather as such.

Stay home if that is what you feel God is leading you to do. But be sure that it is God and not your own will that you are doing.

We are having a 6PM service instead of our normal 9 and 11 AM services. I can't wait!

Br. Max said:

Good. Because I've bumped into too many people with that mind set.

So let me ask you this - if your house is His - would you give it away if He asked you? Would you make your family homeless if God had need of your house for someone else? Be careful what you say. You may find yourself obliged to something quite other than what you intended.

And what is wrong with teaching the kids delayed gratification by taking them to church first. The whole seek first thing.

Because On that day we remember the sacrifice of the father in sending His Son into the world to be given up for men. Because on Christmas we rejoice at the coming of the savior. Because on Christmas more than most any other time of the year we are one family and should gather as such.

Stay home if that is what you feel God is leading you to do. But be sure that it is God and not your own will that you are doing.

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I would absolutely give my house up if He asked me to. Just like I would give my life if I was asked to. Just like I give money when I'm asked to. Just like when God asks me to give anything, I will. Because he will reward me back with even greater! Even if he didn't, I would still obey. I don't by or own anything that I am not prepared to give up. It's not mine in the first place... It's God's.

The Kingdom doesn't abide in a church building though. It is within us. I and my family practically live in church and on the streets doing the Gospel. We constantly seek first the Kingdom. If God tells me to go somewhere Christmas morning, I will... Otherwise, I'm going to stay home.

We're always family... We are all together in the Spirit all the time too!! Come visit me in Heaven on Christmas morning if you'd like. We'll set a time and God can set a place.

I just think that the four walls of a church is no different than the walls of my own house. I spend time with my family on Christmas, as does everyone else in my church. And we are all together in the Spirit celebrating this day. How much more real is the spirit realm than the physical?

Yeah, I'm sure... So far, anyway. If God tells me to go somewhere Christmas morning, I will obey. But as I said, if not, I will stay home.