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Articles
“What Do You Do When Christmas Falls on a Sunday?”
What do you do when Christmas falls on a Sunday? As it does every few years, it will again this year. I recently read an article that asked this question and included some answers provided by “a few church communication pros”. Before considering their answers, please keep in mind that the Bible does not even mention Christmas nor imply in any way that we should observe such a day in some religious way. That stated, here are the answers provided:
“Big Christmas Eve” The article said, “Most churches we talked to are putting their focus on Friday and Saturday nights, while taking Sunday off.” The “communications director” at one church said, “We plan to have five Christmas Eve worship services on December 24.” While there is nothing wrong with worshipping God on a Saturday, how does that replace the Sunday worship we find authorized in the New Testament? The early Christians met “on the first day of every week” (1 Cor. 16:2; Acts 20:7), with no other days listed as alternatives. Another director stated, “...this year we’re changing our focus. We are doing Christmas Eve services and all of our marketing will point toward it, and we are wanting it to be a community Christmas Eve service,...” Who focused on the first day of the week in the first place, and what right do we have to change that focus? Is it about what we want or what God wants? The “experience pastor” at one church said, “We’ll do a production of sorts on Friday and Saturday.” I guess if you can change the day you can also change it from worship to “a production” just the same.
“Low-Key Services on Christmas Sunday” Some churches “are offering more laid-back options on Christmas Day.” What is laid back and low key about what we gather to remember on the first day of the week? Would we dare describe the Lord’s death in this way?
“Online Options for Christmas Sunday” No online options existed in the first century, but even if they did can you imagine the early church simply offering a pre-recorded message to take the place of assembling with the saints, as one “creative arts pastor” said they will be doing? Creative? Yes. Scriptural? No.
“Business as Usual” “And still other churches will stick with the normal Sunday plan.” Lakeview is among those churches. After all, it is God’s business and His plan, so we are going to stick to it.
