WARNING: I realize before even typing the first word of this post that it could have the potential to step on toes or offend. That is not my intention whatsoever. You may disagree or have another perspective, and I can appreciate that. Please post your comments if so. This is a post that I believe could spark some good discussion, and that is my purpose in presenting it here. I am not trying to preach. I am not trying to condemn. I am just trying to challenge.
Now, having qualified this post, with hopefully what you have seen is a glimpse of my heart, here is what it's all about.
Canceling church gatherings because of Christmas. The mere thought of considering this is very confusing to me. Now, even as I say that, I understand why some churches have considered it and some are actually doing it. Christmas is a time when traditions are very strong. Every family has a routine. I understand this as much as anyone. I am not a traditionalist by any stretch of the imagination... except during Christmas. I love the traditions of Christmas. In some way it keeps you close to your childhood, when the Christmas spirit is strongest. And as an adult sometimes those childhood Christmas memories become clouded by all of the stress of the holiday. But the traditions are what bring us back. Every family probably has their own routine on Christmas morning, and we don't want our routines disturbed by anything.
But every seven years Christmas Day falls on a Sunday; the day when most Christians have designated as a time to gather with their new family, their brothers and sisters in Jesus Christ. In many ways, that gathering is intended to be a celebration of Christmas and Easter all wrapped into one, every week! There is no doubt that the church worship gatherings are about Jesus, for Jesus, to Jesus, and with Jesus. I don't think anyone would dispute that Jesus is the reason WHY Christians gather together on a designated day.
But here's another question to consider. Why do we celebrate and observe Christmas? I know that we live in a world today where that question is beginning to become more and more difficult to answer. We've become inundated with "holiday festivals" and "winter celebrations" so much that the Christmas holiday has become a blend of whatever you want to celebrate. I have no qualms with people desiring to celebrate their own holiday in their own way if they do not believe in Jesus as God. But at some point we do have to go to the roots of why we observe this holiday. When I say we I am referring to Christians. A couple thousand years ago our ancient brothers and sisters adopted the pagan Winter Solstice (practically a month-long party) as an opportunity to celebrate Jesus' birth. So ever since then it has been passed down from generation to generation, society to society, as primarily a "Jesus" holiday. In recent years other religions have celebrated it in their own way. I have no problem with this. I am not going to pull a Dobsonesque soapbox out here and begin protesting.
But what I am speaking of is YOU and ME. Why do we celebrate Christmas? You know the answer. JESUS. Now, each of us have added our own traditions to the celebration of Jesus. Like getting up early on Christmas morning to open gifts, or to have a nice breakfast with the family, or perhaps to go and visit other family members. I know some families even do a special birthday celebration for Jesus on Christmas morning, with cake and ice cream and everything. I think that's wonderful! In fact, if we just did these kinds of family worship celebrations all year long, on a weekly basis, just imagine how much different our families might be!
Now, back to my original dilemma. As I was preparing some things for our Christmas Day gathering the thought occurred to me, maybe we should just cancel the gathering on Christmas Day Sunday. You can build a case for canceling. (A) We've always said that Oasis is not about meetings, but about being the church wherever you are, and we have especially encouraged everyone to "be the church" at home with their families. (B) We could encourage everyone to take time during their Christmas morning to put the focus on worship in their own homes, and to even share communion with their families. Perhaps a new Christmas tradition would begin in doing so. (C) Canceling on Christmas Day would simply take the pressure off of everyone to feel like they have to "come to church."
Those are all good reasons. But here's my case for going ahead and encouraging everyone to gather. First of all, we're talking about a break in the normal Christmas Day tradition once every seven years. As a "Christmas traditionalist" myself, even I could handle that. It may even be a refreshing change. But the greatest reason comes back to the very foundational purposes for why we celebrate both events. Why do we observe Christmas? For Jesus. Everything else is secondary. If I have a difficult time with this, then perhaps I have become disoriented like the majority of Christmas worshipers. Yes, I said "Christmas worshipers". You see, there are Jesus-worshipers, and then there are Christmas-worshipers. Which are you? A Christmas worshiper too easily allows the STUFF of the Christmas holiday to step in front of the primary object of our worship. The Bible has a word for that. God calls it "idolatry" (see, I told you this post wasn't going to be an easy, warm-fuzzy type of post).
What is all the "stuff" of Christmas I might be referring to as idolatry? Well, to name a few: the decor, the lights, the trees, the parties, the presents, the food, the traditions. I could go on. Right now you are saying, "Chris, you've lost your mind! You've become a no-fun legalist!" But just let me continue. Stay with me here. I DO NOT believe that all of those things are idolatry in and of themselves. In fact, I love them and participate in all of them myself. Go back to the end of the last paragraph and re-read what I described as idolatry. It's whenever "the stuff" steps in front of the primary object of our worship. You see, all of the stuff of Christmas actually has the potential to either ASSIST your worship of Jesus, or GET IN THE WAY of your worship of Jesus. And depending on what you allow it to do will determine whether or not you are being a Jesus-worshiper or a Christmas-worshiper. There are two kinds of worship. Worship of the Creator God, Jehovah; or idolatry. God says there is no God but Him. Everything else is created by men and women of earth, and therefore becomes idolatry. The fact is I have the potential of allowing anything in my life to become an object of idol worship. That is, if it comes before Jesus.
Now, please do not read what I am NOT saying. I am not saying that anyone who stays home from the church gathering on Christmas morning or any church who chooses to cancel their gathering on Christmas morning is practicing idol worship. In fact, each individual family has the potential to have an incredible time of Jesus-worship as they celebrate together.
But what I am saying is this. Why do something different on a day that is intended to be an even larger celebration of what we celebrate every Sunday morning in the first place? See what I am saying? If the regular Sunday gathering's primary purpose is to celebrate Jesus, and Christmas's primary purpose is to celebrate Jesus, then what a perfect venue to celebrate Christmas! When Christmas Day falls on a Sunday, the day we regularly set aside to gather with our families and brothers and sisters in Christ, then it's like a fusion of these two great celebrations of the same purpose. As I said above, every Sunday is in essence a celebration of Christmas. So when that ONE great day, which we set aside to celebrate the actual birth of Jesus, happens to fall on a Sunday, what an awesome time of worship it could be!
I realize that some families have circumstances that simply may not allow them to come to a Christmas Day church gathering. But for the majority of us, I want to present a challenge to be flexible this year. Add something new to your Christmas tradition (every seven years of course), an hour-and-a-half gathering with other brothers and sisters to celebrate the joy we all share in Jesus.
I want to be honest and transparent as I conclude this writing. The primary reason why I chose to write this is because I was ashamed of something that entered my mind as I pondered Christmas Day being on Sunday this year. Sadly I confess to you that I actually entertained this thought, "Man, I hope church doesn't ruin Christmas Day this year. I hope it doesn't get in the way of our family traditions."
That's when I realized that my traditions were WAY to meaningful to me. And it was time for me to re-evaluate my Christmastime worship. I confessed my sin to God as an idolater, a worshiper of Christmas. I want to be a worshiper of Jesus. In everything. Especially on His birthday. Think of the absurdity in those thoughts above. It's like saying, "Man, I hope the celebration of the birthday of Jesus doesn't ruin the celebration of the birthday of Jesus."
So, yes, Oasis will gather on Christmas Day to celebrate the birthday of our Lord, Jesus Christ. It will be a shorter gathering in order to respect the time we all have set aside with our personal families for the rest of the day. But although shorter, it will be filled with multiple expressions of worship for Jesus. It's His birthday, so we are going to do what we do on everyone else's birthday we know and love. We are going to bring him gifts. Think of what all is brought to birthday parties: gifts, some home-made and some purchased; cards with money inside; cards with poems or writings that describe how we feel about the person; personalized songs, usually "Happy Birthday"; and food.
So for Jesus' birthday, perhaps some will bring a gift they have made, a piece of art that represents their love and appreciation for Jesus. Perhaps some will sing personalized songs to show their love and appreciation for Him. Perhaps some will bring food as an offering of their love and appreciation for Jesus. Just use your imagination. There are many, many ideas for how we can BRING HIM GIFTS. I believe this Christmas could possibly be the best Christmas my family has experienced in the last six or seven years. This year we have a built-in reminder for why we celebrate the holiday. It's called our Oasis church family gathering, 10:00am-11:30am at the old American Legion building.
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