There was an article about this in the local paper. Three churches will be closed here (Sacramento, CA area). We will definitely have morning and evening worship at my church. My pastor laments Christmas.
I agree that it isn't sad that churches don't have Christmas Eve services, but I think it is quite sad that they are cancelling services on Christmas. This is because Christmas is on a Sunday. There is a Biblical mandate for Sunday worship. There isn't such a madate for Christmas Day worship or Christmas Eve worship. By "worship" I am speaking of coporate worship, BTW.
These quotes by Spurgeon that Tom Ascol posted on his blog would be worth reading.
True godliness is a sincere feeling which loves God as Father as much as it fears and reverences Him as Lord, embraces His righteousness, and dreads offending Him worse than death~ Calvin
I agree that it isn't sad that churches don't have Christmas Eve services, but I think it is quite sad that they are cancelling services on Christmas. This is because Christmas is on a Sunday. There is a Biblical mandate for Sunday worship. There isn't such a madate for Christmas Day worship or Christmas Eve worship. By "worship" I am speaking of coporate worship, BTW.
Of course, I agree with you completely. My comments had to do with li0scc0's seeming insistence that Christmas Day (apart from the Lord's Day) should be celebrated by churches.
Kyle
I tell you, this man went down to his house justified.
Ah thanks for clarifying <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />
True godliness is a sincere feeling which loves God as Father as much as it fears and reverences Him as Lord, embraces His righteousness, and dreads offending Him worse than death~ Calvin
li0scc0 said: But why wouldn't we celebrate the Advent of our Lord and Savior?
The first know celebration of Jesus's birth does not happen until the mid 300's. Would you say that all the churches before that was wrong?
Is not the day they selected (25 Dec) in the mid 300's associated with the birth of Mithra (alluded to in Ezra 1:8, 4:7) and associated with a pagan ritual ?
Quote
Mithra (app. 2500 years before the birth of Christ)
This god is said to have been born in a cave where shepherds came to worship him, believing him to be a son of god. His birthday was celebrated each year on December 25th. He was believed to have been killed by the god of darkness but had later risen from the dead. His resurrection was celebrated each year in the early spring. In observance of this, a white bull or lamb was slain over a metal grating. Underneath the grating, blood from the lamb dripped down and "baptized" new converts who would join Mithra in the eternal war against evil. His followers then ate bread and wine in a mass communion meal. Mithraism and Christianity
Is not the day they selected (25 Dec) in the mid 300's associated with the birth of Mithra (alluded to in Ezra 1:8, 4:7) and associated with a pagan ritual ?
Quote
Mithra (app. 2500 years before the birth of Christ)
This god is said to have been born in a cave where shepherds came to worship him, believing him to be a son of god. His birthday was celebrated each year on December 25th. He was believed to have been killed by the god of darkness but had later risen from the dead. His resurrection was celebrated each year in the early spring. In observance of this, a white bull or lamb was slain over a metal grating. Underneath the grating, blood from the lamb dripped down and "baptized" new converts who would join Mithra in the eternal war against evil. His followers then ate bread and wine in a mass communion meal. Mithraism and Christianity
Also you should wonder why they picked a date which was after shepards came back from the fields with the flocks. Why pick a date with pagan roots unless you want to appease the pagans.
