John wrote:I'm TOTALLY fine with church services on Christmas day,
2 years ago a huge fight broke out at my dad's place, wherewe were all gathered for our usual family celebration,because some (the believers) wanted to go to church beforeopening presents while others (the non-belivers) wanted usto "skip" church for once, and open presents this time.
Spiritual division in the family became very apparent whenthe non-belivers became very offended by our insistance ofemphasizing church over family-time, which they insistedwas more inportatant than Sunday worship.
It was a VERY ugly situation that, thankfully, was quicklyresolved AFTER we (the believers) got back from church,which only ended up delaying the family gift-exchange byabout 90 minutes.
Satan and his people can be such crybabies, but by God'sgrace, we were not intimidated by them this time.
Discerning Believer wrote:Mike,Yes, they have Resurrection Sunday services once a year. And yes, they do celebrate Christmas, but since I am not the pastor, I have no control over it. In fact, if they wanted to truly celebrate the birth of Christ, do it at the end of September and just call it the Celebration of the Birth of Christ instead of the pagan Christmass.Those are my personal convictions, but if you want to celebrate a pagan holiday and dedicate it to Jesus, knock yourself out.
Weapon of Mass Instruction wrote:Don't worry man. RK is infatuated with me. That's why I spook him so much.BTW, the Weapon of Mass Instruction does not celebrate Christmas. He celebrates Hannukah, although I do not make a big fuss over those that do since the Lord gives us liberty.My personal convictions do not allow me to but I am not going to judge someone on a day neither. There are some that do really try to celebrate it unto the Lord.
". . .celebrate it unto the Lord." Non-sense!
Many Reformed churches hold the sabbath like the puritans UNTIL xmas falls on a Sunday and things suddenly change. How come-is such not hypocrisy? Rather than 'Christmas day' then being like the sabbath as an holy day unto the Lord and a whole day of worship and spirit filled thankfulness and joy, it becomes a day often when one service is cancelled and the other is controlling the children with their toys and a back slapping merry xmas to all after a 'jolly' full xmas dinner and off to relatives. The normal holy reverence to the sabbath day appears then somewhat diluted. The sabbath day the children are told to put away their toys. On a xmas sabbath day they open them!
I have no complaint to any believer who ignores all the Romanist and pagan additions to Christ's birth but keeps the whole day unto the Lord as a day of worship- testifying to all of the Christ born King.
BUT if you are sitting in front of the TV watching xmas telly and Christ has but only a brief part of the day then how come? I am sure such an one is most thankful that Xmas is not this year on a Sunday
My point is how do you keep the day that is a day of 'glorifying and praising God'. A good test for non-reformed evangelicals to?
BTW, the Weapon of Mass Instruction does not celebrate Christmas. He celebrates Hannukah, although I do not make a big fuss over those that do since the Lord gives us liberty.
My personal convictions do not allow me to but I am not going to judge someone on a day neither. There are some that do really try to celebrate it unto the Lord.
Scratching my head wrote:RK, first of all, I am not, never have been, and never will be, a Roman Catholic. Second, you didn't answer the questions, does your church meet every day since you believe in the regulative principle, and third, what is wrong with using it as an opportunity to share the gospel? Are you afraid to answer? Are Yamil and JD right when they say you have all of the questions but none of the answers? Please, just answer the questions.
PS: The Regulative Principle does not call for worship on a daily basis except in the home. If that is what you mean then yes. Also, you shouldn't be so sure about saying that you will never be Roman Catholic.
Scratching my head wrote:Two questions for those so adamantly oppossed to celebrating our Lord's birth; What could possibly be wrong with God's people gathering together for worship? (In Acts it says they met daily. For you sticklers out there, does your church meet daily?); and; Doesn't this time of year give us an excellent "open door" to share the gospel?You folks need to quit being so stodgy (?) and use the opportunity for worship and witnessing!
Who am I to stand in your way? Knock yourselves out. But, when you find yourselves bowing to a piece of bread at a mid-night mass and a priest slipping his chains on you, don't be surprised. Someone tried to warn you. "Hocus Pocus"
Discerning Believer wrote:R.K.If God wanted us to celebrate the birth of Christ, He would have given us the date and time of the year to celebrate it and not follow the world's tradition.When Christ told his disciples to remember his death, we were given the exact time of year this event took place and that was the day before the feast of the Passover. Passover officially begins the 15th day of the month Nisan (Lev. 23:5) This can be converted to the Gregorian calendar. So we know when his death took place.No mention or hint of when the birth even took plce, but we know that it did. God is specific in everything He commands to the minute detail.
The father of John was a priest in the order of Abijah, which corresponed to June 13-19. That is when the announcement came that Elizabeth would conceive which would place his birth 9 months later to March of the following year. Since the conception of Jesus took place about 6 months later, December 13-19, that would put his birth somewhere around September of the following year rather that the traditional Dec. 25.
R. K. Borill wrote:The heavenly host were celebrating the birth of Our Lord Jesus Christ. The first advent. Not "Christ's Mass": Rome's version of Hollywood.
Discerning Believer wrote:Randy,Do you hold strictly to the Regulative Principle of Worship. What God does not expressly commands, He forbids.
Saunders,
The heavenly host were celebrating the birth of Our Lord Jesus Christ. The first advent. Not "Christ's Mass": Rome's version of Hollywood.
Luke 2:12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, 14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
Do you hold strictly to the Regulative Principle of Worship. What God does not expressly commands, He forbids.
