Click here for article
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/12/09/national/09church.html?ei=5070&en=189228fcbdb045fa&ex=1135314000&pagewanted=all
Many of you may have been hearing, as I have, the many different debates going on this Christmas Season. What is politically correct?
"Merry Christmas" or "Happy Holidays"? People are wanting to take the meaning of Christmas out of Christmas and put in Holidays instead. That is interesting enough, but I recently heard a radio show that got into a VERY heated discussion regarding mega churches not having services on Christmas. Even the NY times got into the discussion. The above site was for the NY time article that was written. THe spokesman for WIllow Creek here in the Chicagoland area said that they would like to not only allow their volunteers to have time off, but for all to have time with their families.
“If our target and our mission is to reach the unchurched, basically the people who don’t go to church, how likely is it that they’ll be going to church on Christmas morning?” Willow Creek’s Cally Parkinson said, according to the Associated Press.
Interesting question?
Back to the debate that I heard on the radio. Regarding the issue of spending time with family...
Who is our family? In Luke 14:26, Jesus says, "If anyone cones to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters-yes even his own life-he cannot be my disciple." This was the argument made in the debate. If we say we are taking time off from church to be with our family, what are we distinquishing as our family? Of course our parents, wives and children, but is the more important family the family of God? If the head of the family is being celebrated on a day and that is not celebrated, what does that say?
There will always be debate. No matter what decisions are made, someone will always have an opposite opinion. But, as fellow Christians, what do y'all think about this issue? Let me know.
Merry Christmas!
A place to reconnect with friends-old and new, and to learn about the lives, struggles, and triumphs of each other as we live the lives God has called us to.
2 comments:
I usually like most things Willow Creek does, but I've got to say, I think they missed the boat this year. I think it's nice that they offered a DVD to help people worship at home, but given their high profile (and the high profiles of other megachurches following suit) they had to realize that they were sending not just a message to their congregation but to the world: Christmas is about YOU, not about HIM. Since when do we worship on Sunday mornings for our own sake, Christmas or not? Sure, they may have had low attendance, and many of them are seekers who would not attend anyway, but there are some of us for whom Christmas is about celebrating with our own family AND the family of God. In what other environment do we get to light the Advent candle, sing Christmas carols, and experience Christmas corporately? Maybe I'm too traditional, but I'll be in church Christmas morning, and I'm thankful for churches who have their doors open to allow me to do so.
Merry Christmas!
Kimmy! Where are you!?! I still don't know how your Christmas was!
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