PK’s Ponderings
Why I Will Be in Corporate Worship on Christmas
Sunday Morning
Much
has been written about the decision by several churches to be “closed” this
upcoming Sunday because it also happens to be Christmas. While I do think this decision is misguided
at best, and worldly at worst, I do not want to spend
my time criticizing others. Instead, let
me share with you, in a more positive manner, the reasons why I am looking
forward to being in corporate, gathered worship on Christmas Sunday Morning.
1.
For Biblical Reasons:
We see in the pages of the New Testament, a pattern unfolding for the
believers and followers of Christ. This
pattern is the gathering for corporate worship by believers on the first day of
the week, the Lord’s Day. (Acts 20:7, 1
Corinthians 16:2; and Revelation 1:10)
The explanation why John, the beloved disciple, does not mention in
Revelation 1:10 other believers in a gathered worship time is only because he
was in exile for being a follower of Christ, and could not be with other
Christians on the Lord’s Day. The reason
that the first day of the week was chosen was because it would be a weekly
reminder of the resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ from the death
He bore for our sins. Each week, each
first day of the week is to be a celebration of the blessed hope we have in
Christ Jesus. Before
2. For Theological Reasons: Connected closely
to the first reason given above, what better way to celebrate Christ’s Birth,
than to remember the purpose of His coming, and the success
of His goal? Jesus was not born to
remain in a manger stall cooing and wooing.
Instead, the reason why the immortal, invisible, all wise Son God was
born in flesh, was to be able to secure the salvation of all those that the
Father had given Him, (John 6:35-40). So
Christmas, particularly Christmas on a Sunday, gives all who gather the
opportunity to celebrate the beginning, and the earthly end of Jesus’
coming. Christmas on Sunday forces us to
look beyond the Cradle, to the Cross, to the Resurrection, and to His Coming
again.
3. For Family Reasons: Here, you might
ask: “Wait
a minute, isn’t this the reason why some churches are choosing not to meet on
Christmas Sunday Morning?” Yes, but
I have something else in mind. It is not
my earthly family that is the focus of my Christmas Sunday, but rather that
family that is created by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. My brothers and sisters in Christ, born by
His blood, and eternally adopted together by an act of God, this is the family
I am looking forward to being with on Christmas Sunday, because this is the
family that I shall be with for all eternity!
“You mean the family of God is
more important than your earthly family?
How cold is that?” What may sound cold to spiritually dead and
ailing ears is precisely the heart and voice of our Lord Jesus! Remember in Matthew 12:46-50 the story of
Jesus teaching the multitudes, and Jesus’ mother and brothers came to speak to
Him? Jesus did not stop everything in
order to spend time with His earthly family.
Instead, he redefined who was His family, and reprioritized who He was going
to spend time with, when, looking at those who were His disciples, He said “Behold My mother and My
brothers! For whoever does the will of
My Father who is in heaven, he is My brother and
sister and mother.” So this
Christmas Morning, which happens to be on Sunday, I will be with my family of
the fellow-redeemed before the throne of God, corporately worshipping the One
who was born for us – a Savior, Christ the Lord. Got earthly family members coming into
town? Bring them Sunday morning to meet
the “other” members of your family, your eternal family that is!
4. For Evangelistic Reasons: Gathering together
on Christmas Sunday Morning shows a fallen world that Christmas is not about us
but about Him. The Day is not about
being huddled around trees and presents and warm fires, but primarily about the
worship of Christ. Not meeting together
on Christmas Sunday Morning may only serve to confuse those who watch us into
believing that perhaps Christmas really is about Hallmark family moments,
ripping open presents and getting fattened on special meals. In short, by believers not meeting together
on Christmas Sunday Morning, we may be sending the unintended message
“Christmas – it really is about us!” So,
as I do not want to send that message, I am gladly gathering with other
believers this Christmas Sunday Morning!
5. For Reasons of Holiness and Sanctification: The Bible calls believers a people who are “peculiar”,
“called out” and “separate” from the world of unbelievers. My meeting with other believers in Christ, my
family in Christ, even ,and especially, on Christmas
Sunday Morning, helps me to remember and practice this.
6. For Reasons of Consistency: If I believe it is
important to gather and worship every one of the previous 51 Lord’s Day’s of
the year – why not the Lord’s Day that also happens to be December 25th? If I do not flinch or think twice about
meeting with my heaven-bound family on Easter, why should I do so because this
upcoming Sunday happens to be Christmas?
We meet on Easter Sunday Morning precisely because it provides the
opportunity to celebrate a triumphant Christ Jesus. So should, and does Christmas when it is on a
Sunday. (See Reason 2, above)
By the
way, did I mention it – the greatest reason for me to be in corporate worship
this upcoming Christmas Sunday Morning?
Because I love the Lord Jesus and because I love His people! Oh, that He would grant the gift of increased
love in the year to come!
So
there you have them, some of the reasons why I will be in corporate worship this
upcoming Christmas Sunday Morning. I
hope to see you there! Merry
Christmas! Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased!
