I think like a pastor - sorry! After many years in the ministry, it's a liability!
I love the holy days in our year! I always planned more carefully for these celebrations. For one reason, more people attend on Christmas and Easter! [Mother's Day runs a close third! 😉]
I heard an interview yesterday where a reporter spoke of her Episcopalian pastor who always joked that on Christmas Sunday he should begin his message with the words: "As I was saying...", in order to connect with all the people who had last attended on Easter Sunday! I have to admit, I did find that story to be funny!
But, bottom line, we rejoice on any Sunday when people come to worship! This same pastor coached his people every year on the Sunday before these novalike Sundays. He reminded his congregation before Easter and Christmas to be welcoming to these people who would fill the seats on the next Sunday. He encouraged them to be friendly and accepting. He ended by echoing how good it would be if some of these folks began attending more often! [I think I would like this pastor!]
Now that I'm retired, I feel freer to express myself. It always has bothered me how big a deal we make of Christmas. Hey, don't get upset with me - hear me out, please.
It is a great holiday and I have celebrated it creatively and enthusiastically through the years. But...[you knew that was coming, didn't you?]
Celebrating the arrival of Christ - especially recalling the dramatic and utterly remarkable details of the narrative - certainly welcomes celebration and wonder! We should replicate that night and its WONDER-FULL events and meaning! My childlike mind lights up with the celebration of Christmas.
But let's keep things in perspective. The primary reason for us to celebrate Christmas is because it set the stage for us to observe and commemorate what happened on Easter [Resurrection Sunday]! This is the believer's true HOLY-DAY! This is the day that transformed us:
- from darkness to light
- from despair to hope
- from eternal punishment to eternal life and joy
- from death to life!
It's a delicate balance that we should speak about with our families and children.
WE CELEBRATE CHRISTMAS BECAUSE OF THE COMING OF CHRIST!
WE CELEBRATE RESURRECTION SUNDAY BECAUSE OF THE REDEEMING SACRIFICE OF CHRIST!
Both are high, holy days for the follower of Christ!
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Actually - while I'm on the topic - I have always been disappointed in the frequent failure to celebrate Pentecost Sunday [which is traditionally observed fifty days after Easter.]
As we recall the events of that day, we must recognize the dynamic meaning it has for us!
This is delicate, but let's look closely:
If we generally recognize the Old Testament Period as dominated and led by God-the-Father...
And if we generally recognize most of the New Testament as being dominated by JESUS [God-the-Son]...
Then, isn't it reasonable that we should also recognize the period after Christ's ascension as dominated by the HOLY SPIRIT [God-the-Spirit]?
WE LIVE IN THE AGE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT! WE SHOULD CELEBRATE AND OBSERVE THIS! WE ARE WRITING THE REST OF THE BOOK OF ACTS!
A few years ago, the Bethel Church added a dramatic celebration on this day to help us catch the glory and wonder of Pentecost. Three men from the congregation entered the sanctuary speaking the 'GOOD NEWS' in their native languages: Chinese, Turkish and Italian! It helped the congregation to appreciate the original circumstances of this day historically! It added meaning, value and a little bit of humor to our Lord's Day!
I can't overemphasize the need for creativity in worship - especially in the 21st century! We must recognize the values of TRADITION, while also translating it to a post-Christian population! To refuse or fail to do so runs a significant risk of being irrelevant! Irrelevance produces no fruit! It is likely the reason we are closing so many churches in our American culture.
The Church should be one of the most creative places in our culture! We have the most important message! We have a God-assigned responsibility! We are compelled to engage those who have not recognized Jesus as Lord in a way that challenges them intellectually, reasonably, boldly, relevantly and creatively! WE ARE THE CHURCH! WE HAVE A MISSION! WE HAVE THE EMPOWERMENT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT!
AMEN ❗️❤️
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