Christmas on a Sunday

Why Our Church is Open Christmas Day...

Christmas is the day we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. While we don't know that it happened December 25, we know he was born on a particular day, and that reality should be commemorated. Periodically, Christmas day is on a Sunday. For some it is an opportunity, while for others it is a challenge. Some large churches have decided to close on Sunday the 25th to allow people to stay home. We have not embraced that vision. Here are some reasons:

• Skipping worship and closing church on the day we acknowledge the birth of Jesus is hardly the best way to center our thoughts on the coming of this Savior. If, for example, it is my birthday and my own children spend that day avoiding me and buying presents for one another, I have to question whether they may missed the whole point. Is it really so very different with Jesus? To ignore His house on His day is a slap in His face rather than a testimony to our passion for Him and service to Him.
• The idea that family time is more important than worship time is not a biblical principle. Jesus offered blessing and reward in heaven for those who left family to follow Him. The Old Testament likewise made times of corporate worship of such importance that a groom should leave his honeymoon to attend. Is family important? Yes. Is Jesus more important? Yes.
• Those closing cite a convenience issue. But in our hectic world, it is always inconvenient to set aside time to worship our Lord and Savior. Most families I know are busier on a typical weekend than they are on Christmas weekend. No soccer, no school, none of this on a Christmas weekend. The convenience argument would have churches close down more often.
• For those without family in the area, Christmas can be a lonely time. To ignore the widow, the out of town "alien", and others is simply not Biblical.