the irony of the American Church and Christmas I

Our American Christianity is perplexing, revealing, and indicting.

Each year, on the celebration of our country's birth, most of our churches plan their worship gathering around July 4th and offer some form of a patriotic extravaganza. Christ's followers, assembled for worship on the Lord's Day, sing to our country, dress in our countries colors, and fly our country's flag in their place of worship.

This year, on the day of the celebration of the Lord's birth, many Christ followers are not planning to worship on the Lord's Day because it interferes with their family traditions that revolve around celebrating Christ's first coming. Some churches have even cancelled their Sabbath Day worship gathering altogether.

So, on America's birthday we plan worship on the Lord's Day around our country, but on the day we remember the Lord's birth, we contemplate whether to have worship on the Lord's Day at all.

Why is there a deafening silence within the Christian community about this? Am I really in the minority within Christian circles on this matter?

Going to worship on the Lord's Day this particular Sunday, December 25, should not even be about whether it is Christmas. Rather, it is the day of the week when we gather to worship the Lord and nothing should interfere with that priority and privilege. So, it is simply alarming when the reason Christ followers are considering not attending Lord's Day worship is because of their celebration of Christ's birth.

Forgive me for being deeply concerned about the state of American Christianity. It is more than concerning; it is alarming.

Christ follower, you simply must go to worship this coming Sunday. This isn't a matter of legalism nor Christian liberty. This is a matter of loving Jesus more than anything else in the world.
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