Christian 'megapastor' blasts believers on Dec. 25 dispute (defends decision to close)

World Net Daily ^ | December 19, 2005

[JeffAtlanta]

There's your problem.

Why? The prophets of the old testament did not consider worship an obligation - they loved it.

While not a prophet, David is another example - his heart longed for the Lord. While in exile and living on the run, I doubt that David made it to organized worship very often, but he was never closer to the Lord.

My point is that worship is not a "job" and if a person considers it as such, then maybe they should rethink their relationship with God.

[A2J]

You may see it as such, but I think altering the worship schedule to accommodate the comfort of men is not such a petty thing, and can be quite the slippery slope.

You're right.

I suppose those damned Christians of the first couple of centuries deserved persecution for meeting in fields, mountain caves, catacombs and the like. After all, they were so "accommodating."

May they burn in hell.

(/sarcasm)

[j_k_l]

"You think the OT prophets didn't attend Temple services? On what do you base this?"

Please show me chapter and verse where a prophet went regularly to the temple? When a prophet showed up in public it was usually bad news for the people in his community. Most prophets lived in seclusion because it was part of the burden of their call. When they spoke, their words were from God so they wisely kept their words few and the connection with other people rare.

“But an hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for such people the Father seeks to be His worshipers. “God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth." John 4:23-24

The "where" is never mentioned because it is not important. The condition of the heart of those who worship is what is essential.

[Larry Lucido]

Well, okay, but did he exhort "them" or just rant to his own folks? At least he had other topics to talk about. :-)

And look at me. I guess I can mind my own business too. :-D

[Larry Lucido]

:-)

[A2J]

along with its "bishop"

So, you are Catholic.

[afnamvet]

I'm continually amazed at how much attention people pay to what someone ELSE'S church does. Five churches in the country close on Christmas, and everyone else is in a tizzy. I don't go to any of those churches, and will be at Christmas service. I just don't get it.

I don't either. We will be home Christmas worshiping God with friends and family. Merry Christmas to you and yours.

[A2J]

My pastor didn't have nice things to say about closing church on Christmas this past Sunday.

Wait...I thought Christmas was this Sunday.

Sounds to me that your pastor is just taking the opportunity to say that his "church" is better than others.

Why doesn't he just buy some TV/radio time and say it?

[SoothingDave]

You're trying to tell me that OT prophets were "renegades" who didn't obey the Law, and that's why God chose them to deliver his messages?

SD

[khnyny]

"Catholics can criticise these "megachurches" for being closed on Christmas Sunday, because Catholic Churches are never closed on Christmas or Sunday.

Just more opportunity to molest the masses at the masses?"

Sorry to point out the obvious, but if you really loved Jesus (like your tag line says) I think you would try harder to refrain from the bitter, vitriolic comments. It's not clever, and makes you sound like a bigot.

[Sloth]

He went on to note: "Christmas began as a pagan holiday to the Roman gods, and if we were to really celebrate the historical birth of Jesus, it would either be in January or mid-April.

All the more reason NOT to accommodate it.

[j_k_l]

Regardless of where you are this coming Sunday, I sincerely wish you a

Merry Chrismas!!!

[JeffAtlanta]

It's not clever, and makes you sound like a bigot.

It's cool for Catholics to belittle Protestants, but when Protestants point out serious problems in the "Church" then they're bigots?

Like I said before in this thread, "live by the sword, die by the sword" - if you start throwing stones and don't act like an innocent bystander when some get thrown back.

[AmishDude]

At every church I've ever attended, there were Christmas eve services and a Christmas day service. Even if Christmas day fell on a Tuesday. It was usually just one service even if the church regularly had two in the mornings. At my old church in Pittsburgh, there's a 10am service replacing the usual 8:15 and 11:00 Sunday services.

[Larry Lucido]

Nah, "SoothingDave" was the one who suggested that it's okay for one Church to assert superiority over another because of their expanded schedule. A2J just called him on it. Appropriately.

[A2J]

Jesus was also in the Temple on every Sabbath and observed the law.

That's because He was a Jew and had to do so in order to remove any chances of being accused of violating the Law. In other words, He did so so that you and I wouldn't have to.

But remember his words to the woman at the well (John 4)?

Jesus said that a time was coming (i.e., after His resurrection) that "an hour is coming when neither in this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father."

News flash: we're in that hour and no longer need to go to a building to worship God, although that's never stopped the Pharisees from saying otherwise.

[Larry Lucido]

Thanks! A blessed Christmas to you and yours, too!

[SoothingDave]

It's cool for Catholics to belittle Protestants, but when Protestants point out serious problems in the "Church" then they're bigots? Like I said before in this thread, "live by the sword, die by the sword" - if you start throwing stones and don't act like an innocent bystander when some get thrown back.

Who belittled Protestants on this thread? Can you point it out to me?

I have criticised these megachurches who have made this decision, and as another pointed out, this is 5 or 6 churches and not a general Protestant position.

So what was said that was so cheap of a shot that it requires making jokes about molestation and criminal priests?

SD

[SoothingDave]

Nah, "SoothingDave" was the one who suggested that it's okay for one Church to assert superiority over another because of their expanded schedule. A2J just called him on it. Appropriately.

I criticsed a perfectly criticisable decision by these megachurches. You think that justifies making molestation jokes and smearing priests?

SD