Posted on 12/06/2005 11:07:40 AM PST by Between the Lines
Poet laureate Sir John Betjamin says it best:
And is it true--this most tremendous tale of all
Seen is a stain glass window’s hue
A baby, in a cattle stall, the maker of the stars and sea
Become a child on earth, for me?
And is it true? For if it is,
No love that in a family dwells, no caroling in frosty air
Can with this single truth compare:
That God was man in Palestine
And lives today in Bread and Wine.
Neat verse!
John Betjeman's "Christmas" (which you excerpted) is one of my favorite poems. Thank you.
Wasn't there a thread about this very subject last year? ;-)
I disagree.
We have family coming in for Christmas to my mother in law's house. There are eight families attending, some coming in from out of town.
All families attend Christian churches, different ones. Some of our churches are having a Christmas service, and some are not. Some family members are showing up in the morning/early afternoons so that they can leave early and go to their in-laws on Christmas evening.
This is the one day in a year that we can all get together.
So we will not be attending church that day so that we can spend a few hours with our family while we have a chance.
"Church" is not simply the building you meet in.
Granted His birth wasn't in December but at a minimum this is a symbolic celebration so church should be held on Christmas Eve WITHOUT stupid skits acted out by kids such as the mouse and Christmas ... even kids can understand what Christmas is without acting out some ridiculous story.
No, "church" is participation in public worship of the risen Lord, which takes precedence over everything else on the Lord's Day.
You know your Scripture well enough to know that Christ told us to put Him before even our family.
You would think the Christmas story itself would be story enough. It's a pretty amazing event....
No pagan feast is fixed on December 25th, and the Church chose this day to set aside as a celebration of Christ, so it is not a pagan feast by definition.
You seem to confuse facts with assumptions.
For your review:
Messiahmas? On the Birth Date of Jesus of Nazareth
b'shem Y'shua
You would think that ... but STUPID adults want it to be "fun".
And when "two or more are gathered" He is in our presence.
A friend of mine that is a second generation pastor used to talk about how on Christmas, after four or five services, his dad would collapse for a day or so.
They both liked it that way! My friend says it is the only time you get a chance to reach some people.
Uh... closing during one of the holiest days of Christianity?
I will be spending time with my family Christmas morning and that includes going to Mass as a family.
Well said.
Allow me to edit ...
It very clear that December 25 was a Pagan feast
Most mega-churches have Saturday evening services.
Would that do?
Me thinks the staff wants the day off. All else is a cover story.
IMO ... no. Unless it's at midnight.
While we are gathered at church in His name, this is not always so for family gatherings at home.
His name is Y'shua
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