The Greater Gift

The last time Christmas fell on a Sunday was 2011. That has only happened 11 times since 1938. I am told there is a pattern. The pattern is 11/6/5/6 years between. This means the next time Christmas falls on a Sunday will be in the year 2022, God willing.

In 2005 the New York Times reported that “Some of the nation’s most prominent megachurches have decided not to hold worship services on Christmas Day.

Megachurch leaders say that the decision is in keeping with their innovative and “family friendly” approach and that they are compensating in other ways. Willow Creek Community Church in South Barrington, Ill., always a pacesetter among megachurches, is handing out a DVD it produced for the occasion that features a heartwarming contemporary Christmas tale.

“What we’re encouraging people to do is take that DVD and in the comfort of their living room, with friends and family, pop it into the player and hopefully hear a different and more personal and maybe more intimate Christmas message, that God is with us wherever we are,” said Cally Parkinson, communications director at Willow Creek, which draws 20,000 people on a typical Sunday.”

An Internet blogger commented on the decision of churches across the US not to have services on Christmas Day:

I’m sorry, but this would not do it for me. I know, I know, “God is everywhere and we don’t need to be in a church to worship Him…” But we’re supposed to be not simply “believers” but a “community” of believers, a “church.” To suggest that shoving a DVD into a machine and gathering ’round the television is a proper substitute for getting out there for worship and fellowship among the brethren…well, I don’t get it. {end quote}

Let's ask ourselves, which is more important? Seeing to it that families have a warm, family-friendly Christmas or keeping the Biblical imperative of assembling together on the Lord’s Day? (Hebrews 10:23-25)

Many churches obviously have chosen convenience over conviction and pleasure over principal. The pursuit of pleasure over the clear command of Scripture plays right into the hand of modern Epicureanism.

A Greek philosopher by the name of Epicurus promoted the pursuit of pleasure as the chief aim in life. Listen and consider the following words of Epicurus, contained in a letter:

Wherefore we call pleasure the Alpha and Omega of a blessed life. Pleasure is our first and kindred good. It is the starting-point of every choice and of every aversion, and to it we come back, inasmuch as we make feeling the rule by which to judge every good thing.

Like Epicurus, many today believe that the ultimate purpose of life is to pursue pleasure and avoid pain. Their philosophy is "Total Indulgence—Zero Guilt." Years ago, a commercial on television reminded its viewers that you only go around once in life—therefore "Go for the gusto!" Get all of the pleasure you can, while you can!

But rather than living life with reckless abandon, Epicurus advocated a more "dignified" approach to seeking pleasure. Epicurus advanced the idea that one could enjoy life by pursuing a more sophisticated level of pleasure. He, and his followers, sought to obtain pleasure without losing all control of their faculties.

In fact, the dictionary defines an "epicure" as "a person who cultivates a refined taste, esp. in food and wine; connoisseur." The word "epicurean" is defined as someone who is "fond of or adapted to luxury or indulgence in sensual pleasures; having luxurious tastes or habits, esp. in eating or drinking."

Church-going Epicureans are not the kind who around Christmas sing, “Here we go a wassailing…” A “wassail” was a festive occasion where people drank a whole lot. Yes, they prefer pleasure over principal but do it sophisticatedly.

When opting out of church because they are “tired”, they make sure they get their “praise” on with BET and Bobby Jones’ Gospel. They get their “spiritual vitamin” from Lee Michaels or The Word Network, The Church Channel or TBN. TV, Radio church service, they’ve found, have good bedside manners.

It would seem that among many of our church folk today—no matter how they try to justify it or spiritualize it, pleasure is the principal thing.

The late Bishop Eddie L. Long said that his church was "always promoting family," and that many members of his congregation were transplants to the Atlanta area who traveled far away to be with their families on Christmas. "We're encouraging our members to do a family worship," Bishop Long said. "They could wake up and read Scripture and pray and sometimes sing a song, and go over the true meaning of what Christmas is, before opening up their gifts. It keeps them together and not running off to get dressed up to go off to church."

His church offers streaming video of the Sunday service, and Bishop Long said he expected a spike in viewers that Christmas. "They have an option if they want to join their family around the computer and worship with us," he said.