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November 29, 2011

91% of Churches Will Be Open on Christmas Day

New research by Lifeway concludes most churches won't close for Christmas.

The folks at Lifeway have just released numbers from a survey they did among 1,000 Protestant pastors. They were asked, “Christmas and New Year’s Day both fall on Sunday this year. As a result, does your church plan to have services on the following days: Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve, and New Year’s Day?”

The results:
6% - Christmas Eve but NOT Christmas Day
27& - Christmas Day but NOT Christmas Eve
63% - BOTH Christmas Eve and Christmas Day

Read the full report here.

Related Tags: Administration, Christmas, Church staff, Decision making, Facilities, Management

Comments

Great. Now how about we agree not to demonize those that are doing something different from us.

who cares?
Why is there this constant need to "problematize" things in evangelicalism.

People need to just focus on their own church and lives.

Interesting. Radius Church of Lexington South Carolina is opting for Christmas Eve, but not Christmas Day.

How about Celebrate The Lord's Day and abolish the Roman Catholic Christ Mass.

Question-1: What did Jesus say about Traditions?

Answer. “In vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men Matt. 15:9. May we ourselves invent ordinances of worship? No: They went a whoring with their own inventions, Ps. 106:39. Is it not enough if what we invent is not forbidden? No: They offered a strange fire before the Lord, which he commanded them not, Lev. 10:1.” Mathew Henry Scriptural Catechism Jesus said, “True worshippers will worship the father in spirit and truth [not spirit and tradition] for the father is seeking such people to worship Him. God is spirit and those who worship Him must worship Him in spirit & in truth.” Jn.4:23-24 Yet The church today is refusing to worship in truth by: “Laying aside the commandment of God, You hold to the traditions of men “Making the word of God of no effect through your traditions which you have handed down.” Why do you also transgress the commandment of God because of your tradition? “All too well you reject the commandment of God, that you may keep your tradition [Rather than worship in spirit and in TRUTH, John. 4:23-24].” (Matt. 15:9; Mark 7:8, 9)

Question-2 What Is Christmas?

Answer. A Tradition

Question-3 What did Jesus say about Traditions?

Answer. "All too well you reject the commandment of God, that you may keep your traditionJohn. 4:23-24].” (Matt. 15:9; Mark 7:8, 9)

Question-4 When and why was Christmas founded as a tradition?

Answer. The monuments of Pagan Customs & Roman Catholic Superstitions. First, Pagan Origins: “Christmas as a day was adopted in the west; it was largely an attempt to engage in competition with a pagan celebration called Saturnalia. It was a time of celebration, merrymaking and the giving of gifts. It was a pagan celebration in honor of the sun. They believed that the sun was a god, and that at this point it began to conquer over the darkness of winter. Gradually the Christian “holy day [Of Rome]” and the pagan “holiday” coalesced into one. And the “tradition of Christmas” was firmly entrenched.” G.I. Williamson Holy Days A.2 Second, Religious origins: “The first recorded celebration of Christmas was on December 25, 345 A.D. in Rome under Pope Liberius.” G.I. Williamson Holy Days “During the 5th century, Christmas became an official recognized as an official holy day. In AD 534-
Christmas was recognized as an official Holy Day by the Roman State.”

Question 5- Who then do we worship on Christmas?

Answer. The Roman Catholic Church and pope Liberius: “The first recorded celebration of Christmas was on December 25, 345 A.D. in Rome under Pope Liberius. Thus we follow Pope Liberius, rather than Jesus Christ in obeying the command to celebrate Christmas.

Question-6 What worship does Jesus receive when the Church takes part in idolatrous holy days?

Answer. At best they are done “in vain” and sinful before Him.” In VAIN you worship me the traditions [of Christmas] and commandments of men.”[Pope Liberius]

Question-7 Do we love Jesus if we refuse to stop celebrating tradtions when we are convited they are wrong.

Answer- No, "If you love me obey my commandments." Not Tradtions

Our church had about 1,000 on Christmas Eve and the same on Christmas morning. Some came from the other large church in our town that cancelled the morning service. We rejoiced and praised the Lord in a happy bliss and visited afterward with friends until they started flashing the lights to get people to leave. What a blessed day. My extended family agreed that going to church on Christmas morning made the day perfect.

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