Don’t Forget About Easter On Christmas

Christmas is a strange Christian holiday because believers’ celebration of Christ’s birth has essentially been hijacked by the world, and Christians have gone along with it for the most part. They say, “Jesus is the reason for the season,” but then they litter their homes with Santa instead. This year, in particular, has exposed what some Christians prioritize most on Christmas because December 25th is on a Sunday. Social media has erupted into a debate that makes my heart ache a little bit. If Christmas is on a Sunday, should be cancel church services? The fact that any church would even consider this tells me some folks just don’t get it. We should be thinking about Easter on Christmas, not our personal convenience, gifts, and parties. That might seem an odd thing to say, so I’ll explain.

Canceling Christmas Services

I don’t know how many churches will keep their doors closed on Christmas this year. I would venture to guess that most churches will be open. On the other hand, I have seen quite a few advertisements for Christmas services to be held solely on Christmas Eve, and I have also come across plenty of people on that dumpster fire known as Twitter who are defending Christmas closures.

To be fair, there are times it might be necessary. I have attended some very small churches, and one church hardly had anyone left in the congregation if one particular family decided to attend Christmas service elsewhere. Perhaps, church leadership could make the argument for closing on Christmas. At least, I would be willing to hear that.

Recently, someone explained she knew a church was planning to close on Christmas because the pastor was going out of town. I have two immediate questions with that scenario. First, why not find someone to fill the pulpit that morning? Second, what kind of pastor leaves his flock on Christmas in order to go on vacation? Maybe there is more to the story, but it sounds a little suspicious.

Can We Have An Opinion About Other Churches?

The other part of the debate about canceling Christmas services concerns whether or not Christians should have an opinion or, worst-case scenario, speak that opinion. (Oh, the horror!) This argument feels akin to Christians telling other Christians to mind their own business about questionable Bible teachers, churches, and books. It’s a weak argument, and it encourages Christians to permit bad teaching, poor shepherding, and possibly sin, too.

Is canceling church on Christmas a sin? I don’t think I can make that argument, but the decision to close, in most cases, should raise a red flag. The Church claims to celebrate Christ’s birth, but then refuses to participate in worship…

It’s like telling your loved one you’re going to celebrate his birthday by going out with your friends and family. Normally, you would love to spend time with him, but his birthday is actually getting in the way of your plans.

What Did God Say?

I shouldn’t neglect to mention that God never commands us to celebrate the birth of Christ. (Though, I’m not saying you shouldn’t.) On the other hand, the Lord did include the Sabbath as the fourth commandment given to Moses.

“Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.”

Exodus 20:8

Keep it holy. It doesn’t instruct us to keep it fun, neglect it for family time, participate at our convenience, or prioritize other traditions if there is a scheduling conflict.

In addition to the Sabbath conundrum, Christians usually see family as a top priority, and that is commendable. But family doesn’t take precedence over God. When it does, we have made it an idol.

Jesus taught the importance of family, but He didn’t teach it the way so many of us apply it. For example, in Matthew 12, His family wished to speak to Him, but Jesus was in the midst of teaching. Here is His response to their request.

“But he answered and said unto him that told him, Who is my mother? and who are my brethren? And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren! For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.”

Matthew 12:48-50

To be sure, Jesus wasn’t teaching us to reject family. Instead, He was expanding the idea of family. Believer, you are part of the Lord’s family, and an essential part of that identity is obedience to God. So, don’t turn your back on family plans this Christmas, but how about you acknowledge your spiritual family? God and our brothers and sisters in Christ should be a high priority rather than an obstacle to your day.

I’m just wondering if a church that closes its doors on Christmas has its priorities straight. If it doesn’t, then maybe it is time to find a church that does.

Where Does Easter On Christmas Come Into The Picture?

So, we must ask ourselves an honest question. What is Christmas really all about? Hallmark would say love. Retailers would say gifts. The average American might say Christmas is about time with loved ones and family traditions. Those things are fun, and I take part in a lot of it. We look at Christmas lights, exchange gifts, travel to see family, and watch holiday films while we get cozy on the couch. Is any of that really the meaning of Christmas, though?

The Helpless Baby

Most people, even secular people, will admit that Christmas is about Jesus’ birth. The same people who stubbornly reject Christ the Savior are all right with baby Jesus. He isn’t threatening or give the impression of being God. A cute, helpless baby born to a teenage mom doesn’t put off the world. That’s why the world has adopted Christmas as its own and developed it into something anybody can love. Christmas has been stripped of its meaning.

We Forget About Easter On Christmas

In the midst of all the baking, decorating, program rehearsals, shopping, and traveling, we stopped remembering Easter on Christmas. Easter is the culmination of the Christmas story. The Son of God being made manifest on Earth as a helpless baby is amazing yet good for nothing without the resurrection.

Jesus didn’t come to us as a man simply to show us how great He is and in order to experience a human life. His main objective was to save the world.

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

John 3:16

The birth of Christ was only the first day of the work He would do for us. As a mother, I can’t help but get emotional when I think of that little baby so loved by His mother, Mary, one day being humiliated, rejected, and beaten so badly He was unrecognizable. It breaks my mama heart, but as the Ron Hamilton hymn says, Jesus was born to die.

And thanks to a God of grace, love, and mercy, Jesus rose from the grave. He lived a sinless life, bore the wrath of our sins, and then He defeated death – all so that we may live!

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.” (emphasis mine)

1 Peter 1:3-5 (ESV)

With any understanding of the gospel… at all…we shouldn’t be able to help but think about Easter on Christmas. So, why do we embrace baby Jesus and yet fully neglect to acknowledge what He was to do as a man?

Easter Jesus Offends

My hope is that Jesus is not offensive to believers on Easter, but I know that the Easter story is bothersome to both the world and some Christians. The resurrection is preceded by an innocent Jesus willingly accepting vile words, taunts, false accusations, unspeakable violence, and death all of which were committed with malicious intent. And Jesus took all of that because of you. Because of me. Our sin required it, and that is predictably uncomfortable to think about.

Good Friday and Resurrection Sunday hardly feel consistent with “peace on Earth and good will to men.” Our minds struggle to piece all of that together. Not to mention, Easter displays the consequences of our sin in our faces while we can more easily evade the idea of sin on Christmas. To put it bluntly, I believe a lot of Christians think remembering Easter on Christmas is a bummer.

Final Thought

Churches across the country have removed the weight and significance of Christmas so much so that corporately worshiping that day has become debatable this year. Extracting the death and resurrection of Christ from His birth has watered down Christmas to the point that some believers no longer view it as a day meant for more than Santa, consumerism, and family gatherings.

Will you remember why Christ was born this year? You don’t have to strip away the fun traditions of the season to also worship the Lord as our spotless lamb. Don’t neglect Easter on Christmas this year. It’s one story, and all of it deserves to be remembered and celebrated.

What do you think? Do you see Christians turning Christmas into a secular day or a day that neglects why Jesus came to us?

Image courtesy of Pro Church Media via Unsplash.