Christmas is Cancelled (apparently)

Apparently some of the 'mega-churches' in America are not having a Christmas Day service this year. There seems to be an awful lot of fuss about it too. Some people seem to be claiming that it is doubly bad as Christmas falls on a Sunday this year. I don't remember the last time I went to a 'church meeting' on Christmas Day. I'm sure I have been a few times, but it's certainly not a regular tradition. BCF does have one, but it tends to be fairly low-key, and I've never been.

The main reason the 'mega-churches' are giving for not having a service is that people need a break. I agree. Although, that's not good enough for some. Take Rev. Pritchard from some church in the U.S., who was shocked that his church didn't meet on Christmas Day when he moved from Australia:

"I was surprised but went with the culture," Pritchard said.

"I have a horrible suspicion it has to do with family time together, opening gifts, and I suspect also many people are traveling and they need to be on the road early to get to family gatherings."

Those half-baked Christians who want to spend time with their families, eh? I really hope that's a sarcastic comment, although I have my suspicions that it isn't. Or we could enjoy a guilt trip from Merlene Davis of the Lexington Herald who goes by the view that...

"Jesus died on a cross with nails hammered into his feet and hands to take away our sins, but we can't steal away a couple of hours to commemorate his birth on a Sunday that happens to be Christmas Day?"

Idiot. Now don't get me wrong. I do think we should 'take time out to commemorate Jesus' birth', but I don't think we need to get in a big stress about it. The problem I have with all this, is that the people who are implying that churches who don't have Christmas services are 'giving in' to the 'secular' culture, and indulging Christians as consumers who 'go' to church when they feel like it; are doing the very same thing by demanding that pastors/staff/volunteers give up their time to facilitate a service for them. 'I want a Christmas service, and I want it now!' They conviniently ignore the fact that people will have to give up half their day to put on this service. If a church (and by that I mean the people) decide they want to celebrate Jesus' birth together, then by all means, do so. But let's not demand of others that they do it all for us.