Christmas by A.W. Pink

[Dale-c]

J.D.,
You quoted Dr. McMahon at length. His ultimate conclusion may be quite different than you think. He and many others who hold to the Regulative Principle DO observe Christmas. In all of its secular, cultural trappings.
This varies with the individual, but this can include trees, presents, lights, special food, singing secular seasonal songs such as "Frosty the Snowman".

What he and others of his opinion do NOT do is observe Christmas services in church or tie their celebration to the birth of Christ. Part of the reason is a belief of not "binding" the individual Christian's conscience to attend such a stated Christmas Eve service.

So ironically, while many Baptists of all types are busy trying to "reclaim" Christmas for its true meaning, many Confessional and Reformed types, some Baptists among them, are the greatest secularizers of all of Christmas. Their churches will be dark on Christmas Eve, but they will often be having a great party in which there are presents but no reference to the Incarnation.

Karen, this is the direction I am heading.
I too hold to the regulative principle.

 

[Dale-c]

Pastor Paul , I would also like to thank you for the grace you have extended to see why we are coming to these conclusions rather than to blast away at those who see things differently than you do.

We all have sin and as such we have flawed doctrine.
But may God bless us all with wisdom as we study his word,

Oh and if this is allowed this time of year, Happy Lord's Day!

 

[2 Timothy2:1-4]

[FONT=Arial, Geneva, Helvetica]Luke 2:1[/FONT][FONT=Arial, Geneva, Helvetica]0 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. 12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. [/FONT][FONT=Arial, Geneva, Helvetica]13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, 14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.


I celebrate Chritmas because it is the beginning of the gospel. It is not a seperate event but part of the whole.


[/FONT]

 

[Dale-c]

Slight correction:
The birth of Christ is the beginning of the gospel. Not Christmas.
But I get your point.

 

[righteousdude2]

Happy Lord's Day -Now that is original

Pastor Paul , I would also like to thank you for the grace you have extended to see why we are coming to these conclusions rather than to blast away at those who see things differently than you do.

We all have sin and as such we have flawed doctrine.
But may God bless us all with wisdom as we study his word,

Oh and if this is allowed this time of year, Happy Lord's Day!

I like that....I am going to start using that right away. Thanks for the new wording for an old traditional holiday!

Pastor Paul :type: