Sharing Our Mail
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Dare we lump Christmas with Memorial Day, Independence Day, or Thanksgiving Day? They are not celebrated as big religious festivals. They are national holidays. So long as we celebrate them properly, we have a perfect right to do so. But Christmas is an international holiday with religion at its very heart, introduced in the name of religion, celebrated for centuries by the religious world. Have we any right to follow the thing right up to the church house doors, and then deny its right to exist religiously? In effect, we are telling our neighbors, 'You are wrong for celebrating it religiously, but we dare celebrate it right along with you carnally.'"
It seems to me that if we are to avoid all appearance of evil and inconsistency, we had better accept the thing wholeheartedly, celebrating it in our churches, or else ignore it insofar as possible. I realize it can scarcely be ignored altogether, especially where there are children. They are weak, and perhaps they do need their toys along with other children, explaining why, but need we go 'all out'? I feel sure most children are hardier than that. It has been said that a child can do without lots of things if he has plenty of love to make up for them. So let's discard the excuse we must have a big celebration for the children.
I'm afraid we keep Christmas mostly, because we want to, and because we are afraid our neighbors will think us queer if we do not. But in view of our neighbor's belief, it is beyond me to understand how he is to understand why we celebrate it carnally, and leave out the part that means so much to him.
We like to use Romans 14 to uphold our desire, but dare we? 'He that regardeth the day, to the Lord he doth regard it' -- that doesn't fit us. We do regard the day all right. We regard it as far as we dare, but we do not regard it to the Lord. 'He that regardeth it not' -- stop! that will not fit either -- we do not 'regard it not.' We regard it carnally, we say, but again, what is to keep our neighbor from becoming confused by our actions? If we confuse him, how can we expect to influence him? Isn't leading our neighbor aright, part of our ministry? Now, let us study Galatians 5: 13. Is it possible we are using our liberty as an occasion to the flesh?" --Mrs. Cecil Garrison (Pennsylvania).
"You will probably be interested in part of our discussion in the 'young adult' class last Lord's Day. It was agreed that we were not 100% in agreement with the articles in MISSION MESSENGER, but we were 100% in agreement that fellowship is contingent upon a complete surrender of self to the Christ... It would be easy to take each article and offer comments but it might not be profitable. It is our desire to encourage you in the efforts you are putting forth. Much good is being accomplished and while you no doubt can see a great deal of fruit from your efforts, there are many who are benefitted that will never have the opportunity to tell you in person. This good will continue and generations to come will also reap the benefits." --A. Gerstenschlager (Missouri).