Finally, we are given a
means to celebrate the Incarnation of Christ and in a tactile way no less. The
Word made visible in the Lord's Supper is a proclamation to the world that
Christ the Incarnate Theanthropos,
the God-man yet lives and is coming once more. The power, efficacy and potent
prophetical symbolism rooted in the Lord's Supper as a visible manifestation of
the Word of God is reduced and denigrated when we embrace a de facto declaration that it is
insufficient to properly and adequately declare the Holy Mystery. And
therefore, we must innovate and through our own invention bring a new ordinance
of worship into the world, in the Judaized form of a 'Holy Day' no less. It ought
not to be so and those faithful to the Word and its testimony will rightly
reject and denounce this idolatrous day.
The keeping of Christmas is
in vain, being a mere expression of doctrines that are not Divine in origin but
instead exalt the commandments of men. It is a rejection of worship rooted in
Spirit and Truth but instead is an embrace of flesh gratifying will worship or
self-imposed religion. To declare one day above another is to reject the
Eschatological reality of our existence and to root the Holy in times and
seasons of this perishing age.
Keeping Christmas is to
worship at the altars of Dan and Bethel. It is a cheap imitation and mockery of
the true worship found at Mt. Zion.
I became a Christian in
1995. Embracing Reformed Theology I immediately understood the argument and
principle expressed by Pilgrim, Puritans and Presbyterians regarding this
point. It was plain to see that Christmas has no place in the worship of the
Church. I never celebrated it again and I've never looked back. Scriptural
Authority has led me to question many tenets of Presbyterianism and other
aspects of the Reformed tradition but frankly the Christmas question is pretty
basic.
It's also telling how the
majority of the Reformed while praising their canonised Westminster Confession,
reject its teaching and have sold-out and embraced the world and its superstitious
and flesh affirming celebrations.
What do we do in my home?
It's absolutely like any other day. If I can work, I do. It depends on my
situation. If I can't, then we treat it as just another day off. We do school,
go for a walk, read Scripture etc...
It's a great day to get
Chinese food if you can find a place that's open. It's usually pretty quiet. My
children have no problem with our rejection of the day. They understand the
issues and the state of things. They are learning Scripture and Church history
and they have little trouble understanding what's at stake.
One keenly feels the
antithesis. It's lonely but exhilarating. More than any other day I feel like
foreigner in this land. It reminds me of living in Italy, a visitor, a
sojourner, welcomed to be sure, able to enjoy the fruits and beauties of the
land... but never fully part of it.
With regard to the apostate
Church, it is right that we are outside the camp, not partaking in her sins as
so many this day will not only embrace idolatry but more likely than not
combine it with some false notion about the 'troops' overseas and the
de-sacralisation of the United States.