Going to church on Christmas Day

“I am not going to church today,” he said defiantly as he covered his head with the covers, blocking out the sun coming in and the light overhead.

She stood at the bedroom door, hands on her hip, determination in her voice. “Yes, you are going to church today just like we all do every Sunday.”

From under the covers you could hear him whine. “I don’t want to go today. It is cold outside, I am tired, and besides, it is Christmas Day. Nothing is open on Christmas Day.”

She did not budge an inch. “Yes, it is Christmas Day. And that is exactly why we are going to church today. The church is open. The church is always open on Sunday.”

Slipping one hand outside the covers, he pulled a pillow beneath the blanket for reinforcements. “No one else will be there. Everyone will be home with their families. That is where I will be, also, home with my family.”

Then she pulled out all the stops and cut to the chase. “Your family will be in church this morning. The children and I are going and so are you. After all, you are the pastor!”

Without a doubt, there will be whining tomorrow morning. Families will just be finishing Christmas breakfast. Fresh batteries will be in the new toys. Instructions still spread out on the floor. Mountains of wrapping paper will be begging for a trash bag.

Then someone responsible will say, “If we are going to church this morning we had better hurry. That is when the whining will start. Certainly, children will lead the chorus. A few adults will join in the whine. There might even be a pastor whimpering a bit.

It might just be this pastor! I was ready for a break even before the weekend. “A long winter’s nap” sounds pretty good about now. The week has been filled with special services and celebrations. Staying home tomorrow looks very attractive.

However, like most churches, we will be open for business. The church is always open.

While Christmas comes every year, it lands on Sunday only occasionally. Once, I told a child it happened every seven years. Then the little genius corrected me. “Christmas falls on a Sunday during the regular intervals. You just need to account for the leap years. It will fall on Sunday in 2011, 2016, 2022, 2033, 2039, 2044 and 2050.”

I told him, “I knew that.” I do not think he believed me. Sometimes I understand the disciples perfectly when they “hindered the little children.”

Christmas on Sunday is a dilemma for most of us. The day is usually a full day of meals, gifts, family and tradition. How can we squeeze in an hour of worship in an already packed day?

It will not happen unless we decide it is going to happen. Nor will it happen easily. There are many reasons not to go to church on Christmas Day. Not wanting to go is the biggest reason. Maybe even for me.

There is probably only one reason to go. The reason is not convenience. Benjamin Franklin once observed, “O! ‘tis easier to keep holidays than commandments. How many observe Christ’s birthday! How few, his precepts!”

Christmas is about Christ’s coming. That is the theological truth, but not the whole truth. Christmas is also about our coming. So, the angels left heaven to come to earth. The Magi left the East to come to Bethlehem. The shepherds left their flock to come and see. There is only one reason to come to church on Christmas. You will have to come and see.

Dr. Mark Ross is the pastor of Marion Baptist Church. To learn more about MBC, visit http://www.marionbaptistchurchva.com/.