Sovereign Grace Missionary Baptist Church
"Where The Truths Of God’s Word Have Been Taught For More Than Fifty Years” | ||||
| You Were Asked To Pray For:
All of Our Military, Their Family’s & All the Civilian Workers in The Middle East, Zee Mink Fuller and Family, Her son’s Bryan Armstrong and Hunter Hackie, Daughter Shannon, and Brother Philip & Sondra Thornsberry, Sister Alice Hoskins, Joyce Gomez , Frank & Sonya Trusty, Bryndon Thomas, Frank & Dawana Reigel, Andrew Preston, Larry Mollette, Larry Mollette II & Family, Kerry Pennington, Kim Poole, Danny & Nita Mollette, Wendell Henderson, Judy Dunn, Martha Gray, Joshua Kidd, Matthew Kidd,, Ronnie Henderson Jr. & Son Kevin Henderson, Jim Stagner, Bro. & Mrs. Hammond, Don & Neil Hammond, Charles Hammond, Archie & Barbara Griffin & son Daniel, Bro. & Sister Bob Keller, Kathy Rosinbaum, Mary Ramsey, Donna Johnson, Fay Johnson, Luann Reynolds, Brother Curtis Pugh, Timothy and Nathan Fails, Jacob Ramsey, Jim & Linda Meier, Brother Manuel Seymour, Letha Langford, Brother & Sister Kelley Hinson and Kelley Lee, Billy and Jo Hobbs, Jerry Hughes, Sister Nita Bookout, Justin Bookout, Pastor G. L. Burr, Melody Carr, Janie Capps, Gina Sullivan, Katie Norton, Imajo Tracy, Linda Hughes, Roy Lemmon, Marshall Risinger & wife, Lee Mollette’s Daughter & Granddaughter Kristal, Dale Barnes, Keith Johnson, Tammy Hairston, Tommy Lee Walker, Leon Wyckoff, Billy Smith, and Bro. Sergey Mochalov and the Churches in Russia. | ||||
| The Pastors Corner: Christmas; Is It A Christian Holiday Or Not?
I believe to find out if “Christmas” is a Christian holiday or not we must explore from where is originated. I found this from wikipedia.org which are normally pretty correct on things, “The word Christmas originated as a compound meaning "Christ's Mass". It is derived from the Middle English Christemasse and Old English Cristes mæsse, a phrase first recorded in 1038. "Cristes" is from Greek Χριστός Christos and "mæsse" is from Latin missa (the holy mass).” The two words “Christ’s” “Mass” will certainly put it into Catholicism and some say it dates all the way back to 354A.D. Most Christian’s call Christmas a “Pagan” holiday which means it is a secular holiday and not an actual Christian holiday. So now that we understand a little about Christians let us now try to answer the question; is it a holiday that Christians and churches ought to be celebrating. The correct answer is “no” because that the Paganism is involved. Christmas is a worldly holiday and not a Christian holiday therefore for churches to involve themselves would be to link themselves to what the holidays represent. Now if there were any Christian holidays they would not include myths and lies and Christmas is full of myths and lies. The lies start’s with the date of the Lord Jesus birthday; is December 25th the Lord’s actual birthday no one could know this date. The myths start with Santa Clause and proceed on through the fairytale holiday. As for Christians and churches being involved it would involve churches being liars and celebrating mythical people such as Santa Clause. Nothing as sinful as Christmas should involve churches or even her membership. Both Christmas and Easter are pagan holidays involving myths and lies. These are not Christian holidays even if the Catholics created both of them. There is absolutely nothing in the scriptures about celebrating holy days of any sort. There is no example in the scriptures about any church or group of Christians celebrating holy days.
Now I will conclude with this thought. Christmas affects us all in one way or another and like it or not we take part in it one way or another. Our church will not alter our services nor will we recognize the Christmas day this year or any other year. There will be no “Christmas message” it will be a normal day of worship to God, just as we do every Sunday. As I said the holy day while it is not a Christian day but is a secular day or “secular holy day” and celebrated world wide. As for me this is how it affects me, we are going to have a Christmas lunch at work and I will attend because the food is good and we will receive a Christmas bonus, not too many folks will turn down a good meal and money. We will also have some paid days off of work for Christmas. I will be using the time off to visit my family and mostly my mother during the holiday on Saturday the 24th. Now some will call me a hypocrite because I disagree with the holiday and take benefits from it; but they could not be more wrong. Christmas unlike any other day of the year affects the entire world. I did not say not to celebrate the holiday I said it was not a Christian day and churches should not observe it. It is a worldly holiday and however a person or a Christian chooses to observe it, then so be it. Some will say to have any part in the celebration is anti God while they accept their Christmas bonus and enjoy a paid day off for it. We must accept it for what it is and that is a secular holiday and not a Christian holiday. God cannot be connected with any holiday full of lies and myths as both Christmas and Easter are.
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| The devil has dreadful power:
Weak agents fail. Difficulties baffle them. But Satan is not baffled. His first victory was hard to win. But he quickly won it. Eve had no inward proneness to yield. No inborn corruption betrayed the portals of her heart. Her citadel was firm in walls and bars of innocence. But still he succeeded. He gained admission, and set up his throne of conquest. Can there be clearer proof of his transcendent powers? Reader! beware. All his mighty arts plot your destruction. The innocent fell, when attacked only from without. How can you stand, when a legion of traitorous desires are ready to surrender? His outward solicitations are aided by your inward lusts. If you escape, a stronger than this strong one must befriend you. Such is the Serpent's appearance in Eden. Here the description ceases. Other Scriptures unfold a lengthened roll of his malignant might. As man's history advances, his cruelty and wiles swell into more frightful form. Our annals are a vast catalogue of his foul exploits. The first picture presents only this broad outline. But it is a clear display of his reality--his hatred to God and man--his daring--his skill--his deep iniquity, and his tremendous power. Believer, you may view him and still smile. This conqueror is conquered. Captivity is led captive. The spoiler is spoiled. This strong one is bound. You are rescued. You are safe. True, he will often assail, affright, roll you in the mire, and wound your peace--but he cannot destroy. His might is great--but your Almighty deliverer is far greater. His hosts are many--your one Jesus Himself is infinitely more. He indeed desires to have you, and his efforts are terrible and incessant; but your Jesus ever lives to pray for you, and His prayers are ever heard. Therefore, go forward, strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. "Take unto you the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all to stand." Eph. 6:13. Fear not. Fear not, Christ is with you. Be not dismayed, He is your God. Resist this foe, and he will flee. James 4:7. Raise the banner of the cross, and he will tremble. Wash in the blood, and he cannot touch you. Cry to the Captain of Salvation, and all heaven aids you. Thus go on your heavenward way rejoicing. "The God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly." Rom. 16:20. In Christ you may victoriously shout, "Oh my enemy, your destructions are come to a perpetual end. You have wounded, but Christ has healed. The death brought in by you, brightens through Christ into eternal life."
By Henry Law from his article "The Serpent"
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| Church News:
The church will hold our monthly business meeting today during the 4:00 service. Please plan to attend. |
Sunday, 11 December 2011
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