DEBATE: Is it right for some people to go to church only on Christmas?

Christ’s death is more important Christians who only go to church on Christmas totally don’t understand what they are celebrating. I am not against going to church on Christmas, but I am arguing against going to church only on Christmas or even Easter. The ones are called “Chreasters”, folks who show up to the church only about twice a year; on Christmas and Easter. Christ was born of human flesh to die for us, so the sole purpose for his coming was to die on the cross for our sins. There is no date or time attached to his death because every time we sin and repent, we are forgiven because he died for us. That is what we should be celebrating the most and that is something that doesn’t have a date, it happens every day, every second, hence a Christian should be honouring that by going to church more often (every day if possible) to celebrate and embrace this very huge sacrifice that Christ made for us. During the service in church on Christmas, the preacher definitely tells the story of Jesus’ birth, how He was born. This will happen this Christmas and the next and the one after that. If you are a “Chreaster” then the only time you ever go to church, you will listen to the same story over and over and soon, you won’t go anymore because you are tired of the same story. Church isn’t about Christmas, Christmas is just one day celebrated in Church. Under normal circumstances, people don’t like to be told a half-baked story, they want to hear it until the end. This should be the same with Christians. Going to church to listen to the Christmas story shouldn’t be enough, and they should go on and get to know what happened next, what went on and how to live a Christian life. I know some Christians prefer to say; “I will stay home and read my Bible.” Everyone can read the Bible but not everyone has equally welcomed the Holy Spirit to help them properly interpret the Word. In conclusion, if you are contemplating whether or not to go to church more, just ask yourself this question; “Would Jesus (whose birth I am celebrating) be happy to see me go to church only on Christmas”? If the answer is yes, then go ahead and if it’s no, which I hope it is, then Church has open doors waiting and Jesus ready to die for your sins and wash you with his cleansing blood. patrick.buchana@newtimes.co.rw Half a loaf is better than none For this debate, I will entirely rely on the common English idiom ‘Half a loaf is better than none!’ mainly because prayer or worshiping is food for the soul. At no time should people who go to church only on Christmas be judged because at least they made an effort to go there for that time of the year. If we start dragging the guys who go to church once a year in the mud, then we will just bury the ones who never go to church at all. The fact that some people are even going to spare that one time in the year to fellowship is something to be grateful about instead of discouraging or judging them. You never know, perhaps that one time will spark something in them after a fellowship and they end up going to church frequently. I think, and I stand to be corrected, that some people go to church only on Christmas because they are trying to respect the worth associated with the birth of Christ (sentimental attachments of Christmas), just like they pay respects for a funeral or a wedding celebration. Some people may not have the faith or the desire to go to church, but since Christmas is a renowned time for family gatherings, they are indirectly forced to go to church with other religious family members, thus making it the only time they go to church. This can be an eye opener or influence for regular fellowship. To some extent, church leaders have to play their role of encouraging people to come for fellowship. With the new tradition of Christmas Eve prayers, some believers no longer go to church on Christmas since somehow; some churches have succumbed to the aspect of not having a service or worship on Christmas day, giving the congregation time to spend the special day with family members. Thus even the tradition of one-time church goers is also dying a slow death. According to Amy Sullivan, in the Publication she wrote titled “Going to Church on Christmas: A Vanishing Tradition,” the idea that Christmas Eve is a prime marketing opportunity to attract new members is widespread among pastors. She further wrote that holidays like Christmas and Easter were “seeker-focused.” The irony is that by holding Christmas Eve services that cater to first-time visitors and shuttering their doors on Christmas Day, churches often fail to meet the spiritual needs of their long time members on one of the holiest days of the year. doreen.umutesi@newtimes.co.rw

Lifestyle

DEBATE: Is it right for some people to go to church only on Christmas?