What a wonderful feeling! After years of spiritual separation from my parents, we were together last year in their church --the church of my youth. The church I never expected to be in on Christmas.
How did it happen? What brought us together on this joyous day?
We've been challenged to look at our beliefs, including our teaching on Christmas.
When we first announced a change in this teaching, I read the material. This softened my view, but was I ready to attend Christmas services? No. For me, tolerance of others attending was enough.
Several months later I talked with a member who wondered how far to go in accommodating her parents on Christmas matters. That did it! I ordered Ralph Woodrow's book, Christmas Reconsidered. I wanted further understanding, and I got it.
Although the date of Christ's birth is in question, his birth isn't. It was a joyous event-- one worth celebrating--and with our freedom in Christ, we can do it on Dec. 25.
Knowing this, I thought about my parents. With a trip scheduled to their home last Christmas season, this would be an opportunity to attend Christmas services with them.
Since the changes in the church, I had admitted doctrinal errors to them. But they weren't expecting us to attend church with them. Not after years of avoiding their church.
With my wife, Merry, son, Gregory, and youngest daughter, Laura, we decided to make our decision a surprise. And it was! Mom was stunned and overjoyed; dad was happy.
I struggled to hold back the tears. At last, the wall of spiritual separation was torn down, revealing a beautiful sight--three generations enjoying oneness in Christ.
The priest gave a stirring message. He said that Jesus used the Incarnation to openly reveal himself. Through that revelation, he set an example for us--an example that says we should openly confess our faith--not hide it--from others.
After services, we walked outdoors into the sunlight. For me, it symbolized the light of truth that had shined into my heart through the new covenant--a light that led to this joyous time together.
Has that light shined in your heart? Has it changed the way you look at other Christians and Christian practices?
Through an understanding of the new covenant, we can acknowledge our brothers and sisters in other churches. We can accept different ways of worship.
This doesn't mean we have to change our basic way of worship. For us, the Festivals remain important. We enjoy their deep meaning in Christ and want to observe them.
But we are free to use other days of worship. Days that have meaning and can be used to forge bonds of love with others.
Jesus ended the separation created by the demands of the old covenant. He created new conditions for unity through himself: "For he himself is our peace, who has made the two [Israelite and gentile] one and has destroyed the barrier [including days of worship], the dividing wall of hostility, by abolishing in his flesh the law with its commandments and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace, and in this one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility" (Ephesians 2:14-16).
We can use these new conditions to tear down walls of separation and build bridges of love.
This is what we did by attending Christmas services. This is what you can do by using your freedom in Christ to be with your brothers and sisters in Christ--to share special spiritual times together. Times that will bring you joy and happiness!
George Kackos pastors the Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, church.
Nov. 18, 1997, WN, page 10
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