Regarding the entertainment and dinner activities at Christmas, I have seen pastors and preachers appeal for several years in a row not to let artistic activities replace religious worship, or let Santa Claus replace Jesus, and programs replace sermons.
I think it is a good thing that Christmas is not so bustling.
"Suffering" amid Christmas celebrations
The suspension of rehearsals at Christmas in the last two years has changed years of church tradition of celebrating the holiday with much fanfare. Some people think that Christmas cannot be Christmas without a list of programs, just like the 80th birthday of an old lady in the countryside. If a troupe is not invited to sing and dance, the birthday will be lonesome.
Why do Christians have to worry about Christmas entertainment? As long as the birth of the Lord is true, Christmas should still be celebrated with a joyful heart. If Jesus is not the main reason for celebrating Christmas, it will only be a gathering for celebrating the dead.
The pain of "performers"
Christmas rehearsals are practically the time when conflicts within the choir erupt, and it is also the time when hostility is sown. You, me, and him, the protagonist and supporting actor, each with their pride, and each is the king. Every time after Christmas, some of the church workers will somehow offend several people.
Some people turn Christmas into Good Friday and universal hope into despair. Even though at Christmas there are recreational activities, noise, a massive crowd, and there is no baby in the manger! It completely loses the meaning of Christmas.
The believers watch plays
The choir "meticulously" prepares works to commemorate the birth of the Lord, which are referred to as "carols" in the mouth of believers. The church keeps saying that it is for worship but for believers, it is a "show". Some actors can only imitate and have no understanding of the truth. Can believers understand the truth of their faith from it? I do not know either.
After watching a performance, believers usually comment on who was good and who was not. Was the show good? Who looks good and who does not? The Christmas party gives them the illusion that they are the main character. They forget that it is just a play on and off the stage, but everyone plays supporting roles, and the Lord Jesus is the protagonist. It is better to hold sacred music worship and special worship at Christmas than cultural and recreational activities.
Return the sermon to the podium
Over the years the sermon has been shortened again and again to fit around the performances. In some places, the sermon time has been whittled down to 10 minutes and more time is reserved for performances. The listeners of the sermon have long lost focus, and the performers are too busy preparing to listen to God's word.
There should be no entertainment activity at Christmas, only worship! Believers need to concentrate on worshipping and listening to the word of the Lord. There should be no list of popular programs and no ranking of the best acts. Believers should only care about why Jesus became flesh. They should think about what the incarnate Jesus did for them. As long as there is a master, nothing else matters.
The birth of Jesus is a fact, and in those days no one beat drums or danced. The angels reported good news, and the shepherds praised and spread the news all the way. The focus of Christmas is Jesus and when Christmas has become too gaudy and glitzy, restoring simplicity is a return to the true meaning of worship.
(Originally published by Gospel Times, this is a freelance article written by a pastor in Jiangsu province.)
- Translated by Nonye Nancy
对于圣诞节的文娱活动，聚餐活动，我看到连续几年有牧者传道们呼吁不要让文艺活动取代虔诚的敬拜，不要让圣诞老人取代了耶稣，不要让节目取代讲道。
我认为圣诞节不那么忙碌是一件好事。
一、圣诞联欢之殇
圣诞节停止排练节目，改变了多年来教会过圣诞节就要大操大办的习惯。有人认为圣诞节不排节目就不是过圣诞节，就像农村老太太八十岁寿辰，如果不请个戏班唱唱跳跳，那这个寿辰就太寂寞了。
为什么一定要对圣诞节的文娱活动耿耿于怀呢？只要主降生是事实，圣诞节照样过的心里喜乐。如果圣诞节里耶稣不是主角，那圣诞节只会带来联欢之殇。
1、“演员们”的痛苦
圣诞节排练节目，几乎是诗班矛盾集中爆发的时期，也是彼此间种下嫌隙的时候。你我他，主角配角，各自骄傲，个个为大为王。每次圣诞节之后，一些同工总会莫名其妙得罪几个人。
有些人把圣诞节过成了受难节，把普世的希望过成了绝望。圣诞节虽然有文娱活动，充斥喧闹和拥挤，唯独没有马槽里的婴孩！完全失去了圣诞节的意义。
2、信徒看了场戏
诗班“精心”预备好纪念主降生的作品，在信徒口里就是“看戏”。教会口口声声是为了敬拜，对于信徒就是看了场“戏”。有些演员只会模仿，并没有对真理的悟性。信徒又能从中领悟信仰真理吗？我也不知道。
信徒看过演出后，通常就是评论谁演的好不好？戏好看不好看？谁长的好不好看？圣诞联欢给他们造成自己是主角的错觉，他们忘记了台上台下是一场戏，但大家都是配角，主耶稣才是主角。圣诞节举行圣乐崇拜、特别崇拜，比文娱活动更好。
二、把道还给讲台
多年来为了配合演出，讲道一再浓缩。有些地方把讲道时间精减到10分钟，更多时间留给演出。听道的人早已经没了心思，演出的人忙于准备更无时间听神的话。
圣诞节没有文娱活动，只有崇拜！信徒专心敬拜，聆听主话，没有受欢迎节目排行榜，没有最佳表演名次。信徒只要关心耶稣为何道成肉身？只要思想道成肉身的耶稣对我做了什么事？只要有主，其他不重要。
耶稣降生是事实，当年无人击鼓跳舞，天使报告佳音，牧羊人一路赞美，一路传扬。圣诞节的中心是耶稣，当圣诞节变得过于花哨、炫目的时候，恢复简单才是回归敬拜真义。
注：本文为特约/自由撰稿人文章，作者系江苏一名牧师。
http://fuyinshibao.cn/article/index/id/59765
没有文娱活动的圣诞节真好！
Regarding the entertainment and dinner activities at Christmas, I have seen pastors and preachers appeal for several years in a row not to let artistic activities replace religious worship, or let Santa Claus replace Jesus, and programs replace sermons.
I think it is a good thing that Christmas is not so bustling.
"Suffering" amid Christmas celebrations
The suspension of rehearsals at Christmas in the last two years has changed years of church tradition of celebrating the holiday with much fanfare. Some people think that Christmas cannot be Christmas without a list of programs, just like the 80th birthday of an old lady in the countryside. If a troupe is not invited to sing and dance, the birthday will be lonesome.
Why do Christians have to worry about Christmas entertainment? As long as the birth of the Lord is true, Christmas should still be celebrated with a joyful heart. If Jesus is not the main reason for celebrating Christmas, it will only be a gathering for celebrating the dead.
The pain of "performers"
Christmas rehearsals are practically the time when conflicts within the choir erupt, and it is also the time when hostility is sown. You, me, and him, the protagonist and supporting actor, each with their pride, and each is the king. Every time after Christmas, some of the church workers will somehow offend several people.
Some people turn Christmas into Good Friday and universal hope into despair. Even though at Christmas there are recreational activities, noise, a massive crowd, and there is no baby in the manger! It completely loses the meaning of Christmas.
The believers watch plays
The choir "meticulously" prepares works to commemorate the birth of the Lord, which are referred to as "carols" in the mouth of believers. The church keeps saying that it is for worship but for believers, it is a "show". Some actors can only imitate and have no understanding of the truth. Can believers understand the truth of their faith from it? I do not know either.
After watching a performance, believers usually comment on who was good and who was not. Was the show good? Who looks good and who does not? The Christmas party gives them the illusion that they are the main character. They forget that it is just a play on and off the stage, but everyone plays supporting roles, and the Lord Jesus is the protagonist. It is better to hold sacred music worship and special worship at Christmas than cultural and recreational activities.
Return the sermon to the podium
Over the years the sermon has been shortened again and again to fit around the performances. In some places, the sermon time has been whittled down to 10 minutes and more time is reserved for performances. The listeners of the sermon have long lost focus, and the performers are too busy preparing to listen to God's word.
There should be no entertainment activity at Christmas, only worship! Believers need to concentrate on worshipping and listening to the word of the Lord. There should be no list of popular programs and no ranking of the best acts. Believers should only care about why Jesus became flesh. They should think about what the incarnate Jesus did for them. As long as there is a master, nothing else matters.
The birth of Jesus is a fact, and in those days no one beat drums or danced. The angels reported good news, and the shepherds praised and spread the news all the way. The focus of Christmas is Jesus and when Christmas has become too gaudy and glitzy, restoring simplicity is a return to the true meaning of worship.
(Originally published by Gospel Times, this is a freelance article written by a pastor in Jiangsu province.)
- Translated by Nonye Nancy
Christmas Without Entertainment!
