Taking A Second Look
I understand that Gal. 4:10-11 condemns the religious observance of holidays. However there is an ever increasing number of brethren and churches of Christ that are going out after the observance of Easter and Christmas. A few years ago Dr. A. R. Brown, elder of one of the churches of Christ in Searcy, Arkansas, was appointed chairman of the White County Easter Sunrise Bible Class in Searcy. It was supported by all the denominations in the County. (Searcy Daily Citizen, March 26, 1959). And from the Panama City Herald, of Panama City, Fla. (March 5, 1965), we read: "At Holy Nativity; Seven Churches Will Join In Special Lenten Services. The Holy Nativity Episcopal Church will join with six other city churches for a series of interdenominational Lenten services...Services will be held at 7:30 p. m. each Thursday night through April 8, with the Rev. C.J. Marsh of St. Andrews Baptist, the Rev. Richard Scoggins of Wallace Memorial Presbyterian, the Rev. J. W. Ellisor of Forest Methodist, the Rev. Arthur M. Hale of Messiah Lutheran, and the Rev. G. D. Robinson of the St. Andrew Church of Christ to preach in that order weekly...The Rev. Mr. Damon said this program would greatly aid the movement for church unity in this community." Brother Pat Boone, in his book, writes: "Christmas, the birth of the Savior...If Santa has become commercial, it's not because either St. Nicholas or Father Christmas took Christ out of Christmas. No, we can't blame anybody but ourselves for that, and since it's up to you and I who reenact the ancient role, it's up to us to make Jesus the central figure...We can enjoy it (Christmas, G. D.) in our church, in our homes with our children, our families, with each other." (Quotes from THE REAL CHRISTMAS, pages 9, 44 and 58, by Pat Boone).