When Church services become platforms for National holidays

There’s nothing wrong with setting aside a special personal day to honor your mother and father. But as time goes on, I see an increasing number of Churches incorporating National holidays into their “Church” services, even with birthdays and graduation ceremonies. They’ve become increasingly pragmatic, horizontal, and idolatrous. Last year on Mother’s Day I sat through a sermon that was mostly about mothers or for mothers. This year, I saw many advertisements for “Mother’s Day” Church services. Yes, the Fifth Commandment is to honor your mother and father. But that Commandment wasn’t nullified the other 364 days of the year when the National holiday rose to the scene.

Frankly, many churches have become social clubs and entertainment centers. Hey, that’s a great idea. I should consider rejoining a country club. At least there I would expect fun, recreation, and entertainment.

But here’s some positive news. Yesterday was a blessing to spend the Lord’s Day visiting a Church without Mother’s Day being incorporated into the sermons or the service. In other words, they preached vertically through the Immutable Scriptures, not horizontally tickling itchy ears. But we had to drive a long distance for that orthodoxy.

What kind of Church does not add programs to the service not found in the Scriptures? A Church that practices a regulative principle of worship, like the aforementioned Church.  

I am convinced Lord willing, that if every ‘professing’ Christian who is concerned about MAGA were more concerned about making the Church great again, America would become great again. So goes the Church so goes the Nation. A great place to start is to repent, not repeat. Repent and practice a regulative principle of worship (RPW) not the normative. Or plant a Church from the ground up that is RPW, orthodoxy, and orthopraxy.  

Only by the grace of God, so go the wretched man I am, who regretfully participated in National Police Week recognition services in the 1990s.

For a closer examination of a RPW, here’s a position paper for you.

https://www.theexpositor.tv/wp-content/uploads/A-Position-Paper-on-a-RPW.pdf