Living in Liberty

A Ministry of Bryce Lowance

Elder Bryce Lowrance

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Yes, I Have Lights On My House

19 December 2013

And, yes I have a tree - Its made of plastic and has plastic lights, and plastic ornaments (we can’t have glass ones, one of my children tried to eat them like apples when she was little), some of which my kids made. Its pretty.

Some people might think that… Well, here is what the Bible says about that.

For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ. - Galatians 1:10

I am servant to Christ not man’s opinion of men.

Having said that, let us look at some of the traditions that take place this time of year.

Please read my previous post about celebrating the birth of Christ.

Giving gifts - Is that a sin? If so, the wise men are guilty. Materialism is a sin. It is the sin of loving mammon, or things. If we are consumed with the idea of getting stuff, then we need to repent. If we enjoy giving gifts, then are we not like Christ and our Heavenly Father?
Visiting family - Is that a sin? If so, then the early church was guilty because they worshipped from house to house and spent a lot of time in fellowship. Can visiting become a problem? Yes, it can. If we fail to assemble ourselves together in church by putting family first, then it is a sin. This is also the time when meals are the center point of family time. Eating is not a sin, gluttony is.
Singing carols - Is that a sin? No. We should sing praises to the Lord and about the Lord all the time. Let’s just make sure the songs are factual, not man-made.
Decorations - Is that a sin? As long as things do not become your gods, there is nothing wrong with owning things. Also, don’t try to spiritualize things by pointing to something in the Bible. Its just not there. Its a tree with ornaments and lights, nothing more.

My conclusion is this, don’t lose your focus. If your life is centered around Christ every other day of the year, celebrating this time of year should not get in the way. Keep up what you are doing and enjoy the extra time off from work or school.

And on a side note, if the only times you go to church are Christmas and Easter, fix that. We already have a Santa Claus and an Easter Bunny.

« Why I Celebrate The Birth of Christ | Jesus is Wonderful »

Tags: christmas, traditions

Welcome

Brentwood Hills Primitive Baptist Church is a community of believers working together to transform our lives to the image of Jesus Christ. We believe it is our duty and privilege to live the gospel of the doctrines of grace in such a way as to edify the families within our church and other children of God in our community. Through regular worship based on strong Biblical principles, fellowship, admonishment, and outreach, we glory in the grace of the sovereign God working in our lives thereby showing the Spirit of God in the world.

Brentwood Hills was organized in 1906 in Fort Worth, Texas as Laodicea Primitive Baptist Church. You can find much of the history of the church, as well as other churches here: Primitive Baptist History Database

We identify ourselves as an old-line Primitive Baptist church. If you read our Articles of Faith, you’ll see that we hold to such doctrines as the inspiration and inerrancy of the Bible. We recognize the King James Version (KJV) as the only English translation worthy of being called the Bible. We believe in salvation solely by the grace of a sovereign God. We believe that Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God, came to the earth to do the will of His Father, which was to deliver from the sentence of death all those the Father gave Him before the world began. We believe that Jesus fully satisfied the Father by atoning for all the sins of all His people. In time, we believe the Holy Spirit comes to each person that belongs to Jesus and regenerates them. Then (and only then) can anyone have faith, which is a fruit of the Spirit, by which you are able to believe the glorious gospel of Jesus Christ. Whether or not you ever hear the gospel, or believe it if you did hear it, or obey it if you did believe it, rest assured that Jesus will remain forever faithful to you because, if He died for you, He will never deny that you belong to Him.

We believe that everyone for whom Christ died will without fail be raised again from the dead to a glorified life. Even if we are alive when He returns to raise the dead, we shall be changed to a glorified life. All the Redeemed will meet the Lord in the air. Then He will take us to Heaven and there we shall forever be with the Lord. The wicked will be raised at the same time as the righteous, but the wicked shall go away into everlasting punishment along with Satan and his angels. Until that glorious day when Christ returns to raise the dead, He has provided a place for His people to find rest for their souls. This place is the Church. Jesus Christ set-up His church on this earth before His death on the Cross. The church is there for those of His people who have come to believe that God saved them by His Son, Jesus Christ. To believe that Christ “paid it all” gives believers the strongest motivation to serve Him. Once enlightened to this glorious truth, then the child of God should feel an obligation to become and remain an active member of the His church. To serve the Lord in His church makes for one of the great blessings to experience this side of Heaven. It fulfills you to serve in His church and it gives your life purpose and meaning.