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CHRISTMAS AND THE CHURCH

1. Why don't we observe Christmas in the churches of Christ?
  1. Two approaches to authority
    1. Zwingli - "What is not authorized is wrong."
    2. Luther - "What is not forbidden is authorized."

  2. Study three types of authority
    1. Specific command - "Preach the gospel"
    2. Generic command - "Go into all the world"
    3. Necessary inference - buildings, classes

  3. Individual liberty vs. what the Church can do
                    Liberty                                Bound
    1. Garage sale I Cor. 16:2; II Cor. 9:7
    2. Choir, chorus Eph. 5:19; Col. 3:16
    3. Big Mac, Coke I Cor. 11:24-29
    4. Thursday I Cor. 16:1; Ac. 20:7
    5. Holiday Gal. 4:10-11; Col. 2:16

2. What about Santa Claus? Easter bunny?
  1. Origin = not material

  2. Powers given to him are similar to God
    1. All knowing "knows if you are good or bad"
    2. Everywhere present "all around the world"
    3. Powerful
    4. Rewards the good
    5. Eternal "never grows old"

  3. Learn that these are not real?
    1. What about God?
    2. What about Jesus?

  4. I believe that we should:
    1. Treat like a fairy tale "Three Pigs"
    2. Tell them that God knows their behavior
    3. Presents are from parents who love them
    4. Like God - parents know behavior -love anyway

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