What You Celebrate as a Church Is Just as Important as What You Believe

    Churches, more often than not, emphasize distinctives. Differences in doctrinal positions, worship style,  leadership structure, cultural engagement, and many others are often cited and celebrated. Because this is emphasized so much today, we look for these things in churches and use it as a basis for making judgment on whether a church is good or not. Meanwhile, we forget that the church is called to celebrate and preach the gospel. This is the unique call of the church, commissioned by Jesus Christ Himself (Matthew 28:18-20). No other institution on this planet is called to do this, except for the church.

    What would happen if the preaching of the gospel and the living-out the gospel is what is celebrated and emphasized above all in churches? Think how this eliminates preferences that arise from self-interests. Think of how many worthless arguments and "church wars" would be avoided. Think about how it makes the church centered on Jesus Christ. Think of how faith, goodness, discipleship, fellowship, brotherly kindness, and love, would strongly manifest in all church activities. Think of a time when all Christians would boast of nothing of themselves but only on the cross.

This blog post from the Gospel Coalition is an excellent reminder on the calling of the church : What You Celebrate as a Church Is Just as Important as What You Believe.

What are you celebrating this Christmas - looking for pageantry and cool Christmas worship services? What are you celebrating in your church? Celebrate the gospel above all.