Free Church Carol Service



The first Carol Service to take place in a Free Church was held in Aberdeen Free Church on the 24th of December 1997. Why should any concern be expressed? Arguments could be brought forward to justify the celebration of Christmas in this way. Firstly, Christmas is widely observed as a family holiday. Presents are exchanged and relatives gather for a special meal. Surely, anything that can strengthen family bonds in our day must be of some value? Secondly, Christmas brings many economic benefits to our nation. Without the Christmas spending boom, many of our shops and businesses would go bankrupt. Thirdly, the birth of Christ was a special event and therefore should it not be specially remembered at some point in the year? It was a day for which the Old Testament saints longed. A special star directed the wise men to where He was born. Angels announced His birth to shepherds. The heavenly host sang with delight. Paul says: "Great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh" (1Tim.3:16). Fourthly, these services are common in many churches and attract people who perhaps would not normally go to church. Is it not a good opportunity to preach evangelistically and to proclaim the gospel?

Pagan Beginnings
There are, however, certain things that we must remember. Firstly, Christmas was originally a pagan Roman festival (Saturnalia) which was christianised. Many of its customs are of non-Christian origin and were adapted from celebrations of the winter solstice. Secondly, the Scottish Reformers not only rejected the mass but also the Roman Catholic Calendar which included Christmas. Thirdly, there is an even greater wonder than the birth of Christ and that is the death of Christ. The Prince of Life offered Himself on the cross. In fact He was born to die. "Father, save me from this hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour" (Jn.12:27). Jesus tells us specifically how He wants us to remember Him: "This do in remembrance of me" (Lk.22:19). He requires us to partake of the Lord's supper. We are not saved by His birth but by His death and so we are to rejoice specially in that. Fourthly, the only day we should keep special is the Lord's Day. The Fourth Commandment states, "Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy". One day in seven is to be observed for publicly and privately worshipping God. After the resurrection of Christ that day was changed from the seventh to the first day of the week to celebrate the completion of the work of redemption which was an even greater work than that of creation.

The Regulative Principle
Fifthly, there is no command in Scripture to celebrate Jesus' birthday nor is there any record of the New Testament church doing so. That settled the matter for our forefathers. The Westminster Confession states: "The acceptable way of worshipping the true God is instituted by himself, and so limited by his revealed will, that he may not be worshipped according to the imaginations and devices of men,... or any other way not prescribed in the holy scripture" (WCF 21,1). The Lutheran and Anglican idea was that anything that was not condemned in the Bible could be introduced into the worship. The Calvinistic view, that we should have nothing in our worship but what God specifically commands, is called the Regulative Principle and is based on the Second Commandment. There the Lord forbids the use of images or any other device which some argue may help the individual to worship God.

Public Worship?
The Rev. Iver Martin of Aberdeen Free Church pleaded that the Regulative Principle applies only to public worship and that a Carol Service is not public worship and therefore his ordination vows which forbid the use of uninspired materials of praise or instrumental music do not apply. He went on to assure people that he would not introduce such things into the Sunday services. However, public worship is worship in public as distinct from private or family worship. In the Aberdeen Carol Service, the Word of God was read, prayers were offered, a sermon was preached and carols were sung, presumably to the praise of God. An invitation was issued in the Press to the public to attend and it was reported that some 200 were present. In other words, this was public worship.
Mr Martin also maintained that because this was an evangelistic event the rules for public worship did not apply. But surely all worship should be evangelistic and all public evangelism should be worship? Mr Martin claimed that unbelievers cannot worship God. This is true, but it is still their duty so to do.

Pleasing God
It is argued that Carol Services work and get the crowds into church at a time of declining attendances generally. Sadly this type of pragmatic argument is used too often these days. "Give people what they want". "Entertain rather than evangelise". The fact that others are doing it is no justification (1Sam.8:5). Should we please God or man? Where is our faith in the simple preaching of the gospel as the "power of God unto salvation" (Rom.1:16)?


Any comments or questions please E-Mail me or Rev William Macleod the editor.

[Back to Reformed Christian Pages][Back to Free Church Foundations]