A Missed Opportunity and a Call to Action
“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth…”
Romans 1:16 (KJV)
My wife and I attended a Christmas sing hosted at a local Baptist church in partnership with a public elementary school. Let me say upfront—this kind of outreach is commendable. Opening church doors to families who may not otherwise attend is a rare and powerful opportunity. In many ways, more churches should be seeking moments like this.
The sanctuary was full—wall to wall—with parents, grandparents, siblings, and friends. A full house. A captive audience. A community gathered inside the walls of a church during the Christmas season.
And yet, Christ was never mentioned.
An Opportunity Squandered
The pastor stood before the congregation and introduced the event. He introduced himself. He even introduced his role at the public school. But he did not introduce Jesus Christ—the very reason the church exists, and the very reason Christmas matters.
Before we arrived, I told my wife I feared this exact outcome. I hoped to be wrong. Unfortunately, I was not.
In a Baptist church, during Christmas, with a sanctuary filled with people from the community, the Gospel was left unspoken. This was not an act of wisdom or restraint—it was a failure of calling.
“Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.”
2 Timothy 4:2 (KJV)
Who Was Failed?
This silence failed on many levels.
- It failed the holiday—Christmas without Christ is an empty shell.
- It failed God’s Word, which commands us to proclaim the truth boldly.
- It failed Christ, who is to be lifted up before men.
- It failed the community, who came seeking meaning, whether they realized it or not.
- And it failed the pastorate—whose calling is to shepherd, feed, and lead.
Scripture does not call pastors to be event hosts. It calls them to be watchmen.
“…if the watchman see the sword come, and blow not the trumpet… his blood will I require at the watchman’s hand.”
Ezekiel 33:6 (KJV)
Silence Is Not Neutral
Some will argue that mentioning Christ might make guests uncomfortable. But silence in the face of truth is not kindness—it is surrender.
Jesus Himself said:
“…if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out.”
Luke 19:40 (KJV)
When the Church grows quiet, something else fills the void—and it is never righteousness.
A Call to Action for the Church
Church members must lovingly but firmly hold leadership accountable. Pastors must be reminded that a church does not cease to be a church because a public school walks through its doors. Christ must remain first—always.
If we are embarrassed to speak His name in His own house, something is deeply broken.
“For necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!”
1 Corinthians 9:16 (KJV)
The embarrassment should never be on Christ. It should rest on those who chose silence when the Gospel should have been proclaimed.
Closing Reflection — Trifecta Living
This article reflects the heart of Trifecta Living—a commitment to faith, truth, and conviction lived out without compromise.
Trifecta Living exists to challenge comfortable Christianity, call believers back to biblical courage, and remind the Church of its primary mission: to proclaim Christ clearly, boldly, and without apology.
Christmas is not merely a cultural tradition. It is a declaration—God with us.
Let us never bottle up the blood of Christ for the sake of comfort, approval, or fear. The Church exists to lift Him up, especially when the doors are full and the moment matters most.