Dr. Eberhard Speaks Out -
"Competing or Complaining?"

The Rev. Dr. David Eberhard will do an article periodically called "Dr. Eberhard Speaks Out". He will challenge us with his thoughts and experience as a leading churchman in America. While we may agree, or not agree, he will share with us what he has learned that works in the local parish. Over his forty years of experience in the ministry, he has always tended to be ahead of the current curve of church practices, and is always "pushing the envelope" to get us to expand our thinking.

It seems that churches are missing the boat in being competitive, in our every busy society, in meeting the need of its members and reaching out to the unchurched. Too often, we complain how commercialized Christmas has become with Santa replacing the Christ Child, or how the New Year's Eve parties are more attractive than a church service, or how the Easter Bunny is running away with Easter, or how the witches have taken over Halloween making it satanic, or how outdated the celebration of the Reformation is, or that we can't find Mothers Day in the liturgical year. And yet so many churches today do not have a Christmas Day Worship Service, A New Years Eve Service, an Easter Vigil, or an Holy Eve All Saints Service. There church door is locked - sorry we don't have time for that stuff. We complain that the City Hall does not display a Manger Scene on its lawn, and yet we do not have one on the church lawn. Our children never learn of St. Nicholas, they have never seen the Bunny as a symbol of new life, don't even know who Dr. Luther was or what he did in Wittenberg on the Holy Eve of All Saints Day, they fail to wear Halloween costumes as Saints, and the value of family - mother and father is not instilled in them.

The early Christian Church learned early on, to stop complaining and start competing. When the world of those days was enticing people to attend great pagan ceremonies, the early church found a way to compete. Christ was probably born in the Spring, not on December 25th. But the church used December 25th to highlight the great gift of the Son of God for all persons. They were able to offer the new found Christians an alternative to the winter pagan festival. To compete with the pagan celebration of Eostra the goddess of light and Spring, they provided the highest feast day of the church - Easter Sunday, the Festival of Christ's Resurrection. One could go on and on how the early Christians were competitive with their world, and were very successful in filling the needs of their members and reaching out to others.

The Christ Child and the manger belongs - in the church, let us toast the New Year - in the church, arise early to sing the alleluias on Easter morn - in the church, be proud to be a Lutheran and celebrate the Reformation - in the church on "HolyEve", honor the Saints that have gone on before us - in the church, lift high the value of family on Mothers Day and Fathers Day - in the church.

In short stop complaining and start competing - open up the church doors and let the people come in ! We did and it works !