Why Church Feels Different at Christmas—and All Year Long

Many people attend church on Christmas, even if they don’t go regularly the rest of the year. Churches “pull out all the stops” and make that service a special occasion. Rightly so—Christians have a lot to celebrate on Christmas.

Churches are dazzled with decorations, lights, nativities scenes, and trees. The music is familiar and beloved, songs that many recognize and can sing together, even those who haven’t been to church in some time.

In many respects, the Christmas service experience is a small reflection of what the church does all year long. Church is a special place where special things happen. Those differences reflect the unique meaning and purpose for those gatherings.

Church should look like a church. For centuries, gathering places for believers have been unique-looking buildings. The Old Testament tabernacle (a tent church) and later the temple in Jerusalem were distinct structures. This reflected the significance of meeting with God in a particular place.

After Jesus’ death and resurrection, God did not need special ceremony and sacrifice to approach him. But these gatherings retained the special nature. Early Christians treated them as meaningful and unique occasions.

The apostle Paul instructed a prominent church in Corinth about the nature of their gatherings. Even though they met in homes, there was to be an element of reverence because Jesus Christ joined them in word and meal (the Lord’s Supper). The unique gifts each person were meant to serve others so things were done in an orderly manner (1 Corinthians 11–14).

There are many benefits to a church being something different from normal daily life. You don’t spend extra time, money, and effort to get to a place that feels ordinary. Destinations are unique and special. Church is a gathering unlike any other gathering in life.

It is different because of the message. Motivational speeches, concerts, and inspiring events are available everywhere. But the church is different because, in the church, God descends to humanity to share the love he showed us in his Son, Jesus Christ. Immediately after Paul’s discussion about church gatherings, he lays out the foundational teaching proclaimed there (1 Corinthians 15). Jesus Christ—God himself—lived, died, and rose again, and he did it all for you. This message is unlike any other. While the church may incorporate motivation, excitement, and music familiar to the culture, its focus will always be on Christ and his saving work.

When we gather at church, we come into the presence of God. Yes, God is everywhere, but it is still a remarkable thing that he chooses to be with us in this way. When people gather into the presence of God, then what they do in worship reflects the awe, glory, majesty, and grace of that reality. Being in church is a privilege, not a right.

There are special things that happen at church. When Christians gather, Jesus also instructed that we share a special meal (1 Corinthians 11). In this meal, we receive Jesus himself. In a unique and miraculous way, Jesus gives us his very body and blood. It is not merely a symbol, but truly himself (11:27, 29). This is something sacred, and the service treats it accordingly.

You can usually identify a church by the cross. The cross is not an object of worship, but a sign of what is proclaimed there. The church is not a fix-me-up place—you can find that anywhere. It is a place to find God’s grace, which centers on the cross of Jesus.

Church is a special place because we meet God in a special way, hear a special message, and participate in sacred acts. This is a special relationship God wants to build with you and with all who gather there. Christmas is just a small starting point of a community you can grow with week after week. If you are looking for something different, transcendent, and something that lasts long after the decorations are put away, come to church.