Does this mean we're losing our main mission, and putting the lust for money ahead of sharing the gospel and bringing up matters of faith? Overall, no. But for one day, we did.
Why? Because last Sunday was Valentine's Day - and the way our church association has put it in recent years, any act of love on February 14 is considered "keeping" Valentine's Day. And in our association, keeping that day is considered "pagan" and wrong.
Regular blog readers will recall we did the same sort of thing the last two years on February 14 - and to be honest, it feels uncomfortable for us. Should we run over pedestrians who cross our path on that day? Cuss out the poker dealer? Besides....
Whosoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. - I John 4:8
Does God stop loving us one day a year - the way the Khmer Rouge once had an annual "day of hate" when it ruled Cambodia? We don't think so. The sun thankfully still rose and fell on February 14 this year.
Our church association toned down its online and "public" comments about Valentine's Day this year - still against it, but not demanding a one-day ban on acts of love. We wonder how a passage of Romans ties in with this:
One man considers one day more sacred than another; another man considers every day alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind. - Romans 14:5
We personally realize the pagan origin of Valentine's Day (check out link above), so we don't keep it. That's why for the second year in a row, we entered a poker tournament on February 14. Few places are less merciful and loving than that.... right?
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