Well i am new here and want to discuss it cos its very relevant and timely.
When i became a christian i wondered how i was going to celebrate christmas or even if i should cos i always celebrated it anyway before I truly believed and i tell you it is not godly the way its celebrated if you dont believe.
I know people say x-mas or christ-mas and catholicism does midnight mass which i do not agree with at all. I always thought it was gory the way the catholics glorified jesus death and made a big ritual of it plus all those statues of him on the cross decaying and bleeding. This is my personal experience so please dont say im catholic bashing i have no agenda. It is just not biblical and i go by the word of God.
In the bible the date of jesus birth does not coincide with 25 december. But it is not wrong to remember jesus what he did for us by eating and drinking the lords supper, or to recall his birth by retelling the story in the gospel of luke by renacting the nativity by singing carols. This is the part I absolutely LOVE about the season.
The trees...well this is the big part of paganism and gift giving as well. This has not really anything to do with Jesus although ive read people used to recreate the original garden of eden in miracle plays and they had a paradise tree representing the tree in the garden. Somehow this got combined with christmas and some people symbolise it by saying christ is evergreen, the red symbolises his blood, the gifts representing the wise mens offerings etc. i myself think some ppl go to great lengths to justify a pagan holiday. It is not necessary. But i would say it can be fun, absolutely! The advent season the lead up to 25 th where every heart prepares him room, I always in my heart beleive it does prepare us christians to fix our minds on the second coming when he will really be with us.
Others may expect santa claus or father christmas, or some other myth, but its really just human tradition. The real saint nicolas was a generous hearted christian who loved children. So i dont see anything wrong with giving gifts to children if you are parents on that day.
The retailers take advantage of this by claiming everyone has to give a gift to everyone but that is a lie. The whole reason saint nicolas was generous was because he could afford to do so, and gave to POOR children whos parents could not afford it. Christmas has turned into a holiday only the wealthy can celebrate in style.
Everyone has to make up their own mind whether to partake or not.
I myself go to church to hear the story again and also go carolling. I send cards with nativity scenes and think and pray blessings to those far away or havent heard from all year. I have big meal with my family who are unbelievers. I do give gifts, but mostly throughout the year i dont spend up. Theres boxing day sales anyway so its crazy to spend on expensive gifts for christmas day. I dont particularly care for trees, but think its a nice decoration. Its summer here so trees are all around anyway decorated with blooms in their natural glory, i dont need fake snow etc.
Christmas is a big opportunity for evangelism. people love to hear about a saviour more than they want to hear about santa. Cos Hes real. While most people think shows over after 25 th i keep on celebrating Jesus birth death and resurrection throughout the year.
So thats my 2 cents offering!
Blessings!
When i became a christian i wondered how i was going to celebrate christmas or even if i should cos i always celebrated it anyway before I truly believed and i tell you it is not godly the way its celebrated if you dont believe.
I know people say x-mas or christ-mas and catholicism does midnight mass which i do not agree with at all. I always thought it was gory the way the catholics glorified jesus death and made a big ritual of it plus all those statues of him on the cross decaying and bleeding. This is my personal experience so please dont say im catholic bashing i have no agenda. It is just not biblical and i go by the word of God.
In the bible the date of jesus birth does not coincide with 25 december. But it is not wrong to remember jesus what he did for us by eating and drinking the lords supper, or to recall his birth by retelling the story in the gospel of luke by renacting the nativity by singing carols. This is the part I absolutely LOVE about the season.
The trees...well this is the big part of paganism and gift giving as well. This has not really anything to do with Jesus although ive read people used to recreate the original garden of eden in miracle plays and they had a paradise tree representing the tree in the garden. Somehow this got combined with christmas and some people symbolise it by saying christ is evergreen, the red symbolises his blood, the gifts representing the wise mens offerings etc. i myself think some ppl go to great lengths to justify a pagan holiday. It is not necessary. But i would say it can be fun, absolutely! The advent season the lead up to 25 th where every heart prepares him room, I always in my heart beleive it does prepare us christians to fix our minds on the second coming when he will really be with us.
Others may expect santa claus or father christmas, or some other myth, but its really just human tradition. The real saint nicolas was a generous hearted christian who loved children. So i dont see anything wrong with giving gifts to children if you are parents on that day.
The retailers take advantage of this by claiming everyone has to give a gift to everyone but that is a lie. The whole reason saint nicolas was generous was because he could afford to do so, and gave to POOR children whos parents could not afford it. Christmas has turned into a holiday only the wealthy can celebrate in style.
Everyone has to make up their own mind whether to partake or not.
I myself go to church to hear the story again and also go carolling. I send cards with nativity scenes and think and pray blessings to those far away or havent heard from all year. I have big meal with my family who are unbelievers. I do give gifts, but mostly throughout the year i dont spend up. Theres boxing day sales anyway so its crazy to spend on expensive gifts for christmas day. I dont particularly care for trees, but think its a nice decoration. Its summer here so trees are all around anyway decorated with blooms in their natural glory, i dont need fake snow etc.
Christmas is a big opportunity for evangelism. people love to hear about a saviour more than they want to hear about santa. Cos Hes real. While most people think shows over after 25 th i keep on celebrating Jesus birth death and resurrection throughout the year.
So thats my 2 cents offering!
Blessings!