In the past several weeks, I have had a number of conversations with friends and family about the upcoming Christmas holiday. Within the churches of Christ there is a debate about whether or not Christmas is actually the day that Christ was born. Furthermore, there is debate about whether or not it is okay to celebrate December 25th as His birth if we can’t absolutely prove the actual date that He was born. Now, I don’t mean to be insensitive, but who cares?It doesn’t matter what day He was born. What matters is that He was born, and that His birth was part of a beautifully laid plan that ultimately would provide a fallen world with hope. Isn’t that the point? Maybe He was born in December; maybe it was April or September. Does it really matter?
December 25th is one of just a few days a year that our society stops and recognizes Jesus Christ. We see nativity scenes and hear voices singing, “Joy to the Word- the Lord Has Come.” We see churches filled with worshippers, and hear prayers offered. Our communities provide Christmas dinner for the homeless, and churches and businesses adopt underprivileged families. Christmas brings out the best in people, and I think we should encourage, rather than discourage the holiday.
I am not a Bible scholar, and I don’t know if Jesus was born on December 25th or not. My guess is that it is unlikely. However, any day that the world wants to celebrate the birth of Christ is a victory for Christianity and should be celebrated.
I have heard ministers in the churches of Christ say that it is a sin to celebrate Christmas. I think it is a sin not to.
2 comments:
I totally agree with my wife...it doesn't matter what day Jesus was born. What matters is that he was born and he was sent here to save us. And like Conni said, "any day that the world wants to celebrate the birth of Christ is a victory for Christianity and should be celebrated." AMEN!
Here is my take:
"5 One man esteems one day as better than another, while another man esteems all days alike. Let every one be fully convinced in his own mind. 6 He who observes the day, observes it in honor of the Lord. He also who eats, eats in honor of the Lord, since he gives thanks to God; while he who abstains, abstains in honor of the Lord and gives thanks to God. 7 None of us lives to himself, and none of us dies to himself. 8 If we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord; so then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord's. 9 For to this end Christ died and lived again, that he might be Lord both of the dead and of the living. 10 Why do you pass judgment on your brother? Or you, why do you despise your brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of God; 11 for it is written, "As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall give praise to God." 12 So each of us shall give account of himself to God. 13 Then let us no more pass judgment on one another, but rather decide never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother. " Romans 14: 5-13.
I think this kind of answers the question!
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