'Tis the season to be jolly'.........for
many.
Most people regard it as the season of 'good will toward all men'; the season for giving
and sharing; a real family time.
For others it also involves extra religious performances, including 'Christ is the reason
for the season'.
And for the business community, it involves more business. |
- But what about the follower of Jesus?
- And what does Christ think about all this?
PAGAN CELEBRATION
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Firstly, 'Christmas' (like 'Easter')
originally was a pagan celebration - that celebration being for the birth of the northern
hemisphere sun god, and nothing to do with Christ.
Then in the days when the Christian Church according to the prophecy of the apostle Paul
(2 Thessalonians 2:3), fell into degeneration, many things were borrowed from paganism, in
fact its entire spirit, and called Christianity for the sake of acceptability with the
populous and paganism. But Christ never did promise to build His Church on paganism, but
on Himself, as per 1 Peter 2:6-8. |
Other examples of these heathen influences were
the introduction of ceremonial worship; repetitive incantations; emphasis on symbolism and
outward observation and penance (including payment of money) for the appeasement
of divine wrath, and earning of divine favour.
'Christianity' became based on eye and sensibility appeal, grandiose
shrines/temples/places of 'worship'; with high-priestly and lesser priestly orders
accompanied with highly symbolic sanctimonious rituals and garb.
(John Wesley said of even the post-reformation church, "The church has turned
heathen again and has only a dead form left!")
Also much has been made of spiritualistic visions and visitations, and the visiting of
'holy' sites, praying to and for the dead, feeding statues, and observing 'holy' days,
times and seasons.......all in addition to and in total violation of Scripture. |
And so 'Christmas' (not Christ) was
born - something which Christ or His apostles knew nothing of, except to warn the faithful
against, as also all such borrowed heathen practices. (See Colossians 2:16, Matthew
6:7, 15:7-9, 24:1-39, Isaiah 66:1-2, 2Timothy 3:5- all well worth checking before making a
comment.)
Then from this humanly instigated religious celebration, and in loving unison with it, has
grown the secular version of 'Xmas', including the 'well-meaning' Santa Claus, stockings,
and the unbridled satisfying of 'the flesh' for children and adults alike, fed and
fanned by commerce. |
On the other hand, and quite apart from all of
this, Jesus' followers know the birth of Christ, not as a religious observation or secular
derivation of it, but a spiritual experience in the heart daily, and that without the
crutches of a plausible alternative.
It is a case of where Christ both gives and gets the presents! Himself to us and
ourselves to Him!
and we can say: |
'Oh happy day that fixed my
choice
On Thee my Saviour and my Lord.
Well may this glowing heart rejoice,
And tell its raptures all abroad.
Oh happy day! Oh happy day!
When Jesus washed my sins away.
He taught me how to watch and pray,
And live rejoicing every day.
Happy day! Happy day!
When Jesus washed my sins away! |
| Why not join the 'faithful' today and every day,
and know something of what Christxxx is about? |
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Then we can share/give Jesus any and every day as
He is needed, both as He Who lifts up and He who puts down! |
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| Foot note: Surely the reason for the
well-meaning festivity and ritual of the season is because of a lack of the reality of
Christ in the heart. Amen? (See 2 Timothy 3:5, Galatians 4:10-11, Colossians 2:23,
3:1-2, 1 Peter 4:2-4, John 4:32, Revelation 19:7-9, 1 Corinthians 2:14......for deeper
insights.) |
[Message authorisation: John 8:32, Ephesians 4:15, 2 Timothy 4:1-4, Acts 18:9-11.]........
30.12.2003
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