This time of year is special to me, as it is the time of year we celebrate the birth of our savior, Jesus the Christ (by the way, Christ isn't Jesus' last name, but his title. Christ is the Greek version of the word Messiah.)
Truth
This time of year was celebrated by pagans long before the birth of the Christ. December 21st or 22nd marks the winter solstice, the time of year in which the sun appears to stand still. It marks the beginning of winter.
This time of year was celebrated by pagans long before the birth of the Christ. December 21st or 22nd marks the winter solstice, the time of year in which the sun appears to stand still. It marks the beginning of winter.
Jesus was not born in December. From hints in the text, we can assume he was born between August and October.
The reason we celebrate the birth of Jesus in December is that the Catholics super-imposed the birth of the Christ on top of the existing pagan celebrations.
The reason we celebrate the birth of Jesus in December is that the Catholics super-imposed the birth of the Christ on top of the existing pagan celebrations.
Christmas is a secular and commercial holiday for 95% of the population of this country.
I know all that. Here are some other facts to consider.
2,000 years ago, an angel appeared to a virgin and told her she was going to have a child. This virgin's future husband knew that he hadn't had sex with her, she's pregnant. Logically, he thinks that she cheated on him, and was going to call everything off. An angel talked to him, and convinced him that she had not.
I know that this poor couple had a baby in a smelly barn, laying the baby in an animal's food trough. I know that angels appeared to shepherds in the fields and announced the birth.
I know that God himself came to Earth to redeem man. I know that keeping this monumental fact fresh in my mind is extremely important.
It doesn't matter if I mark the anniversary of Jesus' birth on December 25th, October 16th, or May 3rd. The important thing is that I mark it.
In the old testament, God created feast days that the Jews were to follow. The passover season is to remind them how God delivered them out of slavery. The feast of tabernacles reminded them of the provisions and protection of God while they wondered in the wilderness.
In the new testament, Jesus asked his followers to partake of the Lord's supper (communion) 'in remembrance of me'
A common theme is a formal remembrance of the blessings of God in our lives. It is vitally important for us humans to set aside a time to change our focus and make God our center of attention.
I choose to celebrate the birth of my savior and Christmas is a good of a time as any.
In the old testament, God created feast days that the Jews were to follow. The passover season is to remind them how God delivered them out of slavery. The feast of tabernacles reminded them of the provisions and protection of God while they wondered in the wilderness.
In the new testament, Jesus asked his followers to partake of the Lord's supper (communion) 'in remembrance of me'
A common theme is a formal remembrance of the blessings of God in our lives. It is vitally important for us humans to set aside a time to change our focus and make God our center of attention.
I choose to celebrate the birth of my savior and Christmas is a good of a time as any.
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