It's been exactly one year that I've been writing this blog. I started it last Christmas because of a local preacher that was teaching error about the meaning of Christmas and the church's role. His blog allowed comment, and I sent scripture to counter what he said and he deleted the post. As a moderator for my own posts, I understand when I must occasionally delete a comment because it may be silly, irrelevant or obscene. But when someone uses scripture to explain their view point, I would never delete it in an attempt to avoid discussion or controversy.
My family and I celebrate Christmas every year as a family tradition to spend time together, exchange gifts, have a special meal and enjoy one another. We do not celebrate it as having any religious significance. The birth of Christ is a very special event as outlined in the Gospel. However, as in our discussions, we never find that we are to celebrate his birth in any special way. Christmas has its roots in the Catholic church that competed with a pagan holiday or winter festival. The Catholics decided, on their own, to worship Christ in a way not mentioned in the New Testament.
We find that Christ does mention how we are to worship him. It must be in spirit and in truth, firstly.
John 4:24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.
We find that he instituted a memorial to remember Him...not a manmade ritual that is materialistic in nature but rather a spiritual one that is accomplished every week. We are to commemorate His death and resurrection and, in turn, reaffirm our faith in God.
Matt 26:26 And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body. 27 And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it; 28 For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.
This is accomplished weekly as outlined in Acts 20:7 rather than once a year. The emphasis with God's memorial versus man's memorial is one of realizing that Jesus was here to fulfill God's eternal plan in being sacrifice for the remission of our sins rather than emphasizing the earthy birth that brought him here.
Many see no problem with celebrating His birth in worship and pagan rituals, but it all boils down to what I've been writing about for the last 12 months...authority of the scriptures. Can you find a command or an example or necessary inference that we should worship Christ in a special way that remembers His birth? ...or rather do we have authority to worship God by remembering His love for us by giving His only begotten son?
John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
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3 comments:
I am glad to know this about you and yours, We do the same that is to say we do not ‘calibrate’ the birth of Christ. We acknowledge the importance of it and are thankful that He was sent to save a lost and dying world. I am even encouraged when other recognize the birth death and resurrection (even near thanksgiving). I am sorry that your comment got deleted I would have liked to have read it. What are your thoughts on Easter?
We don't nesasarily Celebrate or have a festaval every Friday and we don't have easter every Sunday and we never tie cloth ropes around our necks that would not be healthy. but we would be in the fasion of the day. I am looking forward to hearing from all my friends one day. Many have already gone ahead, some because of things they did or did't do, some because of things others did or didn't do and some from unknown causes.
'Happy new year' is ok to say?, May you be blessed with many more and may you and yours always live in the joy that is found in The Lord of lords.
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