This the Christmas season so I guess it’s appropriate to present an editorial related to this time. I’ll start by telling you that there are a lot of things that I like about this holiday season, but also there are a lot that I don’t like.
In the “like” category of things, I like the feelings of “good
will” and “cheer” that we see and hear expressed towards others. My
thoughts on this aspect is, why don’t we see it all year. It you notice
in the above scripture, there’s no time limit mentioned so wouldn’t it be nice if
“peace” and “good will” were year-round things?
I like the music however, since it starts at Thanksgiving, by
Christmas I’m getting a little tired of it. I can only listen to “The
Little Drummer Boy” so many times before my discomfort level max’s out.
And, I like the idea of the giving and receiving of gifts, but not
for the gifts themselves. What I really like is the principle, or
thought, behind them. And neither does it have to be expensive
things. Just that someone thought enough about another person to get (or
make) something for them. In this regard, it’s the old cliche “It’s the
thought that counts” that is so true.
Plus, I like that the holiday season seems to draw folks
together. Like I said earlier, it would be nice if this spirit lasted
throughout the whole year. It just seems to bring family and friends
closer together and this is a good thing.
What I don’t like about this season is the crowds and the traffic
problems. It’s these things that bring about feelings opposed to the
“good will” aspects of it. These situations actually cause “ill will” and
it’s a shame when that occurs any time during the year, but especially so at
this time.
I mean, here we are in a season of “good will” and certain things
about it causes hostility and “ill will.” Seems like an oxymoron, doesn’t
it? I’m sure that, like myself, you’ve seen on the news, the fights and
the battles in stores over this years’ “got to have” toys. We see “peace”
go right out the window, don’t we?
No, I’m not anti-Christmas like some people claim they are.
You know, the “bah humbug” people. I just don’t believe that this holiday
has anything to do with the actual birth of Christ or that we have any
directive or inference in the Bible to celebrate it as such. I believe
that history will reveal it to have been a pagan holiday that was adopted by
the Roman church in about 330 AD and since that time has been worshiped as the
birthday of Jesus Christ.
Let me say it this way: if we’re going to be true to
the Scriptures, we have to understand that there is no command or inference
given for Christians to worship the day of Christ’s birth. If we had been
given such a command or inference, we’d have also been given the date to do so
and not left with the adoption of a Roman pagan holiday for it.
Yes, the Scriptures do tell us ABOUT the birth of Christ and where
it occurred, but the significance of His birth is not the date, but rather how
it was accomplished because that is what established His “bona fides,” so to
speak. It was the fulfillment of several prophesies regarding the coming
of the Messiah, not the least of which is the one found in Isa. 7:14 where it
predicts that He would be born of a “virgin.”
The place of His birth is also significant because it too fulfills
the prophesy told in Micah 5:2 that the Savior would be born in
Bethlehem. Other prophesies regarding the birth of the Messiah we can
look at are the ones addressing His lineage. IE: He would be of the tribe
of Judah (Gen. 49:10 and Micah 5:2). Others relating to this can be read
in Gen. 17:18 and then in Matt. 1:1-2.
That is the significance of His birth; the fulfillment of the
prophesies regarding it. That proves that this Jesus of Nazareth,
that was born of a virgin in the town of Bethlehem is the true Christ, the true
Messiah.
So, is it okay for me to enjoy this season? I certainly
believe so, as long as I understand it to be a non-religious holiday, similar
in nature to Memorial Day, Thanksgiving or any other holiday of the year.
What we have to keep in mind is that the Christian’s worship of Christ, as the
Savior of the world, is that it’s a 365 days of the year celebration rather
than just one.
I also believe that it’s perfectly okay for me to exchange gifts
with loved ones. That I can enjoy the love and “good will” brought on by
the occasion of this holiday. You see, Christians benefit from the
liberty that’s found in Christ. The 14th chapter of Romans shows us this
principle. That we can observe or enjoy a holiday so long as we
understand it’s appropriate significance. But that passage also shows
that it’s alright to not participate if one doesn’t desire to.
Let me close my thoughts here by saying this: I really don’t believe
in Christmas as a Bible based holiday, but I do believe in the One that the
holiday remembers. His birth was indeed miraculous, but it is His death,
burial and resurrection that saves us. It was man’s sins that crucified
Him and yet, He loves us anyway. That is what we need to remember and
celebrate.
Respectfully submitted,
Ron Covey
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