Christmas Truths
We are entering a most awkward time for those who are members of the fellowship the world knows as the Churches of Christ. As a fellowship we accept both the commercial and national implications of the day the world calls “Christmas”. Yet in most congregations we go to great lengths to make sure that we do not recognize this day from a religous standpoint. As a matter of fact we have made it a point of doctrine to let the world know we refuse to participate in celebration of this event. Is this a wise decision? More important do we have Biblical precident or right to bind this view as doctrine? Let us consider some basic Biblical truths.
First, the birth of Jesus happened. As we read the accounts of Jesus birth in the Gospels it becomes very apparent that Jesus birth was a special event. Scripture gives attention to the details of that birth. The birth of the Messiah was and is a Biblical event. The description of that birth is explained to us through the inspiration of none other than the Holy Spirit Himself.
Second, as the Holy Spirit describes Jesus birth, we see the recognition of the birth of the Son of God. In Matthew we find the account of the wise men. They sought Jesus that they might worship Him. As a result of their actions we find Biblical precident for celebrating the birth of the Christ child.
Third, even more important we read that God prepared a star to recognize the birth of His Son. In Luke 2:13 the Bible tells us that a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, paising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rest.” This shows us that even God the Father recognized and celebrated the birth of His Son.
For us to make laws forbidding the recognition of the birth of the Messiah is to make laws against the very intent of God Himself. Not only do we look foolish to the very ones we seek to reach with the Gospel. We stand in opposition to the reaction of the Father. God prepared angels to worship the Christ child at His birth. What God prepared the angels to do at His birth we forbid today. How foolish we must seem to the Father as we forbid the recognition of the very event God Himself celebrated.
dell kimberly
You are right Dell. In my experience, it also looks foolish to the world — those whom we are trying to reach for Christ. Those who may not be regular attenders and some of those who we might even call “agnostic” have a grasp of “the reason for the season”…and they proclaim Him at this time. On some issues — holidays in this case — we have taken them out of “spiritual context” and have missed the bigger picture. Blessings, Don
Thank you for putting this in words so eloquent. How very true these sentiments are. In trying to dot all the i’s and cross all the t’s we miss out on so much. Mainly the personel relationship with Christ. What a precious time of the year this is. A time to be with family and friends and celebrate the birth of Christ. Christ–who made himself a little lower than the angels and took on the form of man and WALKED AMONG US! He walked among us that we might have THE WAY back to God! Good post Dell and Merry Christmas to you and Robbi!
jc in Slackland
Well said, Dell. We as Christians should take full advantage of the Christmas holiday season, if for no other reason, the name of Jesus is brought into view of the whole world and discussed through song, worship, and celebrations. We in the Churches of Christ should use the Christmas season to elevate Jesus as the Savior of the world. We should thank God for the opportunity the Christmas season provides. Merry Christmas! In Jesus, Richard
When Jesus was born, the Father threw a party and all his angels celebrated along with the stars in heaven and his servants here below. They celebrated not only the day, but the future: that is, they celebrated what his birth means - peace on earth, goodwill toward men. “Peace on earth” will be accomplished in the day of his coming and is accomplished already in the hearts of those who trust in him; “goodwill toward men” looks toward the fullness of Jesus’ ministry (and especially his sacrifice) which took a momentous step on the day of his birth.
We could quibble about dates; we could say that “we have no religious holidays except for Sunday.” But we do ourselves and the world a disservice by REJECTING the opportunity to point to the baby Jesus and say, “Thank God, He came.” At just the time I needed him, when the world is coming unglued and people have lost their hope, the good news is that he came for us!
Blessings, and Merry Christmas
Christmas is the time the world is most open to Jesus. The church should do all that it can to use this day (time of the year) to reach the lost of the world for Christ. If this means we have a tree and flowers in the building so be it. if it means we have a manger in the building or yard so be it. If it means we need to soften our hard hearts … then I am all for it. We in the church have been to cold hearteed for way too long. We in the church have added our ideas as law to the words of Jesus for way too long. We in the church have closed the door on others salvation for way too long.
thank you for your blog.It’s helpful for me.