Christmas is from the devil and all such mythical declarations

Every Christmas a slew of well meaning Christians—I hope—come out of the woodwork to declare Christmas a pagan celebration and that Christians should not celebrate it. I’ve been through this whole saga too many years ago, but thank God He saved me from such nonsense. Of course, many of these mythical notions about Christmas started with Alexander Hislop’s book, The Two Babylons, which by the way has been debunked thoroughly. And many still accept this book as the bible on all things Christmas, etc.

Just to enlighten those that still think that Christmas is going to send us straight to hell, here are two articles on the matter that is worth reading:
Redeeming Holy Days from Pagan Lies — Christmas and Sol Invictus by Joseph Abrahamson. A quote:

“Remember first that the Christian faith is as old as the curse on Satan in Genesis 3:15. And while pagan worship of the sun certainly existed in Rome before the spread of the fulfillment of that promise in Christ came to the city; the celebration of Sol Invictus as a god in Rome actually came as pagans attempted to suppress Christianity. This early attempt as suppressing Christianity by means of the pagan worship of Sol is found in the Historia Augusta, a pagan history of Rome compiled in the fourth century AD.”

The other article is Was Jesus Born on 25 December? by Peter Hammond. A quote from Hammond:

“It is true that one Roman Emperor, Aurelian, did attempt to inaugurate 25 Dec. as a pagan festival "the birth of the unconquered Sun." This was in AD 274. Aurelian was attempting to breathe new life into a declining paganism devastated by the advances of Christianity. However, the Roman pagan festival was instituted after the Christians had already been celebrating the birth of Christ on that day for many decades. Their pagan festival was an attempt to create an alternative tradition, which already was associated with the birth of Christ, and of some significance to the Roman Christians. This is not a case of Christians imitating the pagans. The pagans were attempting to imitate the Christians, by celebrating the Sun on the day when Christians celebrated the Son of God.”

May you have a

Merry Christmas!

Update - Also read:
26 Dec 2013 - Yes, Christ Was Really Born on December 25: Here’s a Defense of the Traditional Date for Christmas

What is Christmas all about?

Image Courtesy of The Christmas Station Europe

When asking people what Christmas is all about, you can be sure that there would be a variety of answers. Some would say that it is about family and healing broken relationships, and that can be seen in many Christmas movies. Others would say that it is the season for giving. Of course, both answers are only partially right. These types of answers lack the most important element of Christmas, though. An essential element without which Christmas would have no meaning, in fact, wouldn’t even exist!

You see, Christmas is not essentially about doing nice things and saying nice things per se. Christmas is about Jesus Christ. Without the incarnation of Christ, Him coming in the flesh of a human being, Christmas would be meaningless.

In fact, Christmas is not only about the birth of Christ either. It is way bigger than just the appearance of God on earth. The first Christmas had a purpose in mind. A purpose decreed in eternity past.

“(18)  knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers,  (19)  but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ.  (20)  For He was foreknown before the foundation of the world, but has appeared in these last times for the sake of you.” (1 Peter 1:18-20)

City on a Hill family Christmas dance performance

Every year my kids and their cousins do a play (usually written by my daughter) for the family on Christmas Eve after our traditional Christmas dinner. However, this year, one of the cousins broke her knee during gymnastics training and is wheelchair-bound till at least 3 January 2011. As a result, this year they only did a dance to Britt Nicole's song "Glow" while including the cousin in the dance with the broken knee. My daughter is the taller one of the two dancing, the non-blonde. My son was in charge of lighting. He loves playing with buttons!

Christmas: It is more than just the birth of a baby

Image courtesy Aussome 7

hen asked what came to mind when they think of Christmas, most non-Christians would probably bring up the whole Santa thing, with sleigh bells, eggnog, “White Christmas” and “Ho, ho, ho!” Most Christians, on the other hand, would probably think of Jesus in the manger, and Christmas songs such as “Away in a manger” and “Silent Night.” Some people even have a concept of the combination of the two.

The fact is, Christmas, and especially the nativity of Christ, is much more than just the birth of a baby boy. It is all about Immanuel, God with us!
Let’s have a quick look at Jesus Christ, and who He is.

1. Humanity of Christ

The fact that Jesus was human while on earth can easily be attested to by Holy Scripture.

(18) Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. (19) And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. (20) But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, "Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. (21) She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins." (22) All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: (23) "Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel" (which means, God with us). (24) When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife, (25) but knew her not until she had given birth to a son. And he called his name Jesus. (Mt 1:18-25)

Should Christians celebrate Christmas?

A Facebook friend wrote to me concerning the question whether Christians should celebrate Christmas. This person wrote to me:

“I already have strong convictions, but I wonder what you think?”

This person’s identity has been withheld for [add your own reason here] reason.

I responded with what follows.

I used to think that we shouldn't celebrate Christmas for basically 3 reasons:
1. The Bible does not command us to do so.

2. The modern idea of santa will teach kids fairy tales and they may not later believe in Jesus Christ thinking it to be more fairy tales that their parents lied about.

3. I believed that Christmas was a pagan ritual coming from the pagans and we have no business doing that.

I have since changed my mind: