Lost Crusader #72 Celebrating Christ
“For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end... The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.”
It is a season of celebrations. The Jews celebrate the miracle of light in their Temple. Merchants, posing as Santa Claus, celebrate open wallets and the traditional practice of gift-giving. African-Americans will spend a week celebrating their freedom from the commercialization of Christmas. Muslims, atheists, and Jehovah’s Witnesses will get a day off from work to sit at home celebrating the passing of one more day.
Meanwhile, Christians will celebrate Christmas amid carping from the sidelines about how we are just copycats. Fair enough, but if you are taking the day off because Christians have falsely engineered this day into a holiday...have the decency to enjoy it in silence. Yes, I know the birth of Christ did not take place in December and I’ve heard about all the adopted pagan symbolism. To which I say a hearty...So, So, So!
If there is any day which Christians should celebrate, it is the birth of Christ. If someone can pinpoint the actual day...I’ll change, but I will require proof, not opinion or speculation. Since we don’t know the day, December 25th is as good as any...and better than most for the following reason, if no other.
When I was young, my uncle became one of Jehovah’s Witnesses. When they came to the family’s Christmas dinner, his kids were not allowed to receive gifts even from those of us who were not of his faith. They were an unhappy lot to say the least and who could blame them...not me.
I sometimes wonder, were the children of early Christians in the same boat? I don’t really know, but there was a lot of celebrating going on in Europe near the winter solstice. If I were a Christian parent living then I’d create a celebration and of course the Birth and the Resurrection would be the first to come to mind.
But is that a good enough reason? Is it scriptural? I direct you to Paul’s words to the Romans.
“One man esteems one day above another, another esteems every day the same. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind. He that regards the day regards it to the Lord; and he that does not regard the day, to the Lord he does not regard it.”
The zeal of God made the birth of Christ, the Prince of Peace and author of God’s goodwill toward men, happen just as he said it would. That deserves at least a day! The door to the kingdom of God is thrown open. Let’s all shake hands and celebrate!
Maranatha
