| Topic: |
Religions > Bible |
| User: |
"Jim" |
| Date: |
22 Dec 2005 06:22:58 AM |
| Object: |
Christmas - is it right for real believers? |
Should Christians be Celebrating Christmas?
There are people who really struggle to be happy this time of year. They
watch old Christmas movies, they think about their loved ones far away, and
they do unusually kindly things for strangers. And of course they decorate
their homes inside and out with bright colors, while listening to lots of
Christmas music.
Some of these people do these things in order to run away from the dark
feelings of gloom and loneliness they feel inside. Doctors claim that the
longer nights and shorter days depress a lot of people. The lack of sunlight
makes the season "feel" gloomy.
Whoever knows the Lord Jesus Christ has the true and eternal light of God
already burning brightly inside. This does not mean that we cannot feel
depressed or unhappy. But it means that a living spring of joy and peace
forever flows upward out of our innermost being. This spring is supplied by
the Holy Spirit which is given to every child of God.
Christmas music has special meaning to God's children. Christian believers
don't rely on music or other external things to cheer us up, or to remind us
of the "olden days" when things were better. Music is meaningful to us for
it's message.
We don't try to ignore the words of an old Christmas carol, as the world
often does, because in those Scriptural promises and reminders, we hear the
truths of God's kingdom ringing out loud and clear. We're able to rejoice
without any ceremony or rituals, because we're already alive to the truth of
Jesus Christ -- even without the holiday season.
We don't really need all the celebration that comes with Christmas. Yet as
followers of Jesus Christ we are certainly free -- free to express our joy
that a Savior was born for us all.
While the Lord calls us away from dead traditions that once held us in
bondage, He also sets us free from the fear of those traditions. True
believers in Jesus Christ are the only people truly free on this planet --
because the world no longer owns us.
The world can no longer put us into a box and make us stay. So we should not
make a religious tradition out of "hating traditions," lest we end up
placing ourselves into yet another kind of religious box.
For example, some Christians are reluctant to celebrate the Christmas season
because pagans once used the season to celebrate the returning of sunlight.
But what better time to celebrate the entrance of the Light of the world,
the eternal Light of Jesus Christ that came crashing into the middle of
Satan's domain of darkness?
How can we govern our lives according to what pagans did centuries ago on
this or that day, or at this or that time of the year? Modern pagans eat ice
cream and drive cars. Shall we abstain from eating ice cream and driving
cars?
Our steps should be directed by the Lord, not by a superstitious dread of
pagans or their false gods. I'm not a pagan. I'm a man who was once a
blasphemer and unbeliever, who has since been washed in the blood of Jesus
Christ.
The Spirit of God has made me alive in Jesus Christ. I'm now alive unto God
and dead to the traditions and superstitions of this world.
So when I wish others a happy Christmas season, I really mean it. I say
"Merry Christmas!" as loud and as often as anyone -- and I say it as a
blessing, as a prayer that God will truly capture the hearts of all who hear
it.
Only in the Lord can anyone have real joy. And only He can bring true light
(the precious and warm light of His own dear Presence) into a downcast
heart.
All believers are free to celebrate or not celebrate, as the Lord works in
each life and in each family.
Many Christians who celebrate the holidays do so as a perfect opportunity to
share their faith. And many who don't celebrate do so as a testimony to the
reality of Jesus Christ.
The Lord Himself must guide each heart, and each family, according to where
we live and according to His own purpose in our lives, and in the lives of
those around us. True believers are servants of God, and do not merely live
for their own pleasures.
Certainly no believer should engage in the rowdy drunkenness that the world
often associates with parties and celebration. The world should be able to
tell by our laughter, our singing, our worship of God, and the kindness that
we show to others that we truly believe in Jesus Christ.
Our love for Jesus should be evident in everything we say and do.
Whether we celebrate a holiday or choose not to observe it at all, we're not
by that choice "more spiritual" or "less spiritual" than those who do
otherwise. So whatever the Lord leads us to do, let's be careful to simply
do it without thinking that we're more correct or more sincere than others.
When we honor our brothers and sisters, God is glorified in all that we do,
and no shame (or needless division) is brought on the church.
By all means obey the convictions that God gives you. But also understand
that God seldom directs all of us to do everything in the exact same way. We
don't all speak the same language, or live in the same kind of a house, or
wear the same clothing, or eat the same kinds of food. But whatever we do,
we (should) do to the glory of God, as His Spirit directs us.
Nearing the end of his life, John the apostle wrote, "...the darkness is
passing away, and the true light is already shining." (1 John 2:8b)
And in his Gospel of Jesus Christ, John wrote: "In Him was life, and the
life was the light of all people. And the light shines in the darkness, and
the darkness did not comprehend it... That was the true Light which gives
light to every man coming into the world. [or: The true light, which
enlightens everyone, was coming into the world.] John 1:4,5 and 9
Every soul that belongs to Jesus Christ carries eternal Light within, and
it's for the sake of those who are still lost in darkness that we let that
Light shine out for everyone to see.
The only real hope for anyone is Jesus Christ. So whether we celebrate or
not, let's be sure to take advantage of every opportunity to share the Light
of Christ in every way possible.
Jim
www.goodwordusa.org
www.jimsdesk.com
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| User: "Libertarius" |
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| Title: Re: Christmas - is it right for real believers? OF COURSE IT IS |
23 Dec 2005 11:19:57 PM |
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It is right for ALL believers who believe in celebrating Christmas.
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