Mat 2:2 Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.
It's Christmas time!
Ugh, Bah, Humbug!!!
Now that's a surprising attitude from a Christian. This is the time of year we celebrate our Lord and Saviors birth. It's a Joyous time. Family, friends, fellowship all the goodness of Christ.
Yes, of course your right and I should be happy and filled with Love and Joy, but I am not.
I am sad, sad that Staten has made such a mockery of our Lords birth and sadder still that Christians have helped him. We participate in this chicanery with our Christmas trees, our presents, our buying frenzy, our hateful and self centered attitudes towards other drivers and shoppers. Money, ego and pride rule this time of year.
Jesus wasn't even born in the winter, probably closer towards Passover! We know this because shepherds would not have been in the fields watching over their flocks until lambing time which is in the spring. Hey, but, don't let facts get in the way.
We do gifts because the wise men brought gifts to the baby Jesus.
Ya, right.
These men where wealthy learned men who brought their very best to a new born King, they came in humility, they desired the favor of this destined KING. These gifts were given in a worshipful attitude. They believed in the prophecy (Number 24:17, 19) and they probably believed in God. How many celebrants really understand that and all it imply s. Did they understand that Jesus would establish a spiritual kingdom? And, it was their faith He would want? I think they must have understood this at least a little when they found he wasn't born in the house of Herod. It was an act of faith to have traveled as far as they did, faith in God and prophecy.
Something else is missed even by the clergy that I think thoughtful Christians should think about. Why was Jesus born during lambing season and why were the shepherds notified through Gabriel?
If we think when we read our Bible and endeavor to find out something about the life and times of Jesus we see the amazing parallel of His birth to His sacrificial death. You see Bethlehem is very near Jerusalem, about an hour and a half to two hour walk to the temple. Odds are very good that these shepherds were keepers of the temple flocks or at least provided many of the lambs for sacrifice during the Passover. It would be a good bet that they were also decedents of the tribe of Levi whose inheritance in the land was God himself :
Jos_13:33 But unto the tribe of Levi Moses gave not any inheritance: the LORD God of Israel was their inheritance, as he said unto them.
Everything in the scripture has meaning and timing is important to God. So, celebrating His Sons birth during the pagan celebration of winter solstice, a time which is thought to have great power for the dark forces in the spirit world is sacrilege. It is no wonder Satan has been able to skillfully manipulate even the elect into idolatry, a sin that God had punished Israel for time and again.
All that being said, how can we as believers combat this tomfoolery.
We can turn the tables on Lucifer, we can use this time best by praying deeply and effectively for our friends, relatives and even the guy who cut you off in the parking lot.
We can be an example of Christian Love. We can forgive those who snatch the perfect gift for Suzy from our hands, we can even hand it to him with a smile.
We can use the time to help others, especially the forgotten and discarded of our society.
We can search our hearts more diligently and seek God's Kingdom with greater passion.
It's a time to remember Jesus was born to become a sacrificial lamb for all of us.
Am I saying don't celebrate? No, of course not.
But lets be sure that we are being a light in this world and that we are dedicated to the God who made it, dedicated in spirit and mind and let us do our best to help others find out just who this Christ in Christ Mass is.
So, what do you think? Please comment.
It's Christmas time!
Ugh, Bah, Humbug!!!
Now that's a surprising attitude from a Christian. This is the time of year we celebrate our Lord and Saviors birth. It's a Joyous time. Family, friends, fellowship all the goodness of Christ.
Yes, of course your right and I should be happy and filled with Love and Joy, but I am not.
I am sad, sad that Staten has made such a mockery of our Lords birth and sadder still that Christians have helped him. We participate in this chicanery with our Christmas trees, our presents, our buying frenzy, our hateful and self centered attitudes towards other drivers and shoppers. Money, ego and pride rule this time of year.
Jesus wasn't even born in the winter, probably closer towards Passover! We know this because shepherds would not have been in the fields watching over their flocks until lambing time which is in the spring. Hey, but, don't let facts get in the way.
We do gifts because the wise men brought gifts to the baby Jesus.
Ya, right.
These men where wealthy learned men who brought their very best to a new born King, they came in humility, they desired the favor of this destined KING. These gifts were given in a worshipful attitude. They believed in the prophecy (Number 24:17, 19) and they probably believed in God. How many celebrants really understand that and all it imply s. Did they understand that Jesus would establish a spiritual kingdom? And, it was their faith He would want? I think they must have understood this at least a little when they found he wasn't born in the house of Herod. It was an act of faith to have traveled as far as they did, faith in God and prophecy.
Something else is missed even by the clergy that I think thoughtful Christians should think about. Why was Jesus born during lambing season and why were the shepherds notified through Gabriel?
If we think when we read our Bible and endeavor to find out something about the life and times of Jesus we see the amazing parallel of His birth to His sacrificial death. You see Bethlehem is very near Jerusalem, about an hour and a half to two hour walk to the temple. Odds are very good that these shepherds were keepers of the temple flocks or at least provided many of the lambs for sacrifice during the Passover. It would be a good bet that they were also decedents of the tribe of Levi whose inheritance in the land was God himself :
Jos_13:33 But unto the tribe of Levi Moses gave not any inheritance: the LORD God of Israel was their inheritance, as he said unto them.
Everything in the scripture has meaning and timing is important to God. So, celebrating His Sons birth during the pagan celebration of winter solstice, a time which is thought to have great power for the dark forces in the spirit world is sacrilege. It is no wonder Satan has been able to skillfully manipulate even the elect into idolatry, a sin that God had punished Israel for time and again.
All that being said, how can we as believers combat this tomfoolery.
We can turn the tables on Lucifer, we can use this time best by praying deeply and effectively for our friends, relatives and even the guy who cut you off in the parking lot.
We can be an example of Christian Love. We can forgive those who snatch the perfect gift for Suzy from our hands, we can even hand it to him with a smile.
We can use the time to help others, especially the forgotten and discarded of our society.
We can search our hearts more diligently and seek God's Kingdom with greater passion.
It's a time to remember Jesus was born to become a sacrificial lamb for all of us.
Am I saying don't celebrate? No, of course not.
But lets be sure that we are being a light in this world and that we are dedicated to the God who made it, dedicated in spirit and mind and let us do our best to help others find out just who this Christ in Christ Mass is.
So, what do you think? Please comment.
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