In a few days we will celebrate Christmas together.
The early Christians did not celebrate the birth of Jesus and Jesus never asked them to. They focused on his death and resurrection, as well as his promised return. Christmas Day as it is celebrated today did not begin until the fourth century. Interestingly enough, Jesus was most likely born in October not December. Shepherds don't have their sheep out in the December snow in the northern hemisphere!
Many of today’s Christmas traditions (including Santa Claus and Christmas trees) have nothing to do with the message of Christ as portrayed in the Gospels. Nevertheless, it is a great time for Christians and the church to make the most of the opportunity to focus on the coming of Jesus Christ to earth as a baby born in Bethlehem.
No other person has influenced the world like Jesus Christ. Let’s worship him together and make him known this Christmas season.
P.S. For an interesting article on the increasing secularisation of Christmas by Barney Zwartz, the religion editor for The Age, click here.