The Birth of Jesus is celebrated in the Bible. It was celebrated by having people over, singing, and the giving of gifts. If it was OK for angels, shepherds, and magi, then why isn’t OK for us?
I don’t know why some are so adamant that our LORD could not have been born in December. No-one is claiming that Christmas trees are biblical. And historical experience of European and North American winters isn’t much related to climatic conditions in Israel.
I don’t think that JW’s believe in the Trinity so I don’t believe they are Christians.
I think it matters what we mean by celebrate. There are even some Jews who celebrate Christmas. I thought Adventists were generally against Christmas as a religious celebration. Maybe that is incorrect. I know Adventists don’t celebrate Easter. I’d be very surprised if they have a Christmas service, unless Christmas falls on a Sunday, since they are so big on the seventh day Sabbath.
That’s not me who made that assertion.
Why do you think a certain small number of non-catholic communions do not celebrate Christmas?
Jon
CA ran a very informative commentary on why the 25th of Dec is justified and logical as the date of Our Lord’s birth. Anyone truly interested can look it up.
Jesus is NOT reincarnated. He was Incarnate; God made flesh. Jesus was both thoroughly human and Divine in the same person. In the celebration of the Eucharist, the host/wafer’s substance is changed into the Body and Blood, Spirit and Divinity of Christ though the host/wafer retains the physical appearance and properties. The entire body gathered before the altar goes back to the Last Supper and Christ fills the priest with His Spirit. When the priest says, “Take this, all of you, and eat of It, for this is my Body, which will be given up for you” he doesn’t mean to eat his (the priest’s) body. Christ speaks through the priest those words just as Jesus spoke those words during the Last Supper.
It IS awesome because God is awesome!
Thank you, Jesus, Emmanuel, God with us.
It is tempted to think that when the Bible says that God is with us, that God somehow is with us, but do not really know how it gonna be. That we could really have Jesus with us, in total communion with his real flesh and real blood, that seems surreal and therefore truly awesome.
I don’t think SDA’s actually celebrate “Easter” but when I lived in Berrien Springs, MI (SDA Andrews University is there) they always presented a campus-wide presentation of the Passion of Christ with an awesome conclusion of His resurrection. I do think you’re right about a Christmas service but the group that I hung around with went caroling, had Christmas trees and parties and would also use Advent calendars with Scripture texts. Maybe what we’re talking about is different - you meaning celebrations in the church proper? and I’m meaning the season in particular? I do know that whatever they did is was focused on Jesus’ birth, life, death and resurrection.
I am a non-denominational Protestant who celebrates Christmas because I love Christ and believe His birth is definitely worth celebrating. It doesn’t matter to me if He wasn’t actually born on December 25. I want to reflect on and appreciate the Incarnation all throughout the year because if our Lord had not come in the flesh and dwelled among us so He could be crucified and risen for us, we would be without hope. To help keep my focus on the what Christmas is truly about, this year I spent some time reading from one of my favorite books, “On the Incarnation” by St. Athanasius. I encourage anyone who has not read this book to read it. It is a short book but addresses many questions one might have about why the Incarnation was absolutely necessary. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
What makes you think that?
I don’t know if this is what souldiver meant, but many Protestants just call themselves Christian, much as many RCs just call themselves Catholic.
That’s very true, Peter. My 83 year old mother did not consider herself a “Protestant” as she identifies her Christian walk with Baptist and Non-denominational churches.
Hi Arita
