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Should Christians Celebrate Christmas? - Religion (3) - Nairaland

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Re: Should Christians Celebrate Christmas? by vickyO(f): 12:19pm On Nov 22, 2013
Demain_man:

The day your god of man, Adeboye, Oyaks or Oye proclaim that you should not celebrate it again because it originated from paganism, you will start using bible to quote verses to support their views. You are just zombies all of you nigeria christians
No man tells me what to or not to do. I always go back to the scripture to weigh the validity of anything taught or preached.
As I said the Scriptures said no man should judge you as to the days you keep.
Lastly, I don't fall into the zombie category..........

2 Likes

Re: Should Christians Celebrate Christmas? by mencer(m): 9:17pm On Nov 22, 2013
i think we should not argue about some of these things and pull each other down the bible says we should esteem other believers as better in Christ
the history of Christianity is less than 100 years in most part of Nigeria we are coming from various idolatrous cultures but the church has existed for centuries in many parts of the world ......
if the forerunners of the church did not include this periods as Holidays for example in Christmas in December and Easter how will it be if those holidays were not recognized in our nation ? even the people that argue against Xmas or Easter do special programs in this periods will they be able to have them ?
probably the only holiday we would have would be when the Muslims are having their idel fitri & etc....

i think there is no scripture that is against celebration of Gods gift of salvation .
[color=#990000]
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Re: Should Christians Celebrate Christmas? by Kcfun(m): 9:32pm On Nov 22, 2013
There is no need for augurment no chrismas in the bible,jesus himself did not celebrate it.
Re: Should Christians Celebrate Christmas? by Infomizer(m): 7:46am On Nov 25, 2013
OLAADEGBU:

How about proving the origin of Christmas trees?

Pardon? How does this convince me or anyone?
Re: Should Christians Celebrate Christmas? by Alwaystrue(f): 8:27am On Nov 25, 2013
@Ola,
I believe everything we do should point to Christ. Last year, I started asking myself questions concerning the way Christmas is celebrated. Now I have no problem with the day we choose to celebrate the birth of Jesus but more on how it is being celebrated. Even on trips abroad, we get to see so many decorations from November but unless someone is told you never link it to Christ. The Christmas tree, the decorations, Santa wears and so on but none actually really shows the why and the whom we are celebrating.
I refused to put a holly wreath around my door knocker, I am not sure I even put up my Christmas tree though I put up lovely lights around the lovely shrubs in the compound of my house to signify celebration. I did all this because I needed clarity. The Jeremiah scripture you quoted is so apt however. Christmas trees are cut or the plastic types used and decked with silver and gold but what is the message. Do we hang scriptures around the tree or words of Christ like peace, joy etc, what about gold, myrhh and frankincense versions? Anything to truly show the essence. What about Santa clause and what children understand of who he is, who is he when we have to explain him to children? Some may think He is even God...hmmmm.
He is a creation of a mind, coming from a cold region, up somewhere in the sky and that logic is foisted on these little ones and many do not understand.

My message in essence is for us to bring Christ back into what we celebrate and make Him the centre of the celebration. Do we have tree decors like a manger, sheperd shapes, sheep, franckincense, angels ascending? Can't the 'Santa clause' be dressed like wisemen (google will show how they were dressed then) and give gifts to children for children to truly understand the significance of what and why we celebrate?

Let's just ensure all we do point back to Christ and let it be anothe point to win souls and be creative ways to get the world for Jesus.

2 Likes

Re: Should Christians Celebrate Christmas? by OLAADEGBU(m): 1:02pm On Nov 25, 2013
True. "Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen" (Romans 1:25).

1 Like

Re: Should Christians Celebrate Christmas? by OLAADEGBU(m): 8:42pm On Nov 25, 2013
italo:

"Unless you eat my flesh and drink my blood,you will never have life in you"--Jesus Christ.

"My flesh is real food; my blood is real drink."--Jesus Christ.


We shouldn't keep and obey these sayings too?

Someone Said: "Why does Jesus want you to eat his flesh and drink his blood?"

His statements were obviously symbolic. This is how you can know that. When He passed the cup of wine to His disciples and said "This is my blood," His physical blood was still in His veins. It wasn't in the cup. When He passed the bread to them and said that it was His flesh, He flesh stayed on His body. They didn't eat Him. They instead ate the bread He passed them. When He told them that He was the "door," it was symbolic of the fact that He is the only way to eternal life, and that He wasn't a physical door with hinges.

Watch --> www.EvolutionVsGod.com
Re: Should Christians Celebrate Christmas? by OLAADEGBU(m): 10:50pm On Nov 25, 2013
OLAADEGBU: True. "Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen" (Romans 1:25).



Santa Claus?

Re: Should Christians Celebrate Christmas? by OLAADEGBU(m): 1:49pm On Nov 27, 2013
All He Wants For Christmas Is You


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=as0Iy3oDUd8
Re: Should Christians Celebrate Christmas? by OLAADEGBU(m): 6:45pm On Nov 27, 2013
It was Christmas and the judge was in a merry mood as he asked the prisoner,

"What are you charged with?"

"Doing my Christmas shopping early," replied the defendant.

"That's no offence," said the judge.

"How early were you doing the shopping?"

"Before the store opened," answered the defendant. shocked
Re: Should Christians Celebrate Christmas? by Joshthefirst(m): 7:24pm On Nov 27, 2013
OLAADEGBU: It was Christmas and the judge was in a merry mood as he asked the prisoner,

"What are you charged with?"

"Doing my Christmas shopping early," replied the defendant.

"That's no offence," said the judge.

"How early were you doing the shopping?"

"Before the store opened," answered the defendant. shocked
grin grin grin grin grin
Re: Should Christians Celebrate Christmas? by OLAADEGBU(m): 7:26pm On Nov 27, 2013
OLAADEGBU:

What's so important about Christmas?

Why should people still be celebrating the birth of a baby born 2,000 years ago?

Why are so many people excited about Jesus?

Why do we need Him?

Why did He come?

Why did He die?

Let's start tackling important questions leading up to Christmas. Why do we even celebrate Christmas?

There is something almost magical about Christmas: children dream of Father Christmas and his fantasy sleigh, we picture Christmas trees, snowy scenes, filled up stockings, piles of presents and smiling families around the fire.

The reality is often not as perfect as we imagine. Some people go over the top at Christmas. The overcrowding on the streets and in the shops can lead to so-called 'Santa-Claustrophobia'.

Over-indulging takes its toll on family life. One nine year old boy wrote, "I know Christmas should be a religious time, but to me Christmas is a time for the necessities of life such as food, presents and booze." Another boy wrote, "After breakfast we go into the sitting-room. Dad comes in drunk with Mum's tights and an Indian hat on!" His teacher wrote in the margin, "Good old Dad!"

For some, there is a danger of over-spending - buying presents that others do not need with money they have not got. One little girl wrote to her granny, "Thank you very much for the nice gloves you sent me for Christmas. They were something I wanted - but not very much!"

Others can become over demanding. One doting father asked his small daughter well in advance what she would like for Christmas. Shyly she announced she would like a baby brother. To everyone's surprise and delight her mother returned from the hospital on Christmas Eve with a baby boy in her arms. When the father repeated the question next year, there was less hesitation. "If it wouldn't be too uncomfortable for Mummy, I would like a pony!" shocked

But while some go over the top, others go under. For many, Christmas is one of the worst times of the year. Suicide rates go up, more people die from 'natural causes', marriages fall apart, psychiatrists' patients suffer regressions and family feuds begin.

One Mori poll suggested that there are three million family rows each Christmas. A newspaper article, headed, "Enough to drive you crackers", spoke of people cracking up at Christmas as a result of the pressure to be perfect. It reported that two psychologists, a psychotherapist and a counsellor were running a workshop entitled "Stress in the family: coping with Christmas". They said that part of its success seemed to be the chance it offered to get away from it all. The psychiatrist, Anthony Storr, in an article on depression at Christmas entitled, "Cheer up, it's soon over" had this final piece of advice: "Remember that Christmas, although recurrent, doesn't last for ever."

With all the magic, the stress and the hype of Christmas, are we missing the point? What is at the heart of Christmas? In the words of C.S. Lewis, at Christmas we remember the 'central event in the history of the earth - the very thing the whole story has been about'.

-- To be continued. Culled from "Why Christmas" by Nicky Gumbel.
Re: Should Christians Celebrate Christmas? by OLAADEGBU(m): 8:40pm On Nov 28, 2013
Am no cook but I know how to follow instructions which says to let the chicken chill in the sink for a while. shocked

Re: Should Christians Celebrate Christmas? by Joshthefirst(m): 8:50pm On Nov 28, 2013
OLAADEGBU: Am no cook but I know how to follow instructions which says to let the chicken chill in the sink for a while. shocked
shocked





grin grin grin
Re: Should Christians Celebrate Christmas? by OLAADEGBU(m): 8:51pm On Nov 28, 2013
"Merry Christmas to our Christian friends, happy Hanukkah to our Jewish friends, and to our atheist friends, good luck."

1 Like

Re: Should Christians Celebrate Christmas? by OLAADEGBU(m): 1:29am On Dec 01, 2013
OLAADEGBU:

Let's start tackling important questions leading up to Christmas. Why do we even celebrate Christmas?

There is something almost magical about Christmas: children dream of Father Christmas and his fantasy sleigh, we picture Christmas trees, snowy scenes, filled up stockings, piles of presents and smiling families around the fire.

The reality is often not as perfect as we imagine. Some people go over the top at Christmas. The overcrowding on the streets and in the shops can lead to so-called 'Santa-Claustrophobia'.

Over-indulging takes its toll on family life. One nine year old boy wrote, "I know Christmas should be a religious time, but to me Christmas is a time for the necessities of life such as food, presents and booze." Another boy wrote, "After breakfast we go into the sitting-room. Dad comes in drunk with Mum's tights and an Indian hat on!" His teacher wrote in the margin, "Good old Dad!"

For some, there is a danger of over-spending - buying presents that others do not need with money they have not got. One little girl wrote to her granny, "Thank you very much for the nice gloves you sent me for Christmas. They were something I wanted - but not very much!"

Others can become over demanding. One doting father asked his small daughter well in advance what she would like for Christmas. Shyly she announced she would like a baby brother. To everyone's surprise and delight her mother returned from the hospital on Christmas Eve with a baby boy in her arms. When the father repeated the question next year, there was less hesitation. "If it wouldn't be too uncomfortable for Mummy, I would like a pony!" shocked

But while some go over the top, others go under. For many, Christmas is one of the worst times of the year. Suicide rates go up, more people die from 'natural causes', marriages fall apart, psychiatrists' patients suffer regressions and family feuds begin.

One Mori poll suggested that there are three million family rows each Christmas. A newspaper article, headed, "Enough to drive you crackers", spoke of people cracking up at Christmas as a result of the pressure to be perfect. It reported that two psychologists, a psychotherapist and a counsellor were running a workshop entitled "Stress in the family: coping with Christmas". They said that part of its success seemed to be the chance it offered to get away from it all. The psychiatrist, Anthony Storr, in an article on depression at Christmas entitled, "Cheer up, it's soon over" had this final piece of advice: "Remember that Christmas, although recurrent, doesn't last for ever."

With all the magic, the stress and the hype of Christmas, are we missing the point? What is at the heart of Christmas? In the words of C.S. Lewis, at Christmas we remember the 'central event in the history of the earth - the very thing the whole story has been about'.

-- To be continued. Culled from "Why Christmas" by Nicky Gumbel.

Why Bother With Jesus?

When Jesus was born a group of highly intelligent philosophers thought he was worth bothering with. They stopped everything to take him three symbolic presents. The first was gold - a present fit for a king. The child in the manger was the King of kings and Lord of lords. God himself had come to live as part of our world. Too often Jesus has been obscured by Christmas. One man wrote to the Times: 'Sir: Failing to find any religious books in the bookshop, I asked an assistant for help. She showed me an inconspicuous handful of Bibles and prayer books, saying: "We have had to move them down to the bottom shelf because of Christmas"'.

But the point of Christmas is Jesus Christ. At Christmas we celebrate the birthday of the most important person who has ever lived. He is the centrepiece of our civilisation. After all, we call what happened before his birth 'BC' and what happened after 'AD'.

But How Do We Know It's True?

We can test the claims of Christianity because it is an historical faith. It is based on the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Our faith is based on firm historical evidence. To be continued....
Re: Should Christians Celebrate Christmas? by OLAADEGBU(m): 1:39am On Dec 01, 2013
The top 7 things overheard on the Wise men's journey to Bethlehem:

7. "Man, I'm starting to get a rush from this frankincense!"
6. "You guys ever eat camel meat? I hear it tastes like goat."
5. "You know, I used to go school with a girl called Beth Lehem."
4. "What kind of name is Balthazar anyhow? Phoenician?"
3. "Hey, does any of you know why MYRRH is spelt with a Y instead of a U?"
2. "Okay, whose camel just spat?"


And the No. 1 thing overheard on the Wise Men's journey to Bethlehem was:

1. "All this staring at a star while riding a camel is making me woozy." shocked
Re: Should Christians Celebrate Christmas? by OLAADEGBU(m): 7:05pm On Dec 02, 2013
OLAADEGBU:

Why Bother With Jesus?

When Jesus was born a group of highly intelligent philosophers thought he was worth bothering with. They stopped everything to take him three symbolic presents. The first was gold - a present fit for a king. The child in the manger was the King of kings and Lord of lords. God himself had come to live as part of our world. Too often Jesus has been obscured by Christmas. One man wrote to the Times: 'Sir: Failing to find any religious books in the bookshop, I asked an assistant for help. She showed me an inconspicuous handful of Bibles and prayer books, saying: "We have had to move them down to the bottom shelf because of Christmas"'.

But the point of Christmas is Jesus Christ. At Christmas we celebrate the birthday of the most important person who has ever lived. He is the centrepiece of our civilisation. After all, we call what happened before his birth 'BC' and what happened after 'AD'.

But How Do We Know It's True?

We can test the claims of Christianity because it is an historical faith. It is based on the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Our faith is based on firm historical evidence. To be continued....

Who is Jesus?

Jesus was and is the Son of God. Some people think He was just a 'good religious teacher'. However, that suggestion does not fit with the facts.

a) His claims

Jesus claimed to be the unique Son of God - on an equal footing with God. He assumed the authority to forgive sins. He said that one day he would judge the world and that what would matter then would be how we had responded to Him in this life.

C.S. Lewis pointed out that:
'A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher.' He would either be insane or else he would be' the Devil of Hell'. 'You must make your choice,' he writes. Either Jesus was, and is, the Son of God or else He was insane or evil but, C.S. Lewis goes on, 'let us not come up with any patronising nonsense about His being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to.'

b) His character

Many people who do not profess to be Christians regard Jesus as the supreme example of a selfless life. Dostoevsky, himself a Christian, said, 'I believe there is no one lovelier, deeper, more sympathetic and more perfect than Jesus. I say to myself, with jealous love, that not only is there no one else like Him but there could never be anyone like Him.'

As far as His teaching is concerned, there seems to be general agreement that it is the purest and best ever to have fallen from human lips.

As C.S. Lewis put it, 'It seems obvious that He was neither a lunatic nor a fiend; and consequently, however strange or terrifying or unlikely it may seem, I have to accept the view that He was and is God. God has landed on this enemy occupied world in human form.'

c) His conquest at death

The evidence for the physical resurrection is very strong indeed. When the disciples went to the tomb they found that the grave clothes had collapsed and that Jesus' body was absent.

In the next six weeks He was seen by over 500 people. The disciples' lives were transformed and the Christian Church was born, and then grew at a dynamic rate.

A former Lord Chief Justice of England, Lord Darling, said of the resurrection: 'In its favour as living truth there exists such overwhelming evidence, positive and negative, factual and circumstantial, that no intelligent jury in the world could fail to bring in a verdict that the resurrection story is true.' The only satisfactory explanation for these facts is that Jesus did indeed rise from the dead and thus confirms that He was, and is, the Son of God.

The wise men were right. Nothing less than gold would be suitable for such a child. To be continued....
Re: Should Christians Celebrate Christmas? by highyo: 11:15pm On Dec 02, 2013
If there is nothing bad in celebrating christmas festival for christains, then there is noting bad if chistains celebrate, masqurade festival, yam festival, osun osogbo festival, amadioha festival, sango festival, Hindu festival, Yoga festival, Diana festival, queen of heaven festival, ogun festival, yemoja festival, islamic festival, and other demonic festival around the world, so that we can provoke God the more. Afterall he is a merciful God

are you all blind? Cant you see all what these festival entails?

1: glorifying satan.

2: all sinners also participate in celebration of all above mention festival

3: all this festival involve shedding of blood, of human and animals

4: the kingdom of darkness also celebrate it, and during that period, they ensure continuity in flowing of blood to their blood bank trough various accident

5: people charge high prices for things ( A course in the bible to charge high price for a grain)

6: sins also increases

7: High cost of transport ( curse ) most especially when travelling to east

8: Robbery increases

9: people sells their belongings all just to celebrate this pagan festival

10: people collect credit to celebrate this day

11: Many men will try to go to any length just to put a smile on their families face

na wa for this day

so christian in the house that celebrate this day, you still have some other festival to participate in, and also remember to tear away that part in the bible that said, WHAT RELATIONSHIP DOES A LIGHT HAS WITH DARKNESS

Also be ready to figure out in the bible where the saint ever celebrate birthday

Also remember to figure out where jesus instruct us to celebrate the day

you all need to beg God for forgiveness

2 Likes

Re: Should Christians Celebrate Christmas? by Nobody: 12:18am On Dec 03, 2013
OLAADEGBU:

You would have done better by referring us to where "Christmas" was prohibited in the Bible.

Weed is not restricted in the bible, will you shear a stick with me?
Re: Should Christians Celebrate Christmas? by Nobody: 12:22am On Dec 03, 2013
OLAADEGBU:

Who is Jesus?

Jesus was and is the Son of God. Some people think He was just a 'good religious teacher'. However, that suggestion does not fit with the facts.

a) His claims

Jesus claimed to be the unique Son of God - on an equal footing with God. He assumed the authority to forgive sins. He said that one day he would judge the world and that what would matter then would be how we had responded to Him in this life.

C.S. Lewis pointed out that:
'A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher.' He would either be insane or else he would be' the Devil of Hell'. 'You must make your choice,' he writes. Either Jesus was, and is, the Son of God or else He was insane or evil but, C.S. Lewis goes on, 'let us not come up with any patronising nonsense about His being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to.'

b) His character

Many people who do not profess to be Christians regard Jesus as the supreme example of a selfless life. Dostoevsky, himself a Christian, said, 'I believe there is no one lovelier, deeper, more sympathetic and more perfect than Jesus. I say to myself, with jealous love, that not only is there no one else like Him but there could never be anyone like Him.'

As far as His teaching is concerned, there seems to be general agreement that it is the purest and best ever to have fallen from human lips.

As C.S. Lewis put it, 'It seems obvious that He was neither a lunatic nor a fiend; and consequently, however strange or terrifying or unlikely it may seem, I have to accept the view that He was and is God. God has landed on this enemy occupied world in human form.'

c) His conquest at death

The evidence for the physical resurrection is very strong indeed. When the disciples went to the tomb they found that the grave clothes had collapsed and that Jesus' body was absent.

In the next six weeks He was seen by over 500 people. The disciples' lives were transformed and the Christian Church was born, and then grew at a dynamic rate.

A former Lord Chief Justice of England, Lord Darling, said of the resurrection: 'In its favour as living truth there exists such overwhelming evidence, positive and negative, factual and circumstantial, that no intelligent jury in the world could fail to bring in a verdict that the resurrection story is true.' The only satisfactory explanation for these facts is that Jesus did indeed rise from the dead and thus confirms that He was, and is, the Son of God.

The wise men were right. Nothing less than gold would be suitable for such a child. To be continued....

All you wrote about Jesus is based on stories about this Arab man. Did Jesus write these things himself? If Alex Ferguson as important to football as he his could write his biography,what stop Jesus from writing his? Because you guys are coming up with cooked up stories to feed the poor deluded Christians.
Re: Should Christians Celebrate Christmas? by Nobody: 12:25am On Dec 03, 2013
OLAADEGBU:

Why Bother With Jesus?

When Jesus was born a group of highly intelligent philosophers thought he was worth bothering with. They stopped everything to take him three symbolic presents. The first was gold - a present fit for a king. The child in the manger was the King of kings and Lord of lords. God himself had come to live as part of our world. Too often Jesus has been obscured by Christmas. One man wrote to the Times: 'Sir: Failing to find any religious books in the bookshop, I asked an assistant for help. She showed me an inconspicuous handful of Bibles and prayer books, saying: "We have had to move them down to the bottom shelf because of Christmas"'.

But the point of Christmas is Jesus Christ. At Christmas we celebrate the birthday of the most important person who has ever lived. He is the centrepiece of our civilisation. After all, we call what happened before his birth 'BC' and what happened after 'AD'.

But How Do We Know It's True?

We can test the claims of Christianity because it is an historical faith. It is based on the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Our faith is based on firm historical evidence. To be continued....

I wish you are this passionate about your ancestors history. No matter how much you read the bible,you can never know the story of Yeshua more than the Israelis themselves.
Re: Should Christians Celebrate Christmas? by OLAADEGBU(m): 6:37pm On Dec 03, 2013
highyo:

If there is nothing bad in celebrating christmas festival for christains, then there is noting bad if chistains celebrate, masqurade festival, yam festival, osun osogbo festival, amadioha festival, sango festival, Hindu festival, Yoga festival, Diana festival, queen of heaven festival, ogun festival, yemoja festival, islamic festival, and other demonic festival around the world, so that we can provoke God the more. Afterall he is a merciful God

are you all blind? Cant you see all what these festival entails?

1: glorifying satan.

2: all sinners also participate in celebration of all above mention festival

3: all this festival involve shedding of blood, of human and animals

4: the kingdom of darkness also celebrate it, and during that period, they ensure continuity in flowing of blood to their blood bank trough various accident

5: people charge high prices for things ( A course in the bible to charge high price for a grain)

6: sins also increases

7: High cost of transport ( curse ) most especially when travelling to east

8: Robbery increases

9: people sells their belongings all just to celebrate this pagan festival

10: people collect credit to celebrate this day

11: Many men will try to go to any length just to put a smile on their families face

na wa for this day

so christian in the house that celebrate this day, you still have some other festival to participate in, and also remember to tear away that part in the bible that said, WHAT RELATIONSHIP DOES A LIGHT HAS WITH DARKNESS

Also be ready to figure out in the bible where the saint ever celebrate birthday

Also remember to figure out where jesus instruct us to celebrate the day

you all need to beg God for forgiveness

You should cease this opportunity to tell folks that Christ is the reason for the season and put Christ back into Christmas.

Re: Should Christians Celebrate Christmas? by macof(m): 12:31am On Dec 04, 2013
All hail the Sun God

On his day, 25th December the world feels his glory.

Thank you for all the blessings u shower on the earth

1 Like

Re: Should Christians Celebrate Christmas? by OLAADEGBU(m): 12:46am On Dec 07, 2013
OLAADEGBU:

Who is Jesus?

Jesus was and is the Son of God. Some people think He was just a 'good religious teacher'. However, that suggestion does not fit with the facts.

a) His claims

Jesus claimed to be the unique Son of God - on an equal footing with God. He assumed the authority to forgive sins. He said that one day he would judge the world and that what would matter then would be how we had responded to Him in this life.

C.S. Lewis pointed out that:
'A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher.' He would either be insane or else he would be' the Devil of Hell'. 'You must make your choice,' he writes. Either Jesus was, and is, the Son of God or else He was insane or evil but, C.S. Lewis goes on, 'let us not come up with any patronising nonsense about His being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to.'

b) His character

Many people who do not profess to be Christians regard Jesus as the supreme example of a selfless life. Dostoevsky, himself a Christian, said, 'I believe there is no one lovelier, deeper, more sympathetic and more perfect than Jesus. I say to myself, with jealous love, that not only is there no one else like Him but there could never be anyone like Him.'

As far as His teaching is concerned, there seems to be general agreement that it is the purest and best ever to have fallen from human lips.

As C.S. Lewis put it, 'It seems obvious that He was neither a lunatic nor a fiend; and consequently, however strange or terrifying or unlikely it may seem, I have to accept the view that He was and is God. God has landed on this enemy occupied world in human form.'

c) His conquest at death

The evidence for the physical resurrection is very strong indeed. When the disciples went to the tomb they found that the grave clothes had collapsed and that Jesus' body was absent.

In the next six weeks He was seen by over 500 people. The disciples' lives were transformed and the Christian Church was born, and then grew at a dynamic rate.

A former Lord Chief Justice of England, Lord Darling, said of the resurrection: 'In its favour as living truth there exists such overwhelming evidence, positive and negative, factual and circumstantial, that no intelligent jury in the world could fail to bring in a verdict that the resurrection story is true.' The only satisfactory explanation for these facts is that Jesus did indeed rise from the dead and thus confirms that He was, and is, the Son of God.

The wise men were right. Nothing less than gold would be suitable for such a child. To be continued....

Why Do We Need Him?

Even if Jesus was who he said he was, why do we need him 2,000 year later? The second gift the wise men brought was frankincense, which was used in the temple as the symbol of prayer, and pointed to a relationship with God.

Relationships are exciting. They are the most important aspect of our lives - our relationships with our parents, husband or wife, children, grandchildren, friends and so on.

Christianity is first and foremost about relationships rather than rules. It is about a Person more than a philosophy. It is about the most important relationship of all: our relationship with the God who made us. Jesus said that the first and greatest commandment is to love God. The second is to love our neighbour. So, it is also about our relationships with other people.

You and I were created to live in a relationship with God. Until we find that relationship there will always be something missing in our lives. As a result, we are often aware of a gap. One rock singer described it by saying: 'I've got an emptiness deep inside.'

One woman, in a letter to me, wrote of 'a deep deep void'. Another young girl spoke of 'a chunk missing in her soul'. People try to fill this emptiness in various ways. Some try to close the gap with money, but that does not satisfy. Aristotle Onassis, who was one of the richest men in the world, said at the end of his life: 'Millions do not always add up to what a man needs out of life'.

Others try drugs or excess alcohol or sexual promiscuity. One girl said to me, 'These things provide instant gratification but they leave you feeling hollow afterwards.' Still others try hard work, music, sport or seek success. There may not be anything wrong with these in themselves but they do not satisfy that hunger deep inside every human being.

Even the closest human relationships, wonderful though they are, do not in themselves satisfy this 'emptiness deep inside'. Nothing will fill this gap except the relationship with God for which we were made. According to the New Testament, the reason for this emptiness is that men and women have turned their backs on God.

Jesus said, "I am the bread of life" (John 6:35). He is the only one who can satisfy our deepest hunger because he is the one who makes it possible for our relationship with God to be restored.

a) He satisfies our hunger for meaning and purpose in life

At some point everyone asks the question, 'What am I doing on earth?' or, 'What is the point of life?' or, 'Is there any purpose to life?' As Albert Camus once said, 'Man cannot live without meaning.'

Until we are living in a relationship with God we will never find the true meaning and purpose of life. Other things may provide passing satisfaction but it does not last. Only in a relationship with our Creator do we find the true meaning and purpose of our lives.

b) He satisfies our hunger for life beyond death

Before I was a Christian I did not like to think about the subject of death. My own death seemed a long way in the future. I did not want to think about it. I was failing to face up to reality. The fact is that we will all die. Yet God has 'set eternity in the human heart' (Ecclesiastes 3:11). Most people do not want to die. We long to survive beyond death. Only in Jesus Christ do we find eternal life. For our relationship with God, which starts now, survives death and goes on into eternity.

c) He satisfies our hunger for forgiveness

If we are honest, we would have to admit that we all do things that we know are wrong. Sometimes we do things of which we are deeply ashamed. More than that, there is a self-centredness about our lives which spoils them. Jesus said, "What comes out of you is what makes you "unclean". From within, out of your hearts, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. All these evils come from inside and make you "unclean"' (Mark 7:20-23).

Our greatest need, in fact, is for forgiveness. Just as someone who has cancer needs a doctor whether they realise it or not, so we need forgiveness whether we realise it or not. Just as with cancer, those who recognise their need are far better off than those who are lulled into a false sense of security.

By His death on the cross Jesus made it possible for us to be forgiven and brought back into a relationship with God. At Christmas we remember the fact that Jesus entered our world in order to restore relationships - first our relationship with God and then our relationships with others. In this way He supplied the answer to our deepest need. (To be continued....).

1 Like

Re: Should Christians Celebrate Christmas? by OLAADEGBU(m): 8:28pm On Dec 07, 2013
Alwaystrue:

@Ola,
I believe everything we do should point to Christ. Last year, I started asking myself questions concerning the way Christmas is celebrated. Now I have no problem with the day we choose to celebrate the birth of Jesus but more on how it is being celebrated. Even on trips abroad, we get to see so many decorations from November but unless someone is told you never link it to Christ. The Christmas tree, the decorations, Santa wears and so on but none actually really shows the why and the whom we are celebrating.
I refused to put a holly wreath around my door knocker, I am not sure I even put up my Christmas tree though I put up lovely lights around the lovely shrubs in the compound of my house to signify celebration. I did all this because I needed clarity. The Jeremiah scripture you quoted is so apt however. Christmas trees are cut or the plastic types used and decked with silver and gold but what is the message. Do we hang scriptures around the tree or words of Christ like peace, joy etc, what about gold, myrhh and frankincense versions? Anything to truly show the essence. What about Santa clause and what children understand of who he is, who is he when we have to explain him to children? Some may think He is even God...hmmmm.
He is a creation of a mind, coming from a cold region, up somewhere in the sky and that logic is foisted on these little ones and many do not understand.

My message in essence is for us to bring Christ back into what we celebrate and make Him the centre of the celebration. Do we have tree decors like a manger, sheperd shapes, sheep, franckincense, angels ascending? Can't the 'Santa clause' be dressed like wisemen (google will show how they were dressed then) and give gifts to children for children to truly understand the significance of what and why we celebrate?

Let's just ensure all we do point back to Christ and let it be anothe point to win souls and be creative ways to get the world for Jesus.

Good points my sister.
Re: Should Christians Celebrate Christmas? by macof(m): 9:16pm On Dec 07, 2013
Jesus was never the reason for Christmas.

Our Lord the Sun God was/is/will always be.

1 Like

Re: Should Christians Celebrate Christmas? by OLAADEGBU(m): 4:19pm On Dec 08, 2013
highyo:

If there is nothing bad in celebrating christmas festival for christains, then there is noting bad if chistains celebrate, masqurade festival, yam festival, osun osogbo festival, amadioha festival, sango festival, Hindu festival, Yoga festival, Diana festival, queen of heaven festival, ogun festival, yemoja festival, islamic festival, and other demonic festival around the world, so that we can provoke God the more. Afterall he is a merciful God

are you all blind? Cant you see all what these festival entails?

1: glorifying satan.

2: all sinners also participate in celebration of all above mention festival

3: all this festival involve shedding of blood, of human and animals

4: the kingdom of darkness also celebrate it, and during that period, they ensure continuity in flowing of blood to their blood bank trough various accident

5: people charge high prices for things ( A course in the bible to charge high price for a grain)

6: sins also increases

7: High cost of transport ( curse ) most especially when travelling to east

8: Robbery increases

9: people sells their belongings all just to celebrate this pagan festival

10: people collect credit to celebrate this day

11: Many men will try to go to any length just to put a smile on their families face

na wa for this day

so christian in the house that celebrate this day, you still have some other festival to participate in, and also remember to tear away that part in the bible that said, WHAT RELATIONSHIP DOES A LIGHT HAS WITH DARKNESS

Also be ready to figure out in the bible where the saint ever celebrate birthday

Also remember to figure out where jesus instruct us to celebrate the day

you all need to beg God for forgiveness

First of all, we need to recognise that Christians have always stood shoulder to shoulder on the basis of essential Christian doctrine. In essentials unity, non-essentials liberty, and in all things charity, and therefore, we do not judge one another on the basis of the celebration of a festival or a new moon celebration.

Jesus Christ celebrated Hanukkah. We have every evidence for that in the Bible. Was it mandatory to celebrate? No. But there's nothing wrong with celebrating Hanukkah because it is a reminder that God is involved in the affairs of humankind, and it is God who directs all things, and it is God who sent Jesus Christ into the world, and we can celebrate that or not celebrate that as we wish.

The fact that it's December 25, and the fact that there was a pagan holiday on that particular day in the ancient Roman Empire does not mean that the Christian celebration is about paganism. In fact, Christians chose that day knowing that it was a pagan celebration because they were establishing something that was rival paganism, saying the real solution is not a pagan god, the real solution is Jesus Christ. Then they used all kinds of object lessons by which they could point people to Jesus Christ.

So I think you have a point, Christianity has been re-paganized. We shouldn't be part of pagan celebrations. But we can choose December 25 to turn the attention of the world to what really matters and that is Christ invaded time and space, and through Him we can be redeemed. If you can't celebrate that, pray tell, what can you celebrate?

~ Hank Hanegraaff | http://www.equip.org/audio/why-do-christians-observe-pagan-holidays/
Re: Should Christians Celebrate Christmas? by macof(m): 4:59pm On Dec 08, 2013
Lol ^^^

Hail the Sun God for his day is 25th December

2 Likes

Re: Should Christians Celebrate Christmas? by OLAADEGBU(m): 11:31pm On Dec 11, 2013
OLAADEGBU:

Why Do We Need Him?

Even if Jesus was who he said he was, why do we need him 2,000 year later? The second gift the wise men brought was frankincense, which was used in the temple as the symbol of prayer, and pointed to a relationship with God.

Relationships are exciting. They are the most important aspect of our lives - our relationships with our parents, husband or wife, children, grandchildren, friends and so on.

Christianity is first and foremost about relationships rather than rules. It is about a Person more than a philosophy. It is about the most important relationship of all: our relationship with the God who made us. Jesus said that the first and greatest commandment is to love God. The second is to love our neighbour. So, it is also about our relationships with other people.

You and I were created to live in a relationship with God. Until we find that relationship there will always be something missing in our lives. As a result, we are often aware of a gap. One rock singer described it by saying: 'I've got an emptiness deep inside.'

One woman, in a letter to me, wrote of 'a deep deep void'. Another young girl spoke of 'a chunk missing in her soul'. People try to fill this emptiness in various ways. Some try to close the gap with money, but that does not satisfy. Aristotle Onassis, who was one of the richest men in the world, said at the end of his life: 'Millions do not always add up to what a man needs out of life'.

Others try drugs or excess alcohol or sexual promiscuity. One girl said to me, 'These things provide instant gratification but they leave you feeling hollow afterwards.' Still others try hard work, music, sport or seek success. There may not be anything wrong with these in themselves but they do not satisfy that hunger deep inside every human being.

Even the closest human relationships, wonderful though they are, do not in themselves satisfy this 'emptiness deep inside'. Nothing will fill this gap except the relationship with God for which we were made. According to the New Testament, the reason for this emptiness is that men and women have turned their backs on God.

Jesus said, "I am the bread of life" (John 6:35). He is the only one who can satisfy our deepest hunger because he is the one who makes it possible for our relationship with God to be restored.

a) He satisfies our hunger for meaning and purpose in life

At some point everyone asks the question, 'What am I doing on earth?' or, 'What is the point of life?' or, 'Is there any purpose to life?' As Albert Camus once said, 'Man cannot live without meaning.'

Until we are living in a relationship with God we will never find the true meaning and purpose of life. Other things may provide passing satisfaction but it does not last. Only in a relationship with our Creator do we find the true meaning and purpose of our lives.

b) He satisfies our hunger for life beyond death

Before I was a Christian I did not like to think about the subject of death. My own death seemed a long way in the future. I did not want to think about it. I was failing to face up to reality. The fact is that we will all die. Yet God has 'set eternity in the human heart' (Ecclesiastes 3:11). Most people do not want to die. We long to survive beyond death. Only in Jesus Christ do we find eternal life. For our relationship with God, which starts now, survives death and goes on into eternity.

c) He satisfies our hunger for forgiveness

If we are honest, we would have to admit that we all do things that we know are wrong. Sometimes we do things of which we are deeply ashamed. More than that, there is a self-centredness about our lives which spoils them. Jesus said, "What comes out of you is what makes you "unclean". From within, out of your hearts, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. All these evils come from inside and make you "unclean"' (Mark 7:20-23).

Our greatest need, in fact, is for forgiveness. Just as someone who has cancer needs a doctor whether they realise it or not, so we need forgiveness whether we realise it or not. Just as with cancer, those who recognise their need are far better off than those who are lulled into a false sense of security.

By His death on the cross Jesus made it possible for us to be forgiven and brought back into a relationship with God. At Christmas we remember the fact that Jesus entered our world in order to restore relationships - first our relationship with God and then our relationships with others. In this way He supplied the answer to our deepest need. (To be continued....).

Why Did He Come?

Why did Jesus come/ How could he achieve this restoration of our relationship with God? The third present the wise men brought gives us the answer. Myrrh was used to embalm the bodies of the dead. Jesus is the only man who has ever chosen to be born and he is one of the few who has chosen to die. He said that the entire reason for his coming was to die for us. He came 'to give his life as a ransom for many' (Mark 10:45).
The supreme reason for giving Christmas presents is to remind us of his gift to us - the most valuable and expensive gift ever given.

From what we know of crucifixion it was one of the cruelest forms of execution. Cicero described it as 'the most cruel and hideous of tortures'. Jesus would have been flogged with a whip of several strands of leather weighted with pieces of metal and bones. According to Eusebius, a third-century historian, 'The sufferer's veins were laid bare, and the very muscles, sinews and bowels of the victim were opened to exposure.' Jesus was then forced to carry a six-foot cross beam until he collapsed. When he reached the site of execution, six-inch nails were hammered through his wrists and feet and he was nailed to the cross. He was left to hang for hours in excruciating pain. Yet, the New Testament makes it clear that there was something worse for Jesus than the physical and emotional pain; this was the spiritual anguish of being separated from God as he carried all our sins.

Why did he die?

Jesus said he died 'for' us. The word 'for' means 'instead of'. He did it because he loved us and did not want us to have to pay the penalty for all the things that we had done wrong. On the cross He was effectively saying, 'I will take all those things on myself.'

He did it for you and he did it for me. If you or I had been the only person in the world he would have done it for us. St. Paul wrote of 'the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me' (Galatians 2:20). It was out of love for us that he gave his life as a ransom.

The word 'ransom' comes from the slave market. A kind person might buy a slave and set him free - but first the ransom price had to be paid. Jesus paid, by his blood on the cross, the ransom price to set us free.

Freedom from what?

a) Freedom from guilt

Whether we feel guilty or not, we are all guilty before God because of the many times we have broken his laws in thought, word and deed. Just as when someone commits a crime there is a penalty to be paid, so there is a penalty for breaking God's law. 'The wages of sin is death' (Romans 6:23).

The result of the things we do wrong is spiritual death - being cut off from God eternally. We all deserve to suffer that penalty. On the cross Jesus took the penalty in our place so that we could be totally forgiven and our guilt could be taken away.

b) Freedom from addiction

Jesus said that 'everyone who sins is a slave to sin' (John 8:34). Jesus died to set us free from that slavery. On the cross, the power of this addiction was broken. Although we may still fall from time to time, the power of this addiction is broken when Jesus sets us free. That is why Jesus went on to say that 'if the Son sets you free you will be free indeed' (John 8:36).

c) Freedom from fear

Jesus came so that 'by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death - that is, the devil - and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death (Hebrews 2:14-15).

We need no longer fear death. Death is not the end for those whom Jesus has set free. Rather it is the gateway to heaven, where we will be free from even the presence of sin. When Jesus set us free from the fear of death, he also set us free from all other fears.

Freedom for what?

Jesus is no longer physically on earth but he has not left us alone. He has sent his Holy Spirit to be with us. When His Spirit comes to live within us, he gives us a new freedom.

a) Freedom to know God

The things which we do wrong cause a barrier between us and God: 'Your iniquities have separated you from your God' (Isaiah 59:2). When Jesus died on the cross he removed the barrier that existed between us and God. As a result he has made it possible for us to have a relationship with our Creator. We become his sons and daughters. The Spirit assures us of this relationship and he helps us to get to know God better. He helps us to pray and to understand God's word (the Bible).

b) Freedom to love

'We love because he first loved us' (1 John 4:19). As we look at the cross we understand God's love for us. When the Spirit of God comes to live within us we experience that love. As we do so we receive a new love for God and for other people. We are set free to live a life of love - a life centred around loving and serving Jesus and loving and serving other people rather than a life centred around ourselves.

c) Freedom to change

People sometimes say, 'You are what you are. You can't change.' The good news is that with the help of the Spirit we can change. The Holy Spirit gives us the freedom to live the sort of lives that deep down we have always wanted to live. St. Paul tells us that the fruit of the Spirit is 'love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control' (Galatians 5:22). When we ask the Spirit of God to come and live within us, these wonderful characteristics begin to grow in our lives. (To be continued....).
Re: Should Christians Celebrate Christmas? by OLAADEGBU(m): 1:02am On Dec 12, 2013
Go Tell it on the Mountain over the hill and every where that Jesus Christ is born! cheesy

Re: Should Christians Celebrate Christmas? by OLAADEGBU(m): 9:12pm On Dec 12, 2013

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