Many people around the world celebrate Christmas, whether born-again believers, cultural Christians, or others who simply want to participate. Secularism has raised dust clouds that obscure the true meaning, with movies and television shows emphasizing the "spirit" of Christmas without the Spirit.
Some groups such as Jehovah's Witnesses shun Christmas. While they may accurately point out the commercialism, they also complain about Jesus as a baby. Well, that is how the man Jesus entered his creation. But they certainly dislike expository preaching and Christian hymns that have true theology.
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| Christmas crib, Freeimages / GERAS |
In addition, some people become sanctimonious in their refusal to celebrate, saying that the Bible does not command us to celebrate Christmas or Easter. While we are not commanded, we are not forbidden; the Bible is silent on such things. (Jesus joined in the Hanukkah celebration, and that was not commanded.) God gave us the Holy Spirit, Scripture, and consciences so he doesn't need to micromanage.
Some are in great error by condemning those of us who do celebrate (Col. 2:16, Rom. 14:5-6). It goes the other way as well: If someone believes they should not celebrate (or not put up a tree and so on), leave them be.
The birth of Christ is deeper than many people think. Many have a superficial understanding of what it entails. The theology goes all the way back to Creation and Genesis, prophecies were fulfilled, theologians delve deeply into Scripture. Perhaps the cultists know more than they let on because their victims could learn details of Jesus, God the Son, the second person of the Triune Godhead.
At Christmas, churches often read the early chapters of the Gospels. It is the Gospel of John which goes back the furthest. While Matthew and Luke tell us about the conception and birth of the One, John 1 goes back way further to before He was conceived. In fact, it reaches back even further than Genesis, as shown above. Genesis 1 is the account of the creation of the space-time universe, but John 1 tells us that Jesus and the Father existed before creation, before time, in eternity past. Indeed, as above, Genesis 1:1 really takes over at John 1:3.
It's a bit long, but well worth it to read the entire article at "Christmas and Genesis."
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