I took a brief look at the long and twisted journey from the historical event of Jesus' birth to our current celebration of Christmas in my
Christmas Critique article.
Does anyone else think we "over" celebrate Christ's birth, and "under" celebrate his death and especially his resurrection?
I think that Christmas has become way too commercialized, with the focus more on the presents given and received than on the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Christmas is a wonderful time of year, though it is most likely nowhere close to the time of His actual birth, that should be full of peace and joy, not stress. Since it is Christ's birthday that we are supposed to be celebrating, shouldn't we be more focused on what we can do for Him?
His birth should be celebrated, yes, but His death and resurrection should be celebrated even more. For it is through his death and resurrection that we will be able to spend eternity with Him in heaven.
I'm right there with you on all that, Lisa. I wonder how much courage it would take to completely break away from the 12/25 nonsense and reinvent our Christian celebration of Christ's birth? Have it be a movable feast, and always put it during the Feast of Tabernacles...too counter-cultural? Hey, that would mean that the stores aren't putting up their decorations early enough!
The snag is, nowhere in Scripture does it mention that anyone's birthday is celebrated, not even Jesus'. Instead, "precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints". Makes sense to me...what greater occasion to celebrate than promotion to glory?
I think we over celebrate it since he was born in early fall and not in the winter. Its just another seasonal celebration that we, Christians, took from the Pagans.
I believe Jesus' death is more significant than his birth because it was His death that redeemed us from our sins.
I agree that it is Easter that seems to be more important and worth celebrating. Since we are all sinful beings and would be lost if not for the cross. However we would be just as lost if God had not sent His Son.
The Bible does not mention anyone celebrating a birthday but they did look forward to the birth of the Savior for centuries before He was born.
Just because early Christians chose to conceal the celebration by celebrating on a pagan holiday doesn't mean they celebrated a pagan holiday. It is what and Who we celebrate that is important.
I think everything about Jesus' life is worth celebrating. Birth, death, every teaching.
I agree! The Body of Christ will draw more people to Jesus when we live and breathe his birth, life, death, resurrection, and every word he spoke. He can be our constant meditation, permeating our days.
Isa 26:3 You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You.
That's my hope for my own mind this year.
