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THE CONTROVERSY OVER CHRISTMAS By Rabbi Esther Boucher |
In Messiah’s day, according to tradition, birthdays were not celebrated at all
deaths were. Great King’s and leaders were remembered for their death
and not their birth. And yet we know G-d orchestrated a great celebration in
the heavens complete with angelic host announcing our Savior’s birth. Later,
we find three magi from the East bearing gifts because of His birth.
There was no actual celebration of Yeshua’s birth until the third century.
According to the Kingdom Tract Society the Christian calendar giving the
Nativity of our L-rd as falling at the winter solstice, December 25th was
adopted by the Western Church in the third century and the Eastern Church
near the end of the fourth century.
I did not grow up in a Christian home, but at Christmas, we all knew what the
season was about. In school, we celebrated the birth of Messiah and
prepared drama presentations. We all went to church and sang hymns
about Yeshua. It was a reverent time. There was a focus on Him that was
beautiful. The seeds of the gospel that were sown in me through the carols
and nativity scenes eventually bore fruit as I came to know Messiah
personally many years later.
Materialism and the highlighting of Santa Claus pulled and tugged on the
hearts to grab the attention of the season. Unfortunately over the years, this
materialistic pressure has conquered many hearts and drawn them away
from the true focus of the season.
Perhaps December 25th was a day of pagan practice, but the worship of
Yeshua as the Savior of the world is not at all pagan. G-d always looks on
the heart. So what are you worshipping?
G-d is highlighting the Bible Feast in His Church at this time. Yeshua the
Messiah is in every Feast. It is my desire to share and teach others to
embrace them with passion and excitement. But, we can also think about
Messiah and love him at this season as well. It saddens me to see the focus
of Christmas getting lost in the midst of a materialistic, humanistic world.
Some Christians are concerned about having Christmas trees because of
pagan traditions years ago that used trees and boughs of trees to worship
pagan gods. Trees do not belong to pagan idol worshippers. They belong
to the L-rd. Isa. 55:12 says the “trees of the field clap their hands in
celebration of the L-rd’s work.” If the pagans took the trees for celebration,
then let’s take them back. They belong to the L-rd. We don’t worship trees
we worship G-d. Personally, I have a tree I call the Yeshua tree. All the
ornaments tell of the Savior’s birth or speak of G-d’s goodness and
creation. It is a wonderful witness and great conversation starter to share the
gospel.
Our goal at Christmas is not to divide over having or not having a tree, or
whether December 25th is pagan or not or if we should be celebrating
Hanukkah instead of Christmas. It is to celebrate our L-rd, the messiah from
the heart to hold nothing back. Give to Him the most extravagant love you
can give. Spill His love all over the place for He truly is the greatest gift
mankind has ever known. Love each other from the heart and praise His
Name forever! Come let us adore Him!
deaths were. Great King’s and leaders were remembered for their death
and not their birth. And yet we know G-d orchestrated a great celebration in
the heavens complete with angelic host announcing our Savior’s birth. Later,
we find three magi from the East bearing gifts because of His birth.
There was no actual celebration of Yeshua’s birth until the third century.
According to the Kingdom Tract Society the Christian calendar giving the
Nativity of our L-rd as falling at the winter solstice, December 25th was
adopted by the Western Church in the third century and the Eastern Church
near the end of the fourth century.
I did not grow up in a Christian home, but at Christmas, we all knew what the
season was about. In school, we celebrated the birth of Messiah and
prepared drama presentations. We all went to church and sang hymns
about Yeshua. It was a reverent time. There was a focus on Him that was
beautiful. The seeds of the gospel that were sown in me through the carols
and nativity scenes eventually bore fruit as I came to know Messiah
personally many years later.
Materialism and the highlighting of Santa Claus pulled and tugged on the
hearts to grab the attention of the season. Unfortunately over the years, this
materialistic pressure has conquered many hearts and drawn them away
from the true focus of the season.
Perhaps December 25th was a day of pagan practice, but the worship of
Yeshua as the Savior of the world is not at all pagan. G-d always looks on
the heart. So what are you worshipping?
G-d is highlighting the Bible Feast in His Church at this time. Yeshua the
Messiah is in every Feast. It is my desire to share and teach others to
embrace them with passion and excitement. But, we can also think about
Messiah and love him at this season as well. It saddens me to see the focus
of Christmas getting lost in the midst of a materialistic, humanistic world.
Some Christians are concerned about having Christmas trees because of
pagan traditions years ago that used trees and boughs of trees to worship
pagan gods. Trees do not belong to pagan idol worshippers. They belong
to the L-rd. Isa. 55:12 says the “trees of the field clap their hands in
celebration of the L-rd’s work.” If the pagans took the trees for celebration,
then let’s take them back. They belong to the L-rd. We don’t worship trees
we worship G-d. Personally, I have a tree I call the Yeshua tree. All the
ornaments tell of the Savior’s birth or speak of G-d’s goodness and
creation. It is a wonderful witness and great conversation starter to share the
gospel.
Our goal at Christmas is not to divide over having or not having a tree, or
whether December 25th is pagan or not or if we should be celebrating
Hanukkah instead of Christmas. It is to celebrate our L-rd, the messiah from
the heart to hold nothing back. Give to Him the most extravagant love you
can give. Spill His love all over the place for He truly is the greatest gift
mankind has ever known. Love each other from the heart and praise His
Name forever! Come let us adore Him!
| Ministry of Gates of Praise Ministries, Inc. © Copyright Gates of Praise Ministries 2007/2008 |
