Why do we celebrate Christmas?

[GodsoldierClintus]

Okay so I'm convinced that Christmas is just another opportunity for the shops to make a huge profit, people to spend heaps of money and basically get even more caught up in consumerism.

I think it's safe to say that 25 December is pretty much not Christ's birth date.

So apart from it being a holiday, having the Boxing Day test, and just chilling with the family, is there any good reason to celebrate Christmas?

 

[GodsoldierClintus]

I will point out that it may be the only time of the year some people will go to church. Let's brush up those evangelistic and hell-fire preaching skills!

 

[-~Truth_N_Trust~-]

any excuse to celebrate Jesus!

 

[ChemicalKali]

In celebration of the winter solstice of course.

 

[SemperFidelis]

I don't see anything wrong with setting aside a particular day to celebrate Christ's birth. The unfortunate fact that it has become a time of rampant commercialism is unfortunate, but shouldn't take away from what we, as Christians, celebrate on the day. I agree with you the Christ was probably not born on Dec. 25, but seing as we don't know when he WAS born, it seems like as good a date as any.

Just my 2 cents worth

Blessings,

Steve

 

[sparassidae]

I don't see anything wrong with setting aside a particular day to celebrate Christ's birth. The unfortunate fact that it has become a time of rampant commercialism is unfortunate, but shouldn't take away from what we, as Christians, celebrate on the day. I agree with you the Christ was probably not born on Dec. 25, but seing as we don't know when he WAS born, it seems like as good a date as any.

Just my 2 cents worth

Blessings,

Steve

Took the words right out of my mouth.

It is entirely possible in Australia to celebrate Christmas the way you want to, by focussing on Jesus and removing the commercialism.

 

[ebia]

Okay so I'm convinced that Christmas is just another opportunity for the shops to make a huge profit, people to spend heaps of money and basically get even more caught up in consumerism.

I think it's safe to say that 25 December is pretty much not Christ's birth date.

So apart from it being a holiday, having the Boxing Day test, and just chilling with the family, is there any good reason to celebrate Christmas?

Perhaps a better question might be "are we celebrating Christmas in the right way?".

Which might itself be a subset of the question "why is the church so bad at celebrating anything?" The New Testament goes on and on about us celebrating, but that's hardly the image we give to each other, let alone the outside world.

Maybe part of the reason our congregations join in the world's seasonal festivities at the expense of the church's is that our 'celebrations' are so weak and feeble.

We should be celebating in ways that, like Jesus, make the world ask "what the _______ are they up to? What do they think they are doing? And why on earth did they invite him?"

 

[GodsoldierClintus]

What do you suggest Ebia?

 

[ebia]

What do you suggest Ebia?

I don't know - just thinking aloud really. It's a thought that's been bugging me since listening to one of Tom Wright's sermons around Easter time.

 

[GodsoldierClintus]

Well personally I'd like the Army to bring our bands back into the streets singing songs specifically about Jesus. Not saying stuff like Amazing Grace isn't good, but we want to be obvious about it. It's annoying cause I have to celebrate Christmas with my family, when I want to share it with my "family".

I think it's important because there is a generation being raised that will believe in Santa, but knows nothing about Jesus

 

[ebia]

Again, just thinking aloud: maybe we should put our timing back in sync with the church calendar.

The secular world celebrates Christmas for the month or so up to Dec 25th. By the 26th it's all over. For most of that time we should be "doing" Advent, not Christmas. Maybe we have to give up on catching their attention then, but make a big point of celebrating Christmas properly - for the whole of its proper season, not starting until Dec 25th and going all the way up to Epiphany (Jan 6th). Actually do stuff that goes for the full 12 days.

 

[GodsoldierClintus]

Forgetting that some protestant churches don't celebrate any of the festivals, I do think it's a good idea.

 

[sparassidae]

It's annoying cause I have to celebrate Christmas with my family, when I want to share it with my "family".

I know exactly what you mean. Each Christmas Day we leave church reluctantly, because we would rather spend the day with our Christian friends rather than non-christian family.

Unfortunately, I have noticed at many churches such 'lingering' seems to be discouraged on Christmas Day. Come for the service but then get home early so you can get to the 'real' party

 

[Neenie1]

Well personally I'd like the Army to bring our bands back into the streets singing songs specifically about Jesus. Not saying stuff like Amazing Grace isn't good, but we want to be obvious about it. It's annoying cause I have to celebrate Christmas with my family, when I want to share it with my "family".

I think it's important because there is a generation being raised that will believe in Santa, but knows nothing about Jesus

I agree with you. Is there any way you could meet up with some of your friends from church in the evening? I believe family is very important (blood family as well as church family) and I love spending time with family.


However the last 2 years we have put our foots down as family and said we will spend the day by ourselves (nuclear family) and spend Christmas eve and Boxing day attending other family functions. It just gives us time to relax as well as spending time with the people we love. I am sure you will be able to find some church friends who will be happy to meet up with you either Boxing day or Christmas eve or even in the evening. I know MIL invites a whole heap of people over to her house (not necessarily family) just people who are at a loose end on Christmas she does this in the evening.

I know exactly what you mean. Each Christmas Day we leave church reluctantly, because we would rather spend the day with our Christian friends rather than non-christian family.

Unfortunately, I have noticed at many churches such 'lingering' seems to be discouraged on Christmas Day. Come for the service but then get home early so you can get to the 'real' party

Yeah I hear you. Our church doesn't even have a Christmas day service. I think they do Christmas eve. We just do a prayer etc. at home now.







I agree with something that someone else wrote about doing Christmas the way you want to.

I refuse to bow to the prssure put out there by the shopping centres to buy up big and buy things we can't afford and don't need.


My kids will get one present each (biggish one, ds is getting a magnetix set, and dd is getting a small toy kitchen) then they will get a few "extras" such as dvds, books etc. whatever we can afford and they might need. I have noticed their Christian dvd selection is a bit small, so I might get them a dvd or 2.


Also I encourage ds in particular to think of others this time of year, we always donate to the different appeals they have such as the ones out there for donating tinned foods etc. There's one at the school as well, so we bring a tin a week to that one. I think it teaches them generosity.

Also with relatives we will give one present each. I am trying to make it things they need but will still enjoy. Such as MIL I made her a poncho and I hope she will enjoy it. Also with my neice and nephew they will be getting some clothes I made for them, and 1 - 2 fun things, such as a book and a small toy.

I am blessed in that the in-laws are strong Christians too, and understand where I am coming from. Also my family get the real meaning of Christmas and also don't mind if we don't go overboard on spending on them. I have bought a few things my family will enjoy and appreciate but I think most people I know are "over" Christmas and what society has done to it. Even the people who aren't Christians are starting to feel this way.