Interesting perspective from Evangelist Pastor Daniel Kolenda on Christmas"
If we want to celebrate the birth of Christ, why not pick a new date and new name?
- Thread starter ResidentAlien
- Start date
-
Christian Chat is a moderated online Christian community allowing Christians around the world to fellowship with each other in real time chat via webcam, voice, and text, with the Christian Chat app. You can also start or participate in a Bible-based discussion here in the Christian Chat Forums, where members can also share with each other their own videos, pictures, or favorite Christian music.
If you are a Christian and need encouragement and fellowship, we're here for you! If you are not a Christian but interested in knowing more about Jesus our Lord, you're also welcome! Want to know what the Bible says, and how you can apply it to your life? Join us!
To make new Christian friends now around the world, click here to join Christian Chat.
P
persistent
Guest
Hey Xavier, am looking for the name of Assemblies of God representative at billion soul harvest. You posted a list of representatives just recently but I can't find it. Almost sure it is David Clay but would like to verify. Just talked with a friend at AG about bsh and she was not aware but is glad to hear of this. I am now just sort of following up on loose ends. Possibly further advancement of bsh with the local AG group here. Also my discussion with my brother Ozias at House of Jacob is another loose end. I may have mentioned he and I are 'discussing' respective positions and he has the Upper hand in that he is long time Bible 'reader' compared to me.
I attended and evangelical church briefly in 2019. I was there during part of the Christ-Mass season and they had not one, but twelve Christ-Mass trees across the platform. The preacher even wore a Santa hat during the service while he was preaching! So if someone says Christians only celebrate Christ's birth and don't do any of the pagan stuff, they're sadly misinformed.
Merry Christmas, RA! I would suggest just focus on the Biblical Christmas events and share them for evangelism with those who do not know, like non-Christians, or discuss them for edification with those who do know, like other Christians. You know, (1) Christ's Birth in Bethlehem, in a Manger, (2) How this was David's City, and fulfilled Prophecy (3) How He was truly God made Man and worshipped as such by the Magi right from His Birth (4) How the Angels sang Glory to God at His Birth (5) How the Shepherds came and Glorified God. For myself, I cannot understand, with so much Biblical Focus on Christ's Birth, and it's clear importance - He who was not born in Bethlehem cannot be the Messiah - why some say we should not celebrate Christ's Birth.
If you want to celebrate on another day, then first of all (1) calculate that date of birth and give Scriptural evidence (2) give historical evidence as to how early this celebration of yours began. If it began now in 2022, or later, it's not historical.
Even the detractors of Christmas admit it was certainly celebrated no later than 336 A.D. And there are 2nd century testimonies to it. And the possibility that Zechariah was ministering on Yom Kippur, would fit with a late Sept. Conception of John the Baptist, a late March Conception of Christ, and thus a late December Birth. The possibility that Christ the Light of the World is the Fulfilment of Hannukah, which is on Kislev (roughly December) 25 also beautifully corresponds to it.
Finally, what happened in one particular church is not evidence of any universal phenomenon. So many (1) believe in or renew their Faith in the Love of God, Who became Man in Christ and was born for us as a Baby in a Manger, and (2) give gifts of charity to their poor neighbors, thus fulfilling the law of Christ, to love one's neighbor as oneself, at this time.
There are many customs linked to this Season. Some of them are directly Biblical, others of them are secular but harmless. Some of them are commercializations but those aren't the true Spirit of the Season. The true Spirit is first of all recognizing the Love of God in Jesus Christ that led God to become Man. Then, it is loving our neighbor as He loved us.
Rom 13:10 Love does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.
In Christ,
Xavier.
If you want to celebrate on another day, then first of all (1) calculate that date of birth and give Scriptural evidence (2) give historical evidence as to how early this celebration of yours began. If it began now in 2022, or later, it's not historical.
Even the detractors of Christmas admit it was certainly celebrated no later than 336 A.D. And there are 2nd century testimonies to it. And the possibility that Zechariah was ministering on Yom Kippur, would fit with a late Sept. Conception of John the Baptist, a late March Conception of Christ, and thus a late December Birth. The possibility that Christ the Light of the World is the Fulfilment of Hannukah, which is on Kislev (roughly December) 25 also beautifully corresponds to it.
Finally, what happened in one particular church is not evidence of any universal phenomenon. So many (1) believe in or renew their Faith in the Love of God, Who became Man in Christ and was born for us as a Baby in a Manger, and (2) give gifts of charity to their poor neighbors, thus fulfilling the law of Christ, to love one's neighbor as oneself, at this time.
There are many customs linked to this Season. Some of them are directly Biblical, others of them are secular but harmless. Some of them are commercializations but those aren't the true Spirit of the Season. The true Spirit is first of all recognizing the Love of God in Jesus Christ that led God to become Man. Then, it is loving our neighbor as He loved us.
Rom 13:10 Love does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.
In Christ,
Xavier.
Also, there is no such thing as "Catholicism" anymore than there is "Baptistism". There is Catholic Christianity and Baptist Christianity - both are Christian denominations or theological understandings of Christianity. And regarding the name Christmas, as Kaylagirl and others said, Mass or Lord's Supper is called by various other names including Communion, Eucharist etc. But yes, Merry Christmas to all. Let's put Christ back in Christmas. He's the Reason for the Season. God Bless.
Realizing the 25 of December is not the day Christ was born. My guess would have His birth some time in early fall something like mid/late September. Had God wanted us to celebrate His birthday There would be zero doubt as to the date.
Ecc_7:1 A good name is better than precious ointment; and the day of death than the day of one's birth.
Ecc_7:1 A good name is better than precious ointment; and the day of death than the day of one's birth.
It would be more accurate to say...if God required us to celebrate it, He would have made that known. If He forbid it, He would have been equally explicit.
Since neither is true it is a matter of conscience.
I wish the same to you and yours our brother in Christ.