And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered.
This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria.
So al went to be registered everyone to his own city.
Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth into Judea, to the city of David which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David,
to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child.
So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered.
And she brought forth her first born Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
Luke 2:1-7
Christmas. I have been asked why we celebrate Christmas, especially since the bible gives no date for his birth and experts say it more than likely wasn’t December 25th.
Pope Julius I set the date in the fourth century with the best of intents. Hoping to Christianise the Saturnalia a pagan celebration.
According to what I’ve read by 529 December 25th was a civic holiday.
Throughout the history of Christianity Christian fathers in their wisdom have tried to put Christian meaning to pagan things, the Christmas tree, mistletoe, holly, even carols.
For the most part they succeeded. Not many people in the twenty-first century know what mistletoe or holly meant to the Druids or other pagan groups.
Christians have also been responsible for banning Christmas celebrations.
During the reign of Elizabeth I of England (1558-1603) the puritans banned Christmas celebrations right down to the eating of mince pies. Partly because such celebrations tended to be quite raucous and drunken affairs.
The puritans believed in a strict moral code with copious amounts of prayer.
This ban on Christmas lasted until the Victorian era who broke the ban with a vengeance. Giving us what is essentially our modern Christmas an odd combination of Christian and pagan ways.
Looking at Christmas as we approach Christmas 2013 it seems like in the west the pagan ways are winning.
The world has really stepped in with its call to give bigger, brighter and more expensive presents. Forgetting altogether that it is Jesus’s birthday we are celebrating and it is to him we should be giving our gifts of praise.
I as a Christian for over forty years like Christmas. I don’t like the consumerism force upon us in the western world.
Do we in the west really need another gadget in our home? Do our children need designer toys that cost way too much?
I like my family around me, it’s a feel good thing. We exchange gifts but shun the expensive.
I know my wife and children love me and just as importantly love and serve the Lord their God with all their hart and soul.
And that’s what Christmas is all about. Remembering who Jesus is. Serving Him to the best of our ability and rejoicing over the God of our salvation with our family and friends.
So as we enter the Christmas season we need to heed the words of one of the founders of the Greek Church St Gregory Nazianzen who in 389AD warned us about going to excesses in our celebration.
We need to join with the psalmist who wrote,
Praise the LORD.
Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heavens.
Praise him for his acts of power; praise him for his surpassing greatness.
Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet, praise him with the harp and lyre,
praise him with tambourine and dancing, praise him with the strings and flute,
praise him with the clash of cymbals, praise him with resounding cymbals.
Let everything that has breath praise the LORD.
Praise the LORD.
Psalm 150: 1-6Think about it.
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