Yesterday I talked about my Christmas past which embraced the secular parts of the season (giving/receiving gifts) while denying the religious aspects (the birth of Christ). Obviously, many still choose to opt out of seeing Christmas as religious holiday. Paul says out choice of whether to observe or not observe special days is not nearly as important as our motivation to praise and glorify God (Romans 14:5-6). My own opinion is that a yearly focus on "true meaning of Christmas" in the coming of Jesus into our world and God's mighty work through Him is a good thing. OK, so Jesus wasn't really born on December 25... but he was really born!
What is Redefine Christmas? It's simply the idea that our holiday gift giving could be more meaningful and do more good. In addition to the gifts we enjoy shopping for and giving, we're often compelled to give gifts that aren't so meaningful. Imagine if we replaced those gifts by giving others donations to their favorite charities. And we requested that others do the same for us.
“When you give a luncheon or dinner, do not invite your friends, your brothers or relatives, or your rich neighbors; if you do, they may invite you back and so you will be repaid. But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.”
Who do we tend to give Christmas presents to? People who give to us? Have you ever had to go out and buy someone a gift you didn’t intent on getting a gift for because they gave you an unexpected gift? Jesus tells us to invite people that can’t invite us back. So how about we give to people who can’t gift in return. Maybe we need to turn Christmas into a true time of giving.
4 comments:
You can always celebrate Festivus on December 23. The two key components of Festivus are "The Airing of Grievances" and the demonstration of "Feats of Strength."
Unfortunately, with Festivus falling on a Sunday this year, for some people the celebration will be lost in normal church activities.
Joking aside -- thanks for the thoughtful comments about Christmas.
“Unity is”
Those who were immersed in thoughts, talk and behavior that focused on differences and distinctions identifying how dislike some are; narrow the focus. Will you awake to find yourselves standing over here, with everyone else scattered over there? How will you draw them toward you and why would they do so if they can remember the past?.
Numerous divisions are produced over points of teachings when those doctrines are not grounded first and foremost on humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love, being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace, because those doctrine or scriptural teachings are the foundation, first and foremost the attitude that leads to heaven here in our time and beyond into the next, these “heart issues” are what the body must have and those parts that will not carry it will fall away! Let us not become haughty and over bearing less we remove ourselves from the unity of others and weaken the body, let us be gentle in our communications with one another as we draw together. Let us be patient and not disallowing of our shortcomings and misunderstandings. Let there be no lack of insight or effort. Let us be tolerant and not irritated beyond reason. Let us love and be loved as we have been and are loved by God through His son. When I think of x mass I think it should be (Psalms 133:1).
Who will talk to Dr. bill?
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