Comments on: He’s NOT the “Reason for the Season” http://www.astraean.com/borderwars/2007/12/hes-not-reason-for-season.html A Border Collie Manifesto Tue, 07 Feb 2012 21:21:20 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Triplet Mom http://www.astraean.com/borderwars/2007/12/hes-not-reason-for-season.html#comment-3221 Triplet Mom Sun, 30 Dec 2007 04:18:00 +0000 http://astraean.com/borderwars/2007/12/hes-not-the-reason-for-the-season.html#comment-3221 I agree with Jamie. I do not think Jesus was born on December 25th. As a teacher, I make sure to teach my students that and some day I will teach my children that as well. I also realize most of the traditions we practice at Christmas came from pagan rituals. I understand that the early Christians adopted these rituals and decided to make their "own" celebration at Christmas-time to celebrate Jesus' birth. They were either trying to keep some of the old as you call "fun" traditions with their new faith, or they were trying to take the holiday and redeem it (celebrate Jesus instead of the sun). By the way he was the Son of Righteousness, not the Sun of righteousness. There is a difference. Sorry about that side note.<br/><br/>However, regardless of how Christmas was started by early Christians, I as a believer love the fact that I can celebrate something different than the sun, presents, decorations, Santa, parties, or sex at Christmas. I get to celebrate Jesus the Son of God choosing to come to earth to save all of us from the empty sinful lives we were condemned to. It may not be the reason Christmas was originally celebrated, but it gives me a season to remember and be thankful for Jesus' birth.<br/><br/>You know, God created us with a love of celebration and family. It's no wonder that most people in this world want to have holidays to celebrate - no matter the reason. I'm just glad I get to celebrate a reason that matters. I pray others find that reason too. To me it is the reason for the season. <br/><br/>I too am not a Biblical scholar. I do not have all the answers. If I did, it would not be believing through faith. "Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see." (Hebrews 11:1) For me it is not hard believing in something I can't see. I can't see oxygen, but it's there for my next breath. I can't see history, but I believe it happened. I can't see Australia, but I know it's there. The hard part is being certain and having faith in what I hope for... that this world will some day be made right. I could never believe that this world is the way it's supposed to be. There is definitely a shroud of sin and evil that is prevalent here on earth that is not supposed to be. Haven't you ever said to yourself when watching the news, "This isn't right!" or "There has got to be more!"<br/><br/>So, some may have faith in Santa, or themselves. I have faith in Jesus who has the means to save me from myself (my sinful self) and the world. Once you begin to study who Jesus is, He makes himself known. Then it becomes hard to deny Him.<br/><br/>Merry Christmas! I pray some day you find the reason for the season.<br/><br/>Stacey I agree with Jamie. I do not think Jesus was born on December 25th. As a teacher, I make sure to teach my students that and some day I will teach my children that as well. I also realize most of the traditions we practice at Christmas came from pagan rituals. I understand that the early Christians adopted these rituals and decided to make their “own” celebration at Christmas-time to celebrate Jesus’ birth. They were either trying to keep some of the old as you call “fun” traditions with their new faith, or they were trying to take the holiday and redeem it (celebrate Jesus instead of the sun). By the way he was the Son of Righteousness, not the Sun of righteousness. There is a difference. Sorry about that side note.

However, regardless of how Christmas was started by early Christians, I as a believer love the fact that I can celebrate something different than the sun, presents, decorations, Santa, parties, or sex at Christmas. I get to celebrate Jesus the Son of God choosing to come to earth to save all of us from the empty sinful lives we were condemned to. It may not be the reason Christmas was originally celebrated, but it gives me a season to remember and be thankful for Jesus’ birth.

You know, God created us with a love of celebration and family. It’s no wonder that most people in this world want to have holidays to celebrate – no matter the reason. I’m just glad I get to celebrate a reason that matters. I pray others find that reason too. To me it is the reason for the season.

I too am not a Biblical scholar. I do not have all the answers. If I did, it would not be believing through faith. “Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” (Hebrews 11:1) For me it is not hard believing in something I can’t see. I can’t see oxygen, but it’s there for my next breath. I can’t see history, but I believe it happened. I can’t see Australia, but I know it’s there. The hard part is being certain and having faith in what I hope for… that this world will some day be made right. I could never believe that this world is the way it’s supposed to be. There is definitely a shroud of sin and evil that is prevalent here on earth that is not supposed to be. Haven’t you ever said to yourself when watching the news, “This isn’t right!” or “There has got to be more!”

So, some may have faith in Santa, or themselves. I have faith in Jesus who has the means to save me from myself (my sinful self) and the world. Once you begin to study who Jesus is, He makes himself known. Then it becomes hard to deny Him.

Merry Christmas! I pray some day you find the reason for the season.

Stacey

]]> By: Jamie http://www.astraean.com/borderwars/2007/12/hes-not-reason-for-season.html#comment-3220 Jamie Thu, 27 Dec 2007 22:52:00 +0000 http://astraean.com/borderwars/2007/12/hes-not-the-reason-for-the-season.html#comment-3220 Well, I think you are right that Jesus was not born on December 25th.<br/><br/>http://www.allaboutjesuschrist.org/was-jesus-born-on-december-25-faq.htm<br/><br/>For me, as a follower of Jesus, the date itself does not matter. The appreciation for what Jesus has done for me, whether it is Easter Sunday or Christmas is what I want my child to take stock in. The presents and parties are not what I want to teach him about Christmas-time. It is what Jesus did for me that I want him to know about and remember, not only on those selected dates but all year long.<br/><br/>I am not a scholar, I am sure there is someone much better suited to explain Christianity. I can only tell you about my experience with Jesus and my personal faith in Him. I was raised in a church, but never fully came to realize what it meant to have a personal relationship with Him until much later in life. There has never been a significant writing on the wall straight from God's hand that gave me absolute proof that Jesus existed. In fact most of my experiences, if viewed from a non-believer's perspective, could be passed off as coincidence. However, through revealing Himself to me and accepting Christ’s substitution for my sins, I feel His presence. Having a child for myself brought even more clarity to my faith. The absolute miracle of birth, the unconditional love I have for my child makes what Christ did on the cross to save me from my sins even more real. <br/> <br/><br/>Two of the very best books that helped me grappled with the intellectual answers to Faith and Jesus Christ came from Lee Strobel. As an atheist, he was determined to prove Christ's existence false and wrote two excellent books regarding his journey. The first is The Case for Christ; his quest for finding out all there was to know about Jesus Christ- the man. The second book in the series, The Case for Faith, was especially interesting because it studied the "whys". Why a loving God would let bad things happen to good people? You seem like a very intellectual person, so I challenge you to read them and I would love to know what you think. <br/><br/>I am in no way a Biblical debater, but I know what Jesus has done for me personally- spanned the gap between God and myself so that I can spend eternity with Him. It is absolutely about faith for me; a knowing that came only in the deepening of my relationship with Him.<br/><br/>I hope you will take the time to read the books, and am appreciative of your honesty regarding these issues. Well, I think you are right that Jesus was not born on December 25th.

http://www.allaboutjesuschrist.org/was-jesus-born-on-december-25-faq.htm

For me, as a follower of Jesus, the date itself does not matter. The appreciation for what Jesus has done for me, whether it is Easter Sunday or Christmas is what I want my child to take stock in. The presents and parties are not what I want to teach him about Christmas-time. It is what Jesus did for me that I want him to know about and remember, not only on those selected dates but all year long.

I am not a scholar, I am sure there is someone much better suited to explain Christianity. I can only tell you about my experience with Jesus and my personal faith in Him. I was raised in a church, but never fully came to realize what it meant to have a personal relationship with Him until much later in life. There has never been a significant writing on the wall straight from God’s hand that gave me absolute proof that Jesus existed. In fact most of my experiences, if viewed from a non-believer’s perspective, could be passed off as coincidence. However, through revealing Himself to me and accepting Christ’s substitution for my sins, I feel His presence. Having a child for myself brought even more clarity to my faith. The absolute miracle of birth, the unconditional love I have for my child makes what Christ did on the cross to save me from my sins even more real.

Two of the very best books that helped me grappled with the intellectual answers to Faith and Jesus Christ came from Lee Strobel. As an atheist, he was determined to prove Christ’s existence false and wrote two excellent books regarding his journey. The first is The Case for Christ; his quest for finding out all there was to know about Jesus Christ- the man. The second book in the series, The Case for Faith, was especially interesting because it studied the “whys”. Why a loving God would let bad things happen to good people? You seem like a very intellectual person, so I challenge you to read them and I would love to know what you think.

I am in no way a Biblical debater, but I know what Jesus has done for me personally- spanned the gap between God and myself so that I can spend eternity with Him. It is absolutely about faith for me; a knowing that came only in the deepening of my relationship with Him.

I hope you will take the time to read the books, and am appreciative of your honesty regarding these issues.

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