One last statement on Christmas that probably will not be the last statement. The reality is that Christmas is not what it is supposed to be because people and I emphasize the word people, have no clue to where it comes from.

First let me explain what Christmas is, in light of the world we live in now. Christmas, to a Christian is a time to reflect on the birth of Jesus and what that birth means. It is a time to spend with family in an atmosphere of peace and joy and true happiness in which we can share time with each other. We can wish others well and try to be in the spirit of Christ teachings.

In essence Christmas should be a time when people who truly love Jesus take the opportunity to share the love of Christ even though we realize that December 25th was not the exact day Jesus was born. If others, such as non-believers or nominal Christians can be brought to know the Christ of the Bible in a deeper and more fulfilling way then we should use this window of opportunity to demonstrate the love of Christ for His fellow man, without deifying this particular day. We must realize that December 25 is neither holy nor scriptural.

Christmas in actuality has pagan origins but that is not why I bring it up. There are plenty of people who can give you all the facts on that argument. What I want to underscore is the ability of the masses to rally behind something that is not supported by the Bible. Christianity today wants to impose a day of "worship" of sorts that is neither commanded by Jesus or His word. Now you may say the word impose is too strong but what else would you call the frenzy we see in the media?

"It's Christmas or we boycott!"

Tell me, how far is today's Christianity willing to go, to the mayor, governor, senate, congress, president, how far till we get it our way? History tells us we can go far, sometimes too far. Open the pages of this nations history, yes this nations history and the atrocities cry out like "Abel's blood" it's not pretty. We must be careful as to how we approach our love for Christianity and our demands for the public for there are clear and present dangers if we try to enforce any religious observance such as Christmas. Let us remember the words of James Madison one of our founding fathers:

"Who does not see that the same authority which can establish Christianity [or for that matter Christmas], in exclusion of all other religions, may establish with the same ease any particular sect of Christians, in exclusion of all other sects?"(writings of James Madison, vol 1, pp 84, 85)

Yet we can rise above the fray and conquer others with love, for a heart won by love is greater then a heart one by force. We must remember always that as Christians "We live by dying [to Christ]. Strength comes through weakness. The battle is won by surrendering. Then we can know that Christians are born and not made." (His Robe or Mine, p 50)

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Gio Marin is an aspiring author, currently working on a Master of Divinity degree at Andrews Seventh-Day Adventist Theological Seminary, with a dual emphasis on systematic theology and church growth & evangelism. His email is {email GioMarinColumn@aol.com}GioMarinColumn@aol.com{/email}.© copyright 2005 by Gio Marin.

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