Announcement

Collapse
No announcement yet.

Where's the harm?

Collapse
X
 
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts

  • Where's the harm?

    Gulf Daily News, Bahrain
    January 3, 2014


    Where's the harm?



    This refers to the letter, 'Bah, humbug!' (GDN, December 29). Why do
    Christians celebrate Christmas on December 25? A reader asks: When is
    our saviour's real birthday? Is it December 25? If not, why do we
    celebrate his birth on Christmas?

    The date of Christ's actual birth is unknown. It is not recorded in
    the Bible. However, Christians of all denominations and faith groups,
    aside from the Church of Armenia, celebrate the birth of Jesus on
    December 25.

    Answer lies in the history of Christmas.

    It is believed that the first celebrations of Christ's birth were
    originally grouped together with Epiphany, one of the earliest feasts
    of the Christian church observed on January 6. This holiday recognised
    the manifestation of Christ to the Gentiles by remembering the visit
    of the Magi (wise men) to Bethlehem and, in some traditions, the
    baptism of Jesus and his miracle of turning water into wine.

    Today the feast of Epiphany is observed predominantly in liturgical
    denominations such as Eastern Orthodox, Anglican and Catholic. Even as
    far back as the second and third centuries, we know church leaders
    disagreed about the appropriateness of birthday celebrations within
    the Christian church. Some men like Origin felt birthdays were pagan
    rituals for pagan gods. And since the date of Christ's actual birth
    had not been recorded, these early leaders speculated and argued about
    the date.

    Some sources report that Theophilus of Antioch (circa 171-183) was the
    first to identify December 25 as the birth date of Christ. Others say
    that Hippolytus (circa 170-236) was the first to claim that Jesus was
    born on December 25.

    A strong theory suggests that this date was eventually chosen by the
    church because it aligned closely with a major pagan festival, dies
    natalis solis invicti (birth of the invincible sun god), thus allowing
    the church to claim a new celebration for Christianity.

    Ultimately, December 25 was chosen, perhaps as early as AD273. By
    336AD, the Roman church calender definitively records a nativity
    celebration by Western Christians on this date.

    Eastern churches maintained the January 6 commemoration together with
    Epiphany until sometime in the fifth or sixth centuries when the 25th
    day of December became the widely accepted holiday. Only the Armenian
    church held to the original celebration of Christ's birth with
    Epiphany on January 6.

    The term Christmas appeared in Old English as early as 1038AD as
    Cristes Maesse, and later as Cristes-messe in AD1131. It means "the
    Mass of Christ."

    This name was established by the Christian church to disconnect the
    holiday and its customs from its pagan origins. As one fourth century
    theologian penned, "We hold this day holy, not like the pagans because
    of the birth of the sun, but because of Him who made it."

    Although it is true that many traditional Christmas customs find their
    origins in pagan practices, these ancient and forgotten associations
    are far removed from the hearts of Christian worshippers today at
    Christmas time. So much so, it seems a pointless concern.

    If the focus of Christmas is Jesus Christ and his gift of eternal
    life, then what harm can come from such a celebration?

    Moreover, Christian churches see Christmas as an occasion to spread
    the good news of the gospel at a time when many non-believers pause to
    consider Christ.

    Why do we celebrate Christ's birthday? The same reader posed this
    question: God didn't tell us to celebrate Christmas, so why are
    Christians doing this? I am compelled to respond with a few simple
    questions of my own. Why do we celebrate a child's birthday? Why do we
    celebrate a loved one's birthday? Is it not to remember and cherish
    the significance of the event? It marks the arrival of Emmanuel, God
    With Us, the Word Become Flesh, the Saviour of the World. It is a
    central event in history. Time chronicles backward and forward from
    this moment.

    I find myself wanting to ask: How can we fail to remember this day
    with great joy and reverence? How can we not celebrate Christmas?

Working...
X