“Is it wrong to say ‘Xmas’ instead of ‘Christmas’?”……There are many who view the word Xmas as part of an overall “War on Christmas” (See explanation below)They view it as a blatant attempt to take Christ out of Christmas. While it is undeniable that some use Xmas in that manner, the actual origin of the […]
“How should Christians respond to the “War on Christmas”?”……Answer: Many people perceive that there is a concerted effort to eliminate the word "Christmas" from public discourse-sort of a "war on Christmas." The stories seem to be coming more frequently: a grade-school choir sings "We Wish You a Happy Holiday" instead of "We Wish You a […]
Christmas gifts should we give Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down fromthe Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.James 1:17 In the days of the Bible, times of great joy were often accompanied by the giving of gifts, one to another (e.g., Nehemiah […]
“Do some Christmas traditions have pagan origins?”……Answer: There is no doubt that some of what we now refer to as Christmas traditions can be traced back, in some form, to pagan cultures and celebrations. The ringing of bells, for example, is generally thought to have had its origin in the early pagan winter celebration of […]
“Does Luke’s claim that Jesus was born in Bethlehem at the time of Quirinius‘ census match the historical record?”……Answer: This is a question that has been a point of controversy among biblical scholars and skeptics for centuries. History tells us that Caesar Augustus reigned over the Roman Empire from 27 BC to 14 AD and […]
Putting Christ into Christmas. Luke 2:10-11. “Suddenly an Angel of the Lord appeared among them and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them. They were terrified, but the Angel reassured them. Don’t be afraid he said. I bring you good news. It will bring great joy to all people. The Saviour—-yes, the Messiah, the […]
“Should we give gifts at Christmas?”……Answer: Many people take the idea of gift giving at Christmas back to the scripture in Matthew 2:10-11 which talks about the Magi (wise men) giving gifts to Jesus at his home: “When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw the child with […]