“Should a Christian celebrate Hanukkah (Christmaskah)?”……Answer: Chanukkah (or Hanukkah) is the Jewish Festival of Dedication, also known as the “Festival of Lights." It is an eight-day festival beginning on the 25th day of the Jewish month of Kislev, which typically falls in November or December on our calendar. Although this Jewish festival in not mentioned […]

“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 […]

“What should parents tell their children about Santa Claus?”……Although Santa Claus is a mythical figure, his creation is based in part on a great Christian man named Saint Nicholas of Myra, who lived in the 4th century. Nicholas was born to Christian parents who left him an inheritance when they died, which he distributed to […]

“Should we have a Christmas Tree? Does the Christmas Tree have its origin in ancient pagan rituals?”……The modern custom of a Christmas tree does not come from any form of paganism. There is no evidence of any pagan religion decorating a special holiday tree for their mid-winter festivals, although the Romans celebrated the winter solstice […]

“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 […]

“Was Jesus born on December 25?”……Answer: Speculation as to the time of Jesus' birth dates back to the 3rd century, when Hyppolytus (ca. 170-236) claimed that Jesus was born on December 25. The earliest mention of some sort of observance on that date is in the Philoclian Calendar, representing Roman practice, of the year 336. […]

“What is Epiphany / Three Kings' Day and should Christians celebrate it?”…An epiphany (from the ancient Greek├ƒÔòØ├ë┬ñ├çÔò¼Ôòú┬ñ├ÑÔò¼┬╝Ôò¼┬óÔò¼├üÔò¼ÔòúÔò¼ÔûÆ, epiphaneia, “manifestation, striking appearance”) is the sudden realization or comprehension of the (larger) essence or meaning of something. The term is used in either a philosophical or literal sense to signify that the claimant has “found the last […]