22/12/2008


There was a day when Christmas didn't exist. The Jews had feasts and the giving of presents embedded in their culture, but Jesus was yet to arrive. According to historical documents, which we call the Bible, Men of distinction came from the East, that is, Babylonia—and gave gifts to the family of Jesus, which would have come in very handy in the near future.

The next major event was when Constantine, Emperor of the Romans, moved Jesus Christ's birth day celebrations to December 25, a pagan festival. No matter, everybody got to celebrate together.

In the fourth century, a church man, by the name of Nicholas who was kind to children, became known, and his fame spread, even before Saatchi and Saatchi.

The memory of this kind follower of Jesus Christ has now got out of hand. Santa (Saint) Claus (Nicholas) has become the alternative, material benefactor to the true, spiritual Saviour, Jesus Christ.

Thanks to Nicholas' European origin, European trees are incorporated into this pathetic theatre. How glorious they are, decorated and glittering and hung about with pagan, ant-demon reflective balls.

What a load of deer dung it all is. I even heard a mention of a "wishing tree", previously known as a Christmas tree. If you were of a conspiratorial frame of mind you would almost think that Someone was trying to do away with even the mention of the name of Christ.

So let me say it here, that Christmas is not all about family, or of giving of presents, or of being nice to the relatives for a couple of days. Nor is it about "Christmas spirit", whatever that  is. It is about the historical event in which God humbled himself, got into a body, lived on earth for 30 years and died a substitute's death so that we could place our sin on him, be forgiven, and have eternal life.

That's right. Eternal life. You can read it in the Bible. Look for the book of John, Chapter Three, beginning at verse 16.

Have a thoughtful, Christ-celebration.