Originally Posted by KeptByTheWord
The Birth of the Lord versus Day of Gifts
I've been thinking about this a lot, and what I'm about to say will probably really not go over well, but here it is... (help me Lord!)
Many people talk about keeping Christ in Christmas, when in reality history shows us that Christ was never the original reason for Christmas, but was an afterthought to try to get more people to participate in the pagan holiday celebrations. Perhaps it is time for a separation of the gift giving season, and the celebration of the birth of our Lord.
Christians who really want to make celebrating the birth of our Lord about simply that, His birth, should consider this. After all, most historians believe that Jesus was born closer to time of the Feast of Tabernacles (around the end of September, first of October). Why not celebrate the birth of our Lord then, when it will only be about Him? Set aside a day during that time of year and gather your family around, and tell the story of the Lord's birth, and have special worship and prayer together as a family thanking the Lord for the miracle that His birth brought to us. Have a day set aside that is really just about the Lord, and celebrating the miracle of his birth.
What happens today on Christmas generally is that the gift giving, huge meals, and all the rest that goes along with “Christmas” overshadows the supposed true reason for the day.
If the two were separated, and Christians were to set a day closer to the time frame Jesus was born as a day to really worship, and be thankful for his birth, then the celebration of the pagan holiday gift giving season could continue. It could be called - the Day of Gifts (a phrase I've coined, lol!) - and it could be celebrated like you would Valentines Day, 4th of July, or any other national holiday. This would ensure that the celebration of the Lord's birth would not be overshadowed by the materialistic mindset of the holiday season as we now know it. The "Day of Gifts" could be one where you give gifts to those you love and appreciate, and enjoy a simple family celebration together, and if you want to get excited about all the lights, tinsel, bows, sugar and gifts, then at least it wouldn’t be overshadowing the birth of the Lord, as it is now. The materialistic mindset of the season as it is now is so far from the original and true meaning of Christ’s birth, that the irony of it all is incredible. Christ came as a servant, a nobody, to be born in a stinky manger, with straw and poo as his bedding, and we somehow turn this scene into glitz, lights, gifts and “give me, give me”. The whole mentality is completely against and foreign to the very reason for His birth.
So... do you think it would work - to endeavor to keep the celebration of the birth of the Lord and the "Day of Gifts" separate?
In my opinion, the message and celebration of His birth is far overshadowed by the "give and get" mentality this time of year. I wish the two could be separated.
Is it even possible?
Does anyone else want to celebrate the Lord and all his many blessings because He chose to come and be born into this world in a stinky manger with pigs, sheep, cows and two scared parents to welcome him... all to redeem a world who didn’t even know Him, without having the time of worship complicated by thoughts of gift giving, food, parties, and indulgence?
I don't want the worship in my heart to Him for the message of what His birth means to me.... to be soiled and marred with the materialistic overtones of "give and get".
Our family in the last few years has began to turn away from the materialistic and pagan rituals of Christmas, and instead spent time in prayer early Christmas morning, after reading the story of the birth of the Lord, and shared loving gifts to each other that were small and meaningful. It has been a very special time together as a family.
However, I wonder if it could be taken a step further than this, and hence my reason for sharing this. It takes a long time to turn a huge ship around, but perhaps the more people begin to stop and think about it all, perhaps a change could be effected. Most people don’t stop and think about it, but simply go along with what tradition has always dictated. Maybe it is time to change that.
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