I say CHRISTMAS , you think of .....?

Christmas  !!
The first thing that come to your mind when I say Christmas is :   Gifts , Gifts, Gifts.  
Oh no I have to spend those hard earn money or wow gifts from my .....

I like to take redirect your attention to :
1.  Date/ Origin of Christmas
2. Real meaning of Christmas

   Most of us really don't believe that Christ was born on Dec. 25.  Do we or can be at least be reasonably certain as to the month (s) of Christ birth?  
To answer  (1) :  let us start with shepherds cultural background. During those times the shepherds literally stayed with their sheep day and night out in the open fields --- this would be around early spring.  Notice also   Ezra 10:9-13  Here it would seem foolish to be out with their sheep in the rain (winter)   Nov-Dec.  Lk 2:8 shepherds literally camp out with their sheep.  It would seem that Christ was born somewhere between May to Oct.  
   Why Dec 25 ?  Remember the church fathers were up against pagan festivities.  The grand daddy of them all was 'Saturnalia.' which was celebrated around Dec 17-24th.  Dec 25th was the end of winter solstice a date declared by Emperor Aurelian as day of birth of the Unconquered Sun.  This date was also a celebration of the Roman god 'Saturn.'   "Sun of the Righteousness" or Mithras was also celebrated on Dec 25 .  The early church father was clever enough to use this ploy  to redirect this celebration to a Christian celebration.   This was to advance the gospel for Christ.


   Final thought on this coming Christmas .
Let us understand that date or month of Christ birthday is important only in that His mission is one of Salvation for Mankind.  
Let us than this Christmas:  Spend less and give more

For further details check out this website:


http://www.touchstonemag.com/archives/article.php?id=16-10-012-v

Calculating Christmas




Blessings




Eric