The Meaning of Christmas

• krambman

  

  Christmas is a holiday celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ. Very few believe that December 25 is actually the date of his birth, but the date was selected because of some miss-figuring of the date of his conception, and likely to also co-op the already existing Roman pagan celebration of the winter solstice to turn it into a Christian celebration. Now Christmas is celebrated widely by Christians and non-Christians alike.
  
  For anyone who does not know or who has forgotten, here is the true meaning of Christmas.
  

  In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to his own town to register.
  
  So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
  
  And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."
  
  Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
  "Glory to God in the highest,
  and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."
  
  When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about."
  
  So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

  Luke 2:1-20 New International Version
• darbypitcher22

  

  Thanks for posting the sermon I'm going to hear tonight. Maybe now I can try to figure a way out of church.
• Big Al Carter

  

  Thank you for that.
  Merry Christmas!!!
  Heading to Candle Light service tonight.
• coyotes22

  

  I love that story.
  
  Merry Christmas, to all!!!
• krambman

  

  darbypitcher22 wrote: Thanks for posting the sermon I'm going to hear tonight. Maybe now I can try to figure a way out of church.

  I may have given you the story, but we didn't light the Jesus Candle in the Advent Wreath or light candles and sing silent night. Guess you'll still have to endure an hour in church with family and friends. Hope it's not too rough on you.
• cats gone wild

  Merry Christmas and God bless everyone on this site.
• vdubb96

  

  Merry Christmas everyone!!!! Enjoy the time with your families, it's THE most important thing!
• CenterBHSFan

  

  Merry Christmas to all!
  
  [size=xx-small](even those who don't like it)[/size]
• gorocks99

  

  And if you don't say Merry Christmas to me, you're a terrorist. That's right. A terrorist.
• krambman

  

  gorocks99 wrote: And if you don't say Merry Christmas to me, you're a terrorist. That's right. A terrorist.

  Haha. Well, Happy Holi . . . err, ah, MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!
• devil1197

  Jesus is the Reason for the Season.
  
  Merry Christmas
• sleeper

  

  Happy Holidays everyone!
• Blitzkrieg

  The King of Kings, salvation brings. Let loving hearts enthrone Him.
• darbypitcher22

  

  krambman,
  
  its not the going to church part. its some of the people at church that make it unbearable. It almost feels like a cold day in hell when you walk in that place
• dlazz

  I thought Christmas was invented by Santa after a drunken night with the Easter Bunny. Thanks for clearing this up.
• september63

  

  Merry Christmas to all..........especially those I have offended in the past.
• coyotes22

  

  To All My Democrat Friends:
  Please accept with no obligation, implied or explicit, my best wishes for an environmentally conscious, socially responsible, low-stress, non-addictive, gender-neutral celebration of the winter solstice holiday, practiced within the most enjoyable traditions of the religious persuasion of your choice, or secular practices of your choice, with respect for the religious/secular persuasion and/or traditions of others, or their choice not to practice religious or secular traditions at all. I also wish you a fiscally successful, personally fulfilling and medically uncomplicated recognition of the onset of the generally accepted calendar year 2010, but not without due respect for the calendars of choice of other cultures whose contributions to society have helped make America great. Not to imply that America is necessarily greater than any other country nor the only America in the Western Hemisphere. Also, this wish is made without regard to the race, creed, color, age, physical ability, religious faith or sexual preference of the wishee.
  
  
  
  
  To My Republican Friends:
  Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
• ptown_trojans_1

  

  Christmas, to me, is more about family and friends than the religious aspect. Yes, I do acknowledge the birth and know it was the original meaning for the holiday, but I family and friends that I haven't seen in a long time trump that.
  
  Also, like my view on religion, I believe that Christmas can mean many different things to many different people.
• Salmom

  Merry Christmas All!
• nc52

  

  
  
  
  all this time i thought christmas was all about this ^^^^
• redfalcon

  

  ptown_trojans_1 wrote: Christmas, to me, is more about family and friends than the religious aspect. Yes, I do acknowledge the birth and know it was the original meaning for the holiday, but I family and friends that I haven't seen in a long time trump that.
  
  Also, like my view on religion, I believe that Christmas can mean many different things to many different people.

  
  +1.
• redfalcon

  

  nc52 wrote:
  
  
  all this time i thought christmas was all about this ^^^^

  +1 to this as well.
• eersandbeers

  krambman wrote: Christmas is a holiday celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ. Very few believe that December 25 is actually the date of his birth, but the date was selected because of some miss-figuring of the date of his conception, and likely to also co-op the already existing Roman pagan celebration of the winter solstice to turn it into a Christian celebration. Now Christmas is celebrated widely by Christians and non-Christians alike.
  

  
  
  
  Like you said, the true meaning of Christmas was to combat the paganism practiced by other people. They wanted to hijack the solstice to promote Christianity.
  
  
  For me, the true meaning of Christmas is worshiping the sun. All praise the sun.
• tcarrier32

  

  eersandbeers wrote:

  krambman wrote: Christmas is a holiday celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ. Very few believe that December 25 is actually the date of his birth, but the date was selected because of some miss-figuring of the date of his conception, and likely to also co-op the already existing Roman pagan celebration of the winter solstice to turn it into a Christian celebration. Now Christmas is celebrated widely by Christians and non-Christians alike.
  

  
  
  
  Like you said, the true meaning of Christmas was to combat the paganism practiced by other people. They wanted to hijack the solstice to promote Christianity.
  
  
  For me, the true meaning of Christmas is worshiping the sun. All praise the sun.

  AMEN!
• dwccrew

  

  devil1197 wrote: Jesus is the Reason for the Season.
  
  Merry Christmas

  Funny that the devil is saying this.
  
  Anyways, the reason for the season is pleasin'!