BECAUSE OF CHRISTMAS, OUR GREATEST ENEMY IS CONQUERED (1 OF 2)
by Jim Henry
Scripture: I JOHN 3:8
This content is part of a series.
Because of Christmas – Our Greatest Enemy Is Conquered (1 of 2)
Rev. Jim Henry
1 John 3:8
12/05/99
I don't know if you caught this in the paper recently but it was a very interesting article. California ceremony irks some when it includes five faiths. It just wouldn't be Christmas without pagan candle lighting. Civic officials covered the entire holiday basis this year with a tree lighting ceremony that took note of Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanza, Diwali and the pre-Christian festival of a winter solstice. "We wanted to incorporate as many faiths as possible," said Rachel Rupert, Executive Director of the Berkeley Chamber of Commerce. "The lighting ceremony was traditional in many ways but it was different in other ways. The five holidays that were commemorated: candles were lit for Christ's birth; Hanukkah the eighth night commemoration of a second century B.C. Jewish battle victory; Kwanza, an American Black celebration of community and family begun in the 1960's; Diwali a centuries' old festival in which Hindus illuminate their homes, and Winter Solstice, the year's shortest day. "It was different," said Salvation Army Lt. Ivan Wild, who represented the Christian Faith of the Berkeley tree lighting. "I know that they are trying to be politically correct but I am more concerned about being biblically correct than being politically polite. Wild said, "He decided it was better to participate than be silent." Still he wondered, "If people don't believe in Christ's birth, then why celebrate it."
Christmas! What would it be like if it weren't for Christ? Yet, in our culture we have seen a gradual eroding of what Christmas is like and why we celebrate it. For many people it is no more than what happened at Berkeley in their Chamber of Commerce tragedy because the very name Christmas represents Christ. So this morning and the next two Sundays I will concentrate on what Christmas is really all about. It is because Christ came. Because of Ch ...
Rev. Jim Henry
1 John 3:8
12/05/99
I don't know if you caught this in the paper recently but it was a very interesting article. California ceremony irks some when it includes five faiths. It just wouldn't be Christmas without pagan candle lighting. Civic officials covered the entire holiday basis this year with a tree lighting ceremony that took note of Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanza, Diwali and the pre-Christian festival of a winter solstice. "We wanted to incorporate as many faiths as possible," said Rachel Rupert, Executive Director of the Berkeley Chamber of Commerce. "The lighting ceremony was traditional in many ways but it was different in other ways. The five holidays that were commemorated: candles were lit for Christ's birth; Hanukkah the eighth night commemoration of a second century B.C. Jewish battle victory; Kwanza, an American Black celebration of community and family begun in the 1960's; Diwali a centuries' old festival in which Hindus illuminate their homes, and Winter Solstice, the year's shortest day. "It was different," said Salvation Army Lt. Ivan Wild, who represented the Christian Faith of the Berkeley tree lighting. "I know that they are trying to be politically correct but I am more concerned about being biblically correct than being politically polite. Wild said, "He decided it was better to participate than be silent." Still he wondered, "If people don't believe in Christ's birth, then why celebrate it."
Christmas! What would it be like if it weren't for Christ? Yet, in our culture we have seen a gradual eroding of what Christmas is like and why we celebrate it. For many people it is no more than what happened at Berkeley in their Chamber of Commerce tragedy because the very name Christmas represents Christ. So this morning and the next two Sundays I will concentrate on what Christmas is really all about. It is because Christ came. Because of Ch ...
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