I stand to be corrected to say that Christmas is all about giving. This is because the long and short of this religious festival is embedded in the fact that Jesus Christ, the man who came on earth to die for our sins, is literally celebrating His birthday.
It also heightens an argument of a sort among believers as to whether He was actually born on that said date. Many claim some creme-de-la-creme have made us believe that Jesus' birth is around this time of December and that the actual date is different from the one the whole world has virtually accepted to be the day and season of Christ's birth.
I do not seek to draw conclusions on which party is wrong or right. That will only end us nowhere. The fact is, Jesus Christ's role as the Messiah is that He came "so that all may have life and have it abundantly." Does it not call for celebration? That we were all like lost sheep, completely isolated from the flock, dejected and despondent and Christ came to die for us.
To me, the date does not matter. It is rather what we make of the season anytime we celebrate it. It is a time to show love. A time to put individual aspirations and desires to satisfy just our own selves aside and attend to the needs of others ― just as Jesus did when He came to this earth.
It therefore becomes disheartening to realize that people do not want to show love during Christmas, even on Boxing Day (a day purposely designed for sharing gifts). We should not allow present circumstances to deter us from carrying out our God-ordained responsibilities.
We ought to show love to the less-privileged, economic situations notwithstanding. This is the time to let the street children, the parentless children and the poor and needy feel the love that have been missing in their lives all along.
This way, we would clear our minds of the notion that Christmas is not worth celebrating.
Odei Isaac Kwapong
Kyung Hee University, Seoul
It also heightens an argument of a sort among believers as to whether He was actually born on that said date. Many claim some creme-de-la-creme have made us believe that Jesus' birth is around this time of December and that the actual date is different from the one the whole world has virtually accepted to be the day and season of Christ's birth.
I do not seek to draw conclusions on which party is wrong or right. That will only end us nowhere. The fact is, Jesus Christ's role as the Messiah is that He came "so that all may have life and have it abundantly." Does it not call for celebration? That we were all like lost sheep, completely isolated from the flock, dejected and despondent and Christ came to die for us.
To me, the date does not matter. It is rather what we make of the season anytime we celebrate it. It is a time to show love. A time to put individual aspirations and desires to satisfy just our own selves aside and attend to the needs of others ― just as Jesus did when He came to this earth.
It therefore becomes disheartening to realize that people do not want to show love during Christmas, even on Boxing Day (a day purposely designed for sharing gifts). We should not allow present circumstances to deter us from carrying out our God-ordained responsibilities.
We ought to show love to the less-privileged, economic situations notwithstanding. This is the time to let the street children, the parentless children and the poor and needy feel the love that have been missing in their lives all along.
This way, we would clear our minds of the notion that Christmas is not worth celebrating.
Odei Isaac Kwapong
Kyung Hee University, Seoul
