ChristmasAs a Christian holiday, more than 10 years ago, the Chinese are unfamiliar to it.Today, a lot of people to accept and live a "foreign festival", the hype is inseparable with merchants.In early November, when I passed by the Shanghai chenghuang temple, outside the mall has erected a tall tree, hung above the "fourth floor has a big Christmas promotion" bright red banner, permeated with thick business atmosphere.As christians see Christmas commercial breath, and know that there is no record in the bible Jesus' birth date, why not think of Christmas?

A, the son, who is bring to us

For the answer to this question is very clear, the bible tells us: "Christ Jesus came to save sinners."(1:15) in advance whether it is a place that how strong business atmosphere, or how serious a secular place, when we are ready to celebrate Christmas, can't help but think its inner meaning, or junk, it's hard to say can get benefits.

If a merchant can in order to profit, which country, either teach holiday can, then, a Christian or is the body of Christ, the church today in celebration of the nativity, without thinking about the meaning of the birth.Christ, who gives the human salvation, because god's love for humanity."God loved the world, and even gave his only son, that whosoever believeth in him, and not die, for eternal life."(about 3:16) English Christmas (Christmas) is the messiah and the mass of two words, which means "Christ mass" contains the meaning of Christ's sacrifice, which is Christ was born is to him as a sacrifice for the SINS of all mankind the most precious of the beginning of the sin offering.In the Gospel of John chapter 8, 12, the Lord Jesus said: "I am the light of the world.And come after me, and would not be in the dark, shall have the light of life."When we accept Christ, who is this group of believers and, give my life for a sin offering, to complete the work of god's salvation and already have the light of the life of the people together to celebrate his birth, when the mind whether we also let the true light through our lights in front of people.

Second, Christmas day is a day, inside than out

Some say, on December 25, the original is the birthday of the Persian god mithra, the sun god is also one of Rome: the gods congregation.Because this day is the Roman almanac winter festival, worship the sun god of the pagans are this day as the spring of hope, and the start of a revival.It is perhaps for this reason, the church chose this day as Christmas, this is the beginning of the church tried to paganCustoms and habitsOne of the Christianization of the measures.From the tradition of the church, to choose this day as a day to celebrate the birth of savior, he brings the hope of life instead of people looking for a season in the spring, give a person with real life direction and the hope of life.Injected new connotation in the traditional festival, the people lost the attention to the light of the eternal.Because of its inherent update significance is far greater than the external day hold, that makes more than thousand years no matter from time to time someone challenged on Christmas day, but Christmas is accepted by more and more people.

In our memory of the son is low in the world, celebrating his bring human salvation, also know as "incarnation" is not a one-way wonderful events, is to not only become the son of man, the son of god and the son of man also can become the son of god.As c. (c. s. Lewis), says: "god into the son of man, in order to let a person become a son of god.This is not to help people become better in nature;But to create a new one."This is what had been people spit on the man can walk out of the haze, hemorrhagic man change violent deeds, wan ku royalty abandon qi, you and me can salvation, the only reason why rush ltd. road.Therefore, December 25th to celebrate not only is the incarnation of the son of god to be the son of man, is also a celebration of the world can take this way, the truth, and the life (about 14 refs: 6) become children of god.

Therefore, to meet you I thought not only celebrating Christmas gratitude is the incarnation of god, also must practice the truth of the incarnation.The incarnation of Jesus Christ was to make the people saw him, is seen the father.From then on, the truth is no longer an empty, faith is not closed, god is no longer so far.You today I just like Thomas Brooks (Thomas Brooks) said: "the life of a Christian is not for other, only to become visible representatives of Jesus Christ."Through Christ "incarnation" made believe that he can carry doctrine "flesh", through the Christian "flesh", let more people can see Christ as he of the sin offerings, see god's love and wonderful life eternal.Memory of Christmas, the best way is to make this wonderful way showing up in our life.This is the true meaning of Christmas, is also the mission of every Christian.

Three, Christmas day is a celebration day

In recent years, in the Christian people opposed to Christmas, because it becomes more and more commercialized, secularization, and recorded in the bible Jesus also only ask for memory of his death and resurrection, is not important to celebrate his birth;There are also some traditional culture's defenders against for Christmas, because it is a "foreign festival", everyone's Christmas, their traditionalThe Spring Festival、The Dragon Boat FestivalNo busy before.Christians should not only for Christmas, but also the thought of what it brings us.For a few non-christian against Christmas, worry about traditional Chinese culture festival so blurred, I think such worries are misplaced.Abroad many people celebrate Spring Festival, the somebody else how to don't worry about the impact of traditional culture?Now,Valentine's dayAlso imported, how don't say it also affects our "feast" in traditional Chinese?In today's globalization is unstoppable, if want to boycott Christmas in order to protect the traditional festival culture, is much ado about nothing.We have to worry about is: put some traditional festivals become a only eat and drink in a noisy and no spirit connotation and culture festival, this is really sad.As aThe Mid-Autumn festivalOnly the "moon cakes", only "zongzi" Dragon Boat Festival, of course, today only if Christmas "Santa Claus" is also the same sorrow!

If we can from Christmas meant to say, because of the pursuit of truth and love, for the need of salvation, for the more and more realized in faith in people's life value of modern people is needed.If commercial promotion can give those who need to bring warm winter clothes are cheaper, to guide those who walk in the darkness in mind, looking for the meaning behind it, to see god's love and Christ's salvation, the direction of life, and we and Mr. Hursh but but this Christmas!