December 25th is the appointed day in the year to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. But he was not born on the 25th December in the year 0000 !
Scholars who study these things put the date around the month of October. And of course there is doubt as to the exact year.
The choice of December 25th was undoubtedly political in origin. Those in charge of what had become an institution – the Church – determined to distract converts from the pagan festivities at this time of year by substituting a ‘Christian’ memorial.
All of which is somewhat misleading, even hypocritical, for a religion founded on a person in history, with testimony of his life and teaching, including the record of an event called the Crucifixion and an event marking his birth at the time of a census in the Roman empire.
And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed. And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria. And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David which is called Bethlehem.. to be taxed with Mary his espoused wife being great with child …And so it was while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her first born son …
So records the Greek Doctor Luke, an early disciple of Christ, in his gospel account to the “most excellent Theophilus” that he might “know the certainty of those things” in which Theophilus had apparently been instructed.
How can there be such a discrepancy between the concern for historical accuracy by the first believers on one hand, and on the other a complete disregard of historical facts by an Institution called the Church in later years ?
The answer is that the purity and honesty of the early faith was overtaken by men more concerned with power and influence: such men treated Christianity as a religion with rules and regulations, with dates and special places, with fancy clothes and titles.
All of which stood in stark contrast to the life, example and teaching of the Founder of the Faith, one Jesus Christ.
You only have to look at the history of the Roman so called ‘Catholic Church’ in the years up to the Reformation of the 16th century to understand that men’s ideas and practices had long imposed themselves on the thinking and practice of Christianity.
And many believers and even theologians of the Church could see this …
Jesus Christ himself came claiming to be God’s special Messenger, indeed to be God come in the flesh, called the Son of God.
The words of John cited from his Gospel in the blog post title above, are extremely telling. Far more telling than the lie about his birth date in order to manipulate men’s lives.
And very telling as to what Christianity is actually about.
It is not about the externals of the material world as propagated by sinful men…
And the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father) full of grace and truth
It is about the life of God in human form; God himself took flesh and lived as God among men, teaching and living the example his disciples must follow.
And his followers ever since must live the same way.
The life of God must be born in them, and they must live as God teaches them, as Jesus Christ taught and showed them …
They must live by the grace of God, demonstrating the teaching of God …
Religious observance of particular days, or festivals, or particular places of pilgrimage etc are irrelevant, indeed can become a dangerous distraction …
These things are not Christianity.
The teaching of Jesus Christ lived by the grace of God is true Christianity.
And the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us …
Christianity 