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A world without Christmas

December 12th 2010 18:06

Christmas Christianity church celebrations
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What if there was no Christmas?

There would be no Santa Claus, no Christmas trees and no Christmas presents.


There would be no Christmas and Boxing Day sales.

There would be no Salvation Army kettles receiving funds to help the needy.

There would be no Shoe Boxes for Operation Christmas Child.

There would be no Christian-based charities to minister to the needs of people around the world.

There would be no Christian schools or universities holding to the highest standards of education and human behaviour.

There would be no Christian hospitals to help alleviate suffering.

There would be no Christmas carols and no Christmas pageants.

There would be no Christmas story, no churches and no Christians.

There would be no Saviour, no forgiveness of sins, no eternal life and no heavenly home.

Humanity would have no hope in this life and no hope for the world to come.

There may be those who wish there was no Christmas, with all its trappings and commercialism. There are those who want nothing to do with Christmas, whether in the area of the secular or the divine.

But there is Christmas, and for Christians, Christmas is one of the most important times of the year. Not because of Santa Claus or the commercial aspect of the season (there are some things we could do without), but because of the birth of Jesus Christ, whose birthday we celebrate.


The Lord promised it, the prophets declared it, the psalmists sang about it, Mary experienced it, the angels announced it and the shepherds on the Judean hillside went to Bethlehem and saw it.

The bible tells the story as recorded by St. Luke. After hearing the report of the birth of Jesus: “ ... I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David, a Saviour has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.” The shepherds hurried off to Bethlehem and found Mary and Joseph and the baby. They spread the word concerning what had been told them concerning the child.

What the angels sang about and the prophets preached about came to pass exactly as recorded in the ancient scriptures.

The shepherds returned to their sheep, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

They had seen an angel and were given a message not just for themselves, but for all people. Christmas is for you.

Christmas is for every person.

That first Christmas of so long ago is the moment God gave the world its greatest gift – a Saviour who would save his people from their sins.

St. Paul wrote: “Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift.”

As you give and receive gifts this year, remember this greatest of all gifts that God Almighty provided for you in the person and work of Jesus Christ. Many will gather for family dinners and activities. Remember, the Lord, because of that first Christmas, invites you to be a member of his family.

Christmas is for you.


Eddie Bradley is pastor emeritus at High Way Church.


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13 Comments. [ Add A Comment ]

Comment by Lester Caudill

December 12th 2010 23:18


Round Politics
Truly Jesus is the reason for the season isn't he?

Comment by katyzzz

December 13th 2010 00:16


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Yes, and isn't that a wonderful thing, happy holidays should never have been allowed to replace Happy Christmas, just imagine the outroar if we tried this approach on other religions. Are their needs somehow superior to ours? Beats me How about letting us practice our religious freedom.


Lovely to see you Lester and have your happy view.

Comment by anonymous

December 13th 2010 02:18


A Cynic's-Eye-View
Amuse I
Collective Wit
Daily Wit
Sounds a bit extreme, especially since Christmas is a Pagan holiday that was stolen by the Roman's and hijacked by american corporations as a way to get people to spend beyond their means. Jesus wasn't even born in December, this month is only significant to the religious if you're Jewish or praise the Sun God. Also the Pagan artifacts still used to decorate are technically forbidden by the bible. But the music is nice and the older Christmas themed cartoons like the Flinstones are fun. But if there was no Christmas, another artificial holiday to stimulate the economy would be invented.

Comment by katyzzz

December 13th 2010 03:28


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We Christians think differently, and are entitled to do so!

Comment by Anonymous

December 13th 2010 21:05
You certainly do, and are. For better, or for worse. Or for catastrophic

Comment by Anonymous

December 13th 2010 22:08
Honestly being Christian has nothing to do with Christmas...It is a man made holiday and actually shouldn't not be celebrated due to the ornaments and crafts. And if you know anything at all, you should know Jesus wasn't born on the 25th. If there was no Christmas there would just be another rinky dik holiday in order to stimulate economy growth.

*sINeRcly hErS, mS.jD*

Comment by Lester Caudill

December 14th 2010 01:44


Round Politics
I don't think any one does know the exact date Jesus was born. The 25th of Dec. is the day set aside to celebrate his birth.

It does no one any harm that Christians celebrate and give gifts on that day, and I think atheist, and non Christians should just shut up and leave us alone.

I mean that with the up most love and respect to everyone's beliefs. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

Comment by katyzzz

December 14th 2010 02:47


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Well said Lester. So very true!

Comment by Ian White

December 14th 2010 12:25


A Cynic's-Eye-View
Amuse I
Collective Wit
Daily Wit
Jesus' birth was put on December 25th by the Roman's to replace the Pagan's Saturnalia celebration and get them interested in Christianity. Palestine is very cold in December. It was much too cold to ask everyone to travel to the city of their fathers to register for taxes. Also the shepherds were in the fields (Luke 2:8-12). Shepherds were not in the fields in the winter time. They are in the fields early in March until early October. This would place Jesus' birth in the spring or early fall. It is also known that Jesus lived for 33.5 years and died at the feast of the Passover, which is at Easter time. He must therefore have been born six months the other side of Easter - making the date around the September/October time frames.


It's not about atheists trying to ruin your Christmas, it's about rational people wanting you to be aware of what you're celebrating. I don't get how religious people don't think it's prudent to study their own religion.

Comment by katyzzz

December 14th 2010 17:20


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You make a lot of assumptions there, Ian, and generally quite wrong, we are not arguing about a date, we are arguing about a faith, and many have studied such matters over many long years and continue to do so.

More practice of Christianity would make the world a better place.

Comment by Ian White

December 14th 2010 17:30


A Cynic's-Eye-View
Amuse I
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It's not an assumption, it's right of your book and history. You have faith (too much) in a holiday for incorrect reasons. That's the argument.

The world has practiced Christianity on a large scale and it hasn't made it a better place. Like the Crusades, the Inquisition, Slavery. And it's just plain arrogant to claim that your religion is superior to anybody else's and is part of the reason there is so much conflict. Why can't people just believe in a creator and live a good life for the sake of being a good person? Not because of fear of divine punishment as part as your club of choice. God has no religion.

Comment by Lester Caudill

December 14th 2010 22:22


Round Politics
You're right God has no religion, But Jesus Christ brought Salvation, and there in no other name where by a man can be saved.

With all the other faiths out there, I will stick with Christianity, because if you would only take time to look you will see that it is the best going. It is a religion of love not violence.

Comment by Anonymous

December 15th 2010 01:10
A lot of prophets claimed to bring salvation. Before and after Jesus, in many similar stories.

Explain all the violence that's happened in the name of Christianity

Every major religion preaches love not violence. Christianity, Islam, and Judaism worship the same God and have the same love rhetoric. Buddhism is about living a life of peace and understanding. None of them are any different but the followers delude themselves into thinking they're superior and war breaks out.

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