Merry Christmas to all! Peace on earth and good will to everyone.
While getting gifts is nice, for me the best part of Christmas is the hope for peace’ love and goodwill. A world of hope and love would be, as Leibniz said, the best of all possible worlds. And, of course, the best gift ever.
I do appreciate those who have sincere faith and hope that the holiday brings them joy. I also appreciate those who are unsure about the theology, but who still love Christmas. That is, those who love more than just the gifts, cookies and eggnog. Of course, all that is pretty good, too.
It is, to be corny, a time to be with those we love and to think about loved ones we cannot be with. Whatever our particular faith or lack thereof, this is surely something we can all share.
A question for Christians.
Which is more important.. Jesus’ first coming or his second?
Why do we spend so much on a commercialized and incorrect date for the birth of Christ and ignore the fact that he is coming again?
His first coming means nothing, absolutely nothing, if he does not come again…..
We should all take this time to reflect on our readiness for his second coming!
in regards to question 1: There is some theological division over this. Some people seem to regard the first coming as the critical one. Over simplifying things greatly, one common view is that individuals just need to believe in Jesus and they are set for heaven. Jesus will return, of course, but that is for the “big game” and many folks seem to think they will be in Heaven watching the show on the big plasma screen. Other people regard the return as the decisive and most critical-that is the end of days and all the books are balanced, ect. Some say that both are equally important because you cannot have the second without the first. It is like asking whether the top or bottom of your heart is the most important. Some say it is all a story and hence does not matter.
In regards to question 2: Tradition and money.
Christmas has become a holiday to celebrate tradition and money.
Wait!… it has always been a holiday to celebrate tradition and money….
…. where is the Christ I wonder.
The Christ continues to live in Heaven and within the hearts of those who will take the teachings He brought and live them as their lives in response to the Love that He demonstrated upon the cross. Whether you believe this is true or not, you can not argue that a world where everyone strived to emulate and adopt the concepts and teachings of the person of Jesus Christ would be a world worth living in and working for.