Christmas: Evidence For Why I Believe in Christ

It is that time of year when people all over the world celebrate Christmas. It is a time of gift giving and  family fellowship. Over the years it has been downplayed and reformatted to be some thing that it is not. One evidence of  Christmas is is plain. In the very name of the holiday is Christ. However, it has not always been so. There is plenty of history and evidence that indicate that there is a pagan holiday that predates and practices the same elements as Christmas that happen at that time of year. There is an astrological event that occurs in the northern hemisphere (and Southern Hemisphere 6 months later) called winter solstice, the longest night of the year. History records that the winter solstice is celebrated in the northern hemisphere by pagan cultures by gathering of friends and family, the lighting of lights and giving of gifts. The reason for the holiday is that the darkest night has come and the celebration is for the start of the lighter, longer days ahead. That the pagan cultures would celebrate such a ritual based on astrological signs, indicates that there is a natural understanding and yearning for transition from dark to light. A reason for gathering together in numbers, with family and friends, on the longest night for safety. The lighting of lights to dispel the long night of darkness. The giving of gifts to celebrate the rebirth of a new cycle of longer days of light ahead. Why? What would make any culture celebrate such an event and in such a way? 

The morphing of the pagan celebration into Christmas is a simple step of faith and testimony by Christians to embrace the pagan peoples in love and explain the real reasons for their natural desire to gather and celebrate on this long night of darkness. The fear of the unknown in darkness and loneliness in the darkest of times. The joy of a new birth and season of new life and experience. That Jesus Christ came as an answer to their celebration of an event that had astrological proof and invoked ideals and emotions but have no proof to be real, and are spiritual in nature. Jesus Christ was sent by God as a gift to light up the world and to save all of humanity from the darkness of life without Him. To begin a life of new birth that would never end. Christ is a tangible evidence of the spirit of God’s love for His creation, specifically His people. 

The character of Santa Claus is an attempt to do the same thing, however, most people who celebrate Christmas, do not believe in such a character whereas the belief in Christ is a matter of faith for millions and generations of Christians. That belief is based on historical evidence of the very life and death of Christ. That Christ lived and was crucified is a matter of history. There are many non-Christian historical evidences that Christ lived and died. The Christian Bible documents the history of Christ in great detail. From cradle to grave, as modern sayings go, the Bible speaks of Christ. The Bible is an accepted historical document based on its exceedingly numerous recordings of verified historical events. Santa has no such grounding. More than that, the Bible speaks to the very creation of life itself. 

The reason I celebrate Christmas is because I believe in the love of God that gave a dying world the gift of everlasting life. I am sure that I will die. However, in receiving the gift of life in Christ, I also receive the gift of being born again into an everlasting life with my God and Creator. The longest, darkest night of my death is transformed into the glorious light of life that will never end. All fear of death is dispelled forever. A reason for great joy and celebration. I want you to have that gift. So I wrap it up and give it to you. You have no idea what is inside.....and you never will till you open it. Receive the love of God. Receive Jesus Christ. Receive everlasting life. Receive forgiveness for every wrong thing you have ever done. The family of God waits to receive you :)   Merry Christmas