From My Desk

  Christmas, for the 16th-century reformer Martin Luther , transcended mere festivity; it was a profound theological and personal event; the ultimate demonstration of divine humility and unmerited grace. Luther’s perspective and practice of Christmas, deeply rooted in Scripture, emphasized simplicity, joy, and an unwavering focus on the Incarnation as the central act of salvation history . His approach provided a stark contrast to the extravagance of his time, laying a foundational legacy for how many Christians today understand and observe the holiday.   Theological Foundation: Grace and Humility Luther viewed the Incarnation ; God taking on human flesh in the person of Jesus Christ; as the pinnacle of God’s love. The fact that the omnipotent God chose to enter the world as a vulnerable, helpless baby, born not in a palace but in a humble manger, captivated Luther. This reality served as the bedrock of his Christmas theology.   He emphasized that Christ’s birth...

Image source: www.chiarotino.com “We need to celebrate this Christmas. Jesus’ birth was – and is – good news of great joy” -Rick Warren (Pastor/Bible teacher/Best-selling author).               Christmas is derived from the old English words Cristes maesse, “Christ`s Mass”. Christmas is a Christian festival commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ. Present spelling of Christmas probably came into use around the 16 th century. It is arguably the most popular and most widely celebrated festival in the 21 st century. Though celebrated by a large segment of Christendom, it has been bastardized by a minority within the Christian fold and outside Christian circles. Chief among the most vociferous critics of Christmas is the religious group called the Jehovah`s Witnesses . Their antagonistic views regarding the celebration of Christmas will be considered since to a very large extent, their views represent that of man...