It’s Christmas once again and the controversy over the choice of date for the birth of Christ continues. Every year non-Christians and in recent times more Christians alike dispute the authenticity of 25 December, Christmas Day as the birthday of Jesus Christ.
Some Christian sects also refuse to celebrate Christmas because it is considered idolatry and a sin because according to them, no one knows the actual birthday of Christ.
Dr. Michael Boadi-Nyamekye, General Overseer, Makers House Chapel has joined this chorus. During the live broadcast of his weekly online discussion program, Wordnesday, he says 25th December is not the birthday of Jesus Christ.
“Everybody knows that Jesus was not born on the 25th of December. That is very basic. Every infant would even know this. But it is a day set aside to commemorate the birth of a sacrifice for the redemption of human souls, (Jesus.) So just celebrating the birth of the price to be paid (not just for my existence) but for my redemption.
“If I can set that day aside to remember this is the reason why He came, I don’t think there is anything wrong with that.
He believes however that while it is not wrong to commemorate the birth of Christ on a chosen day, it is also dishonoring to celebrate the day in an unholy manner by focusing on satisfaction of the flesh.
“The problem is that it has lost its essence. It is the essence of Christmas that has been lost; it is the essence of the day set aside that has been lost.
He believes human are making a mockery of this unequalled gesture of commemorating the birth of Christ.
“You can’t say that you are celebrating the birth of a “Holy Thing” with unholy gestures. And you think that celebrating Christmas means you should be drunk to stupor; you should get yourself into all kinds of unholy acts! That is where Christmas has lost its essence.
Most people who celebrate Christmas focusing on self, lack the revelation of Christ and the reason for the celebration. He believes that if the interest is truly about Christ the approach to the celebration of Christmas would be different and glorify God. Our celebration should be spirit-filled.
“Until you get a revelation of why He was born, why He came (to the world), until you get the revelation that unto us a child is born, unto us a son was given and the government shall be upon His shoulder. Until you are able to get there you don’t have the revelation of it yet
“I believe it is supposed to put you in a somber mood whereby you are supposed to reflect whether your life is in alignment or incongruous to the path He (God) wants for you on earth.
Christmas is not about making people around you happy through gifts or self-satisfaction. He admonishes every Christian to stop and ask “what is the reason for the celebration.” And what kind of celebration is acceptable unto the Lord.
“Christmas doesn’t mean chasing a girl or a man. Christmas doesn’t mean get drunk or sleep around. You are supposed to remind yourself of the birth of the Messiah. If that becomes the nucleus of our thought every other thing will evolve around that and because it is a holy birth, whatever surrounds the holy birth will move you into the realm of holiness.
Is Christmas about giving gifts? According to him, sharing of gifts during Christmas is a human interpretation of the gestures of the wise men and their gifts. The major gift of Christmas is Christ.
“It is not just a time for giving or receiving gifts because there is a reason for the exchange of gift. But you also get to know that the wise men went with something they couldn’t hold; the intangible joy (after sharing their gift with Christ, the King.)
He reminded Christians that Christmas “is about the birth of the Holy One that came for the redemption of humanity and not for booze.”
