Sermon Tone Analysis

Peculiar people

Peculiar people, that is what we are.

(1Pt2:9) and because we are peculiar we have some great results (1Pt2:10) and a great challenge (1Pt2:11-12).

But as peculiar people we need to understand the Good news is good news everyday not just on Christmas Day.

Today we are going to look at peculiar people and Christmas.

How did it all get started, should we or should we not involve ourselves in it, and what about personally.

May we look at what the scripture says, or does not say today.

Peculiar (adj) strange or odd; unusual.

Synonyms:strange, unusual, odd, funny, curious, bizarre, weird, queer, unexpected, unfamiliar, abnormal, atypical, anomalous, out of the ordinary; exceptional, extraordinary, remarkable; puzzling, mystifying, mysterious, perplexing, baffling;

suspicious, eerie, uncanny, unnatural; informal freaky, fishy, creepy, spooky

Peculiar, not a very common word, but it is a biblical word

"his accent was a peculiar mixture of Cockney and Irish"

synonyms:strange, unusual, odd, funny, curious, bizarre, weird, queer, unexpected, unfamiliar, abnormal, atypical, anomalous, out of the ordinary; exceptional, extraordinary, remarkable;

puzzling, mystifying, mysterious, perplexing, baffling;

suspicious, eerie, uncanny, unnatural;

informalfreaky, fishy, creepy, spooky

We are peculiar, strange, odd, unusual for the world says “we will believe when we see” but the Bible tells us different (2Cor5:7)

But keeping in context let me show you more from Peter

So we as peculiar people are to proclaim the excellencies of Him.

So, if we are to proclaim, we need to proclaim the Truth, we need to proclaim what the Bible says.

So what does the Bible say about Christmas?

Good News!

You know the story, you know the biblical account, but it is always nice to look at it again.

(insert nativity scene-1 already saved on computer)

We have read the scripture, we have heard what is commonly known as the Christmas story probably more times than we can count, but it is biblical?

Did you know that most churches (bodies of believers) did not start to celebrate Christmas until the 19th century?

Though it was introduced by Constantine in the 4th century.

Today many come to buildings like this to commemorate the birth of Jesus just like they do on what is commonly called Easter to remember His ath and on Mother’s day to celebrate mom.

But what about the Bible, the New Testament Church, what did they did do?

While many N.T. Churches have returned to what was previously common, no special attention given to Christmas, is it wrong to acknowledge the Lord’s birth?

What was the first church ever devoted to? (Act2:42)

We are a word Church, we believe in the Word of god and we try to speak where the bible speaks and for the most part am quiet when the bible is silent.

So let’s look at what the Bible has to say about the Christmas and the celebration of the birth of Christ.

Birth of Christ

Birth of Christ1ent, we have already looked at that (Lk2:8-11)

We have looked at the birth announcement already (Lk2:8-11) now let’s look at the season, the birth and the proof.

Then may we start to investigate Christmas, is it biblical.

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History as scripture tells us (Lk2:1-2)

The birth (Lk2:6-7)

The proof (Lk2:12)

What does the scripture say to celebrate or not to celebrate?

(1Cor11:23-26; look at Gal4:9-10; Lk2:13-14 too)

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Now we can know from the scripture about the history, what was going on at the time of Jesus birth.

Most scholars agree that the birth of Jesus happened betwen 6-4 BC because the reign of Caesar Augustus and the rule of Herod ended in 1AD.

So, having said that we do not know the exact year of His birth much less the day of his birth.

Now according to Encyclopedia Britannica - this was google in written form, lol.

There is no mention as to the date of Jesus birth.

So how did this whole Christmas thing get started if we don’t see it here in the scripture?

In a reference book by Sextus Julias Africanus written in 221AD he popularized the idea of Jesus birth being on December 25th.

Here is how he based his idea.

Based on assumption Christ Died, March 25th

We have already established that we do not know the year, much less the day of His birth, can you think where in the scripture it tells us the exact date of His death?

Though there was 3rd century writer by name of Tertullian as well as the Christians in Rome and North Africa came to believe they had figured out the date of March 25th

We can know He died

Based on Jewish belief that a person died on the date of their conception or birth.

A belief in the Jewish culture known as the “intrigal age” a theory that is not scriptually based and is highly disputed by many.

Based on that, Jesus was conceived on March 25th, add 9 months and bingo, you come to December 25th.

There are many orthodox churches taht vary the dates to January 6th or 7th.

In reality, we hold the scripture in our hand and it does not tell us an exact date of His birth.

There are lots of other dates that are specified in the scripture, just not this one.

The reason for advent as the orthodox churches look at it is the preparation and the celebration of the birth of Christ, the incarnation of God in the flesh.

If we are going to celebrate His birth, but not because scripture says it, maybe we better look what scripture does say to celebrate

The Bible does say to celebrate Christ’s death (1Cor11:23-26)

Paul, through implication, expresses his concerns over observing days, months and years that is it not unifying (Gal4:9-10)

We need to keep the big thing the big thing, the death the burial the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

So scripture does not support the celebration of Birth does it or does it?

(see Lk2:13-14)

There was a celebration in heaven at the birth, whenever that was, but there is no command to continually celebrate, but there is for His death, burial and resurrection.

Some more history

Origen, early patriarch denounced celebration of birth (AD245)

Tertuillian early historian does not mention it with other feast days (AD240)

Christmas did not show up in calendar until (345AD)

It was shortly after that, that some areas of the church started to recognize something that was not in the scripture.

Just like the forefathers did, they read into the scripture what was not said in the scripture.

This happen in places like

Constantinople (379AD)

Antioch (380AD) and Alexandria (430AD)

Then in 1647 Christmas was banned by the Puritans, it was outlawed until 1681.

Interesting fact the early American’s did not recognize Christmas for they believed it to be an English custom, it was in 1870 that Christmas was declared a national holiday.

Just so we know where we are thus far, we don’t know the year of His birth, we have no biblical command, instructions to celebrate His birth.

In fact it was a great controversy between the Catholic and and the Protestant churches.

So, now 2000 years later may we consider

Should the Church have a work in Christmas?

Please keep in mind as we are looking at Jesus and Christmas we are looking at it in a biblical sense and to this point as the church (the body of believers).

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Paul gave warnings about days (Gal4:8-11)

Paul spoke of being enslaved to weak and worthless things (Gal5:4; Col2:16-17)

Paul was not adverse to keeping Jewish customs when fit the purpose (1Cor9:19-20)

Paul did make it clear about personal preferences too (Rom14:5-6)

Also, that personal preferences should not be bound on others (Gal2:3-5)

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Paul gave warnings about days (Gal4:8-11)

Notice, Paul did not say that observing days, months, seasons, years was wrong, but that he was concerned.

May we still have the concern that Paul had, it is easy for us to get caught up in the commercialism of Christmas, of weak and worthless things that bring in the traditions of man, not God into the church (the body of believers)

Now I have to be honest this passage in Galatians is about why were they incorporating things regarding salvation that were not in accordance to God’s will?

For justification is by faith not by law, not by religious days, seasons, so we need to be careful.

Paul gave warnings about days (Gal4:8-11)

Paul spoke of being enslaved to weak and worthless things (Gal5:4; Col2:16-17)

Paul did make it clear about personal preferences too (Rom14:5-6)

Also, that personal preferences should not be bound on others (Gal2:3-5)

Paul was not adverse to keeping Jewish customs when fit the purpose (1Cor9:19-20)

Paul did not warn the Galatians he told them they were severed when they are trying to add to salvation.