Is Christmas Necessary?
Airing on
Probe Radio
Dec.
21-25 |
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Jerry Solomon — What do you think of when you hear the word "Christmas"? Frantic shopping? Family traditions? A commemoration of the birth of Jesus? Or a combination of all these responses and more? If you've been living in the United States long, you probably find it difficult to focus on just one without the others. And if you're a Christian you probably want to focus on the birth of Jesus, but you spend a great deal of your December on shopping and traditions. Then you may finish "The Season," as it has come to be known, feeling guilty because you didn't focus on Jesus as the "Reason for the Season." You may even want to ask if the season is really necessary, because you're exhausted, broke, and relieved when it's over for another year.
So we want to ask, "Is Christmas necessary?"
In order to address this question we will focus first on a history of the celebration and its accompanying customs. Then we will concentrate on whether economics, traditions, or theology make it necessary.
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| MEET THE AUTHOR |
| JERRY SOLOMON
Jerry wrote this program in 1996, four years before he developed pancreatic cancer and slipped away from us just before Christmas of 2000. Those of us who knew and loved this dear, gifted man miss him deeply. We are grateful that we can be confident that he celebrates the Lord Jesus' birthday face to face with Him every Christmas.
Jerry was the former Director of Field Ministries and Mind Games Coordinator for Probe. After leaving Probe, he served as Associate Pastor at Dallas Bible Church. He received the B.A. in Bible and the M.A. in history and theology from Criswell College. In 2000, Jerry went home to be with the Lord he loved and served.
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