(영문) 내가 크리스마스를 기념하지 않는 열가지 이유

[하토브]

 

어느 사이트에서 크리스마스를 배척하는 글이 있어서 옮겨왔습니다. 전문을 번역하지 못한 점을 양해해 주시기 바랍니다. 제가 하나만 더 추가한다면, 크리스마스라는 말은 그리스도를 죽이자는 말입니다! 좋게 말하면 그리스도로 희생을 드리자는 말입니다만, 예수 그리스도를 제물삼아 잡신 축제를 즐기자는 말입니다! 저는 예수 그리스도께서 한번만 죽으심으로 모든 속죄를 이루셨으며 더 이상 고난 당하시고 죽으셔야 할 이유가 없다고 확신합니다. 그분은 더 이상 고통 당하시며 죽으셔서는 안됩니다. 그 큰 날에 예수 그리스도께서는 엄청난 고통을 당하시며, 인류 구속의 대역사를 이루셨으며 그날 그분은 " 이루어졌다" 고 외치셨습니다. 그것으로 인류 구속의 영원한 속죄가 완성되었으며 이제는 그분이 다시 오셔서 또다시 겟세마네 동산에서 피땀 흘리며 기도하시고 채찍에 맞으시고 침뱉음을 당하시고 나무위에 못박히고 매달리사 참혹한 죽음을 당할 필요가 없습니다.

그분은 이제 곧 만왕의 왕으로 오실 것입니다. 어찌 그분이 또다시 죽어야 하겠습니까? 왜 하필이면 예수님의 탄생일이라고 주장하는 날을 크리스마스라고 불러야 합니까? 웹스터 큰 사전을 찾아보십시오. 크리스마스란 그리스도와 매스의 합성어라고 나오지 않습니까? 여러분의 작은 사전에도 나오지 않습니까? 매스란 바로 살육하다, 희생하다, 죽이다는 뜻입니다. 왜 하필 그리스도의 탄생일이라는 날을 그리스도 매스라고 불러야 합니까? 하나님은 그리스도를 죽이겠다고 벼르는 자들과 그에 속아 덩달아 들떠 노는 자들을 그냥 넘어가시지 않을 것입니다. 이런 자들에 속아서 들떠 놀면서도 하나님이 왜 기도에 응답해주시지 않을까 하고 불평하신 적있으십니까? 이제 바로 잡읍시다.

우리가 회개하면 주님은 언제든지 받아주십니다. 늦기 전에 우리는 그분께로 돌아가야 합니다. 존귀하신 주 예수 그리스도께서 우리 모두의 죄를 담당하셨고 이 죄마저도 포함되었습니다. 우리 죄를 모두 사함받게 단 한번에 피흘리시고 죽으심으로 영원한 속죄를 이루신 주 예수 그리스도께 감사합니다.

The Top 10 Reasons Why I Don't Celebrate Christmas

내가 크리스마스를 기념하지 않는 열가지 이유

It’s that time of year again! You’ll soon be barraged by the sights, sounds and smells of Christmas. Shoppers will soon go into spending overdrive, and when the bills arrive, some will wonder if it’s really worth it. Here’s a perspective from one who kicked the Christmas habit.

by Scott Ashley

Christmas is a hugely popular holiday celebrated by some 2 billion people worldwide. It's become such an ingrained part of modern culture that even people in nations with little or no Christian history or tradition are celebrating it in increasing numbers.

Christmas is so big that it plays a key role in the economies of many nations. In the U.S. retail industry, the day after the Thanksgiving holiday is commonly known as "Black Friday"—not because it's bad, but because this marks the beginning of the Christmas shopping season and stores that have been "in the red"—operating at a loss all year—suddenly see their sales shoot up so fast that they are now operating in the black (at a profit) the rest of the year. "Black Friday" is the biggest shopping day of the year due to its Christmas sales.

Christmas is big—very big. Schools and colleges commonly take a week or longer break at this time, some businesses shut down to give their employees time off, many families plan trips and get-togethers, and some people darken the door of a church for perhaps the first time all year.

So it's not surprising that I get some pretty shocked looks when I tell people I don't celebrate Christmas. That's pretty unusual for anyone, much less someone who's been an ordained minister for 15 years and edits a Christian magazine.

So what's up with this? Why would anyone not want to celebrate Christmas like nearly everybody else? Are there valid reasons for not participating in all the holiday hoopla?

American Late Show television program host David Letterman is famous for his "top 10" lists in which he offers pointed commentary about popular culture and current events. So here I offer my top 10 reasons for not celebrating Christmas!

1. Christmas is driven by commercialism. (크리스마스는 상업주의에 의해 이끌린다) 

It's not that difficult to recognize what really drives the holiday in our age. Cal Thomas, an American syndicated columnist who often writes from a Christian perspective, acknowledged uncomfortable truths about Christmas in a December 2003 column.

"I'm not sure it's worth keeping Christmas anymore," he began, lamenting that the holiday has become a "road show of reindeer, winter scenes, elves and the God substitute, Santa Claus, who serves as a front for merchants seeking to play on the guilt some parents bear for ignoring their kids the rest of the year."

He asks a great question: "Why participate any longer in this charade where the focal point of worship has shifted from a babe in a manger to a babe in the Victoria 's Secret window? . . . No room in the inn has been replaced by no room in the mall parking lot."

But perhaps his most insightful statement is this: "It's instructive how just one season away from lusting after material things can break the habit. It's something like liberation from an addiction or lifestyle choice. Being away from it can cause one to realize the behavior is neither missed nor needed for fulfillment and enjoyment."

Having said good-bye to the Christmas habit several decades ago, I couldn't have said it better myself!

2. Christmas is nowhere mentioned in the Bible. (크리스마스는 성경 어디에도 언급되지 않았다)

This is rather obvious, but most people never give it a second thought. The books of the New Testament cover 30+ years of Jesus Christ's life, then another 30+ years of the early Church following His death and resurrection, but nowhere do we find any hint of a Christmas celebration or anything remotely like it.

Yes, the Bible does give us quite a few details of His birth—the angelic appearance to Mary and then Joseph, the conditions surrounding His birth in a stable in Bethlehem, the heavenly choir's performance for the shepherds in the fields outside the town. But nowhere in the Bible is there any record of anyone observing Christmas or any hint that God the Father or Jesus Christ expects us to do so.

3. Jesus wasn't born on or near Dec. 25. (예수님은 12월 25일 근처에도 태어나지 않았다)

Surprising but true! Remember those shepherds who were "living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night"? (Luke 2:8). December weather around Bethlehem is often miserably cold, wet and rainy. No shepherd in his right mind would have kept his flocks outside at night at that time of year!

The Interpreter's One-Volume Commentary says this passage argues "against the birth [of Christ] occurring on Dec. 25 since the weather would not have permitted" shepherds to be out in the fields with their flocks then.

And Celebrations: The Complete Book of American Holidays tells us that Luke's account of Christ's birth "suggests that Jesus may have been born in summer or early fall. Since December is cold and rainy in Judea, it is likely the shepherds would have sought shelter for their flocks at night" (p. 309) rather than keeping them outdoors.

Also, Luke 2:1-4 tells us that Jesus was born in Bethlehem because his parents came to that town to register in a Roman census. The Romans were well known as highly efficient administrators. It would have made no sense to have conducted a census in the dead of winter, when temperatures often dropped below freezing and traveling was difficult due to poor road conditions. Taking a census under such conditions would have been self-defeating!

4. The Christmas holiday is largely a recycled pagan celebration. (크리스마스는 주로 잡신교가 재탕한 축제 휴일이다)

Again, surprising but true! Read it for yourself in just about any encyclopedia.

Consider the customs associated with Christmas. What do decorated evergreen trees, holly, mistletoe, yule logs, a jolly plump man in a fur-lined red suit, sleighs and flying reindeer have to do with the birth of Jesus Christ?

None of these things have anything to do with Him, but they have a lot to do with ancient pagan festivals. (Read the eye-opening details in our free booklet Holidays or Holy Days: Does It Matter Which Days We Keep?)

And what about the date of Dec. 25? How did it come to be assigned as the supposed date of Jesus Christ's birth? Historians Gerard and Patricia Del Re explain:

"The tradition of celebrating December 25 as Christ's birthday came to the Romans from Persia. Mithra, the Persian god of light and sacred contracts, was born out of a rock on December 25. Rome was famous for its flirtations with strange gods and cults, and in the third century the unchristian emperor Aurelian established the festival of Dies Invicti Solis, the Day of the Invincible Sun, on December 25.

"Mithra was an embodiment of the sun, so this period of its rebirth was a major day in Mithraism, which had become Rome's latest official religion . . . It is believed that the emperor Constantine adhered to Mithraism up to the time of his conversion to Christianity. He was probably instrumental in seeing that the major feast of his old religion was carried over to his new faith" (The Christmas Almanac, 1979, p. 17).

It's difficult to determine the first time anyone celebrated Dec. 25 as Christmas, but historians generally agree that it was sometime during the fourth century—some 300 years after Christ's death. And then a contrived date was chosen because it was already a popular pagan holiday celebrating the birth of the sun god!

Similarly, virtually all of the customs associated with Christmas are recycled from ancient pagan festivals honoring other gods.

5. God condemns using pagan customs to worship Him.

(하나님은 잡신들의 관습을 이용하여 그분을 경배하는 것을 정죄하신다) - 빛이 흑암과 어찌 함께 하겠는가? 고후 6장-

영과 진리로 예배해야(요 4:24)

Since Christmas is supposedly a day to worship and celebrate God the Father and Jesus Christ, wouldn't it be a good idea to look into the Bible to see what it says about how we should worship God?

The answer is quite clear. God gives specific instruction about using pagan practices to worship Him—the exact thing Christmas does! Notice what He says in Deuteronomy 12:30-32: ". . . Do not inquire after their gods, saying, 'How did these nations serve their gods? I also will do likewise.' You shall not worship the LORD your God in that way . . . Whatever I command you, be careful to observe it; you shall not add to it nor take away from it" (emphasis added throughout).

And lest some think this is simply an Old Testament command that no longer applies, the apostle Paul makes the same point in 2 Corinthians 6, where he addresses whether unbiblical religious customs and practices have any place in the worship of God's people:

"What fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? And what accord has Christ with Belial [the devil and/or demons]? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God . . .

"Therefore 'Come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, and I will receive you.' 'I will be a Father to you, and you shall be My sons and daughters, says the LORD Almighty.' Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God" (2 Corinthians 6:14-18; 7:1).

Rather than relabeling pagan customs as Christian, or allowing members of the Church to continue their old pagan practices, the apostle Paul told them in no uncertain terms to leave behind all these forms of worship and worship God in true holiness as He commands. Jesus likewise says His true followers "must worship in spirit and truth" (John 4:24)—not revel in recycled pagan customs and symbolism.

6. Christmas is worshipping God in vain.(크리스마스는 하나님을 헛되이 경배하는 것이다) 

Since Christmas is a jumble of ancient pagan customs invented by men, and a holiday found nowhere in the Bible, does God honor or accept such worship?

Jesus provides the answer in His stern rebuke of the religious teachers of His day, men who had substituted human traditions and teachings for God's divine truths and commands: "Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites . . . 'in vain they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.' . . . All too well you reject the commandment of God, that you may keep your tradition" (Mark 7:6-9).

In the 17th century Christmas was actually outlawed in England and some parts of the American colonies because of its unbiblical and pagan origins. They knew something most people today have forgotten or have never known!

7. You can't put Christ back into something He was never in(그리스도께서 계시지도 않았던 곳에 그분을 들이 밀어넣을 수 없다).- 그리스도는 크리스마스를 들어보신 적도 없다. 

Some people admit the many problems with Christmas. But rather than face up to those problems, some assert that we should "put Christ back in Christmas."

However, it's impossible to "put Christ back in Christmas" since He never was in Christmas in the first place! He never so much as heard the word "Christmas" during His lifetime on earth, nor did His apostles after Him. You can search the Bible cover to cover but you won't find the words "Christmas," "Christmas tree," "mistletoe," "holly," "Santa Claus" or "flying reindeer."

Putting Christ back in Christmas may sound like a nice sentiment, but it's really only a misguided effort to try to justify a long-standing human tradition rather than what the Bible tells us we should do.

8. The Bible nowhere tells us to observe a holiday celebrating Jesus Christ's birth—but it clearly does tell us to commemorate His death. (성경 어디에서도 예수 그리스도의 탄생을 기념하도록 우리에게 말씀하시지 않으며 오히려 그분의 죽음을 기념하라고 말씀한다)

As noted earlier, the Bible nowhere mentions Christmas or tells us to celebrate Christ's birth.

This is not to say that the Bible doesn't tell us to commemorate a highly significant event in Jesus Christ's life on earth. It does—but that event is His death, not His birth.

Notice what the apostle Paul, conveying the instructions of Jesus Himself, tells Christians: "For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread; and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, 'Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.'

"In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, 'This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.' For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death till He comes . . . Let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup" (1 Corinthians 11:23-28).

And yes, many believers do what they consider a form of this today in taking communion or "the Lord's supper." They fail to realize, however, the full significance of these acts, or that what Paul is actually describing here is the Passover — which is what Jesus Himself called this observance (Matthew 26:18-19; Mark 14:14-16; Luke 22:8-13, 15).

And many have no idea of the real date of Christ's death and the annual Passover observance, but that's an issue for another time. (Hint: It isn't "Good Friday" prior to Easter as so many mistakenly believe. See our booklet Holidays or Holy Days: Does It Matter Which Days We Keep? for details.) The point is: Jesus clearly expects His true followers to commemorate His death—not His birth—by observing the Passover.

9. Christmas obscures God's plan for mankind.(크리스마스는 인류를 위한 하나님의 계획을 흐려버린다) - 예수님의 죽으심에 의한 인류 구속, 속죄

Passover, mentioned above, has enormous significance in God's plan for humanity. The Old Testament Passover, described in Exodus 12, was symbolic of Jesus Christ's future role and sacrifice. As the blood of the slain Passover lambs on the Israelites' houses spared them while the firstborn of the Egyptians were slain, so does Jesus Christ's sacrificial death on our behalf spare us from death— eternal death.

Paul alluded to this great truth when he wrote in 1 Corinthians 5:7 that "Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us." Similarly John the Baptist, speaking under divine inspiration, said of Jesus, "Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!" (John 1:29).

Peter wrote that we are redeemed "with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot" (1 Peter 1:19)—a clear reference to the Passover lambs (Exodus 12:5).

A central key to God's plan for humanity is Jesus Christ's sacrificial death on our behalf. He is "the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world" (Revelation 13:8)—meaning His death for our sins was planned before the first human beings were ever created (1 Peter 1:18-20). Only through His death to pay the penalty for our sins can human beings receive God's gift of eternal life (John 3:14-17; Acts 4:12; 1 Corinthians 15:20-22).

Christmas, in contrast, teaches us none of this. Regrettably, because it is a hodgepodge of unbiblical customs and beliefs thrown together with a few elements of biblical truth, it only obscures the incredible purpose of Jesus Christ's coming—as well as why He must return to earth a second time! (For more details, request our free booklets Jesus Christ: The Real Story and The Gospel of the Kingdom.)

10. I'd rather celebrate the Holy Days Jesus Christ and the apostles observed.( 나는 차라리 예수 그리스도께서와 제자들이 지켰던 명절들을 기념하겠다) - 유월절, 오순절, 속죄일 등

God in His Word sets out many choices for us. Will we do things His way or our own? Will we worship Him as He tells us to, or expect Him to honor whatever religious practices we choose regardless of what His Word says?

It's always good to ask the question, What would Jesus do? The answer, from the Scriptures, is quite clear as to what Jesus did. Jesus didn't allow His followers the option of adopting pagan practices in their worship. He and the apostles plainly kept God's Holy Days and festivals that we find recorded in Leviticus 23.

As noted above, they kept the Passover (1 Corinthians 11:23-26). Scripture shows they also observed the Days of Unleavened Bread (Acts 20:6; 1 Corinthians 5:7-8). The New Testament Church itself was founded on the Feast of Pentecost (Acts 2:1), another biblical festival they clearly observed (Acts 20:16). They likewise kept the Day of Atonement (called "the Fast" in Acts 27:9) and the Feast of Tabernacles (John 7:2, 10).

Christmas, meanwhile, is totally missing from the biblical record.

Most people don't know that the Bible includes a whole list of festivals that God commanded, that Jesus Himself observed and that the apostles and early Church were still keeping decades after Christ's death and resurrection. And unlike Christmas, these reveal a great deal about Jesus Christ's role and mission.

Each one teaches us a vital lesson in what Jesus has done, is doing and will yet do in carrying out God's great plan for humankind. The differences between these and the tired old paganism and crass commercialism of Christmas is truly like the difference between day and night. Why not look into them for yourself?

I've given you my top 10 reasons for not celebrating Christmas. What do you suppose God thinks of your reasons for continuing to observe it? GN

Recommended Reading

Don't take our word for the origins of Christmas. Find out for yourself! Take a look at some good encyclopedias or do a search on "origins of Christmas" on the Internet. You'll find much more than we've covered in this brief article! If you'd like to learn more about the subjects covered here, request or download the free booklets Holidays or Holy Days: Does It Matter Which Days We Keep?, Jesus Christ: The Real Story and God's Holy Day Plan: The Promise of Hope for All Mankind. All are yours free for the asking!

The Real Nativity Story: Surprising Truths You May Not Know!
The biblical accounts of Jesus Christ's birth present some surprising differences from popular ideas and traditions. Do you know the facts from the fiction?

What's Behind the Magnetic Pull of the Christmas Season?
Millions observe Christmas because it's a feel-good time with holiday music filling the air, brightly decorated trees, Santa Claus for the children and family togetherness. But does the Christmas season have a strong, commercially motivated magnetic pull that goes unnoticed by most?

Why Some Christians Don't Celebrate Christmas
Many feel that Christmas marks Christ's birthday and that it honors Him. After all, can 2 billion professing Christians be wrong? At the same time, some few Christians don't observe Christmas, believing that Jesus didn't sanction it and that it dishonors Him. Who is right—and why?

Was Christ Born on Christmas Day?
Do you observe Christmas because you think it's Christ's birthday? Was He born on or anytime near Dec. 25? If Jesus lived on earth today, would He celebrate Christmas at all?

Christmas Before Christ? The Surprising Story
Most people know the Bible doesn't mention - much less sanctify - Christmas. Does it make any difference as long as it's intended to honor God and bring families together?

http://www.gnmagazine.org/issues/gn67/christmas.htm

[느디님]

유대인이 쓴 글이라, '유월절', '오순절', '속죄일'이 들어 갔군요....

[하토브]

메시아 유대인들은 그리스도를 믿으면서 부활절을 지키는 것이 아니라 유월절로 행사합니다. 양도 안잡지요. 위의 글에서, 자기들은 그런 명절을 지키지는 않겠는데 크리스마스를 지키느니, 차라리 유월절, 오순절, 속죄일을 지키겠다는 뜻입니다.

[느디님]

네, 잘 알겠습니다. (발췌하여 '퍼' 가겠습니다.) 그리고 참고로 '카나다의 추수 감사절'이 언제인지 여쭈었는데 아직 답을 안하셔서... (미국보다 위도가 훨씬 윗 쪽이라 한 달 정도 빠르다던데요?)

[하토브]

제가 추수감사절을 이미 설명해드렸었고 이해하신 줄 알았습니다. 캐나다는 10월 둘째 일요일이고 그 다음 월요일까지 쉽니다. 미국은 11월 마지막 목요일로 알고 있습니다. 그 다음날은 블렉프라이데이라고 엄청난 세일을 하는 날로 알고 있습니다. 따라서 캐나다와 미국간의 추수감사절의 차이는 40일-45일 정도 되는 것으로 알고 있습니다. 위도 차이 때문에 캐나다에서는 일찍 추수감사절이 지켜집니다.

[느디님]

11월 마지막 목요일과 10월 둘째 일요일~ 그런데, 한국 기독교 일각(?)에서는 여전히 크리스마스에다 그것도 꼭 미국 추수감사절을 섬기고 있으니...[목사들도 12월 25일이 아닌 것을 알면서 그냥 지킨다지만...]

[하토브]

형제모임안에도 크리스마스 행사가 자꾸만 밀려들어오는 것으로 보입니다. 그런 우상 관습을 들여오면 본인들만 손해입니다. 위대한 그리스도인으로서 행할 수 있는 큰 일들은 그러한 잡신 이방절기를 지키는 수준의 믿음으로는 이루어질 수 없습니다.

[하토브]

성경에 나오는 절기들은 모두 예수 그리스도를 가리킵니다. 유월절, 무교절, 초실절, 오순절, 나팔절, 속죄일, 초막절의 일곱절기들은 모두 예수 그리스도를 가리킵니다. 예수 그리스도를 믿고 순종하는 사람들은 이 절기들을 지키는 셈입니다. 크리스마스를 행사하느니 차라리 이 절기들을 행사하겠다는 말은 그 절기들이 성경에서 가르쳐 졌고 이방 잡신교에서 나온것이 아니기 때문일 것입니다. 오늘까지는 하누카 (수전절= 요한 10:22) 이었습니다. 이 수전절은 예수님이 참여하셨다(요 10:22) 는 주장도 있는데 반론은 마카베 당시부터 나온 것으로 그것을 지키기 위해 성전에 가신 것이 아니다는 반론도 있습니다. 그러나 민수기 7장에

[하토브]

성막 봉헌행사가 나옵니다. 따라서 수전절은 민수기에서부터 그 근원을 찾아볼 수 있다고 보아야 합니다. 반면에 크리스마스는 성경 어디에서도 근거를 찾아볼 수 없습니다. 그 날짜가 그토록 엉터리인 것만으로도 그것을 분별할수 있습니다. 이방잡신교, 불신 안티 기독교도들, 카톨릭 우상교, 여신 숭배교에서 나온 크리스마스를 성탄절이라고 기념하고 행사하느니 차라리 성경에 나오는 여호와의 일곱절기 중 몇개라도 기념하겠다고 이 글의 저자는 말하고 있습니다.

[라훔]

저는 이제 크리스마스라는..말도 쓰지 않을것입니다 물론 기념도 안할겁니다.우리 가족들에게도 사실대로
다 말해줬습니다.

[파스칼]

덕분에 뜻도 모르고 의미없는 행사에 휩쓸리지 않게 되었습니다. 정말 고맙습니다. 아내와 아이에게 이야기해 주었습니다.

[고헌]

크리스마스는 태양신을 숭배하는 이교도인들의 축제(페르시아의 잡신 미트라)에서 온 것입니다..12월 25일 경이 태양이 가장 짧아지는 때이지요..동지가 보통 21, 22일 경이라는 것을 생각해 보면 금방 알 수 있는 것입니다..크리스마스는 교회에서의 행사로 성대하게 지킬 날은 아니라고 생각합니다..그러나 이왕 오랜 전통이 된 만큼 이브날에 가벼운 행사 정도를 치르는 것은 좋다고 봅니다..다만 크리스마스에 대한 정확한 유래는 서로 알고 파악하고 있는 것이 좋겠다는 생각이 듭니다.

[하토브]

한국에 있을 때는 크리스마스 때 사람들이 들떠서 돌아다니는 시점에 일부러 조용하기도 그러하니까 오히려 말씀 집회를 갖고 더 열심으로 성경적으로 모이며 살려고 했던 것이 생각납니다. 대개 그때 모이면 가족별 찬송대회를 열었던 기억이 있습니다.

[고헌]

그날은 그냥 넘어가기도 무엇하니까 가족 별 찬송대회 정도가 좋겠다는 생각입니다..예수님의 생일이 정확하게 성경에 나오지도 않고, 생일상을 차리라고 하지도 않으셨기 때문에 굳이 날을 임의로 정해 지킬 필요는 없다는 생각이고, 오히려 직접 명하신 성찬이나 혹은 침례(세례가 아닌)에 더 마음을 쏟는 것이 마땅하다는 생각입니다.

[하토브]

크리스마스라는 명절을 놓고 어떤 분들은 아무날이나 어떠하냐? 그분의 탄생을 기념하면 되지 않느냐? 하고 말하는 분이 있습니다. 어제 교회에서 이야기 하니까 어느 분은 금방 일년중 가장 좋은 날이라고 말합니다. 그런데 이런 논리와 사고방식은 성경적으로 부인됩니다. 탈출기 32장 4절에 보면 금송아지를 만들어 놓고 이스라엘아, 이는 너희를 이집트에서 인도하여 내신 네 하나님(엘로헤이카) 이시라. 하고 5절에서 아론은 내일은 여호와의 명절(하그 여호와)이라, 고 선언합니다. 인간들이 무엇을 만들어놓고 그것을 하나님이라고 선언하며, 어떤 날을 인간들이 하나님의 탄생일로 정하고 섬기는 방식은 바로 우상숭배의 방식입니다.

[희망]

사실은 저도 그런생각이 (하토브님 위 댓글) 있었습니다.
그래서 위댓글을 여러번 읽었습니다.
저희교회는 25일은 성만찬을. 부활주일하고. 일년에 두번.
사실을 분명히 안다는건 중요하다고 생각합니다.
행동의변화는 아는것부터 출발하니까요.

[하토브]

사실 12월 25일에 성만찬을 하는 이유도 면밀히 살펴보면 나옵니다. 그것은 로마 카톨릭의 미사를 개신교화 한것으로 로마 종교에서 미싸(매스)는 그리스도를 희생드리는 것입니다. 그들은 십자가에서 이루어진 것은 옛 이야기이며 총론이고 이제는 각론으로 각자가 죄를 범했을 때 또 드려야 한다는 것입니다. 그러면 그 미싸는 죄를 사해달라는 십자가 희생을 흉내내는 짓으로 되어 있습니다. 그 흉내 행위가 매스 였고 크리스마스는 바로 예수 탄생일에 그를 희생드린다는 뜻인데, 그 화체설을 담고 있던 미싸를 개신교가 흉내내어 들여온 것입니다. 거기에는 물론 성직자가 집례하는 카톨릭 방식이 사용됩니다. 바벨론 제사장 방식이지요.