Excerpt from site:
Special Christmas Programming
ABOUT THE CURRENT TELEVISION SERIES
Christmastime is filled with wonder and awe, particularly for Christians. Sometimes it’s hard to explain the joy and excitement that we feel . . . until we remember the manger! On that first Christmas the angels brought great news for the world: “… for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which shall be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” (Luke 10:11-12)
This news changed the world forever! Because of Christmas we have hope for today and for eternity. God fulfilled His promise and sent His son to earth that we might be forgiven, redeemed and have access to the throne of God through prayer in Jesus’ name. Jesus bridged the gap between sinful man and our perfect Creator.
Tune in to Turning Point Television during the month of December as Dr. Jeremiah teaches the importance of Christmas and Jesus’ birth. He uses Scripture to explain “Why There Must Be Christmas” and gives biblical answers to the questions, “Why the Wonder of Christmas?” “Why Call Him Jesus?” and “Why Call Him Immanuel?”
With each passing year, I have found that the secular media shells out lots of so-called "Christmas" movies, but what percentage of those movies share the story of Jesus Christ? Unfortunately, not many. The ongoing and increasingly evident habit of the secular world taking Christ out of Christmas (and even showing hostility towards Christ and his followers!) shows what a sad state of affairs our nation is in. Our Christian heritage is often being sabotaged by those who object to the One who holds the true meaning of Christmas - namely - Jesus Christ.
I thank God for the ministry of Turning Point! Via television, the Internet, and through printed devotionals, the gospel of Jesus Christ is vibrantly being shared throughout all the world!
Just before ascending back into heaven after his death and resurrection, Jesus himself told the disciples (and all Christians since):
Mark 16:15 And He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.
Imagine how difficult it would have been in biblical times to accomplish such a feat! But Jesus knew what technologies would be developed in the future. Now, with millions of people each holding an iPhone in their hands, such a goal does not sound very difficult today.
The TRUTH of God's Word stands forever! We can be completely confident that the prophecies regarding the return of Jesus Christ will happen. Only God the Father knows the day or hour. But God's word assures us of this fact:
2Pe 1:16 ¶ For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty.
2Pe 1:17 For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
2Pe 1:18 And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount.
2Pe 1:19 We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:
2Pe 1:20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.
2Pe 1:21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake [as they were] moved by the Holy Ghost.
One of my favorite verses:
1Th 5:23 ¶ And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and [I pray God] your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
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7 comments:
CJW: ”Our Christian heritage is often being sabotaged by those who object to the One who holds the true meaning of Christmas - namely - Jesus Christ.”
True. The rest of the time it's being sabotaged by those who believe in the One who holds the true meaning of Christmas - namely – Jesus Christ.
I hope you don't mean to deny this. Prior to 1948, the millennia-long persecution of Jews was conducted almost exclusively by Christians. They know that Jesus was a Jew, yet they do not extend the same courtesy to his people as they do to him. Some Christians do not celebrate Jesus' birth even though they acknowledge his existence and his deeds; no Christian knows just when he was born.
As for the 'true meaning of Christmas', well...some say it's a sign of God's love and mercy, that he sent his son to ultimately die on our behalf. Did Jesus know that? He must have, since Christians say he is also God.
But I say the true meaning of Christmas is to beautify, however briefly, an otherwise miserable time of year. Of course, in Australia it's early spring, so camels in the desert and Santa Claus and reindeer might look a little out of place. Still, that to me is what Christmas is all about—that, and a reminder that the New Year is breathing down one's neck.
It is too late tonight to go through a long history lesson. But, perhaps you could show some research about what you claim?
To some extent, what you wrote about some who may call themselves "Christians" is true. I have been reading a book about the history of Bible publishing. From what I have read so far, it was the Roman Catholic church that often persecuted the Jews. When I was growing up, my mother almost had a cow when I told her that a handsome Jewish boy walked me home from a Catholic school dance!
It was years later that I understood why she had that reaction.
The misinformation that it was the "Jews who killed Jesus" ran deep and long in the Catholic church in the past. But upon study of the Bible by laypersons, many discovered the truth that it was our sins (all of us - collectively) who were actually responsible for Jesus going to the cross. Jesus did it willingly, for our sakes. But we are all guilty because we all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.
I found it very interesting that the Catholic hierarchy fought tooth and nail to keep the English translation of the Bible out of the laypersons hands! They may have meant well (thinking that the "regular" people couldn't understand it as well as the "trained" clergy), but the fact remains that once the Bible DID get into the hands of individual readers, those who thought they held the power over their congregations found out that they were sorely mistaken! It is the power of Jesus that helps believers to discern the truth! The Holy Spirit guides us into further understanding of God's Word. Any pastor, priest, or other kind of clergyman who veers away from the truth in the Bible will be found out!
I could share so much more, but this should suffice for now.
You (and others) can choose to celebrate _ _ _ _ _ mas any way that you desire. But as for me and my house - we keep Christ in Christmas!
"Prior to 1948, the millennia-long persecution of Jews was conducted almost exclusively by Christians."
Garbage, of course. Jews found persecution in Muslim lands, of course, and no group can hold a candle to atheists when it comes to persectution in general. While the nazis were called Christian, and still are by bigots looking to make cheap "guilt by association points," their program was anything but.
The Jews were generally targeted by people because their work ethic and disciplined life style made them prosperous. Little wonder that they were so despised in atheist lands whose governments, lacking any form of Godly wisdom, were perpetually imporverished.
As is so often the case, Mr. Baker, you've gotten it wrong.
Yes, the Jews were generally targeted by people because their work ethic and disciplined life style made them prosperous. Of course, being largely ostracized from the larger society also played a part.
One of the places in which they prospered was finance; since lending and borrowing was considered forbidden by the medieval Church in (Exodus 22, Leviticus 25, Deuteronomy 23, and Nehemiah 5, among others). No good Christian got involved in the lending of money, so that heinous profession was left to the Jews, who eventually became so good at it that even kings had to deal with them to finance their projects and wars. It was all right to do this, since as killers of the Savior they were all damned anyway. To this day “European bankers” has been used as a code phrase for Jewish financial interests, mostly by envious non-Jews.
Of course the Nazis were Christian. Most Germans were raised either Catholic or Lutheran, and anti-Semitic literature was very common in the decades before WWII. Of course, some Christians don't regard Roman Catholics as fellow followers of Christ, but apart from the fancy costumes I see little difference between the two.
As is so often the case GM, the wrong is strictly yours. I note that it is the atheist commenter who refers to the Jews business as heinous, betraying your own hatreds.
As for your note about the Nazis being Christian, incorrect. They might have been Catholic or Lutheran raised. So are a great many atheists. Christ told of the many who would claim to be his followers and would be denied because their works were evil. There were many who did follow Christ, who wore stars to show solidarity with the Jews and hid them from danger. Christ determines his followers, and knows his enemies. Your words readily identify which camp you fall into. Like you, Hitler addressed the church when convenient all the while plotting to eliminate both Christianity and Judaism. Your hatred is no cover for the truth.
Wrong again, Mr. Baker. I called it 'heinous' only because the Christians regarded it as such. None of them would involve themselves in such matters of finance, so they left it to the Jews, who were, in their eyes, damned by God anyway for rejecting the Savior. Most people don't feel that way now, but several centuries ago that was not the case.
So yes, moneylending was heinous, but in the minds of medieval Christians, not mine. Hate doesn't enter into it at all.
GB: ”Christ determines his followers, and knows his enemies. Your words readily identify which camp you fall into.”
I don't know why you think some vague supernatural threat will work on me. Especially since, by your doctrine, Christ knows what's really in my heart, and you...don't.
”Like you, Hitler addressed the church when convenient all the while plotting to eliminate both Christianity and Judaism.”
He sure did, and the vast majority of both churches fell in line with him, because they were as much nationalists as they were Christians, and they liked what he told them. But unlike Hitler, I'm not a chief of state, and I care nothing about what the average Christer does as long as s/he doesn't want their beliefs codified into the civil law. You want that kind of society, try Israel or Iran.
GM,
Again, wrong. While some followers might have regarded finance as evil, Christ did not. A lot of the scriptures deal with such matters. In the parable of the talents, Christ told of the master who berated a lazy servant for not depositing money so that he might receive interest. So, your accusatory use of heinous has no value. Again, Christ decides his followers.
I make no threat against you at all. Your own declarations state you are an enemy of Christ. That rather cancels any doubt.
Your abilities to determine the mental state of the churches sounds nothing less than psychic, and about as accurate. As with slavery, some claiming the cause of Christ embraced evil for their own purposes. Believers, in the US, Britain, and Europe, fought to end it. Atheists fought to expand their own empire of oppression. History clearly shows who takes the stand to save and who oppresses. The godless look almost exclusively to their own safety. Your own self-serving mischaracterizations show that clearly. And your constant comments attempting to deride believers and promote your own sense of piety give the lie to how little you care about the belief of others. Your writings betray a person of overflowing misery eager to share.
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