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I Went Out And I Was Grieved.

By Pastor Vincent Imwensi

Yesterday, I went to the shopping area in the city where there are a number of big shopping malls and several shops and they were as busy as a beehive as people prepare for Christmas. The excitement of buying and selling as usual was in the air but one thing was missing. There was hardly any mention being made of the one who indeed is the reason for the season – the Lord Jesus Christ.

Just a few years back, at this time of the year, Christmas songs about the coming of the Saviour to save humanity was blared everywhere you went. Christmas greeting posters and cards were hung in the shops to remind everyone what the season was about. But now, that is almost a thing of the past.

But They Sang At Halloween

I was particularly grieved in my heart because just over a month ago when it was Halloween, some of these same shops were loudly playing Halloween greetings wishing everyone a spooky, scary, haunted, frightening, and ghosts-filled Halloween. It was okay to play Halloween music and wish customers a wicked Halloween but it is not okay to play Christmas greetings and wish people a merry Christmas. Don’t tell me they don’t know what they are doing. It is an outright denial of the One who came to this sinful world to lay down His life for the salvation of our souls.

A Sickening Denial

This denial is even on a greater scale. Here in London for instance, when it was Christmas, there used to be Christmas lightings in the streets with “Merry Christmas” boldly displayed but that has since become “offensive” and socially incorrect. The lightings are still there but they have been stripped of those words “Merry Christmas.”

Not to mention that nowadays, some people consider it more socially correct and acceptable to say “happy holidays” than to say “Happy Christmas” or “Merry Christmas.” Why? Because the word “Christmas” reminds people of Christ, the reason for the season – which many are uncomfortable with and/or unwilling to accept.

Even The Gift Wrappers Say So

I was surprised last year when I went to the shops to get a Christmas gift wrapper – it was hard to find one with Happy or Merry Christmas written on it. There were of course a lot of wrapping papers but without Merry or Happy Christmas written on them. It wasn’t like that before. Don’t tell me it doesn’t mean anything! It is part of the denial.

When you think of the glory that Jesus left in heaven to come to this sinful world and the heavy price He paid to secure salvation for humanity, you’ll see the evil and the wickedness of such blatant denial and ungrateful disregard.

What Can We Do About This?

Of course we cannot tell everyone how to celebrate their Christmas but if you are a born again Christian, I have four suggestions of how we should each address this unfortunate situation.

1. Grateful Praise And Thanksgiving To God.

Let us with a grateful heart specifically thank and praise God everyday during this season (even if it is for just a few minutes each day). Thank God on behalf of humanity for His marvellous love. Thank Him for sending His Son Jesus Christ to this world to save our souls from sin and impending hell. Thank the Lord Jesus for accepting to come to lay down His life in order to save us. And thank the Holy Spirit for making it happen. It took the mystery of the working power of the Holy Spirit for the virgin (Mary) to conceive and bring forth Jesus into this world. Nothing short of a profound gratitude is fitting.

2. Pray For God’s Mercy And Forgiveness

I often wonder how God feels about all this. If as ordinary human beings some of us can be grieved at this, what of the One who offered us such an undeserved gift or the One who Himself came down for our sake and is now being denied and marginalised? Let us pray for God’s mercy and forgiveness on behalf of the multiplied millions and billions of people all over the world that have chosen to despise and disregard His gift of love, His Son Jesus Christ. There are of course, those who are following sheepishly without knowing the implications of their actions.

3. Personally Appreciate the Gift Of God afresh.

Thirdly, let us take time to carefully read and meditate on the accounts of the birth of Christ our Saviour as presented in the first two chapters of the gospel according to St. Luke and Matthew. Do this, not because you are looking for a sermon to preach or because you don’t already know what is there. But do it to give yourself the chance to properly meditate upon, and gratefully appreciate the coming of the Son of God to save your soul. Let the whole account come alive to you afresh.

4. Share The Good News

And fourthly, spread the good news. Use every opportunity that comes your way to share the good news of the Saviour that God sent to save our souls. Many may not realise it but the reason the giving of gifts and presents is a major part of Christmas is because it is about the One who is the greatest Gift of all time – Jesus Christ, God’s gift to a lost humanity. There is no greater present or gift that anyone can receive than the gift of life – Jesus Christ the Son of God.

Do You Have This Gift?

Dear friend, if as you read this, you know you are saved (i.e. born again by faith in Christ Jesus), then rejoice and thank God. But if not, the door is still wide open. Receive God’s gift of life as you invite Jesus Christ by simple faith into your heart to be your personal Lord and Saviour. You can do it now – delay no further. To find out how, click here.

Posted in Burning Issues, Christmas | 1 Comment »

Which Will You Be Celebrating?
Is It CHRISTMAS ….. Or ‘The Holidays’?

By Pastor Vincent Imwensi
They are not the same thing. One is celebrating time off work and school while the other is acknowledging/celebrating the birth of the Saviour, Jesus Christ.

Calling the Christmas season “holiday season” is now catching up with many people and in many parts of the world. Instead of saying “Merry Christmas”, many are now saying “Happy Holidays” and they think it is cool.

But it is not so cool when you understand what is going on and the real reason behind the change.

Christmas Is Not A Religious Ritual, It Carries An Important Message
For more than one thousand, six hundreds years, the 25th of December has been celebrated as Christmas to mark the coming of the Saviour (our Lord Jesus Christ) into this world to save man from sin and eternal judgment.

The first recorded Christmas was celebrated on the 25th of December, 336 A.D. under the Roman Emperor Constantine who was the first Christian Roman Emperor.

What makes Christmas unique is the message it carries – the message of God’s love for man.This is not an empty religious ritual.

Recognising The Enemy’s Ploy
Through the years, the Christmas period has become the most celebrated time of the year and in fact, some have actually called it the most wonderful time of the year. It reminded everyone that sometime ago in Bethlehem, a King was born to save humanity from sin.
It is no wonder that the devil became very uncomfortable with it especially as it reminded humanity of the gift of God’s love and their need for salvation.

The clever thing then was to see if there was a way for people to keep on enjoying this period without mentioning or being reminded anything about the coming of the Saviour, Jesus Christ.
That is where this idea came from and that is the exact purpose it serves.

By The Way, Which Holiday Are They Celebrating
In December?
Is it school-term holidays, workplace holidays, bank holidays, or which is it that they celebrate in December?

All through the year, there are different kinds of holidays in different countries. Why don’t they celebrate them? Since when did holiday become a worldwide celebration?
Some will say it is the Christmas holidays – if so, what then is wrong with calling it Christmas?

The important thing about Christmas season is not the fact that people are given some days off work during that period – it’s not about the holidays. But rather, it is what it celebrates – the reason for the season, the coming of the Son of God into this world to save humanity from sin and its tragic consequences.

Who Says It Doesn’t Matter?
I know some would say it doesn’t matter but they are wrong. If it doesn’t matter, why change it from Christmas to ‘the holidays’?

Would you call a girlfriend a wife and say it doesn’t matter? Would you call the company boss an errand-boy and say it doesn’t matter? Would you call a convicted serial killer an innocent man and say it doesn’t matter?
Who says the name we call people, things and events doesn’t matter?

Was Jesus Actually Born On The 25th Of December?
That is an old question and it has a straightforward answer.

Jesus may not have been born in December (or specifically on the 25th of December) but for some reason, that is when His birth into this world has come to be celebrated all over the world for hundreds of years.

It is a common knowledge that birthdays are not always celebrated on the exact day on which a person was born. Someone’s exact birthday may fall on a Monday and then he/she would shift the celebration to the following Saturday or Sunday. In some cases, some even move the celebration of their birthday forward by a couple of months.

So if Jesus was not born on the 25th of December, what does that matter? Does that change the fact that He was born or does that invalidate the celebration of His birth on the 25th of December? It certainly doesn’t.

A Subtle Denial For A Reason
Changing Christmas to ‘the holidays’ is a subtle denial of the coming of the Saviour to this world and/or an attempt to suppress and disregard its significance.

But that was one event that was so glorious that heaven could not contain the joy of God’s angels.

They broke across the boundaries between the visible and the invisible realm, between the supernatural and the natural world, to come down to herald the good news of the Saviour’s birth to humanity (see Luke 2:7-14).

It appears the world nowadays is doing its best to distance itself from anything that has to do with Christ. Many people obviously feel uncomfortable acknowledging that Christ is the reason for this wonderful season and hence their readiness to embrace the alternative called “the holidays.”

Here in London for instance, no mention is made of Christ anymore in shopping malls and public places during Christmas unlike before.

Now, even the Christmas street lights have been stripped of “Merry Christmas” signs.
Christmas songs that used to fill the air telling the story of the birth of the Saviour have all been silenced in public places and in the shopping malls.

America Must Take Responsibility For This
The idea of changing Christmas to “the holidays”, which is a rather recent development, began in the United States of America and like I said earlier, it is now catching up with many parts of the world.

That is unfortunate especially coming from a country fondly referred to as “God’s own country” and whose official motto is “In God we Trust.” This is not a good example worthy of emulation.

Like someone has rightly said, ”if you must copy, then copy right.” Regarding this matter, that is my advice to anyone that cares to listen especially if you are a Christian.

We need to see beyond the veil of social correctness and make sure we do not join anyone in their bid to deny the Lord and tune down the truth of His coming into this world.

Replacing Christmas with “the holidays” is not a more civilised, modernised, and better way of referring to Christmas (as some would like to think).
Instead, it is a Christ-denying way that has been craftily invented.

What About Those Who Are Not Christians?
That is the socially correct excuse often given to justify replacing Christmas with “the holidays” – to make it more inclusive so that non-Christians can celebrate without any religious connotations.

In reality, that is even the more reason why it must remain as CHRISTMAS as it helps to remind everyone (at least, once a year) the story of God’s love for their souls by sending His only begotten Son to this sinful world to bring us salvation.

You are not doing unsaved souls any favours by suppressing or hiding the truth of the gospel from them.

This therefore is a very great disservice and injustice to non-Christians as it denies them the opportunity to be reminded (in a way that no other event might), of the love of God for their souls and their need for salvation.

Is it any wonder that the arch-enemy of the human soul (the devil) is behind it all?

So Friend, What Will You Be Celebrating?
Taking Christ out of Christmas makes the whole thing meaningless.

By God’s grace, as for me and my house, we will be celebrating Christmas and thanking God for sending His Son Jesus Christ to save our souls.

We will not be celebrating “the holidays” – we have no reason to! But thank God, we have every reason to celebrate Christmas and we are looking forward to it.

What about you? What will you be celebrating?

The Best Christmas Gift Ever
Let no one confuse you – Jesus Christ is the reason for this season. Having Him in your life as Saviour and Lord is the best Christmas gift you can ever receive.

So if you are not yet born again or if you have backslidden from Him, now is the time to surrender your life to Him and let Him save your soul. To find out more, click here.

Wishing you a very Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year in advance.

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TAKING CHRIST OUT OF CHRISTmas.

by Pastor Vincent Imwensi

How would you like it to be your birthday and people gather to celebrate it but decide not to allow you into the party? You are locked out and in fact the mere mention of your name, offends some of the celebrants – how would you like that?

Sounds ridiculous, doesn’t it? But that is how a lot of people treat the One whose birth they celebrate during Christmas!

Do you realise that Christmas is actually somebody’s birthday? Yes, it is Jesus Christ’s birthday. Christmas is actually named after Him. Take “Christ” away from “CHRISTmas” and you will see that what is left (“mas”) doesn’t make sense.

Subtle Denials

Yet if you look around, you will see the many subtle ways in which so many people are seeking to take Christ out of Christmas.

For instance, in the United States of America, this season used to be the Christmas season but now that has been changed to the holiday season and the greeting is now “happy holidays” instead of “merry Christmas”.
Why? Because “Christmas” reminds people of Christ and refers to Him (which may offend some people) but “holiday” takes people’s minds away from Him to something totally different. And yet, Christ is the reason for the season.

Maybe it is not politically correct to say “merry Christmas” in nation whose motto is “In God We Trust”. Oh well, who knows, maybe it is not the God of the bible they are referring to after all. To my own mind, this is a crying shame and it is unfortunate.

Even here in London (United Kingdom), you can see the same subtle denial going on in different ways. There used to be Christmas music and songs in the air everywhere you go during the Christmas season. But now it has turned to “silent Christmas”.

Go to the shops, you will see people, busy as bees, buying all sorts for Christmas but not a single word is being said about the One who is the reason for Christmas – Christmas songs are no more.

In fact, in many shops and super malls, you don’t even see Christmas greetings anywhere!
And yet someone said to me not long ago that the United Kingdom is a “Christian nation”. Hahaha …. really?

The Date Argument
Of course there are people who take great pains and go to great lengths to try to prove that Jesus Christ was not born on the 25th of December. They may or may not be right but that is not the point.

What we celebrate is the very fact that He was born into this world and somehow, the 25th of December has become the preferred day in which His birth is celebrated all over the world.

We are familiar with a situation where somebody’s birthday may be on a Monday but he may not celebrate it until the following Saturday. Is it therefore less of a birthday because he did not mark it on Monday? Of course not.

Therefore Christmas is the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ. He is the reason for the season.

Jesus Christ – The Gift Of God’s Love

Who is this Jesus Christ and why does the whole world stop to mark His birthday?

The Bible provides clear answers to this question:

“For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord” – Luke 2:11

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” John 3:16

“Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me” John 14:6

“Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved” Acts 4:12

Jesus Christ is God’s gift of love to a lost and suffering humanity. In Him is our salvation, peace, forgiveness, freedom from sin and it’s consequences, divine favour and the hope of everlasting life. Without Him, we are lost in sin and without hope for all eternity.

He is the greatest gift ever known to man. Haven’t you noticed that during Christmas people give gifts (or presents)? It is because Christmas is about the gift of God – the gift of His love to us in the person of Jesus Christ, the Saviour.

But for any gift offered to you to become yours, you have to receive or accept it. In the same way, to realise the benefit of the greatest gift of Christmas (Jesus Christ), you have to receive Him as your personal Saviour and Lord by a simple act of faith.

Let Him In And Celebrate This Christmas With The Celebrant

So as you prepare for this Christmas, here is a key question: are you going to be celebrating with the Celebrant or without the Celebrant?

He says in His word “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me” – Rev.3:20

Here, He is talking about the door of your heart. Will you open to Him today? If you would like to do that, here is a simple prayer to help you:

All Mighty God, I thank you for the gift of your love – Jesus Christ. Today, I open the door of my heart and invite Jesus Christ into my heart to be my Saviour and Lord.

I repent of my sins and ask you to please forgive me. By faith, I welcome Jesus Christ into my life right now and I receive the gift of eternal life, in Jesus’ name, amen.

If you prayed the above prayer committing your life to Christ, I say congratulations. Now you will see the difference it makes when you celebrate Christmas with the Celebrant – Jesus Christ, our Saviour.

Click here for further information and to access very helpful faith building materials, free of charge.

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CHRISTMAS – Celebrating Without The Celebrant

by Pastor Vincent Imwensi

How would you like it to be your birthday and people gather to celebrate it but decide not to allow you into the party? You are locked out and in fact the mere mention of your name, offend some of the celebrants – how would you like that?