Page 5 - Florida Sentinel 12-25-18

Editorial/Column
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Warning: This May Ruin Your Eggnog
henever Christmas
comes around and I hear stories about malls being packed with shoppers, carolers performing on neighborhood streets and people preparing for all of the holiday festivities, I often wonder if any of these in- dividuals have a true under- standing of what it is they're
celebrating?
For most of us who grew up
in Christian households Decem- ber 25th has always been associ- ated with the birth of Jesus Christ. We never questioned whether or not the date was ac- curate. We simply went along with the same narrative that had been passed down through gen- erations of accepted belief.
We participated in church plays, helped to set up nativity scenes in the yards of our grand- mothers and many of us experi- enced the guilt of being more excited about what Santa Claus was going to bring us than hon- oring the Lord and Savior. We did all these things because we were sure that Christmas was supposed to be sacred to Chris- tians.
No one ever told us that we could be participating in some- thing that wasn't real.
As it turns out, though, the time of year that we thought co- incided with the birth of the Sav- ior of humanity, has nothing to do with Christianity or the
Christian doctrine. The day we assumed was set aside exclu- sively for Jesus is, in fact, a date that has been used for thou- sands of years to commemorate the birth of deities from other belief systems as well.
Buddha, Tammuz, Her- cules, Bacchus, Mithras and Heru (Horus) are only a few of the "sons of God" whose birthdays are also acknowledged on the 25th of December. Could it really be all a coincidence that each of these revered religious figures, who were worshipped prior to the arrival of the Jewish Messiah and who also went by the title "Christ" (a term that means anointed one), were born on the same day, in different re- gions of the world, throughout history?
While it's hard to conceive this kind of probability, when you consider that many societies of the ancient world once held great reverence for the sun and the winter solstice, which occurs from the 21st through the 25th of December and was symboli- cally considered the death and re-birth of the S-U-N of God, it begins to make sense how Jesus could have been included in that procession of god men.
When Roman Emperor Constantine converted to Christianity and made his faith the official religion of the Roman Empire, he also decreed
that Jesus' birth would be cele- brated on the same day as the deity who was already being worshipped at the time, Deus Sol Invictus (The Invincible Sun).
Constantine wanted to give validity to his new religion by making the birth of the fig- urehead of Christianity as im- portant as the most popular pagan god.
It was during this moment in history that all of the pagan customs and rituals (including the decorating of fir trees, the hanging of lights and gift-giv- ing) from throughout Europe began making their appearances during the celebration that would later be termed "Christ- mas" by another Roman em- peror named Justinian. But the question no one bothered asking was which "Christ," born on that alleged date, was the festival meant to honor?
As much as Christians like to criticize the commercialization of Christmas and consider it blasphemous to recognize any- thing other than Jesus during the holiday, given the sordid his- tory of Christmas' origin, the real blasphemy could occur when Christians attempt to as- sociate Jesus with this time of year at all.
Of course, this isn't an indict- ment of Christmas, itself. As far as I'm concerned, there's noth- ing wrong with choosing a sea- son to show extra love and good cheer. But it would probably be wise of those who choose to par- ticipate in the revelry to know that its secular roots make it something other than, what they would consider, holy.
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Christmas And Kwanzaa
he Christmas season and Kwanzaa season is a
time for reflection, thanksgiving, love, and recommitment to our purpose in life. There will be family gatherings, parties, and celebrations with both family and friends where the true meaning of Christ- mas and Kwanzaa are soon forgotten.
However, among our tradition of gift-giving, in memory of the true gift of Christmas, which was given 2,018 years ago, we need to reflect on how we can con- tribute to making the world a place where love, peace, truth, respect, and honesty dwell, and where every human life matters.
Indeed, the past two years have been a time where little, if any of these attributes appeared to have mat- tered. Having been caught up in the frenzy of lying, cheating, blaming, greed and graft, fear-mongering, hypocrisy, bamboozling, scandals, trickery, and bully- ing, many of us forgot, or failed to confirm that this is supposed to be a country that values love, honesty, freedom of speech, hard work, payment for work done, respect for everyone, and justice for all.
As we reflect, therefore, on the meaning of Kwan- zaa, which is celebrated in the United States and in other nations of the African Diaspora, we must commit to honor and practice the seven core principles upon which Kwanzaa is founded: unity, creativity, faith, self-determination, collective work and responsibility, cooperative economics and purpose. While Kwanzaa was created as an African American holiday by activist Maulana Karenga in 1966, fifty-two years later, the en- tire nation needs a dose of Kwanzaa.
Thus, as we approach a new year, let each of us set goals and behaviors that reflect the spirit of Kwanzaa and Christmas, which are by no means exclusionary.
Expect And Prosper
“For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Coun- selor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.”
Isaiah 9:6, KJV
e have embarked upon
one of the greatest sea- sons of the year. This is the time of year when Christians cele- brate the birth of our Savior,
Jesus Christ.
This season is marked by a time of commemorating the first coming of Christ, while waiting with expectation and prepara- tion for the second coming of Christ. For it is because of
God’s love toward us that He stepped out of heaven’s eternity and down into the chronological world of man’s time to redeem us back to Himself.
As the name Jesus implies, He is our Savior. He is also Christ, the anointed one. The book of Isaiah Chapter 9 verse 6 describes Him as Won- derful, Counselor, The mighty God, The Everlasting Father and The Prince of Peace.
Whenever you go through a difficult situation that somehow seems to work out in your favor, I want you know that - that is the wonder working power of God that moved on your behalf. He is Wonderful!
When you are faced with dif- ficult decisions to make and you don’t know which way to turn,
seek God for His guidance. He is a Counselor!
When your adversaries try to overtake you and scandalize your name, fear not because He can defeat every enemy that rises up against you. He is the mighty God!
When your earthly father has passed away or is nowhere to be found, be encouraged that God will never leave you nor for- sake you. He is the Everlasting Father!
When you can’t sleep at night because of all the havoc and turmoil in your life, just call on the name of Jesus. He is the Prince of Peace!
This holiday season will you allow Him to be Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father and The Prince of Peace in your life?
He came to be all this and more. Expect it, as you wait in preparation for His return.
Get connected. Join Selphenia on Social Media for some daily motivation. Face- book: Selphenia Nichols Success Coach To Women; Instagram: Selphenia; and Twitter: queenodsuccess1.
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