Readings and Commentary
Featured Essay
“The Reason for the Season”
Most Christians probably think observance of Christmas—or more properly, the Feast of the Nativity—goes back to the Apostolic age or at least to the second century AD, but there is literally no evidence to support that view. Christmas was not a holiday for Christians for nearly 350 years after Christ ascended to the right hand of the Father—and that gap raises the question as why there even came to be a Feast of the Nativity at all. It is hard to argue that Christmas was something Christians always observed. Clearly, the Church had not done that. But why had holiday come about? Was it a pagan holiday that was Christianized? Or was it something driven by logic internal to Christian faith and practice? There, indeed, is a mystery to be explored.
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
(Romans 12:1-2)
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Covenantide 