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Saturday, December 25, 2021

THE LOVE CHRISTMAS

 

THE LOVE CHRISTMAS

By Benjamin Pulle Niriwa, 25.12.2021

Believers blindly condemning each other’s denominations (OperaNews., 2021) is not helpful and healthy! Though criticisms help in shaping individuals and the societies, criticisms must not be confused with condemnations or judgments (Matthew a. , 7:1-3. KJV. 1611). To say that someone would go to Hell because of what he/she does is condemnation (OperaNews., 2021): it is not criticism or advice. However, when one says that he/she thinks that what you are doing might lead you to hell, this person is constructively criticizing or advising you. 

Figure 1: Forgive Your Neighbor, Greet and Smile for PEACE.

Jesus has warned against condemnation or judgment, not only because the same would be measured unto you (Matthew a. , 7:1-3. KJV. 1611), but it can also sparks up anger between individuals or groups (Konishi, 2017). It is natural that most human beings on earth would not like to be judged, if you do not want others to condemn or judge you, do not condemn or judge them. You can criticize what you think that others did not do right or advise them, but do not judge or condemn any. Hence: “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you” (Editor., 2019). 

If anyone believes in God and “His only begotten son” (John., 3:16. KJV; Luke., 1:26-45. KJV; Matthew., 1:18-21. KJV), Jesus Christ; then, he/she must first of all know that the body of Christ is only ONE and not “divided” (George, 2006). So believers should also be united in Christ but not divided. These texts above are some few texts that confirm that Christmas is Biblical. If God Himself has sent an Angel, Gabriel, to announce the conception of Jesus and praised Mary (Luke., 1:26-45. KJV. 1611), even when she was not yet pregnant, what does that one alone signifies?

The disciples themselves even said that it is not everything that is in the Holy Bible, there are many Biblical issues that are not found there. The sixth and seventh books of Moses’ call are examples. Jesus could have condemned the woman caught in adultery (John, 8:3-11. KJV. 1611), but as someone who practices what he preaches (Matthew, 7:1-3. KJV; Luke, 11:2-4. KJV), he still showed the woman that everyone rejected; agape love (Matthew, 22:34-40, 1611) without judging her.

As a season of Love, the celebration of Christmas will not complete without forgiving our neighbors and praying for “forgiveness” (Long et al., 2020) to love for peace and health”. The best way to prove your love of God always especially this time is to try and forgive someone who hurts you most. Your forgiveness is complete only if you can sincerely exchange a pleasant smile with the one that you have forgiven. Let us all avoid judgments or condemnations but criticize for Peace and Health! Thank for Reading!

 

References

Editor. (2019). Faith in Focus: The Golden Rule in All Faiths. Faith, Retrieved from https://naijaavenue.com/faith-in-focus-the-golden-rule-in-all-faiths/ on 15.01.2021 at 6:34PM.

George, T. (2006). Is Christ Divided? And two more apostolic questions today's church must answer. Essays, Retrieved from https:www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2005/july/23.31.html on 04.07.2020 at 2:51PM.

John, a. (8:3-11. KJV. 1611). THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. JOHN. In K. James, The Holy Bible Containing the Old and New Testaments (p. 990). London: Cambridge University Press.

John. (3:16. KJV. 1611). THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. JOHN. In K. James, The Holy Bible Containing the Old and New Testaments (p. 982). London: Cambridge University Press.

Konishi, N., Oe, T., Shimizu, H., Tanaka, K., & Ohtsubo, Y. (2017). Perceived Shared Condemnation Intensifies Punitive Moral Emotions. Sci Rep, 7:7289. Doi: 10.1038/s41598-017-07916-z.

Long, K., N., G., Worthington Jr., E., L., VanderWeele, T., J., & Chen, Y. (2020). Forgiveness of Others and Subsequent Health and Well-being in Mid-life: a Longitudinal Study on Female Nurses. BMC Psychol, 8:104. Doi: 10.1186/s40359-020-00470-w.

Luke, a. (11:2-4. KJV. 1611). THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. LUKE. In K. James, The Holy Bible Containing the Old and New Testaments (p. 959). London: Cambridge University Press.

Luke. (1:26-45. KJV. 1611). THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. LUKE. In K. James, The Holy Bible Containing the Old and New Testaments (pp. 942-943). London: Cambridge University Press.

Matthew. (22:34-40, 1611). THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. MATTHEW. In K. James, The Holy Bible Containing the Old and New Testaments. Translated Out of the Original Tongues: and With the Former Translations Diligently Compared and Revised, by His Majesty’s Special Command (p. 910). London: Cambridge University Press.

Matthew, a. (7:1-3. KJV. 1611). THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. MATTHEW . In K. James, The Holy Bible Containing the Old and New Testaments (p. 890). London: Cambridge University Press.

Matthew. (1:18-21. KJV. 1611). THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. MATTHEW. In K. James, The Holy Bible Containing the Old and New Testaments (p. 885). London: Cambridge University Press.

OperaNews. (2021). Christmas Is Not Biblical, You Will Go To Hell If You Celebrate It – Osomafo Mensah. Traditional Customs or Festivals, Retrieved on 25.12.2021 at 3:38AM from https://gh.opera.news/gh/en/religion/feba5e279977c0b619bf811b6e02d9dc.

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