Category Archives: Guest Contributors
“What was the star of Bethlehem?”
The Star of Bethlehem is associated with the visit of the magi (wise men) from the East as recorded in Matthew 2:1-12. The text implies the Star appeared only to the magi in the East (the “East” most likely being … Continue reading
“What is the true meaning of Christmas?”
The true meaning of Christmas is love. John 3:16-17 says, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send … Continue reading
“What year was Jesus Christ born?”
The Bible does not provide the exact day or even the exact year in which Jesus was born in Bethlehem. But a close examination of the chronological details of history narrows the possibilities to a reasonable window of time. The … Continue reading
“Do some Christmas traditions have pagan origins?”
There is no doubt that some of what we now refer to as Christmas traditions can be traced back, in some form, to pagan cultures and celebrations. The ringing of bells, for example, is generally thought to have had its … Continue reading
“Is it wrong to say ‘Xmas’ instead of ‘Christmas’?”
There are many who view the word Xmas as part of an overall “war on Christmas.” They view it as a blatant attempt to take Christ out of Christmas. While it is undeniable that some use Xmas in that manner, the actual origin of … Continue reading
“How wise were the Wise Men?”
We assume that there were three wise men because of the three gifts that were given: gold, incense, and myrrh (Matthew 2:11). However, the Bible does not say there were only three wise men. There could have been many more. … Continue reading
“Should we give gifts at Christmas?
Many people take the idea of gift giving at Christmas back to the scripture in Matthew 2:10-11which talks about the Magi (wise men) giving gifts to Jesus at his home: “When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. On coming … Continue reading
“Was Jesus born on December 25?”
Speculation as to the time of Jesus’ birth dates back to the 3rd century, when Hyppolytus (ca. 170-236) claimed that Jesus was born on December 25. The earliest mention of some sort of observance on that date is in the … Continue reading
“Should we have a Christmas Tree?”
The modern custom of a Christmas tree does not come from any form of paganism. There is no evidence of any pagan religion decorating a special holiday tree for their mid-winter festivals, although the Romans celebrated the winter solstice with … Continue reading
“What should Christians tell their children about Santa Claus?
Although Santa Claus is a mythical figure, his creation is based in part on a great Christian man named Saint Nicholas of Myra, who lived in the 4th century. Nicholas was born to Christian parents who left him an inheritance … Continue reading
THE WALL: a blog of Baptist Voice Ministries 