Remember the true meaning of Christmas

To the editor:

The Faith page article Dec. 9 by Howard Bess has left me wanting as to his description of what a Christian minister would define the true meaning of Christmas.

Nowhere did I read in the article that God sent his son, Jesus, to be the savior of a world dead in their sins, and only through him, the messiah, can we be saved.

I am also troubled by his definition of the word “myth.” According to Bess, he states that “the story of the birth of Jesus can never meet standards of historicity” as it is a myth because it “doesn’t deal with human beings.” Either one believes in the inerrant word of God as fact, or doesn’t and treats the Bible as a compilation of myths written by men without inspiration.

Christians are to accept the virgin birth as fact through faith in God’s word, not, as Bess states, that “people are free to believe whatever they want to believe about how Jesus came into the world.” Bess does give us his meaning of Christmas, though, that “Jesus brings us a message of love, joy and peace for the whole world.”

That is all fine and good, but he missed the mark on the true meaning of Christmas and so I felt it best to include what Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is not a Christian, would bring a Christmas greeting to all believers around the world. Here it is:

“Let the name of Jesus be lifted up among all this Christmas season, just as it was amongst the shepherds in the field when an angel of the lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the lord shone around them. Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; for today, in the city of David, there has been born for you a savior, who is Christ the lord. This will be a sign for you; you will find a baby lying in a manger. And then suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, ‘glory to God in the highest and on earth peace, good will toward men’ (Luke 2:8-14).”

This Christmas season, may we all remember why God sent his son to us, a gift that can’t be bought at any price, but freely accepted by us from the true and loving God.

Richard Elmquist

Meadow Lakes