Information Related to "Letters from Our Readers - Jan/Feb 2006"
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"Why Some Christians Don't Celebrate Christmas"
I received your Nov.-Dec. issue. The article about Christmas really opened my eyes to the truth. Even though I knew it was a pagan holiday, I also went along with the drift. Thank you very much for enlightening me on this subject. I have also requested Holidays or Holy Days: Does It Matter Which Days We Observe? It is very appropriate for this season, where I will be able to educate my children about the true meaning of Christmas.
—P.O., Sri Lanka
Thank you for sending The Good News. Your articles are very interesting and full of common sense. I particularly liked "Why Some Christians Don't Celebrate Christmas." I have been studying with a Christian group for some time and they confirm the points in your article concerning "Was Jesus Really Born on December 25 ?" As Luke tells us, the shepherds were keeping the sheep in the fields at night when Jesus was born. Considering the cold weather, I agree with asking, "Would shepherds keep their flocks out in the cold?" So Dec. 25 could not have been Christ's birthday.
—B.N., Banbury , England
By the way, Christmas is biblical. It doesn't have to be Dec. 25. We celebrate our Savior's birthday. There was a lot of celebration in the Bible when He was born.
—M.L., Albany , Oregon
I cannot stand by and let your "politically correct" statements ruin Christmas. Most of us do not care or want to know where all the traditions came from. Do you think that God cares either? Of course He does not.
—N.S., Nottingham , England
I don't agree that Christmas is about paganism. That might have been the case 4,000 years ago, but Christians have turned around to celebrate the birth of Christ and totally blocked out all thoughts of paganism just like Jesus would have wanted us to do. Father Christmas represents the kings and wise men who travelled far to bring gifts. We decorate the tree with the Star of David or the angel of the Lord. We have turned bad into good.
—W.W., Blackburn , England
We received many comments about the Christmas article, both pro and con. This selection shows how interested our readers are in the subject. The Questions and Answers feature on page 29 addresses when Jesus was born, showing that it was nowhere near Dec. 25.
The whole issue turns on which days God and Jesus Christ want Christians to observe today. The concluding section of our free booklet Holidays or Holy Days: Does It Matter Which Days We Observe? addresses the most crucial question: "Does It Matter to God?"
We encourage all interested readers to read this free publication and its companion booklet It reveals and explains those annual days that are in the Bible, the celebrations God expects Christians to be observing.
Creation or Evolution: Does It Really Matter What You Believe?
I read with real pleasure your outstanding publication Creation or Evolution: Does It Really Matter What You Believe? I am a former outspoken evolutionist who came to accept Christ only after being intellectually convinced (by evidence similar to that which you provide) of the misrepresented "scientific" status of evolution as taught to me in public schools and the University of Michigan.
This process (conversion) took many years and much frustration as I waded through arguments and counter-arguments from both sides. Now to see such a concise, responsible (and unemotional) assembly of key scientific statements is most gratifying. From my experience I know that this publication will play a major role in helping others overcome the artificial barrier to Christianity that evolution poses. Your efforts will be blessed and appreciated by many.
—D.B., Orchard Lake , Michigan
Appreciation for The Good News
Thanks for the recent copy of The Good News. I always look forward to reading it, since I find it contains outstanding biblical application to world issues. I find it a great education on what's been going on in the news and what our future is going to be like. When I receive The Good News, I open it straight away and it usually takes two days to read it and to consider everything in the magazine.
—T.W., Australia
I thank God for your efforts because it takes deep thinking and research to produce the articles you publish. I'm a social-science student and really enjoy your material about political situations. It helps me a lot in school. You are really the pathfinder for human problems because some of us had lost hope, but you illuminate matters to gear us up so that we can still go on.
—A.O.S., Lagos , Nigeria
I want to express my appreciation for your magazine. I find it very enlightening and informative. Your supplemental material has also been excellent. Very rarely do I find myself in disagreement with your views, and the vast majority of articles have been very helpful in my search for understanding and growth. I would like to see more articles with respect to scientists who believe that science points to a designer and those whose beliefs have been changed through science.
—J.S., Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
Be sure to read "The Intelligent Design Revolution".
Young prospective Christian
I am a 16-year-old Good News subscriber. Through reading your booklets and other publications, my mind was opened to the truth about God and the Bible. If I understand it right, God wants the people that He is calling to be a part of His Church. Sad to say, but I don't feel as if the church I am part of is His Church because of its many wrong beliefs and traditions. I really want to be converted.
—Reader on Internet
Our free booklet The Church Jesus Built may be helpful to any other readers with similar thoughts. Feel free to download or request a free copy at .
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