With the Communist Party still steadfast in its efforts to eliminate Christianity from it’s country, the Chinese Christmas season was much different this year.
Reports have surfaced that pastors and priests were told not to lead Christmas celebrations inside houses of worship or from private residences.
Outside one church’s gate a sign read, “Due to the pandemic, all church activities have been halted.”
Additionally, Christians attempting to celebrate the holiday at a shopping mall in Fujian Province were interrupted when police intervened, then informed everyone that singing was forbidden, International Christian Concern reports.
Even Chinese schools informed students that Christmas should not be observed, including a gift exchange.
Shenzhen University located in the Nanshan district informed staff that students were forbidden from holding Christmas activities, hanging Christmas flyers, or from showing Christmas displays on the campus.
Ironically, China took in a larger profit this year due to an uptick in consumers purchasing cheaper China-made Christmas products as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.
While Christmas is one of the most important Christian and cultural holidays of the year, the most important question should be:
What is the true meaning of Christmas?
For Christians, the true meaning of Christmas is the celebration of the Savior, Jesus Christ. Whilst the exchanging of gifts is a sweet gesture, this is not the ultimate for any Bible believing Christian.
The Christmas season, especially in the West, has heavily become a mix of pre-Christian, Christian, and secular traditions. What’s interesting is the etymology of the word Christmas. It literally means Christian Mass. It’s a shortened form of Christ’s Mass.
Therefore, no one, not even a government can truly stop us from observing the true meaning of Christmas in our private and quiet time.
Christmas is and must be used as a time of spiritual reflection on the important foundations of the Christian faith as much as it is observed as a celebration. This season should be a time when Christians celebrate God’s love for the world through the birth of the Christ child: Jesus.
The Bible tells of his birth hundreds of years before, fulfilling prophecies.
Remember Jesus is the reason for the season
Image: Thinkstock
