ClydeGriffith

Retired Pastor, Presbyterian Church (USA) -- tweeting from Griffith's Woods West in Tulsa, Oklahoma

[ClydeGriffith @ClydeGriffith]

The birth stories are told and remembered because of the adult Jesus – and what people experienced with him during his earthly ministry,
and what people continue to experience with him day and day out.
https://t.co/I7qQc8QufZ

[ClydeGriffith @ClydeGriffith]

The bottom line is this:
however touching they are to our heartstrings,
however much we love to hear them and to sing about them,
however much we enjoy the feelings prevalent this time of year,
the birth stories are not really about the baby Jesus.
https://t.co/I7qQc8QufZ

[ClydeGriffith @ClydeGriffith]

Christmas can be truly special if we are purposeful about our decorations and trappings, the stories we tell and read,
the movies and videos we see. But most of what we will do this season has nothing to do with encountering the holy at all!

https://t.co/dPMez0ucTg

[ClydeGriffith @ClydeGriffith]

The fact of the the matter is that nobody knew when Jesus was born. No records were kept. There is no mention of the Disciples ever celebrating Jesus' birthday. Apparently, he never told anyone when his birthday was — and no one asked.

https://t.co/dPMez0ucTg

[ClydeGriffith @ClydeGriffith]

We say, Christmas is for children, and so it has become in our American culture. It may surprise you to know, in most cultures in the world, Christmas is NOT primarily a day for children. Throughout our faith history Christmas was and is for adults.
https://t.co/DcEAnmV0wy

[ClydeGriffith @ClydeGriffith]

The earliest writings from Christian history say nothing about the birth of Jesus, but they all write about the specialness of Jesus — that through their experience with the adult Jesus, they knew they were experiencing the holy — Emmanuel — God With Us.
https://t.co/B9J8eBDUlH

[ClydeGriffith @ClydeGriffith]

For over 300 years Christian believers did not worship a baby.
They worshiped an adult "Emmanuel" —
through which they kept having encounters with the holy.
These encounters were important to them.
It was the basis of their new faith.

https://t.co/DcEAnmV0wy

[ClydeGriffith @ClydeGriffith]

It may surprise you to know that for over 300 years nobody celebrated the birthday of Jesus.
The stories and pictures that you and I value about the birth of Jesus and all the events around that — simply were not important to the early Christians.
https://t.co/DcEAnmV0wy

[ClydeGriffith @ClydeGriffith]

For 300 years Christian believers not worship a baby.
They worshiped an adult "Emmanuel" —
through which they kept having encounters with the holy.
These encounters were important to them.
It was the basis of their new faith.

https://t.co/DcEAnmV0wy

[ClydeGriffith @ClydeGriffith]

Did You Know? The Christmas we -- and the world around us -- celebrates really has little to do with the Christmas that is so much a part of our faith history.
https://t.co/DcEAnmV0wy

[ClydeGriffith @ClydeGriffith]

"Right matters!". . .
"CBS reported that a confidante of the president told CBS News that GOP senators were warned “vote against the president & your head will be on a pike.”"
What say you? https://t.co/lBzKfWhF18

[ClydeGriffith @ClydeGriffith]

https://t.co/sFQHP3xw9m

[ClydeGriffith @ClydeGriffith]

50 Astonishing Benjamin Franklin Quotes https://t.co/A2Vhjqhbzw

[ClydeGriffith @ClydeGriffith]

Because it made me laugh . . . https://t.co/SOpMdhBBSZ

[ClydeGriffith @ClydeGriffith]

Non Sequitur by Wiley Miller for January 20, 2020 | https://t.co/TRnr1qFWpm https://t.co/vPhWDr3CrX

[ClydeGriffith @ClydeGriffith]

Shoe by Gary Brookins and Susie MacNelly for January 16, 2020 | https://t.co/TRnr1qFWpm https://t.co/Qi5tl8zaAc

[ClydeGriffith @ClydeGriffith]

See more editorial cartoons at The Week https://t.co/Pm7lcoGJiM

[ClydeGriffith @ClydeGriffith]

https://t.co/E4k4W2t57g

[ClydeGriffith @ClydeGriffith]

https://t.co/DJsieyuhE3

[ClydeGriffith @ClydeGriffith]

https://t.co/RtpbBCeFKR