Jesus cannot be split off from Christmas

“KEEP Santa and Jesus separate” is the advice given by Colin Nevin (Write Back, January 9).

Has Colin ever seen Jesus in the local department stores, handing out presents to children?

The white-bearded man in red garb who appears briefly every winter bears no resemblance to the “suffering servant” depicted in the Old Testament.

Does Colin think that Belfast Telegraph readers are so naive as to be fooled?

Modern scholarship, in recent decades, has sought to reclaim “Jesus the Jew”. Manifestations of the Marcionite heresy, trying to strip Christianity from its Old Testament roots, will always be a peril.

It is to be deeply regretted that many people today pay scant attention to the Old Testament.

Armed with passages such as Isaiah 9:6 and Isaiah 53:1-12, Christians will continue to celebrate the miracles of the atonement and incarnation.

Both these miracles are celebrated at each Christmas, Easter and Pentecost by many millions of Christians. Our local Church of Ireland saw large congregations at the carol service and Christmas midnight Holy Communion.

If Colin has some issue of conscience around celebrating Christmas, that is fine. If he changes his mind, there are many Holy Communion services at Christmas. In my experience, almost every Church of Ireland parish keeps an open table for all who know and love the Lord Jesus Christ.

NAME AND ADDRESS WITH EDITOR