Christmas gifts are biblical
Christmas is a time for sharing. That is why during the festive period, individuals and organisations are involved in all manner of donations.
JAMES CHIMPWEYA had a chat with chairperson of Blantyre CCAP Synod city presbytery Zone 4, Beston Talasha, when his zone visited Malabada and Ndirande health centres to discuss the meaning of giving on Christmas.
Every year during this period people exchange or give gifts to the sick, less privileged or friends. Is there a biblical basis for such gestures?
Yes, this is biblical. You remember when Jesus Christ was born, the four wise men from the east brought to Him some gifts. This is where the idea of gift giving started. Gift giving symbolises love and helps to ease pain among people who are suffering. The Bible says it is blessing to give. Even in our tradition, when a family has a baby, some relatives come with gifts. We are growing with this tradition.
How important are Christmas gifts?
These gifts help to strengthen bonds among people because you know who your relation really is. This is one way of celebrating with a family that has a baby. Christianity teaches us to help one another and it also encourages people to be together in times of bereavement or peace.
Who is supposed to make such gifts?
These gifts are supposed to be made by everybody, be it a businessman, companies, individuals, churches. There is no specific group that is designed to make Christmas gifts. We have seen the business community thanking God for the business they had throughout the year. The good thing about this is that Christmas is celebrated at the end of the year where people take stock of their businesses.
