Tradition, or Truth?

Take this quiz really fast...see if you really know what the Bible says about Christmas, or if you've just listened to the songs and long-held traditions:
Questions start out easy and then get hard.
1. The name of the mother of Jesus was:
Martha
Mary
Eve
Deborah

2. Jesus was born in what town?
Jerusalem
Nazareth
Bethlehem
New York

3. Joseph was a:
Carpenter
Doctor
Engineer
Fisherman

4. Why didn’t Joseph and Mary stay at the inn?
It was too expensive
There was no inn
There was no room
None of the above

5. How did Joseph and Mary get to Bethlehem?
Colt
Mary rode a donkey and Joseph walked
Wagon
Who knows?

6. After being born, Jesus was placed in a:
Basket
Manger
Pile of hay
On the back of a donkey

7. A manger is a:
stable
feeding trough
wooden table
barn

8. Which animals does the Bible say were housed in the stable?
cows, donkeys, sheep
lions, tigers and bears
goats, sheep and cows
The Bible doesn’t say.

9. From what area were the three kings that visited Jesus?
the west
the east
the orient
none of the above

10. What sign were the shepherds told to look for by the angel?
a lion and a sheep together in peace
a tree with a star on top
a star over Bethlehem
none of the above

11. With what words did the heavenly host of angels praise God?
"Joy to the World, the Lord is Come"
"Glory, Glory, Hallelujah”
“King of Kings and Lord of Lords”
"Glory to God in the highest,"

12. What is frankincense?
a form of gold
incense from a tree
a jewel
none of the above.

13. What is myrrh?
a musical instrument
a spice used for burial
a valuable wine
none of the above

14. How many wise men came to see Jesus?
One
Two
Three
The Bible doesn’t say

15. What does "wise men" most likely refer to?
lawyers
star gazers
priests
doctors

16. The wise men met Jesus in a:
manger
castle
stable
house

17. Who told Joseph and Mary to go to Bethlehem?
an angel
Caesar Augustus
Herod
No one told them to go

18. The child Jesus went to Egypt:
to meet pharaoh
because Joseph was told in a dream to take him
Joseph did not take Jesus to Egypt
none of the above

19. According to the Bible, the little drummer boy met Jesus:
when Jesus was in the manger
at a house
When Jesus was about two years old
none of the above

20. In which books do we find the story of Jesus’ birth?
Matthew
Mark
Luke
John

21. December 25th has been celebrated as Christmas since the Bible was written.
True
False


How'd you do??? Here's the answers:
1. Mary- Matthew 1:18
2. Bethlehem- Matthew 2:1
3. Carpenter- Matthew 13:55
4. There was no room- Luke 2:7
5. Who knows?- The Bible doesn't say. Generally, it is assumed that Mary rode a donkey, as she would be nine months pregnant. But, it does not say, so we can't be sure.
6. Manger- Luke 2:7
7. Feeding trough
8. The Bible doesn't say- It is supposed that there would be animals in the stable, however, nowhere in the Bible can you find that idea.
9. None of the above- Matthew 2:1- It is only in the song ,"We Three Kings" that the idea that the kings mentioned are from the orient.
10. None of the above- The shepherds were told to look for a "babe wrapped in cloths, laying in a manger."
11. "Glory to God in the highest,"- Luke 2:14
12. Incense from a tree
13. A spice used for burial- John 19:39-40
14. The Bible doesn't say- Matthew 2:1- Traditionally, people suppose there are three wise men, because there are three gifts. However, nowhere in the Bible does it say that there were three wise men.
15. Star gazers
16. House- Matthew 2:11
17. Caesar Augustus- Luke 2:1,4
18. Because Joseph was told in a dream to take him- Matthew 2:13
19. None of the above- Sorry! The Bible doesn't say that the little drummer boy met Jesus!
20. Matthew and Luke
21. False- December 25 is celebrated in some part by the fact that Charlemange was crowned Holy Roman Emperor on that day. Also, it was originally a pagan festival, so the Christians decided to have a Christian holy day on the same day.

Well, I'm sorry you had to put up with my boring post! But, Meggy said to post. So, I did. :)

An angel? Uh-huh. Now What???

I do believe it is Grace's turn to post. Can I get an uh-huh?

The message at my church last Sunday was a lot about the story of when the LORD conceived in Mary. But for once, it did not center around her - it was about Joseph.

Imagine this: You're a guy in the very early A.D. (hard, yes but stay with me). One day your bride-to-be comes back from a 3-month visit to her cousin that you've never met. You know she's back, it's been a couple of days, but she hasn't come to see you yet. Curious. She usually comes to your shop every day. But you can't go to her house today on account of all this woodwork to do. You impatiently set to work, keeping a eye on the window. Suddenly, she is in the doorway. Somehow she got in without you seeing her. You start with a smile, but end in a horrified expression as you see her more closely. She is three months pregnant. Screebees! You stand there with your mouth wide open, not saying a thing, not knowing what to think, even though there is an extremely limited list of things to think. She does not seem ashamed. She looks straight into your eyes and tells you that an angel appeared to her and told her that her child was conceived of the Holy Spirit and she would be the mother of God's Son. Uh... well, what would you think if somebody told you that? Sure. No. She's lying or mad. You are still flabbergasted. What to do? What to DO?

"Well," you think. "Disappointing for the poor guy since he doesn't quite believe her. But why is there a dilemma on what to do?" Let's stop imagining and talk about rules.

Rule #1 for your average girl in the very early A.D: If you were engaged, you would already be considered married! You were to stay pure for a year, but in every other way, you were considered husband and wife. Back then, these promises were taken seriously.

Rule #2 for your average girl in the very early A.D: You did not divorce. You just didn't. It was allowed, but if it did happen, you would make the papers and become some sort of strange alien thing to society. Point: it barely EVER happened. What God has joined together let NO MAN put asunder.

Rule #3 for your average girl in the very early A.D: If you were found pregnant without being married, guess what happened - you were stoned. As in, people gathering around you with big rocks and throwing them at you until you died. You stayed pure for your husband - NO EXCEPTIONS!

So these rules are what Joseph was pondering. If he exposed her, the rock-throwing party starts. He doesn't want her dead. Next option: Marry her anyway. But that messes him up. If she's immoral and, knowing this, he marries her anyway, he's considered a bad guy too. Social outcast. Immoral man. There goes the carpentry shop. Last option: That divorce thing. Supposing he did that. Rare, but necessary he supposes. If he puts her away quietly and doesn't call the papers about it, things should be somewhat related to alright. Messy, messy, messy situation. BUT... God told him in a dream that what she said was true, and to marry her anyway. Oh dear. There goes the carpentry shop. There goes his good-guy, law-keeping image. But the Bible says he obeyed right off the bat. Without question. What a guy! That would be a REALLY hard thing to do.

Now for a little food for thought. Let's go over those rules again. But this time, with the opinions of today:

Rule #1 for your average girl in the very early A.D: If you were engaged, you would already be considered married! You were to stay pure for a year, but in every other way, you were considered husband and wife. Back then, these promises were taken seriously.
The average girl in 2007 Argument: If you're engaged, it's fine to break up if you happen to change your mind. And your purity doesn't really matter. As long as you feel good about your own decision.
Rule #2 for your average girl in the very early A.D: You did not divorce. You just didn't. It was allowed, but if it did happen, you would make the papers and become some sort of strange alien thing to society. Point: it barely EVER happened. What God has joined together let NO MAN put asunder.
The average girl in 2007 Argument: Divorce is your choice and right. There's more fish in the sea. 50% of marriages end in divorce? That's fine.
Rule #3 for your average girl in the very early A.D: If you were found pregnant without being married, guess what happened - you were stoned. As in, people gathering around you with big rocks and throwing them at you until you died. You stayed pure for your husband - NO EXCEPTIONS!
The average girl in 2007 argument: Gimmeabreak! That's so harsh! I think we've already established that your purity doesn't matter. Stay pure for your husband? Heehee! Has ANYBODY done THAT? It's old-fashioned and way overrated. It just doesn't happen, ok?

What happened between then and now? Mary's surprise for Joseph happens every day - except without the angel and the Lord and baby Jesus involved. What have we become?