> Off Topic Discussions
Christmas
Dennis Vogel:
Let's not get carried away.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Names_of_the_days_of_the_week "The days were named after the planets of Hellenistic astrology, in the order Sun, Moon, Mars (Ares), Mercury (Hermes), Jupiter (Zeus), Venus (Aphrodite) and Saturn (Cronos)."
When you ask someone to meet you next Saturday are you 'involved in paganism'?
Ray's wife always had a Christmas tree in their home. She did not place any religious meaning to it. She just liked the gift giving and the time of the year.
Rom 14:13 Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother's way.
Col 2:16 Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days:
I suspect you can find something wrong with every holiday in the US like New Year's Eve, Valentine's Day, etc.
If you look hard enough you can find paganism under every rock. But that does not mean we are practicing it.
Extol:
Dear George,
Remember that e-mail Ray sent to the person who thought he was being righteous by shunning Christmas? Did I mention it was the pagans who wore shoes before the Christians?
As Dennis said, let's not get carried away. I think you're going too far by quoting scriptures like If we sin willfully and Everyone of us shall give account when talking about Christmas celebrations.
As Dave and I noted earlier, there is a lot of Biblical truth in certain Christmas songs. I don't believe I am following the traditions of men by listening--and even singing--such songs. The word Christmas isn't in the Scriptures, but the birth of Christ is, as are the celebrations of men and angels at his birth.
That link you posted is pretty ridiculous. People are not rejoicing and laughing at the death of Christ when they say Merry Christmas. The Catholic Mass is not a celebration of Christ bleeding and suffering. It is a celebration of the Lord's Supper, an outward fulfillment (however incorrect that may be) of Take and eat, this is my body. Since the Lord's Supper is the apex of a Catholic church service, the word mass is synonymous with what Protestants would call 'church service.' So the 'service' which celebrated Christ's birth would naturally be called Christ-Mass. If the holiday had been invented by Protestants in 1792, it might be called Christ-service, or Christ-day.
P.S. That passage you quoted from Jeremiah is a warning against false gods and idols--not Christmas trees. A piece of wood is carved and decorated with gold and silver to be made into a pretty household idol. See verse 5 of the passage:
They are upright as the palm tree, but speak not: they must needs be borne, because they cannot go. Be not afraid of them; for they cannot do evil, neither also is it in them to do good.
Everyone knows a tree can't 'speak' or 'go' or 'do evil'. This is obviously talking about an idol, which may have the appearance of a man and cause people to think it can do those things. Notice how similar Jer. 10:3-4 is to the words of the Psalmist:
3 For the customs of the people are vain: for one cutteth a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman, with the axe.
4 They deck it with silver and with gold; they fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it move not.
The idols of the nations are but silver and gold, The work of man's hands. They have mouths, but they do not speak; They have eyes, but they do not see; They have ears, but they do not hear, Nor is there any breath at all in their mouths.… Psalm 135:15-17
cheekie3:
Dennis -
Thank you for Posting this:
--- Quote from: Dennis Vogel on December 20, 2016, 08:59:26 AM ---Let's not get carried away.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Names_of_the_days_of_the_week "The days were named after the planets of Hellenistic astrology, in the order Sun, Moon, Mars (Ares), Mercury (Hermes), Jupiter (Zeus), Venus (Aphrodite) and Saturn (Cronos)."
When you ask someone to meet you next Saturday are you 'involved in paganism'?
Ray's wife always had a Christmas tree in their home. She did not place any religious meaning to it. She just liked the gift giving and the time of the year.
Rom 14:13 Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother's way.
Col 2:16 Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days:
I suspect you can find something wrong with every holiday in the US like New Year's Eve, Valentine's Day, etc.
If you look hard enough you can find paganism under every rock. But that does not mean we are practicing it.
--- End quote ---
I have had Christmas trees myself.
I was trying to point out how difficult it is - not tell anyone I have an answer, or the answer, to all this.
The way I look at it, is from my heart's perspective. I know it is pagan and a tradition - yet in the heart of it all, there is Our Lord and Saviour.
I will delete my Post.
Kind Regards.
George
cheekie3:
Jesse -
You have made very valueable and valid points:
--- Quote from: Extol on December 20, 2016, 11:19:09 AM ---Dear George,
Remember that e-mail Ray sent to the person who thought he was being righteous by shunning Christmas? Did I mention it was the pagans who wore shoes before the Christians?
As Dennis said, let's not get carried away. I think you're going too far by quoting scriptures like If we sin willfully and Everyone of us shall give account when talking about Christmas celebrations.
As Dave and I noted earlier, there is a lot of Biblical truth in certain Christmas songs. I don't believe I am following the traditions of men by listening--and even singing--such songs. The word Christmas isn't in the Scriptures, but the birth of Christ is, as are the celebrations of men and angels at his birth.
That link you posted is pretty ridiculous. People are not rejoicing and laughing at the death of Christ when they say Merry Christmas. The Catholic Mass is not a celebration of Christ bleeding and suffering. It is a celebration of the Lord's Supper, an outward fulfillment (however incorrect that may be) of Take and eat, this is my body. Since the Lord's Supper is the apex of a Catholic church service, the word mass is synonymous with what Protestants would call 'church service.' So the 'service' which celebrated Christ's birth would naturally be called Christ-Mass. If the holiday had been invented by Protestants in 1792, it might be called Christ-service, or Christ-day.
P.S. That passage you quoted from Jeremiah is a warning against false gods and idols--not Christmas trees. A piece of wood is carved and decorated with gold and silver to be made into a pretty household idol. See verse 5 of the passage:
They are upright as the palm tree, but speak not: they must needs be borne, because they cannot go. Be not afraid of them; for they cannot do evil, neither also is it in them to do good.
Everyone knows a tree can't 'speak' or 'go' or 'do evil'. This is obviously talking about an idol, which may have the appearance of a man and cause people to think it can do those things. Notice how similar Jer. 10:3-4 is to the words of the Psalmist:
3 For the customs of the people are vain: for one cutteth a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman, with the axe.
4 They deck it with silver and with gold; they fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it move not.
The idols of the nations are but silver and gold, The work of man's hands. They have mouths, but they do not speak; They have eyes, but they do not see; They have ears, but they do not hear, Nor is there any breath at all in their mouths.… Psalm 135:15-17
--- End quote ---
The details on my Post can send out a wrong message - so I will delete it.
Kind Regards.
George
TheoLeDee:
It's been awhile since I've been on.
I tell them Thanks and likewise. I have no quams about celebrating Christmas. I love to sing and I love Christmas music. I love the light displays. I had to work and missed the Holidazzle in Loring Park. I enjoy the Christmas ether. I love walking and stores and hearing the jingles. I ignore the pagan origins. And most importantly I love spending time with my family and this is a holiday they all enjoy. I'll be back home on Christmas day. It's sure is blessing to be able too.
Navigation
[0] Message Index
[#] Next page
[*] Previous page
Go to full version