> General Discussions
Christmas
YellowStone:
This is indeed a very interesting topic.
I for one participated in many Lutheran Church festivities and activities as a child, all related to Christmas and the celebration of the birth of Christ. Never let it be said that the thought of presents and meeting with family members was always close to mind. The time was however, always a celebration of the birth of Christ.
However, commercialism has now marketed the commerce side of Christmas to the point of totally removing God and Christ from it. Is it now a pagan ritual? To many, yes. But to others, no. I, like Gena care little about what happened several millennia ago.
No way am I lost in the hype of Christmas, and neither do I see this day as greater as any other day.
I guess the question is, would I stop celebrating Christmas with my family? Would I stop playing Christmas music, giving and receiving and visiting with friends? What would this achieve?
Does celebrating a purely secular holiday (with Christian connotations) wrong? Should we ignore the holiday or instead, try to inject the true meaning of the celebration?
Who can answer this truly, for are we all not walking with and according to God.
Gena, I agree with all you said and Kat, your study is as usual, flawless. :)
Many Thanks and Love to you all,
Darren
Rene:
Hi Iris,
A year ago I asked Ray about celebrating Christmas. I was new to Bible-Truths.com and was asking Ray all sorts of questions because I was desperately seeking "truth" and only wanted to associate with those who were worshipping God in truth. I am retyping Ray's answer to my question:
"As for Christmas, well, it's the feast of the Roman Saturnalia, and as such is not something that Believers should be actively participating in. However, if a wife or husband insists on keeping Christmas for the kids sake, I certainly wouldn't break up a marriage over it. Paul taught us that: "Unto the pure all things are pure." Let the world do their thing, and remember that we are not to be "OF this world" even though we must still live IN it."
His answer satisfied me because I had done my own research on the origins of Christmas, as well as Easter, i.e. pagan. I no longer decorate or participate in the gift giving aspects of Christmas. I'm blessed that my family respects my decision, this includes my only child who is now 23 years old. This does not mean that there has not been some subtle persecution surrounding this issue. I still stiffen when I have to defend my beliefs.
I do not rule out spending time with famiily and love ones during this time of year because that is when most people have time off from their jobs. Whatever we do, we must do it through the spirit of love.
I hope this is of some help to you.
May the Lord's peace and grace be with you,
Rene'
all4love:
I still celebrate christmas, however, like Darren and Gena I really don't look at this as being a celebration of Christ's birth. I celebrate my family (so to speak) you see, everyone knows that this is the day that all company's take off so family and friends can get together, it is also the only REAL time that I get to spend with my family (and believe me there isn't to much time left to do that with, especially with my parents)
Everyone likes to mention that the holidays are pagan. However, how many people know that the days of the week also originated by pagan customs and beliefs? Not only the days of the week but the fact that a week is 7 days long? Not to mention the months of the year were originated by pagan beliefs and customs.
Because of this reason or should I say this is one of the reasons why I feel that it is ok to Observe Christmas but not Celebrate it in the fashion that the Church Celebrates it. This is however just my opinion. I hope that nobody gets offended by it.
May God Bless you all,
all4love
Extol:
It's ridiculous to say that Christians shouldn't celebrate Christmas. What does it matter if Romans worshipped the sun on this day? Does that mean WE are worshipping the sun by getting together with family and giving gifts to each other and remembering Christ's birth? Of course not. Is it wrong to thank God more than usual for the Resurrection around Easter time, just because Easter is "pagan"? Of course not. How absurd.
YellowStone:
Extol, Althoough you came on pretty strong :) I agree 100%.
I usually do not take sides on subjects such as these, but being at least a little mature in the truth, we should be able according to the will of God, make a day of getting together with family and giving gifts to each other and remembering Christ's birth and NOT be labeled as pagans.
On the other hand, I would never tell anyone that not celebrating this day (pagan 25th dec) in this way is wrong.
The fact is, each of us holds many things dear to our hearts. Did anyone of us decide this by our own will, or was it by the will of God?
We cannot have it both ways, either all is happening according to God's will or not. Whatever truth we hold was given to us by God. Even the words of Ray a mere human (no disrespect intended) can only be understood by those given the ears to hear.
So is there anything wrong for celebrating Christmas as a season of giving with loved ones?
By judging others, are we not judging God?
There :) I finally got it out. :)
Wen we pray, does God know in advance?
If we don't pray will the outcome be different? (How could it - God is unchanging)
If we don't pray is it because we decide not to, or is it by the will of God?
Sorry about this ::)
I am having trouble with the Puppet-on-a-String concept. I don't feel like a puppet, but like I said earlier: "either all is happening according to God's will or not".
So if anyone can help, the please do.... :)
Love to all,
darren
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