> General Discussions
Christmas
Deborah-Leigh:
These scriptures and thoughts came to my mind as I was reading this thread.
James 1 : 27 External religious worship, religion as it is expressed in outward acts that is pure and unblemished in the sight of God the Father is this : to visit and help and care for the orphans and widows in their affliction and need, and to keep oneself unspotted and uncontaminated from the world.
2 ;14. What is the use my brethren, for anyone to profess to have faith if he has no good works to show for it. Can such faith save his soul?
For me the above scriptures warn against being a hypocrite for the sake of saving or preserving other peoples emotions or comfort zones in Babylonian practises….yet we need to have wisdom, understanding and compassion for those who are still blind. We need not join them either or unite with them but we can be separate and holy without being full of prideful condemnation and merciless superiority.
For me, we know about the origin of Christmas and Easter and in my family we recognise that there is no separation of State and Church on this one. Both State and Church we believe have united against God in their hatred for His Son to celebrate Christmas and Easter. Individually each of us will have our own way to negotiate our particular circumstances and deal with the relevant persons involved in our respective families.
We have declared ourselves to the family. We have made our stand and have not done so to coerce or condemn or change or put pressure on anyone. Only the Spirit of God can make the blind see but we also believe that we do not have to act as if we too are blind to make anyone feel accepted or approved. We will not exchange gifts on or because of being made merchandise of by the worldly systems of man made traditions. This stand has been accepted because we have stated that giving should not be once a year but a way of life just like going to Church should not be once a week but should be continuously mindful of the presence of Christ within and not confined to a Church address. We are educating our son into this understanding that giving is all year not once a year and the carnality lust of the flesh and eyes is being weaned off of him through our new found liberty in the spirit of Christ.
2 cor 5 : 16 Consequently, from now on we estimate and regard no one from a purely human point of view in terms of natural standards of value. No even though we once did estimate Christ from a human viewpoint and as a man, yet now we have such knowledge of Him that we know Him no longer in terms of the flesh…….as the carnal world and the Babylonian system would have us follow and assist in keeping alive in the flesh what is resurrected in the Spirit that being Christ. Christmas and Easter is a direct resistance to the resurrection as we see it…but that we see it we are grateful that we are set free to see and realise this corruption and darkness that mis-leads and makes merchandise of many who do not see or know. These worldly celebrations of the flesh are heinous crimes of ignorance pride idolatry and carnality. It is part of the plan that we are no longer party to for which we have only God to thank and Jesus to praise for setting us apart in |His awesome style and Sovereignty and timing. ;)
This little story comes to mind……. :)
There was a poor Negro beggar who always occupied the bench in front on the pristine Church in the immaculate gardens of the Church. The Church goers always avoided to walk near him because he looked so poorly and they wanted to have nothing to do with him. One day a young princely man visited the Church….He saw the poor beggar and went straight up to him and took a seat right next to him.
“What are you doing here outside friend ? “came the soft poignantly tender voice from this stately princely man.
Without glancing up, the beggar sobbed…”I love Jesus and for years I have tried to get into that Church and they just won’t let me in.”
The Princely man took his arm around the beggar and consoled him saying,
“Don’t cry. I am He who you seek and I too have been trying to get into that Church they too will not have me either.!….so I just visit occasionally. “ :)
The beggar felt the compassion and understanding and love in the voice of the King of Kings and as he looked up to show his tear stained face….the Princely prince of peace had vanished to his sight leaving his peace, presence and love in the soul of this once poor beggar.
Peace to you
Arcturus :)
rrammfcitktturjsp:
To All,
My heart is aching right now. I hope and pray to the Lord that I am not stepping out of place. This thread has seemed to darken the forum. I believe that whether if one should celebrate a Holiday or not should be up to the individuals.
I just feel so much tension in those that are participating in this thread. I know that some of you have posted passionately about what you do and why. But I believe based on what I have read that we have forgotten the most important thing. We have forgotton our friends and our relationships with eachother. This topic is creating some strife and dissension. I know that this forum is to discuss our beliefs and questions and should be an open forum, but when it is going against this aim, then it creates tension and strife.
Phillipians 4:8 - In conclusion, brothers, focus your thoughts on what is true, noble, righteous, pure, lovable, or admiarable, on some virture or on something praiseworthy. I do not want to judge, I just simply wish to present the standard that should govern what we post and how we reply. What we need to remember is this verse. If you think that the posts would not edify or live up to this verse, then I would exhort you to post something that does live up to this verse. It is possible to be able state your practices and beliefs in a way that is not offensive to others and represent your point of view.
I am asking that each of you pray before posting on this topic. This topic is seeming to open a whole bad can of whoopi worms, which are 25 feet long and very poisonous to those affected. I am almost to the point of not even reading new topics on this particular thread, beucase I do not feel encouraged but I feel lowered in my spirits and things of that nature.
I know and love all of you and am exhorting you to please let not let Christmas or anything divide us into camps. What we need to realize we are all one on this journey no matter how walk or what path we take. We need to see beyond the differences and show respect for eachother no matter what we believe in. I am asking that careful thought and prayer go into each post.
This is perhaps my most negative posts uptodate, becuase I do not like to focus on the negative. We need to look beyond and see eachother as God sees us. As perfect children of God. And when we can accept this point of view for eachother, then and only then, can we truly be one. How can we get here, by not focusing on the negative and by looking beyond ourselves.
Thanks for listening.
Sincerely,
Anne C. McGuire
hillsbororiver:
--- Quote from: Kat on October 17, 2006, 12:12:51 AM ---Hi Gena,
Well thanks for the confidence,
I think I just have the time to do the hunting.
http://bible-truths.com/lake16-C.html
CHRISTMAS:
Most religious festivals of the world have something to do with sex or fertility. The Christian Holy Days are no different. They ARE in fact, little more than these same pagan festivals with Christian orientations. Christmas, for example IS the pagan Roman Saturnalia or sometimes called "The Festival of Lights." But even the Saturnalia predates the founding of Rome by centuries. This same festival can be traced to Babylon, and yes, you guessed it, to Egypt and their winter celebration of lights.
December 25 is near the winter solstice. It is the time when the sun after having been at the lowest point in the heavens, beings to rise over the world with renewed vigor and power. It was the time of heathen festivities in worship of the sun. The vernal equinox is the point where the sun crosses the celestial equator, about March 20, making day and night of equal length everywhere. This was the time of pagan spring festivals.
The day of December 25 acquired a new significance under the rule of Emperor Aurelian. He proclaimed this day as "Dies Natalis Invicti Solis," or the Birthday of the Unconquered Sun. This was because of a strange Eastern religion, Mithraism, whose god Mithras was identified with the Unconquered Sun. During the Saturnalia work of every kind ceased. Schools were closed.
The Roman Saturnalia was boisterous. But whatever the behavior of some Romans, others were simply merry. They ate big dinners, visited their friends, etc. The halls of the Romans were decked with boughs of laurel and of green trees, with lighted candles and with lamps--for the hovering spirits of darkness were afraid of light. Bonfires were lit in high places to strengthen the reviving sun in his course. Candles and green wreaths were given as presents, the streets were crowded with noisy processions of men and women carrying lighted tapers, and public places were decked with flowers and shrubs. The practice of giving and receiving presents was almost as common then as it is now at Christmas. Our present day "Christmas spirit" is actually the spirit of this old Roman festival.
All of this pagan nonsense found in the Christian Church came out of Rome and Greece and Egypt. The worship of sex and fertility pictured by symbols of sex and reproduction and fertility was a major part of pagan religion, and Egypt was the origin of many of these pagan practices. Did God reveal His truth to the Egyptians and expect Moses to learn the truths of God from the Egyptians? Moses learned all the pagan customs of Egypt, but he did not pass so much as one of them onto Israel. All that Moses taught Israel CAME FROM GOD.
SO WHAT DOES IT ALL MEAN?
What does God think of the religion and wisdom and customs of Egypt?
It means that virtually everything about Christendom—from its name ‘Church,’ to the architecture of their buildings, to the origin of their holy days and doctrines, is all straight out of heathenism,
of which God Almighty declares:
"LEARN NOT THE WAY OF THE HEATHEN… inquire NOT after their gods, saying, How did these nations serve their gods? Even so WILL I DO LIKEWISE" (Jer. 10:2 & Deut. 12:30).
All Christian doctrines that are not out of paganism are nonetheless, unscriptural.
----------------------------------------------------------------
Hope this will help you Iris.
mercy, peace, and love
Kat
--- End quote ---
Since many folks do not read through an entire thread to familiarize themselves with all that was written (highly recommended) I am quoting Kat's early response which included a portion of an article dedicated to this subject and a link to the entire paper.
This is a matter between every individual and our Lord, ultimately there are no "winners" in a debate such as this, we should act in accordance to the wisdom and understanding He has granted us rather than temporal traditions of men, it is all of the heart. Not to glory in ourselves but to glorify Him.
His Peace and Wisdom to you,
Joe
Navigation
[0] Message Index
[*] Previous page
Go to full version