THe Official 2020 Christmas Thread(s)

[glff]

Hey! canada...  PTL!!!

I know what "Merry Christmas" means to me.  Remember, the Lord commands us not to judge by appearance, but to make righteous judgments and in another place we're told that "unto the pure all things are pure."  So, its best to know the heart of a person before making a judgment.  Deception abounds, sadly, so let's go by, "Let go be true and every man a liar," as shown in scripture by the believers in Berea, who were called a more noble sort because they searched the scriptures daily to see if what the apostle Paul told them was true or not.

glf

[Henry_iain]

Nope, it is for people who enjoy Christmas and want a more positive experience. I'll post the link again here it is.

If you are interested. 

[Aimes]

I've always felt like I belonged on the Island of Misfit Toys personally and as I get older I feel that way more and more, and I'm okay with that  

[Starise]

16 minutes ago, anynmsfmly said:

I may be alone, I may have an issue, But if it weren't for my upbringing,

I would be doing,

Vastly worse than I currently am. Believing in imagination, And creative things is very positive re-inforcement in a child,

And is part of the rrason, I'm assuming, Why I have had such a strong character in morals, And ethics.

The only thing I can't get my head wrapped around, Yet, Is a completely different subject, 

So i won't bring it up here.

But, Not allowing a kid to celebrate, Or have an imagination,

Is very damaging to a developing brain,

Even if they experience a natural chemical imbalance later, Due to genetics. [Off-Topic].

Kids who grow up celebrating Christmas,

Once they become adults,

I can sense a , Vast, Difference, In their Psyches, 

And their overall emotional well-being. Just saying.

 

I totally agree and as adults I think it takes a struggle to either regain it or maintain it.  The world is so much different for a child. Christmas was almost magic back then. 

 

[The Survivor]

3 minutes ago, Starise said:

I totally agree and as adults I think it takes a struggle to either regain it or maintain it.  The world is so much different for a child. Christmas was almost magic back then. 

 

 

[Marathoner]

18 hours ago, David1701 said:

I hesitated for quite a while, before posting in this thread, because I've discovered that many Christians who celebrate "Christmas" become VERY unpleasant, when challenged with facts about it.  They use every trick in the book to try to make the challenger look like the one in the wrong, patting each other on the flesh, in congratulation, in the process.

This has demonstrated that my pattern recognition was accurate, so I'm going to leave you to it.

I'm treated in a similar fashion if and when I choose to share why I avoid Christmas which is not easy to relate by any means. The reasons are thus:

1. It was by far the absolute worst of all holidays in the house where I was held prisoner from my birth until I escaped by joining the military. We were beaten if we weren't "perfect" and failed to make my mother happy. Nothing made her happy. 

2. It's a golden opportunity for merchants to fill their purses with filthy lucre. Many find themselves in debt striving to conform to expectations surrounding this holiday.

3. "Peace on earth and goodwill to all men" until the holiday is over, whereupon life returns to the usual pursuit of ungodly flesh. 

Once the Lord revealed Himself to me and I dedicated my life to serving Him, I have received no leading to involve myself in this legacy of the Roman Catholic Church. I appreciate your objective treatment of the holiday brother and I commend you for standing in the truth. It's never easy.  

[Marathoner]

20 hours ago, Alive said:

If it were entirely my will--I would ban these threads because they will inevitably turn to something undesirable.

Please be nice until its time to not be nice.

How will we know that? I will tell you when.

:-)

C'mon folks make yer points and leave it at that.

Please--its busy enough here without having to moderate this nonsense.

 

Thank you

I'll be blunt, @Alive. In truth this topic is a troll, intended to make light of those who avoid this holiday. When @David1701 weighed in to share his conviction he was treated disgracefully. His initial contribution was misconstrued --- which comes as no surprise --- and the disparaging which followed was grieving to witness. 

I'm in agreement with you, brother. Topics like this shouldn't be allowed to continue and ought to be banned outright. What purpose do they serve? How do they edify and build up the Body of Christ?
 

Edited November 17, 2020 by Marathoner

[Starise]

I sort of thought the topic was opening the door for negativity. However,  not everyone is aware of the history and pagan beginnings of the holiday, so for that I fancied it could be educational for those who have the interest in it. Do we want to know where our present Christmas comes from? 

We could also have some fun with the topic if taken in the right spirit. Those were my initial thoughts, but as I say, yes it opens the door fairly wide.

I mean there will likely be those who will like to comment on what happens during Christmas from a Christian perspective regardless and maybe this is a way for them to do that?

The ball could roll either way I guess. That's my .00000000000000000000002 worth.

 

[Alive]

1 minute ago, Marathoner said:

I'll be blunt, @Alive. In truth this topic is a troll, intended to make light of those who avoid this holiday. When David1701 weighed in to share his conviction he was treated disgracefully. His initial contribution was misconstrued --- which comes as no surprise --- and the disparaging which followed was grieving to witness. 

I'm in agreement with you, brother. Topics like this shouldn't be allowed to continue and ought to be banned outright. What purpose do they serve? How do they edify and build up the Body of Christ?
 

The best that we Mods can do at this time is to moderate the best we can and hope that folks behave. All the regulars know where the line is. When I mentioned my thoughts to George yesterday, he did a LOL and suggested I merge them all into one thread.

Apparently, these threads have been occurring for many years. I have only been here for about 14 months.

The vast majority of our regular members are well meaning brothers and sisters, but any one of us can make a mistake or take something wrong and thereby be offended. It takes maturity to weather that sort of thing with Grace, to back off and prayerfully respond in Love--after all, we are all siblings via the same Grace of Almighty God and Jesus Christ our Savior.

[Marathoner]

Thanks to both of you for responding. @Starise identifies what concerns me most about a topic such as this one. David1701 went out of his way to clarify that he was writing about the holiday itself, not passing judgment upon anyone who partakes of it, but this wasn't sufficient for some who elected to take offense at his words. Our brother offered a sober-minded examination of "Christmas" in light of the scriptures and I can only surmise this was the source of offense. 

By the same token I am not judging my brothers and sisters who participate in the holiday. This is not the issue at hand... rather the root at work is bitter, sardonic, condescending, spiteful, and poised to extract entertainment at the expense of others. What does this say about the witness of those who engage in such things? I am reminded of why I cherish the solitude afforded by this pandemic and the blessing of serving those who have nothing. The destitute are grateful for whatever they receive but the same cannot be said of some who prey upon others from the insolence of plenty. 

Every day is holy to the Lord... every day presents opportunities to give unto others as He gives to us. In my affliction the Lord taught me His laws and statutes so I don't regard any particular day differently than others. I pray for those who spitefully use others as a source of amusement for themselves. It's shameful.