Do you celebrate Christmas?

[M45510G1C]

If you had warm memories growing up eating, say, a goose in the winter during a holiday, of course you are going to want to also eat a goose on Christmas. That doesn't make Christmas pagan, that just means you personalized Christmas with your own cultural customs.

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Deut 12

Do not inquire about their gods, asking, 'How did these nations worship their gods? I'll also do the same.' You must not do the same to the Lord your God, because they practice for their gods every detestable thing the Lord hates. They even burn their sons and daughters in the fire to their gods.

[RGR]

If you had warm memories growing up eating, say, a goose in the winter during a holiday, of course you are going to want to also eat a goose on Christmas. That doesn't make Christmas pagan, that just means you personalized Christmas with your own cultural customs.

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Deut 12

Do not inquire about their gods, asking, 'How did these nations worship their gods? I'll also do the same.' You must not do the same to the Lord your God, because they practice for their gods every detestable thing the Lord hates. They even burn their sons and daughters in the fire to their gods.

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Wow, when did we start burning our children at Christmas? And how does a goose at Christmas offend God?

[Gerioke]

If you had warm memories growing up eating, say, a goose in the winter during a holiday, of course you are going to want to also eat a goose on Christmas. That doesn't make Christmas pagan, that just means you personalized Christmas with your own cultural customs.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Deut 12

Do not inquire about their gods, asking, 'How did these nations worship their gods? I'll also do the same.' You must not do the same to the Lord your God, because they practice for their gods every detestable thing the Lord hates. They even burn their sons and daughters in the fire to their gods.

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I don't recall that being a christmas tradition.

[RGR]

If you had warm memories growing up eating, say, a goose in the winter during a holiday, of course you are going to want to also eat a goose on Christmas. That doesn't make Christmas pagan, that just means you personalized Christmas with your own cultural customs.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Deut 12

Do not inquire about their gods, asking, 'How did these nations worship their gods? I'll also do the same.' You must not do the same to the Lord your God, because they practice for their gods every detestable thing the Lord hates. They even burn their sons and daughters in the fire to their gods.

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I don't recall that being a christmas tradition.

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Me either, Bro!

[Guest stray bullet]

If you had warm memories growing up eating, say, a goose in the winter during a holiday, of course you are going to want to also eat a goose on Christmas. That doesn't make Christmas pagan, that just means you personalized Christmas with your own cultural customs.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Deut 12

Do not inquire about their gods, asking, 'How did these nations worship their gods? I'll also do the same.' You must not do the same to the Lord your God, because they practice for their gods every detestable thing the Lord hates. They even burn their sons and daughters in the fire to their gods.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

That was addressed to the Jews, not the Gentiles. I'm from a Gentile background and therefore, do not have to observe every strick jewish code.

Even if I had to, that doesn't mean I can't celebrate Christmas. I would only have to make sure any Christmas traditions I followed were not from pagan origin, but unique Christian or Jewish ones

[M45510G1C]

You don't recall what being a Christmas tradition? Burning ones children? That isn't the point of the passage. He is saying don't do these things, these people are detetible to Me, they even burn their children!

StrayBullet

Gal 3

There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.

[Guest stray bullet]

You don't recall what being a Christmas tradition? Burning ones children?  That isn't the point of the passage.  He is saying don't do these things, these people are detetible to Me, they even burn their children!

StrayBullet

Gal 3

There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.  And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

You are right, there is neither Greek nor Jews and if you are going to quote a letter from Paul, then surely you must know how he didn't hold gentiles to strict jewish commandments, such as diet and circumcision.

It doesn't matter anyways because Christmas isn't PAGAN. It just happens that pagans brought over some of their customs to the holiday and some Christians still use them.

Want to avoid pagan customs, fine, but leave Christmas itself alone.

Edited August 29, 2005 by stray bullet

[artsylady]

I personally think it shows a bad witness for a Christian not to celebrate Christmas. More than proving who's right here, shouldn't we worry more about how we look to nonChristians? What do they think when you tell them you don't celebrate Christmas? They must not think you have much fun if you can't even celebrate the birth of Jesus, as they know that is what is supposed to be celebrated. They might think you have to follow a lot of strict and stringent rules. I can't see nonChristians admiring your stance. If it's hard for we Christians to understand, imagine how hard it is for nonChristians. They must just shake their heads.

I also agree with the ACLU statment. They probably WOULD love to hear from Christians who are anti-Christmas. Don't you think this is true? Here are we Christians fighting to keep everything Christian in our nations as possible while a few and far between Christians like you also want to do away with anything that is Christian. The fact that the ACLU would like to join you in getting rid of Christmas would make me wonder if i'm on the right side of the fence on this argument.

What's the big difference between bringing flowers into your home and bringing a tree into your home and admiring them?

[artsylady]

All I know is that I am so excited about my first Christmas as a believer. Celebrating the birth of our Savior. And it is we who get the greatest present of all. And I don't mean theater tickets. Though that would be nice. wink.gif tongue.gif

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Yeah!!!! Congratulations and an early Merry Christmas!

[Guest yod]

It just happens that pagans brought over some of their customs to the holiday and some Christians still use them.

actually that is exactly backwards....

It was a pagan holiday that was "christianized" with new meanings to old understandings.

It's intent was probably pure even if the result is debatable. The early Roman Catholic Church believed that it would help the conquored pagan lands to understand God if it was put in their ethnic context by giving "new" meanings to things that they had done all their lives....but remember.....Rome was famous for idols themselves with multitudes of gods.

This, in my opinion, is the exact opposite of what the early church was taught about abstaining from idols.

There were many who followed Diana of Ephesus in the book of Acts. So much that is caused an uproar in the city when this concept of ONE God was first preached by Paul. Up until that time, many of the gentiles prayed to a madonna and child statue.

In the new "catholic" kingdom of Rome they didn't tell folks to just burn their idols. Instead they assigned new names to old statues. For instance, the obelisk in St Peter's square is imported at great price to the Vatican....and is an Egyptian sun-worship obelisk.

It is the exact same idol that Shadrack, Meshack, and Abednigo refused to bow down to. It is the exact same image called "asteroth" in the Old Testament that caused them to stumble and be dispersed into the nations. It is the exact same image that you see in the city square or on the graves of masons. The Washington Monument, the San Jacinto Monument, etc...etc...etc...

And it sits on top of most churches, too.

Another reason I am messianic.