Do you celebrate Christmas?

[artsylady]

Diana of Ephesus

I am going totally by memory, but didn't Governor Jennifer Grantholm in Michigan give thanks to this 'god' when she won? Scary woman that she is.

[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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Brother,

I appreciate your stance and I hope I've said nothing offensive-if so, I apologize.

However, it would seem to me that you believe that Christmas celebration is the rankest of idol worship. If this were so, why haven't we seen judgement from God all of these years? If we've forsaken Him, why haven't we went into captivity like ancient Israel? I'm not intending to be rude, but I'm asking an honest question here.

As for this-Do not inquire about their gods, asking, 'How did these nations worship their gods? I'll also do the same.', I would take that as an admonition not to worship other gods.

[M45510G1C]

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?

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Actually Artsylady, I have about a half dozen friends who are pagan. They think that Christians who DO celebrate Christmas are kinda messed up. And I do celebrate the birth of Messiah, just not on Dec. 25.

I do not want ot do away with anything christian, I want to bring Christianity to what it is supposed ot be, a group of people set apart for G-d, not a bunch of people who adopt pagan practices.

Ronald

You have not offended me, bro. I do not say these things to make myself appear righteous or to point fingers. I say them because I think it is something people need to hear. It really confuses me that the majority of Christians reject G-d's appointed times, his festivals, and celebrate man made festivals instead! Can you not see the illogic in that? Can you not see that the pagans use it against us saying "Look Christianity celebrates their G-d like we celebrate ours, but we started the celebration, clearly we are correct."?

That passage is an admonition not only to not worship other gods, but to not worship G-d like the pagans worship theirs. It should be clear on the most basic level that we are NOT them. Having a holiday on the same day as them that they started (to celebrate the birth of the sun.....) and celebrating it in much the same way is NOT doing this.

If you wish to celebrate Christmas, that is on you. I grew up celebrating it, and believe me I fully understand that it means a lot to people. I fully understand the implications of not celebrating it. I understand that many do it earnestly celebrating the Messiah, and not concerning themselves with paganism or commercialism, difficult though it may be these days. However, we are to be set apart for Him, and, to me a part of that is staying as far away from pagan practice as possible.

[artsylady]

Actually Artsylady, I have about a half dozen friends who are pagan. They think that Christians who DO celebrate Christmas are kinda messed up.

But we've clearly taken it over. They can think they still own it all they want but majority rules. lol. And I think it's absolutely wonderful that Christianity has taken it over. It's a great victory so why not just celebrate.

Are you trying to give it back? I don't understand really.

And I do celebrate the birth of Messiah, just not on Dec. 25.

I also celebrate it other days, but I think nonChristians feel the "Christmas spirit". It's the only time of year when it's still (hopefully for awhile) politically correct to sing songs about Jesus and his birth. (at least in some places)

I do not want ot do away with anything christian, I want to bring Christianity to what it is supposed ot be, a group of people set apart for G-d, not a bunch of people who adopt pagan practices.

I do wonder what nonChristian, non-pagan people think. They probably think you're a bit crazy too. No offence intended.

[artsylady]

"Look Christianity celebrates their G-d like we celebrate ours, but we started the celebration, clearly we are correct."?

I personally don't care who says they started it. God created every day and even the calendars so I believe God started it all in the very first place.

If we had no holiday celebrating Christ's birthday, would you look at a calendar first to make sure it didn't interfere with a Pagan holiday? Would you really care? Do you think that they have certain powers on that day and we should fear that? If yes, why?

[RGR]

"Look Christianity celebrates their G-d like we celebrate ours, but we started the celebration, clearly we are correct."?

Point well taken but as I stated earlier, Satan has done his absolutely done his best via pagan religions to copy many of the facets of Biblical Christianity (not talking about Catholicism here) such as virgin birth, the death of the deity, the resurrection of said deity, etc. As a matter of fact, this is one of the main points that Discovery Channel, et. al. bring up when talking about Christianity-"they borrowed from this religion or that religion" ad nauseum. Now you and I know that Christianity, from a Biblical standpoint, borrowed NOTHING from pagan cultures. But the point being, while your argument is good on face value, it doesn't hold water upon closer examination.

[M45510G1C]

But they DId start it. Christmas ain't in the Bible, bro.

[RGR]

But they DId start it.  Christmas ain't in the Bible, bro. 

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Well, neither are guitars, pianos, organs, etc. but we still use them to the Lord's glory!

If we're gonna get so technical about things, we might as well rename the planets and days of the week as they are pagan in nature as well!

[artsylady]

But they DId start it. Christmas ain't in the Bible, bro.

God started it. God created each and every day and the calendars too. He didn't divey up the days to give a few to give to the devil. Why does it seem like this is what you want to do? For the life of me, I can't understand where you're coming from.

[artsylady]

If we had no holiday celebrating Christ's birthday, would you look at a calendar first to make sure it didn't interfere with a Pagan holiday? Would you really care? Do you think that they have certain powers on that day and we should fear that? If yes, why?