christmas is evil

[Vine Abider]

3 hours ago, other one said:

A lot of us have but the annual rituals just can't be given up by most of the world.  Way too much money is involved in the annual doings.

The American economy might collapse! 

[walla299]

3 hours ago, other one said:

I hear there was 4 and they would not admit the fourth because the present he brought was a fruit cake.

I'll bet that was the same fruit cake that my grandmother could never get rid of . . . darn things are eternal. 

[Vine Abider]

1 minute ago, walla299 said:

I'll bet that was the same fruit cake that my grandmother could never get rid of . . . darn things are eternal. 

Am I the only one around here that actually likes fruitcake?

(and I hope that won't get me booted off this forum . . . there's forgiveness in Christ, but I realize this may be too much)

[1to3]

22 minutes ago, Vine Abider said:

Am I the only one around here that actually likes fruitcake?

Um no. I like them too. They make me very happy and regular!

 

[David1701]

6 hours ago, Vine Abider said:

The holiday is certainly a mysterious mixed bag . . . so what does NT scripture say regarding how to handle such things?

"Therefore, no one is to act as your judge in regard to food and drink, or in respect to a festival or a new moon, or a Sabbath day."  (Colossians 2:16)

"One person regards a certain day above the others, while someone else considers every day alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind. 6He who observes a special day does so to the Lord;b he who eats does so to the Lord, for he gives thanks to God; and he who abstains does so to the Lord and gives thanks to God. 

"Why, then, do you judge your brother? Or why do you belittle your brother? For we will all stand before God’s judgment seat"

Romans 14:5-6, 10

Col. 2:16 and Rom. 14:5,6 refer to Jewish festivals, Sabbath days and people's conscience; they do not refer to pagan traditions.  Context matters...

[Vine Abider]

12 minutes ago, David1701 said:

Col. 2:16 and Rom. 14:5,6 refer to Jewish festivals, Sabbath days and people's conscience; they do not refer to pagan traditions.  Context matters...

Yes, but that seems like an overly narrow interpretation.  What is the spirit of these passages?  I'd say not judging one another for the minors.

Edited December 26, 2022 by Vine Abider

[Marathoner]

52 minutes ago, Vine Abider said:

Yes, but that seems like an overly narrow interpretation.  What is the spirit of these passages?  I'd say not judging one another for the minors.

Indeed. I find it curious to cover ground most of us ought to know by now, but it appears to be needful. The third chapter of 2 Corinthians addresses this very thing for the apostle informs us that we are given the Spirit of God in the new covenant, not letters which kill.

The Spirit which gives life, or letters that kill.

Our Lord Jesus Christ did not come in the flesh to reiterate those letters which kill to us all (there are some who preach this); He came to give us Himself so that, being His new creation, we walk in newness of life in the Spirit of the Lord. We walk in His Spirit at all times.

If on the one hand we assert that no one ought to judge others according to what we ingest (or don't consume) into this body which is perishing, but then argue the opposite regarding a matter of our own pet opinion, what does that make us?

Hypocritical. Either we walk in His Spirit or we do not. There is a religion which is severely austere, condemning others who do not abide by their laundry list of forbidden activities which they do indeed preach as a gospel of their own accord. Acts 15 is only convenient to the acolytes of that harsh religion when it suits their purposes, and I find it astonishing how devotees of that severe religion turn around crying out, "You can't do that, pagans do it too!"

There's nothing amiss with these holiday observances. They've never been my custom and I pay them no mind but many Christians over the centuries --- including men whom that harsh religion lionizes! --- have done so, and I find no fault with that. We are not to judge anyone regarding such matters.

It's sad to witness how some twist scripture to their own ends.

Edited December 26, 2022 by Marathoner
Typo

[Starise]

4 hours ago, JohnD said:

found this one online (from 2015) pretty cool...

link to videos on Worthy Christian Forums

That's pretty cool. We went out tonight and looked at the place I mentioned. I captured video of it on my phone. Have not attempted to upload it yet.

[JohnD]

10 hours ago, shel said:

I love hearing everybody's Christmas stories 

Okay. Before I had a clue about the Roman Catholic / pagan origin of December 25th, my Beloved Bride to be and I set Christmas 1980 as our wedding day in New York City (where she lived at the time). I was stationed in Norfolk, Virginia aboard my Navy ship. My mother and younger brothers made the trip to New York from Florida (where we grew up) Mum stayed with my Fiance and my brothers and I went to a hotel that Christmas Eve.

The coldest day on record hit that Christmas morning. I got myself and my brothers dressed and out the door and in a cab with about an hour to spare (not wanting to be caught in traffic). But... there was no traffic. No one on the sidewalks. The city was dead. Christmas and cold in New York equals everyone staying indoors at home. We arrived at the church a few blocks from the Empire State Building way too soon. I had strict instructions not to go inside the Church lest I see my Beloved Bride to be before the actual ceremony. I was very cold so I took brothers to the Empire State Building to shelter there in the warmth. But... the Empire State Building was closed Christmas day. So we hiked back to the Church. By then my youngest brother was crying because it was so cold and being from sub tropical Florida made it all the worse. I had been in the Navy almost 2 years by then and was much more adjusted to cold on that Navy ship at sea than they were. I wore a full dress uniform with duty belt and leggings and white gloves. The works, but I surrendered my gloves to my youngest brother to help warm him and we slipped into the lobby of the Church... If I saw my Beloved Bride to be too soon, it was worth my brothers not getting frostbite. 

Fortunately we didn't see her. We made our way into a side (small) chapel in the huge building where the ceremony was about to take place. It was just family and my Beloved Bride's roommate and her nephew Rick (they were like the 3 Musketeers touring the city even though Rick and Elaine were from New York). ← My Beloved Bride is quite the tourist / encourager to see see the sights, take in the shows, and experience the cuisine. Trust me.

Anyway, my Fiance was so nervous about everything right up to the ceremony itself. I was cool calm and collected... right up to the moment the organist slammed the beginning bars to the wedding march. The organ speakers were in the front of the chapel and I had my back to them facing where my Beloved Bride to be was taking the traditional mincing steps down the aisle towards me. The music felt like it almost hit me from behind like a tackle. I literally had to catch myself from tipping over on my face. I looked at my Beloved Bride to be all dressed in a gorgeous wedding gown and it hit me... I am responsible for this human being from now on. Until that point, I was pretty happy go lucky devil may care about life... I had a promising career in the military where I had three squares and a rack to sleep in should I blow my paycheck in a day. Not any more... As I said, I was not nervous until then.

As my Beloved Bride took the final steps, I actually stepped toward her and took her hand and pulled her the rest of the way to the altar. This wasn't bad enough. More to come. The minister was a last minute replacement from Brooklyn since our arranged minister had to back out suddenly. We gave him our vows but he read the traditional ones instead. I guess we were just happy he showed up. Hard to find ministers to marry you on Christmas Day (even in New York). My Beloved Bride is quite adept at getting people to do things. Her father (who passed before I had a chance to meet him which I regret because he was such a good man) said she would have made a brilliant defense lawyer. She actually went the Television route instead (TV talk show host for 3 years and new reporter). Also before we met. Reverend Bass married us and we turned to walk back up the aisle as husband and Beloved Bride, and she said to me as we walked "psst! Which hand does the ring go on?" I said "left hand." She quickly pulled the ring off her right ring finger where I had placed it during the ceremony and put it on the left one. I thought I was going to die of embarrassment. It was years before I could even talk about doing something so dumb.

We had a brief reception at the apartment (Lincoln Towers) and hopped a bus to the Poconos where we were dropped off at a cafe that was closed. Huddled in a phone booth we called the resort to come pick us up. It was very cold. Ordinarily the resort had a van to meet the bus and the cafe / bus stop was usually open... but not on Christmas day. My Beloved Bride said her feet were going numb and did a tap tap dance in the phone booth to try to keep the circulation going. I felt utterly helpless to take care of my new Beloved Bride. 

Later, at the Resort restaurant, after warming up, I tried to impress my new Beloved Bride with my worldly / continental ways (I was 19 at the time) by ordering what I thought was wine or Champaign "Chateaubriand 1979..." The waiter said nothing,and my Beloved Bride said side-whisper "that's a beef dish, dear..."

No Christmas since has been quite as eventful as that one for us.

[ayin jade]

2 hours ago, Vine Abider said:

Am I the only one around here that actually likes fruitcake?

(and I hope that won't get me booted off this forum . . . there's forgiveness in Christ, but I realize this may be too much)

I once had a homemade fruitcake. It was good. Store bought ones no.