What is Christmas - really?

[kwikphilly]

4 hours ago, Neighbor said:

Hi, Disturbing how so?

Nativity scenes are a distortion of the Christmas story are they not? One can call them a compression of events over a two year period of time I suppose. But wisemen bearing gifts coming to an animal feed trough to see a newborn babe-.

If a tree is inviting, reminiscent of a time when family gathered sang (worship) made decorations together, even lighting candles,  reading of the birth of Christ Jesus, might that not welcome strangers in to church  in hope of some fellowship as well as lesson and worship too?

Personally I do not get offended at what someone finds joyous to them.  There are more than enough "Debbie Downer" things that people, male and female, inject as their sense of righteousness in order to reject what is joyous to others.

Seems to me Christians can put more rules and restrictions on one another than Jesus ever did. Personally I don't see God as being a trickster, one to say "ah gotcha" you didn't know the origin of a similar pagan rite, you lose three merit points at the Bema Judgement.

BUT BUT BUT never do an Easter Egg hunt, for psst that is a fertility ritual.  And never even say Easter.  There's way too many rules of man, seemingly mostly to choke the joy out of celebrating and worshiping in joy our Lord's awesome ministry and sacrifice made for us.

Merry Christmas to one and all, may all freely  enjoy it.

Okay- never said trees are disturbing or anything against trees and light around churches - the point is,nothing about Jesus

How is a Nativity distorted? Mary,Joseph & baby Jesus in a manger is distorted? Some have the Magi,usually catholics - all the ones I have do not

No idea what you're going on about or really quoting me because I find when Jesus isn't in the picture it's disturbing- at a church for goodness sakes- if you've not been following I'm in Favor of JOY and very far from a "Debbie Downer"

[kwikphilly]

I wish everyone would reply to @nebulas questions how to make Christmas Celebration more about Jesus- she started off about this very thing- read the OP

The Christmas lights ,poinsettia & Lilies are all beautiful around a church and normally we see a little manger..or banners from Isaiah 9:6....

So many churches have taken the cross down from their steeples all over the States,I'm glad thst hasn't happened here but no doubt it will

I say" Raise your Banner High and boast for Christ".... better walk like you talk though or don't put up any banners!!

 

 

 

[farouk]

39 minutes ago, kwikphilly said:

I wish everyone would reply to @nebulas questions how to make Christmas Celebration more about Jesus- she started off about this very thing- read the OP

The Christmas lights ,poinsettia & Lilies are all beautiful around a church and normally we see a little manger..or banners from Isaiah 9:6....

So many churches have taken the cross down from their steeples all over the States,I'm glad thst hasn't happened here but no doubt it will

I say" Raise your Banner High and boast for Christ".... better walk like you talk though or don't put up any banners!!

 

 

 

"Veiled in flesh the Godhead see;

Hail the incarnate Deity,

Pleased as man with man to dwell,

Jesus, our Emmanuel."

[kwikphilly]

Hi @nebula back some years I made stuff for my door and patio

These are just some photos from past Christmas's

[nebula]

Thank y ou @kwikphilly - these are wonderful!

[farouk]

1 minute ago, kwikphilly said:

Hi @nebula back some years I made stuff for my door and patio

These are just some photos from past Christmas's

Hi @kwikphilly I really like that caption: "Wise men still seek Him"...........

[farouk]

Just now, nebula said:

Thank y ou @kwikphilly - these are wonderful!

@nebula Great photos there, right? :)

[kwikphilly]

2 minutes ago, farouk said:

Hi @kwikphilly I really like that caption: "Wise men still seek Him"...........

I'm really trying to muster up the energy to do thst one again- it was my favorite- all along the garland I had lights for night time but guess I didn't take a photo

It's already the 10th & I've not done a thing yet- yesterday a neighbor said " where's all your Jesus decorations?" They look forward to seeing when they walk by my patio to get the mail.

[farouk]

Just now, kwikphilly said:

I'm really trying to muster up the energy to do thst one again- it was my favorite- all along the garland I had lights for night time but guess I didn't take a photo

It's already the 10th & I've not done a thing yet- yesterday a neighbor said " where's all your Jesus decorations?" They look forward to seeing when they walk by my patio to get the mail.

Ppl come to expect it, right?

[kwikphilly]

Just now, farouk said:

Ppl come to expect it, right?

They do and I can't tell you how many folks ask about JESUS - I'm always outside fussing with landscape and it's just an awesome feeling when people say" Kwik,you're a Christian,can I ask about...... " that makes me smile❤️

It's a good thing to be thought of as a Follower of Christ..very Gratifying