Ouija Boards etc. fro Christians

[Vickilynn]

And I'll say it again: witches and wiccans did not invent fairies. That they use them is of little import. They also use and worship nature. As we've established, it isn't a sin to plant a garden. Further, I've never met a wiccan (and I've met plenty) who sees a garden gnome as anything other than a fat little cute bearded guy with a pointy hat.

Shalom rtwo,

You can say it all you want, as it is your opinion, however, there are Wiccans who disagree with you.

True, and there are people who worship cows. I'm saying most wiccans are nature-worshippers, not gnome worshippers or fairy worshippers. Indeed, I've met several wiccans who don't even believe in such creatures, as such.

Shalom rtwo,

Emily Anne has posted web sites and has experience within her own family that these gnomes and faeries are indeed more than innocent. This is something to be considered by Christians, according to Romans 14.

As I say, some people believe this. Similarly, some people believe that Christ was a prophet for their own religion. Doesn't make it so. My point is this: A garden gnome, to anyone other than certain Christians, is not and will never be percieved as an appearance of evil. A Wiccan, even one who believes in gnomes and worships the pointy-hatted little beasties, isn't going to drive by my garden and believe I'm one of them because I happen to have a gnome (I don't, by the way... it's a hypothetical gnome). The same with fairies. If the point is appearance of evil, the only people, honestly, to whom this would be a concern, are those that are totally convinced that they can't be anything but evil.

Even all the witches and fairy-lovers who believe in this stuff understand the difference between their religion and popularized folklore.

Shalom rtwo,

Again, your opinion that Wiccans and others don't worship gnomes. There are others who disagree with you. Unless you can actually prove otherwise, your opinion is just that. And unless you ARE a Wiccan or intimately know their beliefs, there is a possibility that you could be mistaken. Are you going to the wall, dig in your heels and possibly offend someone, cause them to stumble, open doors to the devil based on your own opinion which may NOT be accurate? Are gnomes so important to you that you would cause others to stumble?

In this case, I do encourage a careful reading of Romans 14. If anything not created by G-d is so staunchly-held and refused to be put down, even on the chance it may harm someone, there is something amiss in a Christian's life. We are to be willing to lay down our lives! Can we then not lay down gnomes?

[rtwo]

And I'll say it again: witches and wiccans did not invent fairies. That they use them is of little import. They also use and worship nature. As we've established, it isn't a sin to plant a garden. Further, I've never met a wiccan (and I've met plenty) who sees a garden gnome as anything other than a fat little cute bearded guy with a pointy hat.

Shalom rtwo,

You can say it all you want, as it is your opinion, however, there are Wiccans who disagree with you.

True, and there are people who worship cows. I'm saying most wiccans are nature-worshippers, not gnome worshippers or fairy worshippers. Indeed, I've met several wiccans who don't even believe in such creatures, as such.

Shalom rtwo,

Emily Anne has posted web sites and has experience within her own family that these gnomes and faeries are indeed more than innocent. This is something to be considered by Christians, according to Romans 14.

As I say, some people believe this. Similarly, some people believe that Christ was a prophet for their own religion. Doesn't make it so. My point is this: A garden gnome, to anyone other than certain Christians, is not and will never be percieved as an appearance of evil. A Wiccan, even one who believes in gnomes and worships the pointy-hatted little beasties, isn't going to drive by my garden and believe I'm one of them because I happen to have a gnome (I don't, by the way... it's a hypothetical gnome). The same with fairies. If the point is appearance of evil, the only people, honestly, to whom this would be a concern, are those that are totally convinced that they can't be anything but evil.

Even all the witches and fairy-lovers who believe in this stuff understand the difference between their religion and popularized folklore.

Shalom rtwo,

Again, your opinion that Wiccans and others don't worship gnomes. There are others who disagree with you. Unless you can actually prove otherwise, your opinion is just that. And unless you ARE a Wiccan or intimately know their beliefs, there is a possibility that you could be mistaken. Are you going to the wall, dig in your heels and possibly offend someone, cause them to stumble, open doors to the devil based on your own opinion which may NOT be accurate? Are gnomes so important to you that you would cause others to stumble?

In this case, I do encourage a careful reading of Romans 14. If anything is so staunchly-held and refused to be put away, even on the chance it may harm someone, there is something amiss in a Christian's life.

Please reread. It is specifically -not- my opinion that these things aren't worshipped. It is my opinion that those who do know the difference between another one of their peculiar religion and somebody who just likes fat bearded guys in their gardens wearing red hats.

[Vickilynn]

Please reread. It is specifically -not- my opinion that these things aren't worshipped. It is my opinion that those who do know the difference between another one of their peculiar religion and somebody who just likes fat bearded guys in their gardens wearing red hats.

Shalom rtwo,

Yes, it is specifically your opinion when there is other opinion disagreeing with you. Are you a Wiccan?

Again, Romans 14 says that if your Brother is offended by your "freedoms" you are destroying the work of Messiah! Are you willing to do that for a gnome?

If so, there is something amiss.

[rtwo]

Please reread. It is specifically -not- my opinion that these things aren't worshipped. It is my opinion that those who do know the difference between another one of their peculiar religion and somebody who just likes fat bearded guys in their gardens wearing red hats.

Shalom rtwo,

Yes, it is specifically your opinion when there is other opinion disagreeing with you. Are you a Wiccan?

Again, Romans 14 says that if your Brother is offended by your "freedoms" you are destroying the work of Messiah! Are you willing to do that for a gnome?

If so, there is something amiss.

... I'll say it more clearly... apparently I haven't been clear enough... YES PEOPLE WORSHIP GNOMES AND FAIRIES. I said it with nearly every single post. There are people who worship cows, people who worship grass, and people who worship Gnomes. Try to see the forest, rather than just the trees.

People that hold to your opinion on this subject may be offended by my having a gnome in my garden (which, in case you also didn't read that, I don't). I doubt that said individuals would stumble in their faith, unless they turned up their noses at me and judged me for it.

Those few that -do- worship such silly little creatures AREN'T going to drive by my garden and say, "look, Moonbeam, one of us!" Why? Because they know the difference between the creatures of their idiot religion and pop-culture folk art.

[Guest LadyC]

ok i'm gonna throw my two cents in the middle of the disagreement between rtwo and vicki.... not sure it will be appreciated from either side.

my oldest daughter is wiccan. she absolutely adores gnomes, faeries, etc.... but she doesn't worship them.

that may or may not mean anything or add weight to either side of ya'lls disagreement, but i think it's safe to say that ya'll are at an impasse, and it's kinda derailing the direction of the thread... so maybe ya'll could agree to disagree on the point?

[Vickilynn]

ok i'm gonna throw my two cents in the middle of the disagreement between rtwo and vicki.... not sure it will be appreciated from either side.

my oldest daughter is wiccan. she absolutely adores gnomes, faeries, etc.... but she doesn't worship them.

that may or may not mean anything or add weight to either side of ya'lls disagreement, but i think it's safe to say that ya'll are at an impasse, and it's kinda derailing the direction of the thread... so maybe ya'll could agree to disagree on the point?

Shalom LadyC,

Of course your input is welcomed! Thanks!

Personally, rtwo's opinion is not the issue. So there will be no more arguing about it.

The point is, gnomes are worshiped and idolized. They are not G-d-created and do not glorify G-d. Since they are so associated with evil, it would be a Christian thing for a Christian to consider not offending a Brother or a non-Christian and get rid of the thing. It's not like it does anything for G-d! Why people are so attached to them, refuse to lay them down, even for a Brother shows me that there is more an "innocence" regarding gnomes. Anything that important should be assessed by the Scriptures.

[Guest LadyC]

i think people become attached to faeries and gnomes as decorations much in the same way some people become obsessed with decorating with strawberries, or wine, or seascapes, or anything else. i mean, my kitchen/dining area is decorated in a tuscan style. my burner covers for my stove have wine bottles on them, and on top of a cabinet that serves as a pantry i have a decoration that includes two unopened wine bottles and a cascade of grapes. probably doesn't glorify God, and it could be a stumbling block for an alcoholic visitor, but i am not going to redecorate because of those reasons.

similiary i have a friend who is so obsessed with strawberries that she even painted her kitchen green to make the berries on her knicknacks, plates, dishtowels, clock, salt/pepper shakers, cups, potholders, etc. stand out more. she has WAY overdone it with the strawberries. but that's what she likes. she doesn't worship them, she just thinks they're pretty. (and maybe they would be if she'd paint her walls something OTHER than lime green!)

i think some people just think faeries and gnomes are cute, pretty, whimsical, whatever, and they enjoy decorating with them. like i said, my oldest daughter thinks they're adorable. fortunately she chose to decorate her home with frogs instead LOL.

[Emily~Anne]

I've been very busy but I do intend to post later, for everyone, I am glad we can disagree in a respctable way.

[rtwo]

ok i'm gonna throw my two cents in the middle of the disagreement between rtwo and vicki.... not sure it will be appreciated from either side.

my oldest daughter is wiccan. she absolutely adores gnomes, faeries, etc.... but she doesn't worship them.

that may or may not mean anything or add weight to either side of ya'lls disagreement, but i think it's safe to say that ya'll are at an impasse, and it's kinda derailing the direction of the thread... so maybe ya'll could agree to disagree on the point?

Nope... you aren't unappreciated.

I think you're quite correct.

[Gerioke]

What about money? Banks were created with the sole purpose of holding people and even nations in bondage. Jesus told us we cannot serve both money and God. He also told us to sell all of our positions and give it to the poor. Yet I would be willing to bet that everybody involved with this discussion uses money every day and has a bank account. If you are going to make a stink about garden gnomes then you must also consider things like the one dollar bill.