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Should Christians celebrate Christmas

psychoslice

psychoslice

Veteran Member
Christ's Prophet said:
Hi,

I don’t know about you, year by year, I observe the paradoxes of Christmas. Even as a child, I was rather confused by what appears to be the meaning of Christmas.

On one hand there was the seriousness of the babe in a manger, as compared to a carnival mentality from a broader population.

There was the poverty of the stable compared to the selfishness of lavish gift giving.

The quietness of Bethlehem compared to the throng of the shopping mall.

The seriousness of the incarnation compared with the silliness of Christmas parties.

The star of heaven compared alongside with the brilliance of Christmas lights.

The cheap plastic toys given at Christmas compared with the true gift of the wise men.

Angels are confused with flying reindeer.

An oxen and a donkey confused with a flying red nosed reindeer of all things.

The filth of the stable confused with the whiteness of pure snow.

Mary and Joseph confused with North Pole elves.

Then last but not least, what in the world has a jolly man in red, Santa Claus got to do with a little baby in a manger.

Santa Claus seems to me to take on a god like character. He flies through the air with his flying reindeer. He seems to know all things. For instance, he knows when you have been naughty.

My friends it is quite hard to look through this to see the reality of Christmas. No wonder that many children are totally confused.

The Scriptures describe the voluntary descending onto this earth of Christ, to die for men, to rescue them and to pave the way of reconciliation to them and to return to Heaven in majesty and glory and power.

The main point I want to make is that whatever Godly celebrations there are, sinful man will try create a god in his own image. For instance sinful man has created Santa Claus, who I call the god of materialism, or to replace the event of Easter with an egg laying bunny. Man hates God and does not want Him running their lives. If you want to celebrate Christmas, go ahead. There is no command to celebrate it. I hope this will stimulate discussion.

Christ’s prophet, Certainty for eternity
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Yes I like that, I don't believe in the Christian God, but I can still see the metaphor behind what you are saying, and it doesn't matter how we celebrate Christmas as long as we don't hurt anyone in the process. Again I don't believe in the Christian God, but what you said I have no argument against.
 
InChrist

InChrist

Free4ever
lewisnotmiller said:
I actually agree with much of your post, and found the linked article pretty well done.
Just a small note though...its quite commonly Christians whoraise questions as to Christmas' veracity, as it was in both the OP and in the example in your linked article.

No biggie really, your points stand regardless, but there is no grand attempt by non-Christians to deny Christmas or anything.
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Yes, you are right. It is usually Christians or psuedo Christian groups who attack the celebration of Christmas. I've known several of various backgrounds over the years. some who I have been pretty close friends with and even certain relatives. I've noticed that they take a legalistic approach to the scriptures not only in regard to Christmas, but other areas as well and this impacts their relationship with the Lord (if they have one at all) and their understanding of His grace. Most have come to their conclusions by reading material against Christmas from some fringe writer who promotes other off base ideas, rather than the scriptures alone. I've also had the blessing of seeing someone very special in our family's life set free from this kind of legalism and for the last couple of years truly experiencing the joy of the Lord celebrating Christmas and enjoying this special season which he missed out on his whole life having been raised to be opposed and afraid of "pagan connections" to Christmas.
 
InChrist

InChrist

Free4ever
Christ's Prophet said:
Hi,

I don’t know about you, year by year, I observe the paradoxes of Christmas. Even as a child, I was rather confused by what appears to be the meaning of Christmas.
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As you have pointed out there are paradoxes as to the meaning and the way the world celebrates Christmas, but believers in Jesus Christ exercising discernment certainly know Who they are celebrating!
 
rusra02

rusra02

Well-Known Member
Premium Member
NathanShepard8888 said:
Even though it is a pagan holiday and comes from pagan origins?
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"Do not become unevenly yoked with unbelievers. For what fellowship do righteousness and lawlessness have? Or what sharing does light have with darkness? Further, what harmony is there between Christ and Beʹli·al? Or what does a believer share in common with an unbeliever?" (2 Corinthians 6:14,15)
 
savagewind

savagewind

Veteran Member
Premium Member
I looked up how the pom pom might be associated with the mushroom and here you have it.

DSC05695.jpg
 
savagewind

savagewind

Veteran Member
Premium Member
rusra02 said:
"Do not become unevenly yoked with unbelievers. For what fellowship do righteousness and lawlessness have? Or what sharing does light have with darkness? Further, what harmony is there between Christ and Beʹli·al? Or what does a believer share in common with an unbeliever?" (2 Corinthians 6:14,15)
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You might be using this scripture out of context. Yoking is for work, but Christmas is for fun.
There is a difference between doing God's will which is work (John 5:17) and relaxing with family and friends and the giving of charity. I think that without Christmas there would be more people going without the things they need. There is the spirit of Christmas which is the love of strangers. i think that when Christmas is done right people are friendlier.
 
D

djhwoodwerks

Well-Known Member
rusra02 said:
"Do not become unevenly yoked with unbelievers. For what fellowship do righteousness and lawlessness have? Or what sharing does light have with darkness? Further, what harmony is there between Christ and Beʹli·al? Or what does a believer share in common with an unbeliever?" (2 Corinthians 6:14,15)
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Apples and oranges!!

Christmas is no more pagan than the name "JEHOVAH"! A Catholic monk created the name "JEHOVAH"
 
savagewind

savagewind

Veteran Member
Premium Member
I think the question should be if Christians must refrain from celebrating Christmas. I think that nobody should celebrate it.
If you do not like it then you should be free to refuse it. This is difficult to do if all the family wants you to participate.
I think that it is wrong to refuse it in the name of The Lord.
There are some real reasons to refrain from it like its commercialism and the over production of junk.
What I hate most of it is the obligatory feeling of gift giving and the matching of the perceived worth of gifts.
 
G

glori

Member
Celebrating Christmas is up to the individual. I my self do not celebrate it any longer, but I could never condemn it for the memory of the
Christmas eve I was four years old - when I walked into that little country church and heard "Away in the manger" playing softly - and saw the nativity scene displayed in soft lights, and was introduced to Jesus. The love I found that night brought me back from the "sin that doth so easily beset" many times, each time it drew me back from the world my love grew stronger, and now, the world is no longer a temptation. My studies revealed the true birth of Jesus, and that is when I celebrate it - now that I know, but I also know this, that it is better to do the wrong thing believing it is right, than to do the right thing thinking it will make you righteous, or thinking that others are wrong because of what they do not know. Those who know to do the right thing and choose not to, ...is another story. God is their judge, Matt.7.21-23
 
NathanShepard8888

NathanShepard8888

Member
glori said:
" m t - now that I know, but I also know this, that it is better to do the wrong thing believing it is right, than to do the right thing thinking it will make you righteous, or thinking that others are wrong because of what they do not know. Those who know to do the right thing and choose not to, ...is another story. God is their judge, Matt.7.21-23
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Not really.

Luken12:47 "The servant who knows the master's will and does not get ready or does not do what the master wants will be beaten with many blows But the one who does not know and does things deserving punishment will be beaten with few blows"
 
viole

viole

Ontological Naturalist
Premium Member
rusra02 said:
"Do not become unevenly yoked with unbelievers. For what fellowship do righteousness and lawlessness have? Or what sharing does light have with darkness? Further, what harmony is there between Christ and Beʹli·al? Or what does a believer share in common with an unbeliever?" (2 Corinthians 6:14,15)
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I would not go so far as to prevent unbelievers yoking with believers because the formers have the light and the latters only darkness. Nobody is perfect.

Ciao

- viole
 
savagewind

savagewind

Veteran Member
Premium Member
NathanShepard8888 said:
Should we worship Him how we want to or how He wants us to.
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Why not think of human love? Is the love between God and human so very different than the love between two people?
I want my friends to love me the way they do and not the way I think they should. To do to me what I want is not love it is service.
 
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