Christmas-A Christian Holiday? (exodus, Jesus, Israel, Jacob)

[Alpha8207]

So what do you folks who don't celebrate Christmas do on December 25th when the rest of the nation comes to a screeching halt?

Do you sit around thanking God you're not like the rest of us Christ honoring and worshiping pagans?

To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everybody else, Jesus told this parable: "Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself: 'God, I thank you that I am not like other men—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.'

"But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, 'God, have mercy on me, a sinner.'

"I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted." Luke 18:9-14

[MysticPhD]

Originally Posted by alicenevada

I would never presume to judge the hearts of others. I am basing that comment on actual conversations I've had with others. People have told me on many occasions that they only go to church at Christmas, that they only think of Christ at that time. I would not consider those people as having 'come to know Christ', would you?

And as far as a positive expression of love for Christ, how does Santa Claus fit into that expression? Yule logs? Lighted Trees? Presents for one another (not for Christ)? These are all things that are of pagan origin. Since there is no 'sharing of light with darkness', how could I conscientiously take part in these things and still claim to love Christ? That is how I view it. I'm not asking you to view it the same but you can't claim that such a view is wrong...simply different than your own.

It is you who presumes to judge how others come to Christ or what is a right or wrong way to express it . . . not I. Your view is as acceptable to me as any other . . you are free to see the creation of joy among Christmas celebrants as somehow depriving God of due deference . . . I do not. My God enjoys his children's joy as you would yours, There is so little of it in this world . . . the loving heart of Jesus would never deny us any portion of it in his name.

[Miss Blue]

Originally Posted by alicenevada

You guys know that I'm a Jehovah's Witness so no, I don't celebrate. But why do you?

I celebrate because it is a family tradition in the Blue household for all family (and anyone else we feel needs to be cheered up) to come together, have a good time, take pictures, give and receive gifts, have a bountiful feast, enjoy the decorations and tree of the season, and be thankful for the time away from work to enjoy all these things..Some of the family do take this time of the year to honor the birth of Christ, and I respect that and don't hound them with my own opinions about the time of Christs birth..has absolutely nothing to do with ones salvation anyway weather they celebrate or not ,imo. Enjoy the holidays for your own reasons..Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all

[alicenevada]

Originally Posted by Alpha8207

So what do you folks who don't celebrate Christmas do on December 25th when the rest of the nation comes to a screeching halt?

Do you sit around thanking God you're not like the rest of us Christ honoring and worshiping pagans?

To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everybody else, Jesus told this parable: "Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself: 'God, I thank you that I am not like other men—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.'

"But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, 'God, have mercy on me, a sinner.'

"I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted." Luke 18:9-14

I'm not sure what the point is of these statements. I like to think that I am a humble person and I have no doubt that I am a sinner. I am also familiar with all the scriptures here quoted, though I'm not certain how they apply.

In answer to your questions, I stay home on Christmas day. Sometimes I go to a movie. I spend the time I have off of work with my family and I read the bible with them just as I do every other day.

[Alpha8207]

Originally Posted by alicenevada

So that guy that is in Fred Claus? That's HIM? Man, he was really good in Sideways. I like the beard though.

So let me get this straight:

We are not honoring God because we celebrate Christmas and you are by exposing yourself to these types of movies.....

Christian Review of Sideways

Christian Review of Fred Clause

Yeah, that makes a lot of sense....

[alicenevada]

Originally Posted by MysticPhD

It is you who presumes to judge how others come to Christ or what is a right or wrong way to express it . . . not I. Your view is as acceptable to me as any other . . you are free to see the creation of joy among Christmas celebrants as somehow depriving God of due deference . . . I do not. My God enjoys his children's joy as you would yours, There is so little of it in this world . . . the loving heart of Jesus would never deny us any portion of it in his name.

I'm not judging how others come to Christ...the bible does that for me. And yes, my view is my own...based on my own study of the bible. My God appreciates the efforts of all who try sincerely to please him. Whether doing so means making popular choices or not is neither here nor there.

[juj]

Originally Posted by alicenevada

Actually, Easter has nothing whatever to do w/ Christ either but that is not what this topic is about.

That is true. We celebrate none of the popular holidays that other Christian religions do. But we cannot stay amongst ourselves because we were instructed to preach the kingdom message and that we do. I'm not trying to argue and I'm certainly not grumbling...sorry if I gave that impression. I just like to get the input of others at this time of year, especially since I've found recently that many who are NOT of my faith (but are still Christian) feel the same way I do.

If you feel that my religion is completely counter to Jesus and his teachings, I shudder to what you must think of the early Christians...the first century congregation, as they did not celebrate these things either.

The horror of celebration. Yea, we are definitely going to hell. Why, you know, celebrating the Lord's birth, spending a joyful time of the year with your family, giving the persons you love gifts, enjoying a great meal with the ones you love. Yes, the repercussion of such abominable acts is sure damnation!!!

And please don't compare yourselves to the early Christians. If you read the documents of the early Church Fathers, you will find your religion is hardly similar. Well, outside of being outcasts. And I don't mean that to be disrespectful, just true.

[alicenevada]

Originally Posted by Alpha8207

So let me get this straight:

We are not honoring God because we celebrate Christmas and you are by exposing yourself to these types of movies.....

Christian Review of Sideways

Christian Review of Fred Clause

Yeah, that makes a lot of sense....

haha. I've never seen either film, actually. I've seen commercials for both and scenes from Sideways. Paul Giamatti is a great actor and the scenes I saw were impressive on the Oscar Show a few years ago.

By the way, I find 'Christian Reviews' to be oddly contradictory. I am a Christian and I review movies. But never would I presume to say that I am somehow immune to the mendacity prevalent in many movies today...nor that I should go see them (ignoring the MPAA rating) in order to 'screen' them for my fellow Christians.

[weatherologist]

Originally Posted by alicenevada

I'm going to go out on a limb here and say that I do not think God provided that star. I believe Satan did. Why would God lead three astrologists to his son when Herrod instructed them to report back to him? True, they were stopped but the fact still stands, they were not men of God...they were practicers of an art that God despised. Also, they did not come to Christ when he was born...it was later...when he was probably two years old. Everything has become very mixed up over the years...

OK, now I'm going to go out on a limb and leaving myself open to complete ridicule, but I'm confused by the above post.

There were three men (we can call them astrologists, Magi, whatever works here) who followed a star. Wouldn't that be the way that people traveled back then? I mean, really. I don't think they had a GPS quite yet. So, because they studied the stars and followed them, they must have been sent by Satan? I am not trying to poke a fight. I really don't get it. I understand that the nativity story may have been glamorized a little. I understand that December the 25th is not the true 'date' of Christ's birth, but I think that suggesting that the Magi and the star were from Satan is taking it in the extreme opposite direction.

Help me out, people.

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[alicenevada]

Originally Posted by juj

The horror of celebration. Yea, we are definitely going to hell. Why, you know, celebrating the Lord's birth, spending a joyful time of the year with your family, giving the persons you love gifts, enjoying a great meal with the ones you love. Yes, the repercussion of such abominable acts is sure damnation!!!

haha. No, I never said anyone was going to hell or going to be damned for celebrating Christmas...did I? (looking back over thread) No. I didnt. I have no doubt that if you truly feel you are honoring God with these practices, God knows it. And he is the only one who reads hearts, rights?

But I couldnt do it, knowing what I know about the holiday's history. That's why I posted this topic...to get a feel for what other Christians feel about its origins. That's all.