Christmas
 

This is the best article I have seen yet on why it is ok for Christians to celebrate Christmas/Easter etc. The only one I don't agree with him on is Halloween, personally I believe we ought to stay away from that one, but he does bring up some very good points about Christmas and Easter. He doesn't use KJB though so you will have to look up the verses in your own Bible.

http://www.familyministries.com/secular_customs.htm

http://www.swordofthelord.com/online...eChristmas.htm
This one is good as well.:)

Interesting articles. I agree that it's a Christian liberty issue. As long as we don't get caught up in the commercialism of Christmas, it can be a fun holiday to celebrate.

Maybe we should concentrate on what God has said his children should do before we do things or celebrate things he never mentioned in his word.
For the love of monkeys I can't understand how blood-washed, born again followers of Jesus Christ can go to great length's to keep a tradition born of pagenism in the name of Christ but will quickly fall short of the mark to do what he specifically said to do.
Suggested reading: Mark 7:5-17 [Our traditions]
1 Corinthians 11:23-25 [Jesus said to remember his death, not his birth]

I don't think anyone here was saying that we should go all out and spend lots of money on Christmas decorations and put so much emphasis on the holiday itself.

All spiritual meaning aside, I prefer Easter to Christmas myself because it's in the springtime.

Christmas and Easter being the two holidays that bring visitors out to church, I think it's the perfect occasion to redeem the time, for Jesus' sake, and in a God-honouring way.

Wow, it took almost a week after Thanksgiving for the Christmas/Christmas tree debate...I mean thread.... to get started. I figured 24-48 hrs max.

Carry on.

Lol I hope I'm not starting a debate. I was just greatly discouraged this year because I have friends that don't celebrate Christmas, Easter, their anniversary etc, anything except birthdays, and they say that all those other things are pagan but still celebrate birthdays. I thought birthdays were pagan too. Anyway it's discouraging because my husband won't even consider not celebrating them, and I don't want to not celebrate either, but my friends can be pretty dogmatic about stuff. Even though I can say I'm just obeying my husband, it can still make me feel bad. So now I don't have to feel bad when we do celebrate these things as a family.

Hehe :D

I love Christmas and all, but I am one of those that doesn't believe in decorating Christmas trees or in celebrating Santa Claus. As far as Easter goes I refuse to have anything to do with Easter Bunnies and Easter Eggs. That being said, I've learned that no one wants to hear about my concerns over these holidays (liberty liberty liberty...). I just politely refuse to get myself involved with activities I'm uncomfortable with (I want to remain seperated unto God). But that leaves plenty of room for enjoying the company of family and friends, and exchanging gifts etc. I also make a point to give God much thanks for His Son during these holidays. I try to, in the privacy of mine own heart, take back things for Christ.

For Jesus' sake,
Stephen

I can live without decorations and I don't do Santa Claus or the Easter bunny, but I agree with enjoying family and friends, praising God for the birth of the Baby born to die for us and focussing on Christ. :)

If you are against celebrating Christmas as the birth of our Saviour (which is probably isn't, but it's something worth celebrating), it would logically follow that

1. We should not celebrate birthdays. If we cannot celebrate the birth of the sinless saviour, why would we celebrate the birth of a dead sinner who gets more and more sinful every year

2. We should not take public holidays. If we cannot enjoy one day a year in remembrance that our Saviour was born (even if it is not the same day), why should I take a public holiday to celebrate the birth of our country, the Queen (I am from NZ, Australia originally), Labor (whatever Labor day is about), Guy Fawkes etc

3. We should work six days a week. God only commanded one day of rest. All of you 9-5'ers are disobeying God with your traditions of men!

Seriously, I understand if you don't want anything to do with Santa Claus, Christmas Trees etc, but a day that you spend with your family, giving presents out while primarily remembering that Jesus Christ came into this world to save sinners is hardly blasphemous.

Why is it that the only Christians who seem to want any Christianity in the world are the evangelicals?

Fundamentalists go just as nuts over Christmas and Easter as the infidels do - for the same reasons! The unbelievers don't want it because it's religious, and the Christians don't want it because it is pagan (religious)

Here is an excerpt from the link i provided.
Dr. John Rice:
How sad that many do not enjoy Christmas! Even some devoted Christians feel sour and are cantankerous and full of objections about the season. To you I would say in the words of Scripture—if you regard the day, regard it unto the Lord. And if you do not regard the day, then be sure you act Christian about it. Let nobody judge or criticize others for an honest, worshipful, spiritual and loving attitude about Christmas

Eventhough, Dec. 25 is a pagan holiday,that day is still a representation of Christs birth,in which,as christians we celebrate.
I enjoy the Christmas lights in the december snow.

Don't wish me "Happy Holidays" and I never did like "Season's Greetings." (What exactly does that mean, anyway?)


Merry Christmas :D

Let's just get this cleared up a bit.

For me, the Christmas question isn't "is it okay to celebrate a birthday." Of course it is. It's not prohibited. The "question" for me is if I am honoring my Savior by attributing the day of the birth of the "son god" to the One True God and commandeering pagan practices in order to "worship" and "remember" my Lord.

Christmas, for us, is just an enjoyable time of year with some nice, unimportant traditions. There are three important things we leave out:

1. The tree. Sure, this is a liberty issue -- deck out your tree if you want. But I can't read Jeremiah 10 and come away thinking it's a good practice to emulate and "re-define" for the Lord. So no tree for me.

2. Santa Clause -- there is simply no excuse for making up fairy tales and making your children believe them! Fiction = fun and okay. Lies = evil sin. No child we expect to believe in Jesus should be taught as truth that there is a "Santa Clause" bringing him what he wants if he is a "good little boy." No liberty here -- this one is sin, plain and simple.

3. Spiritual meanings. Christmas is not about Christ in my home. And every time someone says "put Christ back into Christmas" I cringe, knowing that it was the "mass" put into Christ by the pagan Roman Catholic Church "Christianizing" various pagan celibrations so they could claim cultures for their church.

But I enjoy Christmas. I put lights around the house earlier this week. We give each other gifts. We take the day off. I am fine with saying "Merry Christmas" and I am not offended by "Happy Holidays."

Finally, this must be said: I am completely fine with other Christians doing whatever they want on Christmas. I do not care! But why is it that if I tell someone I don't have a tree and that Christmas is not "Christ's birthday," I am judged for it? I can not count how many times this issue has caused someone else to get angry, just because they found out I do not have a "Christian Christmas" or a tree in my home. I don't go out of my way to tell anyone what I think of Christmas -- I generally regard it as a personal liberty issue. But more often than not, people are offended merely knowing that I don't do it the way they do.

Oh well. I expect this will be an annual thread here. :D

I've seen it the other way around, too. Some people get offended if you DO put up a Christmas tree... and they feel it's their duty to tell you why they do not.

The way I see it, the Christmas tree is just another decoration that's mainly used for hiding gifts under. I love the suspense of not knowing what's under the tree... and I think it's fun to decorate the Christmas tree with lights and bulbs and all that other stuff. It's kinda like having flowers around the house... they're just fun to look at and they make the room a little bit prettier. Maybe it's just a girl thing... I dunno.

It doesn't offend me if someone wants to put up a Christmas tree or if they feel that it's wrong. Each family should decide for themselves how they want to celebrate the holiday. :)

Well put, Diligent. I agree.

[Well, years ago, some missionary gave us a Christmas tree. My mother was happy and she set it up in our home. Some Sunday school teacher told us that they were teaching Christmas trees are pagan, and their children asked why they saw the "green tree" at the pastor's house. So we decided to put away the Christmas tree.

A year later, the same Sunday school teacher had a children's Christmas cantata and they set up a Christmas tree on stage for the play! It remained there as a decor.:D]

Some of our family members still wish we've got some tree, decoration, and lights in our home. That would be fine with me have I been living in a different home; I'm not comfortable with "paganism" and "materialism", as well as the "deception" of Christmas.

Today, I notice that due to financial crisis, fewer people celebrate Christmas here.

Christmas
 

I agree.

I actually celebrate Christ's birth on Septermber 29th.

http://www.khouse.org/enews_article/2005/1008

http://www.revneal.org/Writings/jesusbirth.htm

http://www.new-life.net/chrtms10.htm

Which also happens to be my birthday as well. :D Should I feel guilty about celebrating my birthday on the day Christ was born? lol :p

For Jesus' sake,
Stephen

Merry Christmas in September?:D

Rightly Dividing "Christmas"
 

Follow the link to a recent study (sermon notes) by Pastor Mike Paulson, one of the best I've seen lately on the subject. He is a Bible believer and uses only the KJB.

http://www.touchet1611.org/Christmas2008I.html

Well, this is going to be a weird and difficult Christmas. I remember last year Christmas I was still a catholic, still liked Santa Claus, and of course was still an unsaved sinner on his way to Hell. None of these still apply to me (thanks to the Lord Jesus); I'm no longer a catholic, I hate the imposter Santa Claus, and I'm a born again believer of the Lord Jesus on my way to Heaven. It's amazing how much a life can change in just a year! Anyway, I no longer feel like me and Christmas are compatible and I think it may be because I've been mainly exposed to the worldly Christmas and not the "Christian" one. This year I’ll try to focused on the birth of the Saviour and thanking God for sending His Son into the world for us. This may prove to be a difficult Christmas because I’m saved and most of my family isn’t, but then again, I’ll just have to wait and see.

I just want to say I DO celebrate Christmas, so if all of you will just kindly PM me I will give you a mailing address where you can send my gifts. ;)

Oh what a shame we can't PM on here, and I just tried to send you an email through your profile and got a message stating that you don't wish to receive mail?? :p

Cody over at baptist1611 posted this good sermon which I think is very good.

http://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninf...ID=12250622630

Peace and Love,
Stephen

I'm getting you the same thing I got you last year, brother! :D

Oh, and you'll have to edit the "messaging and notification" on your profile to "receive email from members" to accomodate Kiwi's observation..................:p

Satan, er 'Santa' Claus
 

http://visibleprocrastinations.files..._headstone.jpg

:p

Luke Chapter 2
 

Hello Rolando! I understand your predicament/situation with the family and you being "different" from them this year. My dad was/is a twice a year Church attender and a Free Mason (boo-hiss), Mom was a "Jack-Mormon", and many of the cousins and sister are Mormons, so I was viewed as a bit wierd... No problem---Our Lord Jesus never promised us a "walk-in-the-park".

Okay... I've got an idea for you, since you want to follow Christ,,, at the same time maybe gently nudge your family members into following Him (instead of Mary and the Pope)... Keep focused on Christ by remembering the scripture found in Luke Chapter 1 and 2. Rich, Deep, Truths.

The Christmas hymns are full of great Christology/Theology. I'd suggest you go over to a website www.cyberhymnal.com and look/listen at the words to "Hark the Herald Angels Sing-Glory to the new born King" and many others in the Christmas section. "Oh little town of Bethlehem" , "Angels we have heard on high".

Now, another way of not doing the commercial/Santa thing is to find a Church that has Christmas Eve service and even Christmas Day service. You were R.C. so you might be comfortable in a formal Church setting--- no better thing to be doing on Christmas Eve than to be in a Church at the 11:00pm/Midnite service remembering the birth of our Saviour!

I googled for you and I found a couple nearby your home that will probably be open on Christmas Eve and/or Christmas Day. They are conservative and Traditional in what they believe. Phone/google them and get their service times/directions.

First Reformed Episcopal Church of New York. 317 East 50th Street

Redeemer Reformed Episcopal Church 734 Ocean Ave. Jersey City

There are also a couple of conservative Lutheran groups (synods) that might have a congregation within driving distance of where you live. Look for Wisconsin Synod and also Missouri Synod. Those two groups still believe in the Virgin birth of Christ. Beware---not all Lutheran Churches are conservative anymore, and sadly the synods have gone to using the NIV.

For this Christmas time... it would be a good witness if rather than being a grumpy "scrooge" guy, and making the family think that those "Born-Again" people have ruined their son... They saw you go to Church service and come back singing "Silent Night", and then you can say something like: "Hey family of mine--- Let me read out loud from St. Luke's Gospel about Mary and Joseph, and the shephards and baby Jesus..." Scatter some seeds Rolando. Never know what might grow---:) .

BTW--- Many will tell you that Jesus wasn't born on Dec. 25th... So what! Remember the Saviour's Birth and tell folks "Merry Christmas"! Irritate a liberal and the nearby atheist, and the J.W.'s. Revelation 5:12

Twas the Week Before Christmas

Twas the week before Christmas
When all through our land,
Not a Christian was praying,
Nor taking a stand.

See the PC Police had taken away,
The reason for Christmas - no one could say.
The children were told by their schools not to sing,
About Shepherds and Wise Men and Angels and things.

It might hurt people's feelings, the teachers would say,
December 25th is just a 'Holiday?'

Yet the shoppers were ready with cash, checks and credit,
Pushing folks down to the floor just to get it!
CDs from Madonna, an X BOX, an I-pod
Something was changing, something quite odd!

Retailers promoted Ramadan and Kwanzaa,
In hopes to sell books by Franken & Fonda.
As Targets were hanging their trees upside down,
At Lowe's the word Christmas - was no where to be found.

At K-Mart and Staples and Penny's and Sears,
You won't hear the word Christmas; it won't touch your ears.
Inclusive, sensitive, Di-ver-si-ty,
Are words that were used to intimidate me.

Now Daschle, Now Darden, Now Sharpton, Wolf Blitzen,
On Boxer, on Rather, on Kerry, on Clinton!
At the top of the Senate, there arose such a clatter,
To ELIMINATE JESUS, in all public matter.

And we spoke not a word, as they took away our faith,
Forbidden to speak of salvation and grace.
The true Gift of Christmas was exchanged and discarded,
The reason for the season, stopped before it started.

So as you celebrate 'Winter Solstice' under your 'Dream Tree,'
Sipping your Starbucks, listen to me.
Choose your words carefully, choose what you say,
SHOUT MERRY CHRISTMAS,
not Happy Holiday!

One good poem deserves another........:)


Twas the Night Before Jesus Came
'Twas the night Jesus came and all through the house
Not a person was praying, not one in the house.
The Bibles were left on the shelf without care,
For no one thought that Jesus would come there.
The children were dressing to crawl into bed,
Not once ever kneeling or bowing a head.
And mom in her rocker with baby in her lap
Was watching the Late Show while I took a nap.

When out of the east there rose such a clatter,
I sprang to my feet to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash
Tore open the shutters and lifted the sash!
When what to my wondering eyes should appear
But angels proclaiming that Jesus was here!
The light of His face made me cover my head--
It was Jesus returning, just as He said.

And though I possessed worldly wisdom and wealth,
I cried when I saw Him in spite of myself.
In the Book of Life which He held in His hand
Was written the name of every saved man.
He spoke not a word as He searched for my name;
When He said, "It's not here" my head hung in shame.
The people whose names had been written with love
He gathered to take to His Father above.

With those who were ready He rose without a sound
While all the rest were left standing around.
I fell to my knees, but it was too late;
I had waited too long and thus sealed my fate.
I stood and I cried as they rose out of sight;
Oh, if only I'd known that this was the night.
In the words of this poem the meaning is clear;
The coming of Jesus is now drawing near.
There's only one life and when comes the last call
We'll find that the Bible was true after all.

--AUDRY PATRICIA WOOLVERTON

http://http://www.biblebelievers.com/TwastheNite.html

Moderation?
 

Php 4:5 Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.

Interestingly, this is the only place in the Bible where the word moderation is used.

Because I believe the King James Bible I am less interested in understanding what the original Greek word here means because I trust that God through the Holy Ghost guided the translators such that the correct word, moderation, was used. So rather than looking to the Greek, I will look to the Oxford English Dictionary to determine what this word and thus sentence means.

According to the Oxford English Dictionary, moderation originally means:

the quality of being moderate in harshness or intensity; mildness, clemency (obs.). Later more generally: the quality of being moderate in conduct, opinion, etc.; avoidance of excess or extremes in behaviour; temperateness, self-control, restraint.

I believe strongly that this is the definition the translators had in mind when guided by the Holy Ghost they rendered Philippians 4:5 as they did.

I realize the following verse is erroneously applied to Christian liberty and grace but if we look to the beginning of the paragraph in verse 1, Paul is encouraging the Philippians – and us – to stand fast in the Lord:

Php 4:1 ¶ Therefore, my brethren dearly beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, my dearly beloved.

Christmas, Easter, Super Bowl Sunday – any celebration that would compete for our worship of our Lord should be approached in moderation. We do not want the unbelieving world to ever question who it is that is the most important person in our life and the object of our true love. True?

And finally, I never want to forget the consequences of my own actions, whether upon the unbelieving world or my fellow brothers and sisters:

Ro 14:21 It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak.

Harley

Yes, true. Good thoughts Brother Harley.

To Aussiemama. That familyministries article is a very good one - it says several things I have thought on the subject. I think it should be remembered that most of the early Christians were working class people who only had days off work when their pagan bosses took pagan holidays so any Christian celebrations would have to be on those days. That timing would not make the Christian holidays evil. Regarding Halloween; Since I was a little kid in the late 50's and early 60's I was able to dress up as a demon or goblin and get candy from the neighbors without any sense of a connection with real evil satan-worship as is obvious today. I think what I did to celebrate halloween would probably be offensive to any serious occultist today just as native Americans find some sports mascots involving caricatures of Indians to be offensive. The articles' consideration of giving offense to a weaker brother was very good. I have had several experiences with people trying to control behaviour by presenting themselves as both a grieved brother and a strong Christian (capable of disciplining other Christians)simutaneously, which violates the Biblical statement.

Well, brother, this is difficult. I actually ordered you one of those cognac-colored alligator skin Bibles, but since this site doesn't have PMs, I'll just have to keep it for myself.

And now, my Christmas greeting to all of you lovely peeps:


http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/m.../SantaGirl.jpg

Fantastic! I love it, thanks!!

Way to go little girl!

More on the Christmas holiday.
http://www.king5.com/topstories/stor....201f8962.html

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAMEN!

Peace and Love,
Stephen

This is great. I'm using this on Facebook. Hehehe :D

Love you all!

For Jesus' sake,
Stephen

Santa Claus and Satan's Cause

The modern-day Santa Claus is an American version of Saint Nicholas, a fourth century Roman Catholic bishop from Asia Minor who was noted for his good deeds and gift giving. This tradition first spread throughout Europe, and then found its way to America by the early Dutch settlers.

Since God's word warns us to BEWARE of tradition (Col. 2:8), we shouldn't be surprised to find the Devil right in the middle of the world's most celebrated holiday. Lucifer's desire has always been to dethrone God and exalt himself (Isa. 14:12-15). He desires worship (Luke 4:7; II Ths. 2:3-4). Perhaps you've never thought of it, but please note how Satan robs the Lord Jesus Christ of His glory by spreading the Santa Claus tradition...



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SANTA IS ETERNAL
A child knows nothing of his beginning. To a child, Santa has just always existed.

JESUS CHRIST IS ETERNAL
"I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty." (Rev. 1:8)



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SANTA LIVES IN THE NORTH
Tradition holds that Santa Claus lives at the North Pole, a place ABOVE the rest of us.

JESUS CHRIST LIVES IN THE NORTH
"Beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth, is mount Zion, on the sides of the north, the city of the great King." (Psa. 48:2)



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SANTA WEARS RED CLOTHING
Santa wears a red furry suit.

JESUS CHRIST WEARS RED CLOTHING
"And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God." (Rev. 19:13)



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SANTA HAS WHITE HAIR
Santa is always pictured as an old man with white hair like wool.

JESUS CHRIST HAS WHITE HAIR
"His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire;" (Rev. 1:14)



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SANTA FLIES AROUND GIVING GIFTS
Santa has the ability to defy the laws of gravity and fly around giving gifts to people.

JESUS CHRIST ASCENDED AND GAVE GIFTS UNTO MEN
"But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ. Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men." (Eph. 4:7-8)



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SANTA IS COMING SOON
During the Christmas season it is emphasized over and over that "Santa is coming".

JESUS CHRIST IS COMING SOON
"He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus." (Rev. 22:20)



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SANTA IS OMNISCIENT
Children are taught that Santa "knows when you've been good, and he knows when you've been bad".

JESUS CHRIST IS OMNISCIENT
"The eyes of the LORD are in every place, beholding the evil and the good." (Pro. 15:3) "And Jesus knowing their thoughts said, Wherefore think ye evil in your hearts?" (Mat. 9:4)



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SANTA IS OMNIPRESENT
Santa must be omnipresent, because he has the ability to visit over a billion homes in a twenty-four hour period. That's over 1100 per second!

JESUS CHRIST IS OMNIPRESENT
"For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them." (Mat. 18:20)



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SANTA IS OMNIPOTENT
He has the ability to carry presents for over a billion children.

JESUS CHRIST IS OMNIPOTENT
"And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth." (Mat. 28:18)



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SANTA HAS SPIRIT HELPERS CALLED ELVES
Webster, 1828: "ELF...a spirit, the night-mar; a ghost, hag, witch"

JESUS CHRIST HAS SPIRIT HELPERS CALLED ANGELS
"Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him." (Mat. 4:11)



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SANTA - SANAT - SATAN?

Sanat Kumara is worshipped by some new age groups as God. H.P. Blavatsky, the mother of the new age movement, said on page 350 of her book, The Secret Doctrine, Vol. 2: "The name isn't important. It is the letters". "Santa" has the same letters as "Satan"! According to G.A. Riplinger, "Ole Nick" is listed as the name of a fallen angel in the Dictionary of Fallen Angels. (New Age Bible Versions, Gail Riplinger, pg. 53)

Friend, don't glorify Satan by giving the glory and attributes of Jesus Christ to Santa Claus! Santa is a COUNTERFEIT GOD, and you are honoring Satan when you teach your children to believe in Santa! Christians should teach their children the TRUTH. We should glorify God by teaching our children about Jesus Christ and His saving grace!


Copyright © 1996 James L. Melton

http://www.biblebelievers.com/jmelton/SantaClause.html

Bump for Rolando-Christmas Eve
 

Bump. Rolando... You still out there ?