Should Christians Celebrate Christmas?

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Buzzfruit

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Matthew 24:45 “Who really is the faithful and discreet slave whom his master appointed over his domestics, to give them their food at the proper time? 46 Happy is that slave if his master on arriving finds him doing so. 47 Truly I say to YOU, He will appoint him over all his belongings.

If the slave is appointed by God, its because they are a faithful slave. But Jesus gave an illustration to show that not all the slaves are faithful so we need to be very wary of which slave we choose to follow:

Mathew 25:14-29 “For it is just as when a man, about to travel abroad, summoned slaves of his and committed to them his belongings. 15 And to one he gave five talents, to another two, to still another one, to each one according to his own ability, and he went abroad. 16 Immediately the one that received the five talents went his way and did business with them and gained five more. 17 In the same way the one that received the two gained two more. 18 But the one that received just one went off, and dug in the ground and hid the silver money of his master.
19 “After a long time the master of those slaves came and settled accounts with them. 20 So the one that had received five talents came forward and brought five additional talents, saying, ‘Master, you committed five talents to me; see, I gained five talents more.’ 21 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave! You were faithful over a few things. I will appoint you over many things. Enter into the joy of your master.’ 22 Next the one that had received the two talents came forward and said, ‘Master, you committed to me two talents; see, I gained two talents more.’ 23 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave! You were faithful over a few things. I will appoint you over many things. Enter into the joy of your master.’
24 “Finally the one that had received the one talent came forward and said, ‘Master, I knew you to be an exacting man, reaping where you did not sow and gathering where you did not winnow. 25 So I grew afraid and went off and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is yours.’ 26 In reply his master said to him, ‘Wicked and sluggish slave, you knew, did you, that I reaped where I did not sow and gathered where I did not winnow? 27 Well, then, you ought to have deposited my silver monies with the bankers, and on my arrival I would be receiving what is mine with interest.
28 “‘Therefore TAKE away the talent from him and give it to him that has the ten talents. 29 For to everyone that has, more will be given and he will have abundance; but as for him that does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him. 30 And throw the good-for-nothing slave out into the darkness outside. There is where [his] weeping and the gnashing of [his] teeth will be.’

You need to remember too that one is not saved by having perfect understanding. Some Christians are very immature like little children and may not know better.

Nope! I won't be and haven't for about 10 years. The main reason is what Pegg brought out when she quoted John 4:23 (I usually go with v. 24, but it says basically the same thing). The verse you gave Duckybill is pretty good too (Jer 10), but that is a side reason. The whole arguement about Santa Claus being modeled after Jesus is a good one too. I actually knew a person who wondered if Jesus was real after learning that Santa was a lie. I don't know if it happens often, but overall in society, you can't say people take Jesus very seriously.

Many years ago I read something like that as well.
 

brionne

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You need to remember too that one is not saved by having perfect understanding. Some Christians are very immature like little children and may not know better.

yes, and for many centuries all christians were walking about in darkness because the church kept the bible sealed off from people and only they could read it.

but remember Daniels words
Daniel 12:4 “And as for you, O Daniel, make secret the words and seal up the book, until the time of [the] end. Many will rove about, and the [true] knowledge will become abundant.

True knowledge about the origins of christmas and easter and other celebrations and traditions ARE abundant today... we only need to look in an encyclopedia to find the information we need to make a decision on such things as to their origin. But how many people actually bother to apply that knowledge or even search for it? Not many.

So there is no excuse today for worshiping God with falsehoods... we must worship in 'truth' and the truth about these things is well known.

Besides that, we have the holy spirit which is a guide. Those walking in the spirit will be moved to worship in truth and those worshiping in truth will be blessed with the spirit. If we have the holy spirit, we will make a stand for truth and righteousness because the holy spirit inspires such things. :)
 

Buzzfruit

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yes, and for many centuries all christians were walking about in darkness because the church kept the bible sealed off from people and only they could read it.

but remember Daniels words
Daniel 12:4 “And as for you, O Daniel, make secret the words and seal up the book, until the time of [the] end. Many will rove about, and the [true] knowledge will become abundant.

True knowledge about the origins of christmas and easter and other celebrations and traditions ARE abundant today... we only need to look in an encyclopedia to find the information we need to make a decision on such things as to their origin. But how many people actually bother to apply that knowledge or even search for it? Not many.

So there is no excuse today for worshiping God with falsehoods... we must worship in 'truth' and the truth about these things is well known.

Besides that, we have the holy spirit which is a guide. Those walking in the spirit will be moved to worship in truth and those worshiping in truth will be blessed with the spirit. If we have the holy spirit, we will make a stand for truth and righteousness because the holy spirit inspires such things. :)

Yes, and today, Bibles are available pretty much everywhere around the world in various translations in homes but few Christians actually study that Book.
 

Duckybill

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The OT clearly shows how 'green trees' were commonly use to sin against God. That is why Jer 10 calls it "the way of the heathen". So then, why do 'Christians' decorate trees in their homes. What is the reasoning behind this? What possible excuses can be made?

Jeremiah 10:2-4 (KJV)
2 Thus saith the LORD, Learn not the way of the heathen, and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; for the heathen are dismayed at them. 3 For the customs of the people are vain: for one cutteth a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman, with the axe. 4 They deck it with silver and with gold; they fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it move not.

Deuteronomy 12:2 (NKJV)
2 You shall utterly destroy all the places where the nations which you shall dispossess served their gods, on the high mountains and on the hills and under every green tree.

1 Kings 14:22-23 (NKJV)
22 Now Judah did evil in the sight of the LORD, and they provoked Him to jealousy with their sins which they committed, more than all that their fathers had done. 23 For they also built for themselves high places, sacred pillars, and wooden images on every high hill and under every green tree.

Jeremiah 3:6-10 (NKJV)
6 The LORD said also to me in the days of Josiah the king: "Have you seen what backsliding Israel has done? She has gone up on every high mountain and under every green tree, and there played the harlot. 7 And I said, after she had done all these things, 'Return to Me.' But she did not return. And her treacherous sister Judah saw it. 8 Then I saw that for all the causes for which backsliding Israel had committed adultery, I had put her away and given her a certificate of divorce; yet her treacherous sister Judah did not fear, but went and played the harlot also. 9 So it came to pass, through her casual harlotry, that she defiled the land and committed adultery with stones and trees. 10 And yet for all this her treacherous sister Judah has not turned to Me with her whole heart, but in pretense," says the LORD.
 

Vengle

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That video is not the same ol same ol.

That is the most powerful presentation of that subject I have ever seen, and I read 'The Two Babylons" (by Alexander Hislop, if I recall his name right).
 

FHII

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im intersted in which denomination you belong to because there are not too many churchs' against christmas
Don't belong to any demonation.
 

tim_from_pa

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I took the time to now watch the video in its entirety and it is excellent. Thanks for sharing that with us. Although I knew most of everything he taught back from the days I used to listen to Dr. Gene Scott (now deceased), I must admit he put this all together far better than Dr. Scott did and it is an excellent introduction and summary to Christians why Christmas is pagan.

Again, I think that most Christians who frequent forums are well aware of this for the past 20-30 years (as they are more inclined to deeply study the Word). The target of such a video should be to those complacent in their ways who could care less about the origins of traditions. Maybe some will be awakened to their error.

I would also encourage people to subscribe to material from my COG friends. Much of their literature, as well as Herbert W. Armstrong's literature, as now on the Internet in .pdf files free of charge and easy to download. I know they had a booklet out for a long time now that addressed the same issues (not in as much detail) about Christmas that this video did.
 

aspen

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Good on you FHII,

now you just have to find a church who takes the same stance :lol:

You mean like a Kingdom Hall? Don't you think it is best for you to let everyone know that you at a member of the Jehovah's Witnesses, Pegg?
 

FHII

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Can you tell us about this experience ? I find this very hard to believe.
What I said was all there is to it. I knew someone who questioned whether Jesus was real after learning Santa wasn't.
 

brionne

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Don't belong to any demonation.

Ah, that explains it... i thought you might have been a JW but your beliefs dont fit...and the only other ones i know of who dont celebrate christmas are christadelphians.

:)

You mean like a Kingdom Hall? Don't you think it is best for you to let everyone know that you at a member of the Jehovah's Witnesses, Pegg?

anyone who asks my denomination i will gladly tell...and I think i've already done so in anther thread to one of your posts if i remember correctly :)
 

Vengle

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To a Mormon I become as a Mormon.

To a JW, as a JW.

But for them not allowing me to. :)

It is a bit difficult to become all things to all men in this hate centered world.

I follow after Christ, not after Cephas, not after Paul, not after Apollos.

Many have come to see the admonition to not be forsaking the gathering together of the brothers as the gathering together of the followers of Paul. or of Cephas, or of Apollos.

(Apollos W. Armstrong? :rolleyes: )

(Cephas Tazz Russell? :rolleyes: )
 

aspen

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anyone who asks my denomination i will gladly tell...and I think i've already done so in anther thread to one of your posts if i remember correctly :)

You may have, Pegg, I cannot remember. I think it is important for us both to be transparent about our church affiliations because neither one of us share the majority beliefs on this board. Most people know that i am catholic, but i will mention again, just in case.
 

Angelina

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Well I for one will be celebrating this Christmas with my family and friends. It is the only time of the year that we are all together and I love spending time with them all. Every year I have to put together a Christmas program for broadcasting on Christmas day. I usually invite a Pastor to come up and narrate the Christmas story. Then I add various Christmas songs in between each part. It sounds awesome! This year I will be sourcing out well known local identities to narrate the various parts. I also like giving out presents as I spend most part of the year thinking about various people and I enjoy giving presents....

Colossians 2 Amp
[sup]16[/sup]Therefore let no one sit in judgment on you in matters of food and drink, or with regard to a feast day or a New Moon or a Sabbath.
[sup]17[/sup]Such [things] are only the shadow of things that are to come, and they have only a symbolic value. But the reality (the substance, the solid fact of what is foreshadowed, the body of it) belongs to Christ.

Romans 14
[sup]5[/sup] One person considers one day more sacred than another; another considers every day alike. Each of them should be fully convinced in their own mind. [sup]6[/sup] Whoever regards one day as special does so to the Lord. Whoever eats meat does so to the Lord, for they give thanks to God; and whoever abstains does so to the Lord and gives thanks to God

Blessings!!! :)
 

Duckybill

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Nobody wants to talk about decorating trees being 'the way of the heathen'? Seems like it would be important to some since it was idolatry and demon worship.

Jeremiah 10:2-4 (KJV)
2 Thus saith the LORD, Learn not the way of the heathen, and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; for the heathen are dismayed at them. 3 For the customs of the people are vain: for one cutteth a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman, with the axe. 4 They deck it with silver and with gold; they fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it move not.
 

Templar81

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[sub]I watched the viedo and I'll admit; it made me think about symboloism but I think it is a little one sided as it makes a lot of assumptions and generalisations that can't provide us with a true and accurate picture However, I must say that some of it was sobering to say the least.[/sub]

[sub]But here's the bottom line; if we go along with Christmas traditions and we put up our trees and decorations with all their pagan symbols WITHOUT the intention of venerating them as such, will God hold us accountable. Surely he looks into our heaerts and at our intentions. For example at easter I don't ahve anything to do with Ishtar, I'm jsut observing what is to me a strictly Christian festival Surely he will look upon the love I have for him in my religious observance and not see me as some kind of idolater.[/sub]
 

Foreigner

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[sup]Within a week or so we will be putting up our tree. Will be decorating it with both Christian and secular Christmas items such as candy canes and lights. [/sup]
[sup]Why? Because it is harmless. It may have meant something thousands of years ago, but today...[/sup]

[sup]However, I am willing to rethink my position if you were to show me current pagan rituals, a decorated tree being the focal point. [/sup]

[sup]I know I can be as nit-picky as others (it bothers me when people post 'X-Mas' instead of 'Christmas') but it is their choice so why harp about it?[/sup]

[sup]I look at it along the lines of homosexuals incorporating (hijacking?) the Rainbow as their universal symbol of choice.[/sup]

[sup]I have to roll my eyes because the Rainbow is the symbol God provided to show a covenant with His people after he wiped out a population of people who were practicing the very debauchery that homosexuals practice.[/sup]

[sup]They may have selected it as an intentional thumb in the eye to Christians, I don't know. Doesn't matter.[/sup]

[sup]I don't see them as the bad guys, I see them as lost and needing Christ. [/sup]

[sup]But I would never waste my time arguing that they have no right to use the symbol because it is a symbol important to my faith. [/sup]

[sup]Many would just laugh and some would take even greater pleasure in its use. Most would just say "tough noogie." [/sup]

[sup]The danger is putting more emphasis on symbols and rituals rather than what is behind them.[/sup]

[sup]A friend of mine told me that before he was saved, he watched a lot of porn in collage and was fascinated by the number of crosses worn by porn stars in their films. [/sup]

[sup]It is the relationship that is important. Not the symbol.[/sup]
 

Templar81

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Thank youn Foreigner for putting things in eprspective. We have to view these Christmas symbols and practices for what they are; HARMLESS.
 

Duckybill

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Trees were commonly used for Satan worship in the OT. There are reasons to not have such items in our homes.

ESV
And a number of those who had practiced magic arts brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all. And they counted the value of them and found it came to fifty thousand pieces of silver.