Is liking pagan items for Christmas a sin?

[thelord's_pearl]

Ok, I honor Christ Jesus on Christmas and I celebrate it, not pagan Christmas but I like the items of pagan Christmas too like elves, I have a snowman with a red hat and scarf with two black and white penguins, reindeers are all so cute, is it a sin? Thanks!

 

[thelord's_pearl]

I think it's all about the heart, right? That you didn't worship it above the Lord your God

 

[Bob Estey]

Ok, I honor Christ Jesus on Christmas and I celebrate it, not pagan Christmas but I like the items of pagan Christmas too like elves, I have a snowman with a red hat and scarf with two black and white penguins, reindeers are all so cute, is it a sin? Thanks!

I don't know of anything in the Bible that says that having a "snowman with a red hat and scarf with two black and white penguins, reindeers" is a sin.

 

[Pearl]

Ok, I honor Christ Jesus on Christmas and I celebrate it, not pagan Christmas but I like the items of pagan Christmas too like elves, I have a snowman with a red hat and scarf with two black and white penguins, reindeers are all so cute, is it a sin? Thanks!

Enjoy celebrating the birth of our King in a way that you enjoy. The trappings of Christmas, such as trees, lights, decorations etc are just that meaningless trappings. The modern tradition of decorating an evergreen tree was brought to England by Queen Victoria's German-born husband, Prince Albert and the tradition became widespread and stuck. Trees - or anything else - are not pagan of themselves. So enjoy your Christmas tree, after all our God made them didn't he.

 

[Jim B]

Ok, I honor Christ Jesus on Christmas and I celebrate it, not pagan Christmas but I like the items of pagan Christmas too like elves, I have a snowman with a red hat and scarf with two black and white penguins, reindeers are all so cute, is it a sin? Thanks!

No, having fun with snowmen and penguins and reindeer is just having fun. Don't worry about it.

 

[Adam]

I think God wants us to enjoy life and not be overly obsessive with rituals and observances like the pharisees, to the point where our faith becomes a burden on our ability to be happy. If it is blatantly idolatrous or blasphemous it is evil, but if you have a snowman or a decorative tree, and they make you happy, I would have to judge them as good things.

 

[TLHKAJ]

Ok, I honor Christ Jesus on Christmas and I celebrate it, not pagan Christmas but I like the items of pagan Christmas too like elves, I have a snowman with a red hat and scarf with two black and white penguins, reindeers are all so cute, is it a sin? Thanks!

James 4:17
[17]Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.

 

[Adam]

James 4:17
[17]Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.

Romans 2
12 For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law;

13 (For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified.

14 For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves:

15 Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;)

God judges people according to their conscience. The same God that rules over Man also rules over beasts and birds, but God does not judge a wolf to hell when the wolf murders a man. Animals were created to be free and experience the world and take it in with all their senses. Man was created to toil on the Earth but by no means should Man be damned for experiencing the things in the world that fills him with joy, rather, being able to experience these things is the reward for our toils. If something makes you happy - true happiness, seeing the form of good in the world- then it is a good thing. If something fills you with fear or doubt or temptation or hatred then it is evil and should be rid of.

 

[TLHKAJ]

Romans 2
12 For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law;

13 (For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified.

14 For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves:

15 Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;)

God judges people according to their conscience. The same God that rules over Man also rules over beasts and birds, but God does not judge a wolf to hell when the wolf murders a man. Animals were created to be free and experience the world and take it in with all their senses. Man was created to toil on the Earth but by no means should Man be damned for experiencing the things in the world that fills him with joy, rather, being able to experience these things is the reward for our toils. If something makes you happy - true happiness, seeing the form of good in the world- then it is a good thing. If something fills you with fear or doubt or temptation or hatred then it is evil and should be rid of.

That's a subtle yet serious twisting of the scripture. We are not given free reign to do whatever we please. That scripture is saying that we are not saved by the works of the law. And yet, God has written it on our hearts. The conscience, functioning as God intended, should be leading us to obey God. @thelord's_pearl is feeling a conviction which is a good thing. She already knows the answer God is giving her and the answer is in scriptures, rightly divided.

Jeremiah 17:9-10
[9]The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?
[10]I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.

Jeremiah 10:2-6
[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.
[5]They are upright as the palm tree, but speak not: they must needs be borne, because they cannot go. Be not afraid of them; for they cannot do evil, neither also is it in them to do good.
[6]Forasmuch as there is none like unto thee, O LORD; thou art great, and thy name is great in might.

Galatians 2:17
[17]But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is therefore Christ the minister of sin? God forbid.

 

[shortangel]

it should be about convictions & how The Holy Sprrit is leading you to celebrate Christmas :) always pray & ask God :)

 

[Adam]

That's a subtle yet serious twisting of the scripture. We are not given free reign to do whatever we please. That scripture is saying that we are not saved by the works of the law. And yet, God has written it on our hearts. The conscience, functioning as God intended, should be leading us to obey God. @thelord's_pearl is feeling a conviction which is a good thing. She already knows the answer God is giving her and the answer is in scriptures, rightly divided.

Jeremiah 17:9-10
[9]The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?
[10]I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.

Jeremiah 10:2-6
[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.
[5]They are upright as the palm tree, but speak not: they must needs be borne, because they cannot go. Be not afraid of them; for they cannot do evil, neither also is it in them to do good.
[6]Forasmuch as there is none like unto thee, O LORD; thou art great, and thy name is great in might.

Galatians 2:17
[17]But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is therefore Christ the minister of sin? God forbid.

There is a lot of wisdom in this - the heart can be deceived into thinking it desires things which in fact only destroy the soul. As Oscar Wilde said -there are only two tragedies in life: not getting what you want; and getting it. But I believe that the fundamental idea of good and evil can be understood by conscience because, as the scripture says, the law is written on our hearts.

Personally, I do not believe that evil resides in dead matter but in thoughts and actions. Whether a tree is evil or good entirely depends on the intention. The Bible here is criticising the pagans, that they take a tree, cut it down, dress it up to use as an altar. This is a critique of their faith: they take something God created (faith), cut away all life from it (removing all virtue and wisdom), and take this dead thing (false faith) and dress it up (such as with fancy priest robes and rituals) but it is useless, and can no longer grow or even stand on its own.

So a Christmas tree is no longer at least used as a pagan altar in our society, it is a decorative prop, which might bring positive emotions to a person, memories of their parents or their childhood. I think this is a good thing.

But at the risk of sounding like Charlie Brown, if it is used as an "altar" to this festival of greed and consumerism that Christmas has become, then it is exactly as the Bible says, a vain and lifeless thing.

 

[Jim B]

There is a lot of wisdom in this - the heart can be deceived into thinking it desires things which in fact only destroy the soul. As Oscar Wilde said -there are only two tragedies in life: not getting what you want; and getting it. But I believe that the fundamental idea of good and evil can be understood by conscience because, as the scripture says, the law is written on our hearts.

Personally, I do not believe that evil resides in dead matter but in thoughts and actions. Whether a tree is evil or good entirely depends on the intention. The Bible here is criticising the pagans, that they take a tree, cut it down, dress it up to use as an altar. This is a critique of their faith: they take something God created, cut away all life from it, and take this dead thing and dress it up, with fancy priest robes and rituals, but it is useless, and can no longer grow or even stand on its own.

So a Christmas tree is no longer at least used as a pagan altar in our society, it is a decorative prop, which might bring positive emotions to a person, memories of their parents or their childhood. I think this is a good thing.

But at the risk of sounding like Charlie Brown, if it is used as an "altar" to this festival of greed and consumerism that Christmas has become, then it is exactly as the Bible says, a vain and lifeless thing.

While I basically agree with you, I don't think too many people regard their Christmas tree as an altar "to this festival of greed and consumerism that Christmas has become". Rather to most people it represents the season of joy and the exchange of gifts.

 

[Adam]

While I basically agree with you, I don't think too many people regard their Christmas tree as an altar "to this festival of greed and consumerism that Christmas has become". Rather to most people it represents the season of joy and the exchange of gifts.

I've seen some people get really greedy.

 

[amigo de christo]

Ps , God judges mankind according to HIS WORD .
There is a way which seems right unto folks but the end thereof is death .

 

[amigo de christo]

The words that i have spoken unto you shall be your judge .

 

[JasonTheServent]

The Bible said that we have to be in this world but not of it. Celebrating Christmas Without celebrating His birth is of the world but since you have to live in this world and so do your children. must surround your Christmas with Jesus and let your kids enjoy the day with presents and btw everything these days are paganist or something else but there again we have to live in this world. And if your worried about the toys your buying, just pray over them that they will bring no harm but only joy, no evil but only good to your children.

 

[Jim B]

I've seen some people get really greedy.

"Some people" do all kinds of things. What is your point?