Oops, sorry, TK. Don't be sad; at least in my case I'm comfortable with not liking the season.TK wrote:why do i get a sad feeling when i read about those of you who dont really enjoy christmas? i cant really imagine that, i guess. you seem okay with not enjoying it, so i guess i will try not to feel bad that you dont enjoy it. but i wish you did!
TK
How do you celebrate Christmas?
Last edited by Guest on Wed Dec 31, 1969 7:00 pm, edited 0 times in total.
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_MoGrace2u
- Posts: 17
- Joined: Tue Nov 28, 2006 9:51 pm
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I don't know. But for me I look at all the lights and see vanity and emptiness. Our traditions are not the substance but are merely a way we prop it up to "mean something". When I was in the world I celebrated and enjoyed it for the most part. But when I came to Christ these traditions seemed hollow and empty and so I discontinued them.TK wrote:why do i get a sad feeling when i read about those of you who dont really enjoy christmas? i cant really imagine that, i guess. you seem okay with not enjoying it, so i guess i will try not to feel bad that you dont enjoy it. but i wish you did!
Last edited by Guest on Wed Dec 31, 1969 7:00 pm, edited 0 times in total.
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Robin
As for me, I really enjoy all the glitz and glitter! I love all the lights, especially. As a child, I really looked forward to receiving gifts from my parents and grandparents. Having been raised on a subsistence-type farm, I didn't have much in the way of material things until Xmas.
Now, I give gifts only to my younger grandchildren. Oh yes, I prepare gifts also to use at a couple of Xmas celebrations which I attend. We play a game called "Christmas Crime" in which you may take a gift from the tree or "steal" one which has already been selected and is open on someone's lap.
However, having read about the origins of Xmas, I realize that it is not about the birth of Christ, and to call the the birth of Christ "The first Christmas" is ludicrous. The first Christmas took place in the fourth century when three masses were held in honour of Christ:
1. Christ's birth before all ages.
2. Christ's birth as a human being from Mary.
3. Christ's birth in the hearts of the faithful.
That was the time when the first "Christ's Mass" really took place.
The Christians of the first and second century did not celebrate the birth of Christ. They did celebrate His resurrection.
So, for me, Xmas is not a Christian holdiday at all. It is a purely secular holiday, many of whose aspects I enjoy. Am I too "worldly"?
Now, I give gifts only to my younger grandchildren. Oh yes, I prepare gifts also to use at a couple of Xmas celebrations which I attend. We play a game called "Christmas Crime" in which you may take a gift from the tree or "steal" one which has already been selected and is open on someone's lap.
However, having read about the origins of Xmas, I realize that it is not about the birth of Christ, and to call the the birth of Christ "The first Christmas" is ludicrous. The first Christmas took place in the fourth century when three masses were held in honour of Christ:
1. Christ's birth before all ages.
2. Christ's birth as a human being from Mary.
3. Christ's birth in the hearts of the faithful.
That was the time when the first "Christ's Mass" really took place.
The Christians of the first and second century did not celebrate the birth of Christ. They did celebrate His resurrection.
So, for me, Xmas is not a Christian holdiday at all. It is a purely secular holiday, many of whose aspects I enjoy. Am I too "worldly"?
Last edited by Guest on Wed Dec 31, 1969 7:00 pm, edited 0 times in total.
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Paidion
Avatar --- Age 45
"Not one soul will ever be redeemed from hell but by being saved from his sins, from the evil in him." --- George MacDonald
Avatar --- Age 45
"Not one soul will ever be redeemed from hell but by being saved from his sins, from the evil in him." --- George MacDonald
Hmmm ... I selected the last option in Paidion's Poll. I try avoid Christmas for the same reason I avoid Halloween -- it seems to be rooted in Paganism.
In my understanding, the earliest Christians had no "special" days or seasons in the year, in which they isolated their devotion to God. Their devotion was daily, even hourly. They had no "Good Friday" or "Easter" or "Christmas". (Col. 2:16,17).
I am not proposing that anyone who celebrates Christmas is commiting grave sin, but I do recognize that Scripture gives us no warrant to do so, nor do we have the support of the early church fathers.
An article I recommend to all is below, entitled "CHRISTMAS AND EASTER - CHRISTIAN OR PAGAN?":
http://poonen.org/zac/new_wine_in_new_w ... APTER%2024
In my understanding, the earliest Christians had no "special" days or seasons in the year, in which they isolated their devotion to God. Their devotion was daily, even hourly. They had no "Good Friday" or "Easter" or "Christmas". (Col. 2:16,17).
I am not proposing that anyone who celebrates Christmas is commiting grave sin, but I do recognize that Scripture gives us no warrant to do so, nor do we have the support of the early church fathers.
An article I recommend to all is below, entitled "CHRISTMAS AND EASTER - CHRISTIAN OR PAGAN?":
http://poonen.org/zac/new_wine_in_new_w ... APTER%2024
Last edited by Guest on Wed Dec 31, 1969 7:00 pm, edited 0 times in total.
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some of you keep bringing up what the early church fathers did and the fact that they didnt celebrate the birth of Christ.
can we help if they were a bunch of old fuddy-duddies? i am only half joking.
i guess my point regarding the early fathers not celebrating is: BIG DEAL!
maybe they didnt think of it; or maybe they werent very creative. may we ONLY do what the early church fathers did?
how can celebrating the birth of our Lord and Savior be a bad thing? sure, the season has been commercialized, etc. but true christians certainly know why they are celebrating. maybe some non-christians become christians because of the holiday.
okay, i am done ranting now.
TK
can we help if they were a bunch of old fuddy-duddies? i am only half joking.
i guess my point regarding the early fathers not celebrating is: BIG DEAL!
maybe they didnt think of it; or maybe they werent very creative. may we ONLY do what the early church fathers did?
how can celebrating the birth of our Lord and Savior be a bad thing? sure, the season has been commercialized, etc. but true christians certainly know why they are celebrating. maybe some non-christians become christians because of the holiday.
okay, i am done ranting now.
TK
Last edited by Guest on Wed Dec 31, 1969 7:00 pm, edited 0 times in total.
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"Were not our hearts burning within us? (Lk 24:32)
Hi TK,
I'll step out of my bah-humbug persona for a second to say that one thing I like about the season is that I can play Christmas music all day in my public-school classroom and no one complains that I'm singing "glory to God in the highest," or "come let us adore him, Christ the Lord," or "joy to the world, the Lord is come!"
I'll step out of my bah-humbug persona for a second to say that one thing I like about the season is that I can play Christmas music all day in my public-school classroom and no one complains that I'm singing "glory to God in the highest," or "come let us adore him, Christ the Lord," or "joy to the world, the Lord is come!"
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I hear ya loud and clear, TK. I do realize that the testimony of Early Church fathers has little relevance pertaining to our postmodern culture today. However, it is something to think about.TK wrote:i guess my point regarding the early fathers not celebrating is: BIG DEAL!
maybe they didnt think of it; or maybe they werent very creative. may we ONLY do what the early church fathers did?
how can celebrating the birth of our Lord and Savior be a bad thing? sure, the season has been commercialized, etc. but true christians certainly know why they are celebrating. maybe some non-christians become christians because of the holiday.
I don't think I believe that celebrating the birth of our Lord is a bad thing. We ought to rejoice! But why December 25? Why must we compete with the materialistic hoax of our society at large?
I want to maintain that I don't think celebrating Christmas is a sin. But we must recognize that Christmas, in it's origins, in it's principals, and even in it's date has nothing to do with Biblical, Spirit-led Christianity.
I don't want to sound like a hum-bug, but I just want to follow the Lord Jesus as He leads me.
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Agape,
loaves
"And when he had taken the five loaves and the two fishes, he looked up to heaven, and blessed, and brake the loaves...And they did all eat, and were filled" (Mark 6:41-42)
loaves
"And when he had taken the five loaves and the two fishes, he looked up to heaven, and blessed, and brake the loaves...And they did all eat, and were filled" (Mark 6:41-42)
loaves wrote:
because if it wasn't in winter there would be little chance for a white christmas (at least where i live).But why December 25?
Last edited by Guest on Wed Dec 31, 1969 7:00 pm, edited 0 times in total.
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"Were not our hearts burning within us? (Lk 24:32)
