I strongly dislike Christmas (which includes Santa). However...I wouldn't focus on Santa too much because Christians should have nothing to do with Christmas. It is funny when I see Fox New running headlines (and you'll see them leading up to Christmas) regarding how Christ is being taken out of Christmas. You know the line. Well...I'll let you in on a little secret: not only was Yeshua not born anywhere near December 25th, but Christmas has its roots in Paganism (as does most of the Christian traditions). A small amount of research will land you on that much. Christmas is a celebration of Capitalism and has absolutely nothing to do with God and/or the Spirit.
CC
Except the part where it celebrates Jesus' birthday.
Who cares if it's in the middle of December or if you put up a tree with sparkly objects on it? The main point of the celebration is to celebrate the birth of Christ. The date was chosen to be December 25th because it's close to the Winter solstice. It was done to make conversion for the pagans easier. So what?
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Client-side CF enhancements for Google Chrome. Now with [bible=tag]power[/bible].
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My wife and I once wrote a letter of protest to a business that had adopted the slogan, "Thank [Storename] It's Friday" -- while it's not exactly a major theological point, the idea of thanksgiving to God in relief that the workweek is over, or almost over, is one that deserves preservation, a foothold for faith among the 'nominally Christian'.
Likewise, the fact that amid the consumerism, the Santa Claus myth, and all the other trimmings of the secular celebration, people recognize that it is as base the commemoration of when God Himself came among us as a newborn Baby, is something we should not lose.
If you don't like it, don't celebrate it. If you're offended it's turned into a Winter Solstice holiday, remember it at a different time. But remember the importance it has in instilling a knowledge of Jesus and His birth among those who are not being, in general, raised as Christians, and back off on condemning the celebration the rest of us find important.
__________________
"It is written, 'My house shall be a house of prayer,' but you have made it a den of thieves." -Jesus
"You've got to be taught before it's too late / Before you are six or seven or eight / To hate all the people your relatives hate / You've got to be carefully taught." - Oscar Hammerstein II
Christmas is the celebration of Christ's birth and should always have Christ as the focus and the center. But there is nothing wrong with Santa or presents as long as they are secondary to the Reason for the season. Just speaking for myself, I like presents but they should be minimal and I agree we should not allow ourselves to be dragged into the commercial aspects if at all possible. I really enjoy receiving just one gift, maybe something homemade and that's the way I like to give --- something from my heart. God bless.
__________________ Chaplain Sacerdote Baptist Minister & Hospital Chaplain US Army Retired
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For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.(2 Tim 1:7 KJV)
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The date was chosen to be December 25th because it's close to the Winter solstice. It was done to make conversion for the pagans easier. So what?
The winter solistice has certain connotations that connect well with the birth of our Savior who was the True light coming into the world as well. It is symbolicaly a good choice.
The seasonal significance of the winter solstice is in the reversal of the gradually lengthening nights and shortening days.
So, having your religious holiday incorporated into a secular nation not such a good idea?
Christians should be celebrating Christ ALL YEAR, not just at the end of it. Christmas is a nice idea, but we should be having feasts throughout the year to commemorate, not just one big one.
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"Offense" is something TAKEN. No one MAKES anyone feel anything. IF we are offended by something, we CHOSE to be offended by it...
But I think that OFTEN, people confuse discussion with fighting. Disagreeing is not personal, it is not an attack, it is not disrespectful or flaming, it is not offensive per se. It ONLY means, "I disagree." Nothing more. Nothing less. It suggests NO emotional response whatsoever.
NO ONE is mandated to agree with anyone.
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Christians should be celebrating Christ ALL YEAR, not just at the end of it. Christmas is a nice idea, but we should be having feasts throughout the year to commemorate, not just one big one.
"It is written, 'My house shall be a house of prayer,' but you have made it a den of thieves." -Jesus
"You've got to be taught before it's too late / Before you are six or seven or eight / To hate all the people your relatives hate / You've got to be carefully taught." - Oscar Hammerstein II
I strongly dislike Christmas (which includes Santa). However...I wouldn't focus on Santa too much because Christians should have nothing to do with Christmas. It is funny when I see Fox New running headlines (and you'll see them leading up to Christmas) regarding how Christ is being taken out of Christmas. You know the line. Well...I'll let you in on a little secret: not only was Yeshua not born anywhere near December 25th, but Christmas has its roots in Paganism (as does most of the Christian traditions). A small amount of research will land you on that much. Christmas is a celebration of Capitalism and has absolutely nothing to do with God and/or the Spirit.
CC
Everything that anyone does has within it seeds of corruption. It might be why one does it, how one does it, or the sin of not doing it... the reality is that GOD is who takes what is corrupt and turns it around for good for those that love the LORD and are so called.
I enjoy Christmas. If it isn't the time Christ was born, it could very well be the moment JESUS was placed in Mary's womb... Regardless, I find that it is nice to put aside a moment to give a special 'thank you' to GOD for what HE didn't have to do. Everything for me points to GOD. The colors of Christmas, the candy canes, the presents ----- all point to a moment GOD became a man and dwelt amongst us.
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"Offense" is something TAKEN. No one MAKES anyone feel anything. IF we are offended by something, we CHOSE to be offended by it...
But I think that OFTEN, people confuse discussion with fighting. Disagreeing is not personal, it is not an attack, it is not disrespectful or flaming, it is not offensive per se. It ONLY means, "I disagree." Nothing more. Nothing less. It suggests NO emotional response whatsoever.
NO ONE is mandated to agree with anyone.
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Gifts should be for kids, and not for adults. Once I figured that out, Christmas is fantastic.
But, leave it for a Christian to be a Debbie Downer humbug on a time when we are supposed to practice 1 month of being kind to one another, and even that is met with resistance, and "Merry CHRISTmas!" yelled at people in defiance like a rude gesture, and thinking Jesus is giving you a thumbs up.
My partner and I give each other one, and only one, gift. I give with the Secret Santa program at work, with the limit of $25. And I spend up to $100 giving some kid that needs monetary help anonymous gifts, because every kid should have a happy Christmas with lots of toys.
Adults should reflect on the fact that Christ was a gift from God, and in turn, give, rather than receive, and give to those who are truly in need.
Rocket Science, huh?
__________________ Love is the only miracle there is. -Osho
Matthew 10:16
See, I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. So be as cunning as serpents and as innocent as doves.
17 “But beware of men, for they will hand you over to the courts and scourge you in their synagogues; 18 and you will even be brought before governors and kings for My sake, as a testimony to them and to the Gentiles. 19 “But when they hand you over, do not worry about how or what you are to say; for it will be given you in that hour what you are to say. 20 “For it is not you who speak, but it is the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you. 21 “Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up against parents and cause them to be put to death. 22 “You will be hated by all because of My name, but it is the one who has endured to the end who will be saved.
I strongly dislike Christmas (which includes Santa). However...I wouldn't focus on Santa too much because Christians should have nothing to do with Christmas. It is funny when I see Fox New running headlines (and you'll see them leading up to Christmas) regarding how Christ is being taken out of Christmas. You know the line. Well...I'll let you in on a little secret: not only was Yeshua not born anywhere near December 25th, but Christmas has its roots in Paganism (as does most of the Christian traditions). A small amount of research will land you on that much. Christmas is a celebration of Capitalism and has absolutely nothing to do with God and/or the Spirit.
pagan celebration of capitalism?
what a celebration is about depends entirely on what you choose to celebrate during that time. celebrations are not set things. i can choose celebrate the birth of Jesus, good-will, capitalism, or pickles on december 25th. i can choose to celebrate them tomorrow if i so please.
i don't understand the problem you have with celebrations.
but i do understand your concerns about the nation moving away from God. i don't think attacking christmas is the right way to go though.
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