To Celebrat or Not To Celebrate

Timothy3264

Newbie
Dec 15, 2013
5
0
✟15,105.00
Faith
Christian
Marital Status
Private
Politics
US-Others
the anger displayed because I stated the Christians ought not judge each other because of celebrating or not celebrating Christmas leaves a bad taste in my mouth and in my soul. If you wonder why there is a mass exodus from the church this is why and why I refuse to ever step foot in a building again. Legalism is alive and well and will result in more exoduses.
So much for speak the truth in love. I had to get nasty because the comments ranged from not being a true Christian to a heretic. When and if the:cry::cry::cry::cry: self-righteous modern Pharisees leave the church then and only then will I and others return. I pray that these Christians recognize what they are doing to the Body of Christ. I have nothing further as y'all only want to argue semantics and not whether there is truth in evaluation in Christians calling others in the body less than they for the way they worship
 
Last edited:

DanJudge

Regular Member
Jun 17, 2006
424
9
✟9,491.00
Faith
Christian
To many Christians this time of year is sacred. To others, because of the origins of Christmas, this is just another day. If that is where it was left at there would be a more unified Body. Sadly, those who celebrate look down on those who don't and those who don't look down on those who do.
However; the main goal should be God's glory. Those who celebrate do so as their way of glorifying God. Those who don't celebrate don't do so for the same reason--their way of glorifying God. Both groups choose this path as a way to glorify God and God is glorified, not in whether you celebrate December 25th as the birth of Jesus or don't, but in our purpose behind celebrating or not celebrating. Do you really think it is wise to put down those who choose a different way of glorifying God than your own?
"Who are you to judge another man's servant? By his own master he stands or he falls". So, rather than argue whether Jesus was born on December 25th or he was born July 16th, let us realize that the choice we make is that person's way of glorifying God and I'll not judge whether he is correct or not, but thank God that he/she wants God glorified.
NOTE: Jesus laid out a formula for our judging one another. If you judge someone you will be judged by others. Judge me for celebrating
Christmas? There is a whole line of people behind me ready to judge YOU
for being legalistic. Being judged like that never feels good because I am being judge by other Christians not for openly living in sin, but for my choice of how I glorify God!?!

Tim/Brothers, As true christians, we must go to the Bible, Jesus, was born on the 7th month, the 15th day of the month. Read Lev. chapter 23, then read the gospel of John chapter 1:14 dwelt among us, look up the Greek word for dwelt. So should we celebrate Christmas the answer is NO.

Peace Be With You All, From the CRB.
DanJudge
 
Upvote 0

Timothy3264

Newbie
Dec 15, 2013
5
0
✟15,105.00
Faith
Christian
Marital Status
Private
Politics
US-Others
The replies that Christmas shouldn't be celebrated is just theological debate and all of you miss the whole part of the thread. I didn't argue for or against Christmas, but judging me for celebrating. So, here's my point. Jesus will judge me and I'll guarantee He is not sending me to hell for celebrating a specific I have set aside in my life to honor Him. It is not for anyone t judge me for anything that is not in accord with Matthew 18.
The whole point is no one should feel smug that they are holier than me because they don't celebrate. This, by the way, was also Paul's point. If the day is holy to celebrate the day. If it is not, don't celebrate. Either stance is that person's way of honoring God.
Too many people want to feel that I am not a true Christian because I celebrate a day others don't. My Master is the one who will judge me. As always the self-righteous want to debate a day rather than my heartfelt reason for celebrating.
To be blunt no has a right to judge me and/or put themselves above me. If I am in error it is the intensions of my heart to glorify God.
My thread was not a debate on the day, but rather it was on the high and mighty Christian of self importance who wishes to thrash me instead what is in my heart.
I choose the day to honor God. He is glorified and That is what counts, not the # of syllables in a given day.
I bet every last one acknowledges the days of the week. Yet 5 out of the 7 come as a result of Roman worship of mythical gods. Don't see anyone saying, "Don't call it Tuesday because the day came about as a result of worshipping other gods.
The Pharisee in Luke who stated defended himself before the altar because he did all the right things was still not, according to Jesus, repentant; the publican was. In case you still don't get it, you are not to judge me over a day. Paul said that same standard applies when you are judged.
I could be wrong in my assessment, but I can acknowledge my error whereas the self righteous, brow beat judges will never admit that it is just as likely they are wrong.
My honor of God stands against you're desire to be seen as the better Christian.
 
Upvote 0
R

RickardoHolmes

Guest
I honestly do celebrate Christmas as a Spiritual and Mystical Holiday. The Highlight for me is the Midnight Mass, which I usually attend at an Anglican high church but occasionally at a catholic church.
I do not look down on those who do not celebrate. That is their choice and their right.
However, I do not let those who do not celebrate interfere with, or influence, what I choose to do.
Amen.
 
Upvote 0

cubanito

Well-Known Member
Nov 16, 2005
2,680
222
Southeast Florida, US (Coral Gables near Miami)
✟4,071.00
Faith
Presbyterian
Marital Status
Married
Politics
US-Republican
OK, so let's nit pick awhile.

1- contra Timothym the days of the week are mainly from North Mythology (4/7), only one Roman (Saturn's Day) and the other two for Sun-day and Moon-day which are sort of general paganism. The Seven-Day Week and the Meanings of the Names of the Days

2- Contra Koons, JC was DEFINITELY not born in winter. Shepherds keep sheep penned in villages as there is no grazing available due to both cold and dry conditions. There have been various attempts to nail down the day but for SURE it was not in winter.

3- There's no question the timing of Christmas was set to Saturnalia and also more or less to coincide with various winter equinox ancient pagan festivals to ward off the evil of the longest night of the year. This also goes for Halloween, I am not talking about an exact day here, just to accomodate pagan practices that were so commonly tied to near mid-winter celebrations.

4- Far worse is what the Latin Chuch (Rome) did with Easter. They forsook the Orthodox who quite rightly tied Easter to a couple of days after the Jewish Passover and just made up their own day. This caused a lot of grief and bickering in the early Church and, as usual, despite being 100% wrong, Rome demanded what was clearly idiotic. It bothers me greatly that Protestants follow the Roman Easter day instead of the Eastern Orthodox for Easter, which is for sure Biblical.

5- My own Latin-american tradition is way better than the USA Christmas thing. In the old land, the 24th was a Thanksgiving like day, with big meals and Church on Christmas. Gift giving, limited to children, was Jan 6, called "three king's day" to celebrate the arrival of the Magi. Yes, yes, they weren't Kings, we do not know how many (unless you believe Marco Polo) and they arrived long after the birth. But hey, at least the concept of gifts for children tied to magi is way more Biblical, plus it gave a more "religious" aspect to Christmas (I am trying to use "religious" in whatever tiny positive way I can).

Nit picking over, I say so what? Can I get back to watching my grandaughter opening her gifts the 25th? Timothy, I have no idea who is judging you, they "strain gnats while swallowing camels" to quote some ancient Rabbi. I am sorry, but I just can not quite remember who said that about the legalists of His own day.

Jesus Rodriguez AKA JR
 
Upvote 0

Cactus Jack

Well-Known Member
Jul 12, 2011
1,459
111
somewhere
✟17,259.00
Faith
Christian
Marital Status
Single
Politics
US-Republican
Timothy, they're human. Just as human as you. And don't let what they say stop you from you celebrating as you want. If you wanna celebrate Christmas, do it! If not, then don't. It's your life, your choice. When people judge like that, it's (to me) showing their own insecurities and inadequacies.
 
Upvote 0

Second Phoenix

Well-Known Member
Jul 28, 2013
2,142
69
✟2,668.00
Faith
Christian
3- There's no question the timing of Christmas was set to Saturnalia and also more or less to coincide with various winter equinox ancient pagan festivals to ward off the evil of the longest night of the year. This also goes for Halloween, I am not talking about an exact day here, just to accomodate pagan practices that were so commonly tied to near mid-winter celebrations.

How was Christmas set to Saturnalia since Saturnalia lasted for a week and Christmas was moved to December 25, which was not the time or Saturnalia? Also, was Christmas not celebrated on other dates before being moved to December 25? Wasn't the conception of Jesus celebrated on March 25, so it seemed only natural to move it there?

I had not heard that about halloween. I heard that Halloween did not coincide with any pagan holidays. That Halloween was based on All Saint's Day, which was on November 1. The 'Eve' as in Christmas Eve is ween. Hallo was like Holy or Saints. Saint's Eve. Do you disagree?

4- Far worse is what the Latin Chuch (Rome) did with Easter. They forsook the Orthodox who quite rightly tied Easter to a couple of days after the Jewish Passover and just made up their own day. This caused a lot of grief and bickering in the early Church and, as usual, despite being 100% wrong, Rome demanded what was clearly idiotic. It bothers me greatly that Protestants follow the Roman Easter day instead of the Eastern Orthodox for Easter, which is for sure Biblical.

I heard the problem was that in the early Church, the Jewish Christians followed their lunar calendar while most Christians followed the solar calendar. Is this not true? The current system is a compromise between the two calendars, which is why it has the odd calculation date, because it is lunar and solar.

Also, why should Christians celebrate Easter on the Passover when Jesus was not resurrected on the Passover but several days late? I don't understand how this is made up - Christian calendars are based on the events of the passion. They have Lord's Supper on Thursday, Good Friday on Friday, remember his death, Saturday, then Easter Sunday.
 
Upvote 0
This site stays free and accessible to all because of donations from people like you.
Consider making a one-time or monthly donation. We appreciate your support!
- Dan Doughty and Team Christian Forums