Adventists and Christmas

[queenm04]

Just a question, Do Adventists celebrate Christmas?

 

[TrustAndObey]

Hi Queenm04! We don't celebrate December 25th as Christ's birthday.

All families are different, but our denomination as a whole knows Christ was not born on December 25th. Some families celebrate a holiday but don't tell our children mistruths about what it is and what it's for, etc.

My family celebrates a winter holiday and we call it "Festivus" (we got the idea from Seinfeld...lol). We make sure not to celebrate it on 12-25 and if you wait another week everything is much cheaper anyway! We call it a celebration of our family, and don't put religious ties on it.

I do try to witness a lot during the "Christmas" season and I don't try to take the fairytale away from anyone during that time. If people are using that time to truly celebrate Christ, that is their perogative obviously.

I hope I answered your question. Basically we know Christ was not born on that date and the true celebration of His birth, death, and resurrection is baptism.

God bless,
~Lainie

 

[queenm04]

Hi Queenm04! We don't celebrate December 25th as Christ's birthday.

All families are different, but our denomination as a whole knows Christ was not born on December 25th. Some families celebrate a holiday but don't tell our children mistruths about what it is and what it's for, etc.

My family celebrates a winter holiday and we call it "Festivus" (we got the idea from Seinfeld...lol). We make sure not to celebrate it on 12-25 and if you wait another week everything is much cheaper anyway! We call it a celebration of our family, and don't put religious ties on it.

I do try to witness a lot during the "Christmas" season and I don't try to take the fairytale away from anyone during that time. If people are using that time to truly celebrate Christ, that is their perogative obviously.

I hope I answered your question. Basically we know Christ was not born on that date and the true celebration of His birth, death, and resurrection is baptism.

God bless,
~Lainie

Thanks for your response, What do you celebrate the 25th of December as? RE: Your first line,

 

[TrustAndObey]

Thanks for your response, What do you celebrate the 25th of December as? RE: Your first line,

December 25th is just another day. My husband and I were baptized on that day last year so this year we'll be celebrating our 1 year birth day in Christ.

 

[Seraph1m]

Just a question, Do Adventists celebrate Christmas?

Blessings queenm04:

Please bear in mind most of christiandom is aware that Dec. 25th is not the date that Jesus was born on. Also bear in mind that not one Adventist here or anywhere else can speak to what ALL Adventists may do or, to what ALL Christians may do for that matter in regards to celebrating christmas.

As with anything else it is an issue of personal conviction. With that said, many Christian Adventists do celebrate christmas during the holiday season. Though so, more extreme Adventist groups, do not because some see the observance of the holiday as celebrating something started from pagan origins. According to scripture, given to us by Jesus himself, we are to celebrate Jesus death, burial and resurrection through baptism and communion.

Many Christians see the holiday season as a time filled with opportunities to celebreate the wonder and majesty of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. During this time of fellowship and giving all who accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior have an oportunity to share their testimony about the goodness of God and give witness to what the Lord has done through and for them throughout the year. I hope that helps.

Peace

 

[moicherie]

Just a question, Do Adventists celebrate Christmas?

Personally I do, what the other 11.999 (?) million other Adventists do is up to them.

 

[TrustAndObey]

Personally I do, what the other 11.999 (?) million other Adventists do is up to them.

I feel the same way, except that I don't celebrate it. It was a personal choice for me and my family. It's a personal choice for everyone.

 

[Seraph1m]

Personally I do, what the other 11.999 (?) million other Adventists do is up to them.

My point exactly

 

[SassySDA]

My church celebrates Christmas, even if they didn't, I would still celebrate it in my home. However, you will not find anything to do with Santa Claus.

My daughter told her young neices the story of the true Santa Claus, where the story of the one most of grew up on, that guy that we thought came in through the chimney whether we had one or not, came from. They were fascinated with the story, and are happy with the little gift "he" leaves for them. Since they live with her, in her home, she came up with this idea so that whenever they hear everyone talking about Santa Claus and what he's going to bring them, they can chime right in. She was also wanting to prevent them from blurting out to some unsuspecting young one that there is no such thing as Santa Claus. I remember that that was how I found out, and guys, I gotta tell you, I was devastated. Some children take it hard, and she just wanted to make sure that these young children didn't do a job that is meant for parents to do...

I have always focused more on the what the holiday was supposed to represent, in my home. That is what I still do. Just when I think it can't happen, this holiday becomes even MORE commercialized. In all honesty, that part of it sickens me.

This is a personal choice among all Adventists, which has been stated.

I hope this helps.

 

[BondGirl]

I stated this in the "Thanksgiving thread" and I think it makes sense here too (with a few changes for context) ....If we are going to toss the holiday - then we should also toss all that is connected with it.

1. Don't take the day off - work at home if necessary, stay at your job and don't get paid, but don't take the "Whole-lie Day". (My roomie also added - this is even easier if you have keys to your office. If you can't work because you don't have keys, don't forget - take work home and do it.)

2. When someone says "Merry Christmas" - make it a point to tell them the "true" origin.

3. Watch no parades, "Christmas" movies, blah-blah-blah....

4. Buy nothing that is on a "Christmas Sale Price"; either do all necessary shopping in September, wait until after the holiday season, or demand of the store manager to pay full price.

5. Sing no "Whole-lie Day" songs at church, and make sure that you explain to the entire church when they do so why it is not "CHRISTian" to do so.

6. When someone at your job, neighbor, anyone gives you a "gift" of sweets, trinkets, cheap -stank cologne; refuse it and give them the entire story the same way you tell it to those that are "in de church".

7. Don't even eat "TOFURKEY" on Christmas. After all - to eat the fake, on the same day, is just like eating the real, and even tho' eating the real is not wrong - why participate in the first place?

8. Don't make up a day in place of the "Whole-lie" Day.... it's like a substitute. If you want to commit adultery, but instead watch porn - it's just as bad...right?

Keep going people! What can you do to not celebrate the holiday in any way?

BTW: side addition that is not directly connected w/ the holiday - but is indeed pagan.....

9. Don't call any of the days/months by their names - Most are named after roman gods/rulers that killed innocent people..... Call them "month 1, month 2 - 3rd day, 5th day...and so forth....

Sorry bout my rant....

 

[Princessdi]

Girl, please dont' encourage anyone. There are some who will take great pride in carrying out each and every one of your suggestions

I stated this in the "Thanksgiving thread" and I think it makes sense here too (with a few changes for context) ....If we are going to toss the holiday - then we should also toss all that is connected with it.

1. Don't take the day off - work at home if necessary, stay at your job and don't get paid, but don't take the "Whole-lie Day". (My roomie also added - this is even easier if you have keys to your office. If you can't work because you don't have keys, don't forget - take work home and do it.)

2. When someone says "Merry Christmas" - make it a point to tell them the "true" origin.

3. Watch no parades, "Christmas" movies, blah-blah-blah....

4. Buy nothing that is on a "Christmas Sale Price"; either do all necessary shopping in September, wait until after the holiday season, or demand of the store manager to pay full price.

5. Sing no "Whole-lie Day" songs at church, and make sure that you explain to the entire church when they do so why it is not "CHRISTian" to do so.

6. When someone at your job, neighbor, anyone gives you a "gift" of sweets, trinkets, cheap -stank cologne; refuse it and give them the entire story the same way you tell it to those that are "in de church".

7. Don't even eat "TOFURKEY" on Christmas. After all - to eat the fake, on the same day, is just like eating the real, and even tho' eating the real is not wrong - why participate in the first place?

8. Don't make up a day in place of the "Whole-lie" Day.... it's like a substitute. If you want to commit adultery, but instead watch porn - it's just as bad...right?

Keep going people! What can you do to not celebrate the holiday in any way?

BTW: side addition that is not directly connected w/ the holiday - but is indeed pagan.....

9. Don't call any of the days/months by their names - Most are named after roman gods/rulers that killed innocent people..... Call them "month 1, month 2 - 3rd day, 5th day...and so forth....

Sorry bout my rant....

 

[Princessdi]

Hi Queenm04! We don't celebrate December 25th as Christ's birthday.

I have been SDA ALL of my life and been to numerous Christmas programs, and every single one of them talked about celebrating Christmas as Christ's Birthday, even though we know it is not the exact day on which he was born. So I need to ask what in your back up for this statement? Church Manuual?

All families are different, but our denomination as a whole knows Christ was not born on December 25th. Some families celebrate a holiday but don't tell our children mistruths about what it is and what it's for, etc.

My church is always decorated beautifully, and we alway have a wonderful program, either a musical or a play written and scored by some of our talented members. My family is close and always has gathrings throughout the year, but this one is special, and we all look forward to it each year.

My family celebrates a winter holiday and we call it "Festivus" (we got the idea from Seinfeld...lol). We make sure not to celebrate it on 12-25 and if you wait another week everything is much cheaper anyway! We call it a celebration of our family, and don't put religious ties on it.

Have mercy!!!! What is the point?

I do try to witness a lot during the "Christmas" season and I don't try to take the fairytale away from anyone during that time. If people are using that time to truly celebrate Christ, that is their perogative obviously.

Agreed.

I hope I answered your question. Basically we know Christ was not born on that date and the true celebration of His birth, death, and resurrection is baptism.

God bless,
~Lainie[/QUOTE]

 

[TrustAndObey]

I have been SDA ALL of my life and been to numerous Christmas programs, and every single one of them talked about celebrating Christmas as Christ's Birthday, even though we know it is not the exact day on which he was born. So I need to ask what in your back up for this statement? Church Manuual?

Let me point out your own comment "even though we know it is not the exact day on which he was born". Did you need a church manual to know that? No.

Do I need a church manual to say my family doesn't celebrate Christ's birthday on December 25th? No. Do I need a church manual to say my church family doesn't celebrate it either? No.

Have mercy!!!! What is the point?

My children are not lied to and told that December 25th is the date of Christ's birth, but they still want new things like all their friends. We celebrate our family and we don't need a fat jolly guy in a red suit to show the love of Christ in our home.

 

[Eve4000]

Thanks for your response, What do you celebrate the 25th of December as? RE: Your first line,

well, my family kinda celebrates Christmas, but we know that it's not Jesus's actual birthday. We celebrate family and love and how Jesus cared enough to come to this earth, where he was rejected, to die for us. That's usually at church. But at home, we celebrate New Years like Christmas, with the tree and the presents.

My family celebrates a winter holiday and we call it "Festivus" (we got the idea from Seinfeld...lol). We make sure not to celebrate it on 12-25 and if you wait another week everything is much cheaper anyway! We call it a celebration of our family, and don't put religious ties on it.

YAY TO SEINFIELD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[happywiththelord]

My household celebrates christmas. But we have always been upfront with our daughter. she knows that santa claus is not real. she knows that dec. 25 is not jesus's actual birthday. We celeberate the Lords blessings upon our lives and give him honor and glory for blessing us with money,so we can buy stuff for eachother. and we make sure to explain to our daughter, that its not about the gifts and she is well aware of that. we do do the tree, (cause its pretty!!) and decorate (because its pretty) and have snowmen all over the house that we leave up all winter long.

we also adopt needy families and buy gifts for all there kids. usually from the local womens shelter, women who have left there abusive husbands with just the clothes on there backs and nothing else. She loves shopping for them. We try to do this year round, just not during the "holidays".

thats how we do it.

 

[BondGirl]

....we also adopt needy families and buy gifts for all there kids. usually from the local womens shelter, women who have left there abusive husbands with just the clothes on there backs and nothing else. She loves shopping for them. We try to do this year round, just not during the "holidays".

thats how we do it.

I like those that do something year round - versus waiting until CHRISTMAS time to do it.....

 

[Megs06]

hmmmm... i'm soo confused.. it seems some of you think Christmas is absolutely wrong.. Its a time to remember Jesus birth everyone knows its not the date he was born! A time to spend with family and friends etc etc. to share and to receive... I think it is just the commercial side of it that has made it wrong...

 

[Hortysir]

Greetings, and GodBless to all....
I'm new to this area. A friend of mine recemtly converted to SDA, and I'm very fascinated in alot of it's principles.
(I wish that the statement of faith at the top of your section wasn't just alot of chapter and verse--I'd like to read more of what ya'll Believe)
Anyways....
I step in here to ask:
If you refuse to observe sunday as the Sabbath because it was made so by man, why would you celebrate Jesus' birthday as decenber 25th--knowing that was set by man.
It seems so central to your faith to NOT observe man-made things, is all I'm saying.

Someone above mentioned that they take that time of the year to celebrate Christ and all that He is/was. That's great, but couldn't you just as easily set aside june 12-25?

I think I sorta like the "festivus" idea.
It doesn't tie itself to Christmas, but just gives you a time to exchange gifts among the family....just as we set aside birthdays and anniversaries.

BUT (LOL)....
Jesus knows that when you celebrate Him that time of year, that your not worshipping the sun-god, or paying tribute to the winter solstice....it's not like your praise will be intercepted on that day by some pagan god....

Still young and searching....
Rodney

 

[TrustAndObey]

hmmmm... i'm soo confused.. it seems some of you think Christmas is absolutely wrong.. Its a time to remember Jesus birth everyone knows its not the date he was born! A time to spend with family and friends etc etc. to share and to receive... I think it is just the commercial side of it that has made it wrong...

Megs, go to General Theology. Not everybody knows that December 25th is not Christ's actual birth day, trust me!

Hortysir, I am in complete agreement with you. Baptized paganism is still paganism and we all know how Jesus felt about traditions of men. He told us to celebrate His birth, death and resurrection through BAPTISM. Not with Christmas trees (in fact, we're told in scripture NOT to decorate a tree like the heathens), a fat guy in a red suit, and buying overpriced gifts for each other.

I can accept that some people really do use the holidays as a way to celebrate Christ, but if it's to celebrate His BIRTH...they aren't following scripture. That is not how He told us to do it.

 

[moicherie]

We aren't told to celebrate our birthdays or wedding anniversaries or wear black to funerals or have Sabbath School/Divine Service/AYS and Ingathering, or have the bride dressed in white or even to go in internet sites......