Christmas! Not to early to think about this!

Christmas is around the corner! It is not too early to do some thinking. May a Buddhist give you his reflections on the holiday?

Christmas! The time of year that the followers of Christ celebrate his birth. How do we celebrate it? Some folks do it right, but most do not.

We spend too much money on gifts for people who don’t need the gifts. (P.S. Have you paid off last Christmas’ bills yet?) Often they don’t like what you got them anyhow. Crime increases because some folks have to steal the money for Christmas gifts. They want to celebrate the Birth of Christ with their stolen goods!!!!

Our kids open gift after gift and they say, "Is that all?" Are we teaching them greed????

We cook and eat gigantic meals, that we don’t really need! We are too fat anyhow! In the mean time there are many here who don’t get enough to eat, at Christmas or during the rest of the year.

We party! We drink too much! We celebrate the Spirit of Christmas with another kind of spirits! All kinds of things go on at office parties! Nine months later there is often another "gift!"

Most folks don’t go to Church. Then again there are those who go only at Christmas or Easter. Is that enough? Then they put a dollar in the collection plate! Is that enough?

To an outsider this looks like the greedy-guts season! One would think that Jesus was a greedy, drunken, cheapskate! But he was/is not!!! Do you think he would be happy with us?

Celebrate? Yes, but do it right. Look at all the money you spend. Cut it in half! Give the other half to the poor. Jesus was a gift to mankind - reciprocate, give back to mankind, in his name. There are many good places, where you live, that needs the money to help the poor. Investigate! Find the good ones! But remember this! People need to eat all year around! People are in need, the whole year around to!

This year, don’t give your kid another bike! He does not need it. Give him something small and useful. Don’t give Uncle Fred another tie. He did not like the one you gave him last year! This year give them a card that says, "In your name I donated X$ to......" They may think you are a cheap "nut." But what do you think Jesus would say?

This way we hold the true meaning of Christmas. We also teach our kids the real meaning of, "It is more blessed to give than to receive." Take your kids to Church, both Mom and Dad! Show them you value the day, this most Holy of days. Both you and your kids will be the richer for it.

Christmas is for giving, not to those who don’t need it but to those who do. I post this early so you will have time to make, or change, your plans! Do it in, His name!

Give me your thoughts.

VaNiTy'S GeNdeR said:

most ppl dont go to church?...r u talking about christians or ppl in general...

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I am talking about Christians, even is they are nominally so. This is to whom this thread is directed. But don’t lose the meaning here! If one subscribes to the Christian message one must LIVE it! Christmas is a major festival in the Church year. Can we agree on that?

P.S. as for people in general. Would it hurt them to adopt the things I said?
I am a Buddhist with many Christian family and friends. I have done it. Has not killed me yet!

Wisdom Seeker said:

W. S. Opens present....."Oh guilt, for me? You shouldn't have. "

My family is Buddhist...and I find it really hard to believe that you are buddhist and posting that judgmental garbage. Guilt isn't a buddhist concept. So what's the deal?

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Judgmental garbage? Where? All I was doing was to show the Christian what an outsider sees. A wise Christian will read it and accept or not. I hope he would be grateful for the view.

Guilt isn't a Buddhist concept. What guilt? Can you show me where I am wrong? All that I mentioned happens - to often!

As for me being a Buddhist, maybe I am not a "good" one. But I was taught respect for all religions. I was also taught to assist all religions when I could. Christians have helped me. I help them. You do not say if you are Buddhist. If you are, look again at your belief. The only judgement here comes from you.

P.S. What kind of Theologian are you that connot understand what I said?

VaNiTy'S GeNdeR said:

yeah and i mean really u shouldnt be judging us..b/c u know not ourways...were not ALL greedy as u perceive...but maybe u dont know alot of us

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Again, show me where I am wrong!

I am not judging you. Just commenting on how it is, for many. If it does not apply to you, good!

By the way, I do know your ways. I studied for the Christian Ministry.

VaNiTy'S GeNdeR said:

i cant take u THAT serious when ur buddhist and use the phrase "But what do you think Jesus would say? "
b/c personally i dont follw the whole WWJD it was a marketing scheme more than nething just like those sad testaMINTS...
and "both Mom and Dad! " that right there is just u assuming moms are the church goers and dads are the guys that stay home and watch football..and again this is NOT true for everyone so dont highlight DAD as something to be in awe that one would go

and another thing if u have so many veiws about HOW TO celebrate chirstmas as a holiday being christian.. why r u buddhist how come u arent telling them how to celebrate it...dont be so judgemental based on a large majority...b/c think...WHAT WOULD JESUS DO

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I see by your post that you are a Christian with issues, " personally i dont follw the whole WWJD it was a marketing scheme more than nething just like those sad testaMINTS..."

As for men not going to Church as often as women, look into a church sometime! But you are right, it is not true for every man.

Also, I do tell Buddhist how to celebrate - if they do celebrate Christmas, or the Birth of the Buddha in May.

You also said, ".dont be so judgemental based on a large majority.." If the majority is large them I am not wrong after all and there is a problem.

VaNiTy'S GeNdeR said:

no i didnt mean as christians i meant as individuals...dont try to tell me u know me b/c u know how "christians" are...b/c i find most chritians near me..veyr judgemental and condeming so im not like them...and if u werent judging im sorry and yes for many it is like that...and its sad..but there are alot that celebrate it for what it is

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My remarks were not directed at those who understand the festival, and no, I do not know you but I know more than you think. I know many who are judged and condemned by people of all faiths, because of what they are, or are not. This is not good! I perceived that you have been judged and condemned yourself. Am I right? Is that why you jumped on me? Did you think I was one of "those?"

VaNiTy'S GeNdeR said:

oh i know there is a problem...but still there are some that arent in the large majority..and yes i dont like the BIG majority of chiritians that u described..i dont hate them..i just dont like their methods...i dont have "issues" its just that Jesus as a marketing tool isnt my thing..such as bilboards trying to use catchy slogans for salvation..i.e-"got faith?"

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You and I agree more than you think.

PS to all you folks who think I am judging. Did you notice, in my original posting that I said "WE?" I have been as guilty as anyone else!

VaNiTy'S GeNdeR said:

...its sad..but thats how the world is

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Does it have to be? Can't we change, one person at a time?

VaNiTy'S GeNdeR said:

yes ofcorset we can change it....i didnt say we couldnt..im trying...seems u are...so good luck ^_-

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And good luck and blessing to you! Sincerely so.

ADDRESSED TO NO ONE IN PARTICULAR.

Perhaps I should quit while I am ahead. But I have to say this. I meant no offence but it seems I opened up a hornets nest of misunderstandings.
The trouble with the written word is that most of us, myself included, are not good enough writers to express the tone of our thoughts. For those who have been judged, we tend to see everything as a judgement. For those of us who have had guilt imposed on us we see everything as aggravating that guilt. It is like the old saying, "to a man with a hammer, everything is a nail." My tone was one of concern for a great festival gone terribly wrong - for some believers!

If there are those out there to whom my words do not apply, good! But are you few or many? As a former Christian preacher, that still has a warm spot in my heart for the Christian, I hope you are many.