Christmas thread

[savedbygrace05]

It is summer time, so why not have some fun? By my estimation there are only 184 shopping days left to Christmas. So, what are your likes/dislikes concerning the festive season? Let's see if we can keep this thread going until Christmas eve

I'll get it started;

What I like about Christmas is the wonderful focus on biblical truth.

What I dislike is the commercialism/consummerism involved during the festive time.

 

[Genersis]

I like Christmas as it's a designated day for buying gifts for my friends and family.
And the over all atmosphere of togetherness and giving.

What i dislike is that lonely people suffering from depression are more likely to commit suicide because of the latter.:o
...perhaps that was a little too dark...

 

[Grannie Annie]

I love Christmas because we get together with Brian's family for a long lunch (after we've been to church) I feel sad about Christmas because my kids live on the other side of the country and even if they were close, my daughter wouldn't want to see me anyway. I like Christmas because I have wonderful memories of my mother, but I'm sad too because she's not here anymore. I'll like this Christmas because (Dec.23rd) it will be 2 yrs since my cancer diagnosis...and hopefully between now and then it won't have come back again. I don't like the commercialism of Christmas. I love traditional Christmas Carols. And of course for us.... down under ... it's summer and I don't like the heat !!

 

[Miser]

I like Christmas because people who wouldn't normally think about Jesus do

I hate Christmas because of EVERYTHING else to do with it >:

 

[Bish bash bosh]

I like Christmas.

It's good to uphold traditional pagan festivals.

Bish

 

[savedbygrace05]

I like Christmas.

It's good to uphold traditional pagan festivals.

Bish

 

[ianb321red]

I don't like the fact that the Christmas story has 3 wise men mentioned every single year, yet they are not mentioned in The Bible.

 

[Miser]

I don't like the fact that the Christmas story has 3 wise men mentioned every single year, yet they are not mentioned in The Bible.

You'd be amazed what isn't in the Bible, and yet has church dogma surrounding it....

*cough* perpetual virginity of Mary *cough*

 

[Bungle_Bear]

I don't like the fact that the Christmas story has 3 wise men mentioned every single year, yet they are not mentioned in The Bible.

That's not strictly true, is it? Or perhaps you just mnean the specific number of wise men? Matthew tells of a visit by (no number given) wise men from the East.

I like Christmas because it's the only day of the year where I get to talk to all my family, wherever they are in the world, on the same day.

I dislike the commercialism.

 

[ebia]

It is summer time, so why not have some fun? By my estimation there are only 184 shopping days left to Christmas. So, what are your dislikes concerning the festive season?

People counting down shopping days, especially from stupidly far in advance.

 

[ebia]

That's not strictly true, is it? Or perhaps you just mnean the specific number of wise men? Matthew tells of a visit by (no number given) wise men from the East.

Although he doesn't say the visit is particularly close to Christmas and Herod killing all two years and younger would imply Jesus was a toddler by then.

 

[savedbygrace05]

People counting down shopping days, especially from stupidly far in advance.

Thank you for your honesty

 

[Bungle_Bear]

Although he doesn't say the visit is particularly close to Christmas and Herod killing all two years and younger would imply Jesus was a toddler by then.

True. But they were still in Bethlehem where they'd gone for a census (!). Not likely they'd still be there 2 years later.

 

[ebia]

True. But they were still in Bethlehem where they'd gone for a census (!). Not likely they'd still be there 2 years later.

Why not? There is nothing in Matthew's account about them coming from anywhere else. In Matthew's version of the story Nazareth is a place they settle only after their return from Egypt and the find Archelaus is ruling in Judea.

A lot of problems come from trying to harmonise the two different accounts (Matthew & Luke).

 

[lismore]

Let's see if we can keep this thread going until Christmas eve

What do you think of people who celebrate Christmas on the biblical date? I've never done it, but have respect for those that do.

 

[ianb321red]

That's not strictly true, is it? Or perhaps you just mnean the specific number of wise men? Matthew tells of a visit by (no number given) wise men from the East.

...exactly - no number given

 

[savedbygrace05]

What do you think of people who celebrate Christmas on the biblical date? I've never done it, but have respect for those that do.

The biblical date?

 

[ianb321red]

The biblical date?

http://www.christianforums.com/t7616613/

and

http://www.christianforums.com/t7616613-3/#post59414147

 

[lismore]

The biblical date?

Yes as Ian has shared.

Jesus said that he came to fulfill the law and the prophets. There is nothing in the Law and the prophets at the time of year Christmas is often celebrated.

However the gospel of Luke gives a date for Zechariah being in the temple. You can use this to calculate the date Jesus was born, which gives the feast of Tabernacles.

If you study the Feast of Tabernacles it's amazing the prophetic significance in the festival, pointing to the birth of Jesus.

 

[savedbygrace05]

Yes as Ian has shared.

Jesus said that he came to fulfill the law and the prophets. There is nothing in the Law and the prophets at the time of year Christmas is often celebrated.

However the gospel of Luke gives a date for Zechariah being in the temple. You can use this to calculate the date Jesus was born, which gives the feast of Tabernacles.

If you study the Feast of Tabernacles it's amazing the prophetic significance in the festival, pointing to the birth of Jesus.

So, are you suggesting October? I have no problem with the current arrangement, and neither I suspect does God as He is not limited to time like us.

The simple fact is that we are all big on traditions like birthdays, anniversaries etc because it is part of our DNA (so to speak). This gives us a golden opportunity each year, at the same time to remind ourselves and others of timeless truths