B
BigAlSmith
Guest
Why is it that some churches do not celebrate or even acknowledge Christmas?
I certainly do celebrate it and enjoy it to the extreme.
I have a large house, adorned with trees, lights, just about every imaginable thing around. Uner each of my trees, is a nativity set, placing a statement of "The greatest gift of all"
In my yard is a large lighted nativity set, surrounded with lights, and, from 6 to 7 each night, music as well.
Since that went, up, the Jehova's Witness that canvasses the neighborhood each month has certainly steered clear of my house now. HA!
Years ago, I was married to someone who was a member of a "church of CHrist" Like the catholics, Mormons, Jehova's Witness, Moonies, this group claimed that they were the "one true church" I will not post the name but will say that they were a large congregation in a large southwestern city, I will refer to them as "XYZ Road church of Christ" They were not affiliated with the International/Boston movement.
I found out one Sunday in December that they do not celebrate Christmas. And even more disturbing, I found that not only do they not celebrate it, but they did not want ME to celebrate it either.
I was told by several people, over a Sunday lunch, that I should not put up a tree, lights, anything like that.
Of course, I did anyway. No law says I cannot.
I was also told not to attend any other congregation in the town, especially for "Christmas Services" They knew that I had been at a special ecumenical Christmas celebration at a large Methodist church the week before.
Of course, I did anyway.
In my opinion, they had no right or authority to even try to tell me what how to celebrate or observe and what to do. At first, I just ignored them and went on, then I started getting phone calls. At first, people would identify themselves as deacons or whatever they were of this church, and remind me not to celebrate Christmas. (I had a big Christmas party, and of course, I invited a few people from that church, and they did not like the excessive decorations I had even back then, )
That went over like a lead balloon.
One night, I got a call from a guy saying he was a deacon....he was clearly talking with someone in the room because he kept putting his hand over the phone and I think he was talking to someone else by him.
I told him upfront, to quit calling, that he had no right or authority to tell me how to celebrate something. I reminded him that America is a free country, and if he did not like that, try living in Iran or the Vatican for a while.
I told him that plain and simple, there was not a thing in the world he or anyone else could do about it. I had every right as an American and as a human to choose for myself.
Two days later, my car and all my decorations were vandalized.
I never went back to that church.
I since learned more about it. It is a very negative and rather destructive movement. I sensed that the people were lacking Christ's Love and the congregation was full of phonies. (Matthew 24:5)
The people certainly lacked the Love that would be appearant if Christ were truly at work. (Mark 12:31) (James 3:17)
I researched the movement. They claim to be "the one true church" Even to deny that members of other congregations, especially catholics, and even members of Baptist, Methodist churches, etc, will ever see heaven. They have a definate cultic idea that they alone are the keepers of heaven. I have been told that "The Bible gives US the right to judge you" Like Many cults, they have that "one true Church and we are it" philosophy.
The group started by a man named Campbell in the 1800's. He was trying to "restore" The church that he felt no longer existed.
Of course, Jesus said (Matthew 16:18) that His church would be built then and there on Peter, and would never falter. So, if the Bible is correct, this is just another cultic movement. Along the lines of Rev Moon or the Way International, they seek to isolate their members from the rest of society by forbidding them to explore, question or experience other faiths or ideas.
Amazing, but think of this. It was my celebration of a holiday that saved me from becoming one of the "zombies" that frequent this church and others like it. I still have freedom, I still think for myself, I sure do still celebrate Christmas, and regardless of what someone at "XYZ Road church of Christ" would try to tell me, yes, I am going to Heaven.
Everyone have a very Merry Christmas. Read your Bible, especially the parts in Isiaih about the Prophecy of the Coming of the Messiah; Luke Chapter 2. But do more than just read it; think about this, "the Greatest Gift of all" Think deeply about God's Love. We share presents at Christmastime; Think about the Gifts God shares with us. Think about The Joy and the Excitement the People of Isreal, the Wisemen, even the Shepards in the field must have felt and experienced at this Great Event.
I certainly do celebrate it and enjoy it to the extreme.
I have a large house, adorned with trees, lights, just about every imaginable thing around. Uner each of my trees, is a nativity set, placing a statement of "The greatest gift of all"
In my yard is a large lighted nativity set, surrounded with lights, and, from 6 to 7 each night, music as well.
Since that went, up, the Jehova's Witness that canvasses the neighborhood each month has certainly steered clear of my house now. HA!
Years ago, I was married to someone who was a member of a "church of CHrist" Like the catholics, Mormons, Jehova's Witness, Moonies, this group claimed that they were the "one true church" I will not post the name but will say that they were a large congregation in a large southwestern city, I will refer to them as "XYZ Road church of Christ" They were not affiliated with the International/Boston movement.
I found out one Sunday in December that they do not celebrate Christmas. And even more disturbing, I found that not only do they not celebrate it, but they did not want ME to celebrate it either.
I was told by several people, over a Sunday lunch, that I should not put up a tree, lights, anything like that.
Of course, I did anyway. No law says I cannot.
I was also told not to attend any other congregation in the town, especially for "Christmas Services" They knew that I had been at a special ecumenical Christmas celebration at a large Methodist church the week before.
Of course, I did anyway.
In my opinion, they had no right or authority to even try to tell me what how to celebrate or observe and what to do. At first, I just ignored them and went on, then I started getting phone calls. At first, people would identify themselves as deacons or whatever they were of this church, and remind me not to celebrate Christmas. (I had a big Christmas party, and of course, I invited a few people from that church, and they did not like the excessive decorations I had even back then, )
That went over like a lead balloon.
One night, I got a call from a guy saying he was a deacon....he was clearly talking with someone in the room because he kept putting his hand over the phone and I think he was talking to someone else by him.
I told him upfront, to quit calling, that he had no right or authority to tell me how to celebrate something. I reminded him that America is a free country, and if he did not like that, try living in Iran or the Vatican for a while.
I told him that plain and simple, there was not a thing in the world he or anyone else could do about it. I had every right as an American and as a human to choose for myself.
Two days later, my car and all my decorations were vandalized.
I never went back to that church.
I since learned more about it. It is a very negative and rather destructive movement. I sensed that the people were lacking Christ's Love and the congregation was full of phonies. (Matthew 24:5)
The people certainly lacked the Love that would be appearant if Christ were truly at work. (Mark 12:31) (James 3:17)
I researched the movement. They claim to be "the one true church" Even to deny that members of other congregations, especially catholics, and even members of Baptist, Methodist churches, etc, will ever see heaven. They have a definate cultic idea that they alone are the keepers of heaven. I have been told that "The Bible gives US the right to judge you" Like Many cults, they have that "one true Church and we are it" philosophy.
The group started by a man named Campbell in the 1800's. He was trying to "restore" The church that he felt no longer existed.
Of course, Jesus said (Matthew 16:18) that His church would be built then and there on Peter, and would never falter. So, if the Bible is correct, this is just another cultic movement. Along the lines of Rev Moon or the Way International, they seek to isolate their members from the rest of society by forbidding them to explore, question or experience other faiths or ideas.
Amazing, but think of this. It was my celebration of a holiday that saved me from becoming one of the "zombies" that frequent this church and others like it. I still have freedom, I still think for myself, I sure do still celebrate Christmas, and regardless of what someone at "XYZ Road church of Christ" would try to tell me, yes, I am going to Heaven.
Everyone have a very Merry Christmas. Read your Bible, especially the parts in Isiaih about the Prophecy of the Coming of the Messiah; Luke Chapter 2. But do more than just read it; think about this, "the Greatest Gift of all" Think deeply about God's Love. We share presents at Christmastime; Think about the Gifts God shares with us. Think about The Joy and the Excitement the People of Isreal, the Wisemen, even the Shepards in the field must have felt and experienced at this Great Event.
