The history of the origins of Christmas and St. Nicholas

[yeshuaslavejeff]

Even worse things that are now only available on Thanksgiviving Day. Families can't even spend that time together if someone thinks they must rush out to shop.

I'm getting disgusted with the whole thing. I wish we as a nation had the discipline to boycott Black Friday, but the sad videoes shared of people actually hurting each other to buy things is a sickening testament to how far we are falling.

Is this "Christian" though ? Even "Christian history" .
I suppose it might be considered such,
even though some groups(persecuted Christians, for example) never caved in to society or all the hubbub .... .

The world though, has always acted like that, without remorse. Instead, they pat one another on the back encouraging sin and wickedness, even in high places (government, religious, finance, military) and in so-called 'grass roots' (common folk, greedy, self-serving, idolators, un-caring for God's Way) ...

So even if all the Christians boycotted Black Friday (actually they already do, they haven't taken part in it) , it would not change things,
any more than the Apostles and disciples and congregations changed Athens with all of its idols and false gods.

 

[~Anastasia~]

Is this "Christian" though ? Even "Christian history" .
I suppose it might be considered such,
even though some groups(persecuted Christians, for example) never caved in to society or all the hubbub .... .

The world though, has always acted like that, without remorse. Instead, they pat one another on the back encouraging sin and wickedness, even in high places (government, religious, finance, military) and in so-called 'grass roots' (common folk, greedy, self-serving, idolators, un-caring for God's Way) ...

So even if all the Christians boycotted Black Friday (actually they already do, they haven't taken part in it) , it would not change things,
any more than the Apostles and disciples and congregations changed Athens with all of its idols and false gods.

Forgive me ysl, as I said in a later post I didn't realize in what thread I was posting. This is not meant to be a commentary on Christian view of Christmas - just a comment from an American mother who loves spending time with her family and keeps these kinds of traditions alive too. I've been known to watch fireworks on July 4 too, even though it's not in the Bible.

My comment was about family, society, and commercialism, not Christianity and Christmas and paganism. I hope that makes sense.

 

[yeshuaslavejeff]

I've been known to watch fireworks on July 4 too, even though it's not in the Bible.

Well, well now,
for now at least, please, please don't pluck out your eyes ....

 

[~Anastasia~]

Well, well now,
for now at least, please, please don't pluck out your eyes ....

Never was my intention - not over fireworks. I'm not quite sure if we are understanding one another or not.

Peace to you.

 

[yeshuaslavejeff]

Never was my intention - not over fireworks. I'm not quite sure if we are understanding one another or not.

Peace to you.

not yet, understanding each other,
but
heading that way, prayerfully and hopefully !

Shalom in Yeshua ! (Jesus)

 

[~Anastasia~]

not yet, understanding each other,
but
heading that way, prayerfully and hopefully !

Shalom in Yeshua ! (Jesus)

You do know I meant in this thread?

 

[yeshuaslavejeff]

You do know I meant in this thread?

?? not sure, but I mean over all.... (concerning all things)

 

[~Anastasia~]

?? not sure, but I mean over all.... (concerning all things)

Yes, I figured you did. And I too pray we might come to understand one another fully.

God be with you.

 

[Babe Ruth]

Nicholas was pastor of the church in Myra in the 300s..

For interested parties, Biblical Archaeology Society had an article recently on Saint Nicholas' backstory, & life in Myra..

Site-Seeing: The Hometown of Santa Claus - Biblical Archaeology Society

 

[Root of Jesse]

I don't really know what the approach to baptism is for a lot of people but I remember I wanted to be baptized for a year after becoming a Christian. I was in the Navy and it's along story but it didn't happen till I left the service. I went into a Church of Christ, spent some weeks maybe months, until it came up talking to the Pastor. I'll never forget how important that was to be and these were some pretty dignified worshipers. I've been baptized in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, the oneness Pentecostals thought it should be in Jesus name so a went along with it. I was baptized a Catholic as an infant and I was even circumcised, for health reasons. What really matters to me is the profession of faith, the reason it matters is because I was called to faith, the ceremony was symbolic but an important moment for me in a profoundly personal way.

I'll never forget one Lord's Supper at a chapel, one of the visiting chaplains turned to the congregation and told us if your not sure of your commitment you should not participate in this. I hadn't been a Christian very long and I was seriously not going to partake, but finally I did. I still remember how that felt and it's not just that I for a moment actually worried about God holding me accountable. It was the fact that I took that seriously, it has stuck with me.

I'm fine with remembering the birth of Christ on Christmas, it's a wonderful thing. I just have a deep concern that sometimes we take the things of God too lightly, and how we ceremonialize things matter.

Grace and peace,
Mark

Just so you know, there are, in the Catholic Church, a series of events which represent the deepening of faith necessary (as you speak of the profession of faith). We baptize infants, true, and the parents speak up for them, as parents do in many, many areas of growing up. Supposedly, we're supposed to be taught our faith as we grow, getting more and more formalized teaching in the Church's doctrines until we get to our teen years, when we're typically confer the sacrament of Confirmation.

We definitely take God too lightly, in fact, I think it's impossible for us to take God seriously enough.