The holidays

[TraceDogg]

As a Messianic do you celebrate Christmas, Chanukah or both. Those on the sacred name forum I frequent do not celebrate Christmas siting the pagan origins to Decamber 25 and just about every tradition /custom accoiated with the holiday. Most do not celebarate Chanukah siting the fact that it wa snot a holiday commanded by God to celebrate acording to Scripture. Christmas has always been my favorite time oF year. I love all the splendor decorations music and everything that goea alonfg with the season. If I have to give it up I wil but it will be hard. I dont know if I an sinning by celebrating Christmas or not.
Opinions and comments welcome.

 

[insaneinthebrain]

I dont know if I an sinning by celebrating Christmas or not.

I don't think you are. If you want to celebrate it, go right ahead. My only advice:

1) Remember what you're celebrating.
2) Don't let the worldly celebration of a consumer holiday distract you from that celebration.

 

[TraceDogg]

I don't think you are. If you want to celebrate it, go right ahead. My only advice:

1) Remember what you're celebrating.
2) Don't let the worldly celebration of a consumer holiday distract you from that celebration.

1. remember I am celebrating pagan traditions?? Is that what you are saying or celebrate it as Yeshua's supposed birthday which he never commanded us to celebrate in the first place.

you have me even more confused now. I only want to do what is right. But Yes Christmas is such a commercial holiday nowadays.

 

[Wags]

There is no mention of celebrating or remembering Yeshua's birth in scripture. Christmas does have pagan origions.... Personally we do not celebrate it.

We do however celebrate Chanukah. It is mentioned in scripture that Yeshua was in the temple during this Feast of Dedication - John 10:22.

Tim Hegg wrote and interesting article a few years ago entitled "Why I don't celebrate Christmas" you might find it interesting reading.

First Fruits of Zion has interesting article on Chanukah entitled "Light in the Darkness." A quote from the article "The celebration of Hanukkah is relevant and important for all Torah keeping believers. It is the story of tenacious zeal for Torah, devotion to God’s covenant, and the will to stand up for what is right and holy."

 

[insaneinthebrain]

1. remember I am celebrating pagan traditions?? Is that what you are saying or celebrate it as Yeshua's supposed birthday which he never commanded us to celebrate in the first place.

you have me even more confused now. I only want to do what is right. But Yes Christmas is such a commercial holiday nowadays.

Actually, I was saying to remember you're celebrating Yeshua's birth.

 

[Wags]

Actually, I was saying to remember you're celebrating Yeshua's birth.

IITB - do you really think that was when he was born?

If not, then why would you celebrate it?

 

[insaneinthebrain]

IITB - do you really think that was when he was born?

If not, then why would you celebrate it?

I don't, but my days of arguing against it have long passed. While he was most likely born during Sukkot, I also saw a theory in an addition of Torah Club suggesting late December is a possibility. Basically, any suggestion of when he was born is nothing more than theory.

I would leave this up to personal conviction. If you think Christmas as a celebration of Messiah's birth is worth your time, go for it. If you don't, then don't celebrate.

 

[jgonz]

We don't celebrate Christmas as it's a pagan-based holiday mixed with Christianity... And since G-d said He hates a mixture of paganism and His word, Christmas is out for us.

We do celebrate Hanukkah. We find it to be Far more satisfying than Christmas ever was (as far as traditions and fun go). It's not a replacement for Christmas, but when you're transitioning to the Biblical holidays and out of pagan-based traditions, it's nice to have something else to do that time of year.

 

[Tishri1]

As a Messianic do you celebrate Christmas, Chanukah or both. Those on the sacred name forum I frequent do not celebrate Christmas siting the pagan origins to Decamber 25 and just about every tradition /custom accoiated with the holiday. Most do not celebarate Chanukah siting the fact that it wa snot a holiday commanded by God to celebrate acording to Scripture. Christmas has always been my favorite time oF year. I love all the splendor decorations music and everything that goea alonfg with the season. If I have to give it up I wil but it will be hard. I dont know if I an sinning by celebrating Christmas or not.
Opinions and comments welcome.

My $.02 would be to ask "What did Jesus do?" Both holidays were celebrated by the nations when he was alive (yes when he was walking the earth) Which one did he celebrate?

 

[Tishri1]

1. remember I am celebrating pagan traditions?? Is that what you are saying or celebrate it as Yeshua's supposed birthday which he never commanded us to celebrate in the first place.

you have me even more confused now. I only want to do what is right. But Yes Christmas is such a commercial holiday nowadays.

it's hard to take the $$ out of Christmas...Try Chaunukkah this year I bet you will be pleasantly surprized how wonderful it is....FFOZ has a great DVD for Chanukkah...Light in the Darkness, Hanukkah and the Disciples of Yeshua

 

[plum]

Yes, I will be expereincing the season of Christmas this year with my loved ones. I am glad to be able to spend special times with my close and extended families at least once a year.
I also want to celebrate Hanukkah this year, even privately on my own. I plan on buying my first menorah very soon

Do I understand the history of both holidays? yes.
Do I think Yeshua was born on Dec 25th? No. But no matter when he was born, I am going to celebrate the miracle of His presence and life here on earth, because I want to celebrate Him EVERY day!
No santa, no stockings, no elves or reindeer or fantasies like that. I don't EVER want those things in my home. Thankfully they've really never been a part of my family's experience, so I feel glad for that.