What YOU Believe Christmas is about...

[mulimulix]

mulimulix: I understand what you're saying and the intentions of the man responsible for the billboard, but here's the rub:

Christianity was NEVER meant to be just a "mental belief" in a story (the "myth" that some call it), anyway.

No, rather, Christianity has always been meant to be a vital relationship between two parties, God and man/woman, and that is precisely why God's covenant with His people is always likened to a marriage covenant in scripture where the "two become one". In Christianity, this "oneness" comes about when one is truly born-again of the Spirit of God or when one truly repents of their sins and turns back to God in faith of the atoning sacrifice that Jesus Christ has made on their behalf. If this truly occurs, then God promises to give "the earnest of the Spirit" or the downpayment or even dowry of the Spirit to those who truly belong to Him. In other words, God will indwell such individuals by His Spirit and this indwelling Spirit works sort of as a "deposit" that guarantees that God will one day raise such individuals from the dead by this same Spirit in the same manner in which Christ was raised from the dead. There's a BIG DIFFERENCE between this and just giving some "mental assent" to a bunch of stories that one has heard. As I've said to many people in the past, the main purpose of "the book of the Lord" (the Bible) is to bring one into direct contact/fellowship with "the Lord of the book". THIS is Christianity. Hopefully, you understand the vast difference between the two things that I've briefly described.



Those "closet atheists" are still atheists, though, so why not just "come out"? What are they afraid of? Persecution? It's almost funny (actually, it's sad) that ATHEISTS are the ones who are being persecuted in many cases and not CHRISTIANS. Things truly are backwards in many situations.

Take care.

Yes, I realise Christianity isn't about a metaphorical god, my point is that there are people who don't actually realise they are atheists for reasons such as peer pressure and fear of hell, but a lot of the time it is because they have
never just had a think about whether they actually believe what they do in church.

 

[Bro_Sam]

1. Does this bother you as a Christian, that many or all of the customs you may do on Christmas was copied from other festivals?

No.

2. (Without getting into an argument) If Christmas was, for some reason, completely proven false, would you still want to celebrate it? Why/why not?

Probably.

 

[psalms 91]

Christmas is about Jesus and as long as you see it that way then it doesnt matter what else is involved seeing as how the devil stole and copies many things within the church as well.

 

[AV1611VET]

1. Does this bother you as a Christian, that many or all of the customs you may do on Christmas was copied from other festivals?

Not at all.

If that's the case, then we're just taking something and improving it.

 

[Breetai]

Focusing on Christ, our sins and the grace and forgiveness that God offers us through Christ. May we keep Christ in mind at all times, forgiving those who wrong us and letting our life serve as a witness to Christ.

1. Does this bother you as a Christian, that many or all of the customs you may do on Christmas was copied from other festivals?
2. (Without getting into an argument) If Christmas was, for some reason, completely proven false, would you still want to celebrate it? Why/why not?

1. No, why would it? The entire reason Christians started celebrating Christmas on Dec. 25th was to use the already existing holiday as a way to celebrate Christ. Stuff like Christmas trees and stockings are what you make it, not what they were over 1000 years ago.
2. It won't be proven false. No Christian in their right mind would be able to truly comprehend it. We have the Spirit of God in us, which keeps our faith. It goes behind human ability. However, I feel absolutely no obligation as a Christian to celebrate it on Dec. 25th. I just do it because everyone else does!

 

[Chaplain David]

I love Christmas and I love Christ. Christianity will never be proven wrong because it's the truth. God bless everyone and Merry Christmas.

 

[xgel]

Christmas is a time of sober reflection on God's love demonstrated through Christ.

 

[AV1611VET]

I love Christmas and I love Christ. Christianity will never be proven wrong because it's the truth. God bless everyone and Merry Christmas.

Thank you, sacerdote!

God bless you as well, and I pray you have a MERRY CHRISTMAS!

 

[Kitty.]

I love Christmas and I love Christ. Christianity will never be proven wrong because it's the truth. God bless everyone and Merry Christmas.

Amen!

 

[LittleLambofJesus]

What YOU Believe Christmas is about...

All the kewl Christmas threads that show up on CF, both for and against it

http://www.christianforums.com/t7518603/
Why I don't do Christmas (2)

 

[Ih8s8n]

Yes, I realise Christianity isn't about a metaphorical god, my point is that there are people who don't actually realise they are atheists for reasons such as peer pressure and fear of hell, but a lot of the time it is because they have
never just had a think about whether they actually believe what they do in church.

mulimulix: Fair enough point. I would only add that such "realizations/thoughts" need not ultimately cause one to become/remain an atheist..."closet" or otherwise. No, it could just as easily cause/motivate one to really seek after Christ as opposed to just belonging to some sort of "social network" (church).

Take care.