WHY??? Questions for my brethren in Christ

[Danigt22]

I am going to present a few questions that are designed to get my fellow brothers and sisters to think. The majority of the followers of Christ lack a knowledge of God’s standards. Some have been led astray from the pure words of the Lord by false teachers. Some love that one particular sin and will refuse to hear anyone that calls it out. God’s standard is Jesus Christ our Lord and anything short of that should be acceptable for all of us, myself included.

Why have we as a church body adopted so many of the world's customs? Why do we celebrate the same holidays as the pagans and not the Lord’s holy days that are mentioned in the bible? Some may say that we aren't Jewish and to that I ask well are we heathens?

Why do we love competition, as in sports, game night, video games, etc? Do you not understand that the spirit behind these things is “PRIDE”? Some might say that I do it for fun but somebody will still lose.

Why do we watch tv shows that glorify the sins of the flesh such as Galatians 5:19-21 list?

Why is it hard to distinguish between a Christian and a worldly person? Instead of us converting them, they are converting us to their ways. What says the Lord:

2 Corinthians 6:14,17-18
[14]Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?
[17]Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,
[18]And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.

Why do we say we follow God but hold to the traditions of men that cannot be found in the bible?

Why do we get offended by the truth? One of the fruits of the Spirit is love right? Well love is not easily provoked (to irritated, aroused to anger) according to 1 Corinthians 13:4-5. So why take offense? Could it be that it goes straight to the heart of a cherished sin?

In these last days we need to search our hearts. We must humble ourselves in the sight of the Lord and pray that we are fit for the kingdom of heaven. We can appear to be righteous on the outside but the Lord knows what lies in our hearts. Some may get offended by these questions but that is not my intention. My intention is to raise up the standard that God has set in his holy word. We all, myself included, will have to stand in the judgment. Will you be found wanting or be welcomed with open arms by our lovely savior Christ Jesus?

We all are worthy of hell, there is a line searching grace and mercy and showing your love with charity. And there is another, thinking we can please God with our flesh, it is wordly and insulting to the finish work in the cross. Our lord Jesus Christ desires mercy, not justice. No one is good, no one ever will. If you are unworthy of the blood of the lamb, why look down on our brethren who also need mercy just as much as we are.

 

[BrotherD]

I think it's a good thing none of my hobbies are evil, and that fantasy magic isn't consistent at all with biblical witchcraft If you have different convictions on what is/isn't sinful, that's fine; but I'm past the level of 'quote-mining' the bible and playing the 'true follower of Christ' gotcha game, when I could be chatting up my atheist friends about the bible over a game of Monster hunter world or destiny.

I will be praying for you.

 

[BrotherD]

We all are worthy of hell, there is a line searching grace and mercy and showing your love with charity. And there is another, thinking we can please God with our flesh, it is wordly and insulting to the finish work in the cross. Our lord Jesus Christ desires mercy, not justice. No one is good, no one ever will. If you are unworthy of the blood of the lamb, why look down on our brethren who also need mercy just as much as we are.

How is asking questions that has truth in it looking down on our brethren. As stated before the only people who may have any issues with the OP is those who's sins may be called out in it. I am coming from nothing but a place of love. I am not condemning any who do these things to eternal death rather I am calling sin by its right name. The truth is love.

I am nothing. I am not a pastor. I am just a man that Christ has brought from the pits of hell and turned my life around. I was deceived on all these points but it took someone to tell me the truth to wake me up to the reality that I might not be serving God fully. We can attain that Christ like character. God calls us to be perfect but of course it is only by Christ's righteousness.

 

[Danigt22]

How is asking questions that has truth in it looking down on our brethren. As stated before the only people who may have any issues with the OP is those who's sins may be called out in it. I am coming from nothing but a place of love. I am not condemning any who do these things to eternal death rather I am calling sin by its right name. The truth is love.

I am nothing. I am not a pastor. I am just a man that Christ has brought from the pits of hell and turned my life around. I was deceived on all these points but it took someone to tell me the truth to wake me up to the reality that I might not be serving God fully. We can attain that Christ like character. God calls us to be perfect but of course it is only by Christ's righteousness.

Im not rebuking OP. I know there is truth in his words. Nevertheless I had seen this with apostate believers. They search only works, but never grace and mercy. They end up never fully accepting the blood of the lamb and turn away from the faith. They dont grasp the severity of the law, and how flaw we are and will always be in this body.

 

[BrotherD]

Im not rebuking OP. I know there is truth in his words. Nevertheless I had seen this with apostate believers. They search only works, but never grace and mercy. They end up never fully accepting the blood of the lamb and turn away from the faith. They dont grasp the severity of the law, and how flaw we are and will always be in this body.

Those are true words. Only by faith is any of our fruit acceptable in his eyes. Galatians 2:20 is the sum of my Christian life now. It was not always so but by his grace and mercy he has taught me this. I actually thought i was rather careful to portray the spirit behind the post but nonetheless we all, myself included, must strive for the mastery. Nothing but love and peace on my end, and that is all i desire for my brethren.

 

[Danigt22]

Those are true words. Only by faith is any of our fruit acceptable in his eyes. Galatians 2:20 is the sum of my Christian life now. It was not always so but by his grace and mercy he has taught me this. I actually thought i was rather careful to portray the spirit behind the post but nonetheless we all, myself included, must strive for the mastery. Nothing but love and peace on my end, and that is all i desire for my brethren.

Those things are good, the kingdom of God is within us. Love, charity, humility are eternal treasures every believer should seek.

 

[ViaCrucis]

I agree with you that the holidays are very pagan, but would you be opposed to keeping God's feast days even though it all points to Christ?

Christian holidays aren't pagan, they are Christian.

I have no reason to keep the Jewish feast days, I'm not Jewish.

So I have every reason to observe the Christian calendar, as I'm a believer in Jesus Christ and a member of His holy Church; but have absolutely no reason to observe Jewish feast days since I'm not Jewish.

And I have no intention on converting to Judaism. I don't hold any hostility toward our Jewish cousins, nor will I judge my sisters and brothers if they desire to keep some Jewish practices because of their own Jewish heritage. But as an uncircumcised Gentile Christian I have no business pretending to be something I'm not.

As far as I'm concerned to go around pretending like I'm Jewish when I am not is not really much different than if I, a white guy, put on black face makeup. It's insulting and offensive and I have no business doing it.

-CryptoLutheran

 

[BrotherD]

Christian holidays aren't pagan, they are Christian.

I have no reason to keep the Jewish feast days, I'm not Jewish.

So I have every reason to observe the Christian calendar, as I'm a believer in Jesus Christ and a member of His holy Church; but have absolutely no reason to observe Jewish feast days since I'm not Jewish.

And I have no intention on converting to Judaism. I don't hold any hostility toward our Jewish cousins, nor will I judge my sisters and brothers if they desire to keep some Jewish practices because of their own Jewish heritage. But as an uncircumcised Gentile Christian I have no business pretending to be something I'm not.

As far as I'm concerned to go around pretending like I'm Jewish when I am not is not really much different than if I, a white guy, put on black face makeup. It's insulting and offensive and I have no business doing it.

-CryptoLutheran

Those holidays that the world and Christians like to celebrate are of pagan origin. This is why many unbelievers do not take Christianity serious because they have adopted so many of their customs. Many believe they stole their ideas, which for the most part is true.

The scriptures also teach that we are of the seed of Abraham by faith:

Galatians 3:16 KJV — Now to Abraham and his SEED were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.

Galatians 3:29 KJV — And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.

Galatians 3:7 KJV — Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham.

This is what the bible teaches but the feast days are more than a Jewish thing, it details the plan of salvation. When we dismiss those biblical feast days we miss a blessing of knowing more about God and his Lamb. Also brother Paul kept the feast:

1 Corinthians 5:7-8
[7]Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us:
[8]Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

Now what feast could Paul be mentioning here?

Acts 18:21
[21]But [Paul] bade them farewell, saying, I must by all means keep this feast that cometh in Jerusalem: but I will return again unto you, if God will. And he sailed from Ephesus.

Acts 20:6
[6]And we sailed away from Philippi after the days of unleavened bread, and came unto them to Troas in five days; where we abode seven days.

Acts 20:16
[16]For Paul had determined to sail by Ephesus, because he would not spend the time in Asia: for he hasted, if it were possible for him, to be at Jerusalem the day of Pentecost.

Daniel 7:25 mentions someone who THINKS to change God's times and laws. This is his sabbath and feast days.

If you do not want to observe these then that is okay but know that the same days the heathen celebrate is what the visible church has tried to re-brand as being all about Jesus. Remember God is a jealous God and will not share his glory with another.

 

[pescador]

I am going to present a few questions that are designed to get my fellow brothers and sisters to think. The majority of the followers of Christ lack a knowledge of God’s standards. Some have been led astray from the pure words of the Lord by false teachers. Some love that one particular sin and will refuse to hear anyone that calls it out. God’s standard is Jesus Christ our Lord and anything short of that should be acceptable for all of us, myself included.

Why have we as a church body adopted so many of the world's customs? Why do we celebrate the same holidays as the pagans and not the Lord’s holy days that are mentioned in the bible? Some may say that we aren't Jewish and to that I ask well are we heathens?

Why do we love competition, as in sports, game night, video games, etc? Do you not understand that the spirit behind these things is “PRIDE”? Some might say that I do it for fun but somebody will still lose.

Why do we watch tv shows that glorify the sins of the flesh such as Galatians 5:19-21 list?

Why is it hard to distinguish between a Christian and a worldly person? Instead of us converting them, they are converting us to their ways. What says the Lord:

2 Corinthians 6:14,17-18
[14]Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?
[17]Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,
[18]And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.

Why do we say we follow God but hold to the traditions of men that cannot be found in the bible?

Why do we get offended by the truth? One of the fruits of the Spirit is love right? Well love is not easily provoked (to irritated, aroused to anger) according to 1 Corinthians 13:4-5. So why take offense? Could it be that it goes straight to the heart of a cherished sin?

In these last days we need to search our hearts. We must humble ourselves in the sight of the Lord and pray that we are fit for the kingdom of heaven. We can appear to be righteous on the outside but the Lord knows what lies in our hearts. Some may get offended by these questions but that is not my intention. My intention is to raise up the standard that God has set in his holy word. We all, myself included, will have to stand in the judgment. Will you be found wanting or be welcomed with open arms by our lovely savior Christ Jesus?

Why this fundamentalist rant?

You wrote, "The majority of the followers of Christ lack a knowledge of God’s standards. Some have been led astray from the pure words of the Lord by false teachers." How do you know this? Have you polled the majority of the followers of Christ? Do you claim to know God's standards while others are ignorant? Shame on you.

You wrote, "Some love that one particular sin and will refuse to hear anyone that calls it out." How do you know this? Have you asked other Christians what one particular sin they love? If they "refuse to hear anyone that calls it out", could it be the manner in which it is called out? Maybe they understand loving their neighbor and gently showing them their error (if it even exists).

You wrote, "Why do we love competition, as in sports, game night, video games, etc? Do you not understand that the spirit behind these things is “PRIDE”? Ephesians 6:10-18, "Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms."

Why do you keep writing "we"? Are you including yourself among the brothers and sisters in Christ whom you criticize? Or, more appropriately, who are you to criticize the many millions of Christians whom you have never met? It may make you feel superior and self-righteous to condemn (in general) the body of Christ with no proof other than your own bias, but the effect it has on others like myself is what you think it is.

Finally, you wrote, "Why do we get offended by the truth? One of the fruits of the Spirit is love right?" Why not give it a try yourself?

 

[GenemZ]

I am going to present a few questions that are designed to get my fellow brothers and sisters to think. The majority of the followers of Christ lack a knowledge of God’s standards. Some have been led astray from the pure words of the Lord by false teachers. Some love that one particular sin and will refuse to hear anyone that calls it out. God’s standard is Jesus Christ our Lord and anything short of that should be acceptable for all of us, myself included.

Why have we as a church body adopted so many of the world's customs? Why do we celebrate the same holidays as the pagans and not the Lord’s holy days that are mentioned in the bible? Some may say that we aren't Jewish and to that I ask well are we heathens?

Why do we love competition, as in sports, game night, video games, etc? Do you not understand that the spirit behind these things is “PRIDE”? Some might say that I do it for fun but somebody will still lose.

Why do we watch tv shows that glorify the sins of the flesh such as Galatians 5:19-21 list?

Why is it hard to distinguish between a Christian and a worldly person? Instead of us converting them, they are converting us to their ways. What says the Lord:

2 Corinthians 6:14,17-18
[14]Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?
[17]Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,
[18]And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.

Why do we say we follow God but hold to the traditions of men that cannot be found in the bible?

Why do we get offended by the truth? One of the fruits of the Spirit is love right? Well love is not easily provoked (to irritated, aroused to anger) according to 1 Corinthians 13:4-5. So why take offense? Could it be that it goes straight to the heart of a cherished sin?

In these last days we need to search our hearts. We must humble ourselves in the sight of the Lord and pray that we are fit for the kingdom of heaven. We can appear to be righteous on the outside but the Lord knows what lies in our hearts. Some may get offended by these questions but that is not my intention. My intention is to raise up the standard that God has set in his holy word. We all, myself included, will have to stand in the judgment. Will you be found wanting or be welcomed with open arms by our lovely savior Christ Jesus?

Oh God help us! Paul used the competitive sports as analogies to describe the Christian way of life at times. He enjoyed good competition and understood a real man's world. We are not to become self justifying pious religious wimps. Its not what God intended.

We do not celebrate the same pagan holidays. We transformed them and owned them. No one even knows the pagan origins today,unless someone brings up the details needed to become conscious of what paganism once promoted. The old pagan meanings have been buried and new flowers grew above. Its Satan that feels neglected and rejected, and wants to draw attention to what is now been forgotten by telling of all the pagan origins. Wake up! Glorify Christ! Caesars face appeared on coins, but Christians used them to pay for the needs to believers. Wake up.

Let what has been buried buried. As far as TV shows? There are still plenty of good choices if you get cable and many channels. Choose today which shows you are going to watch. We are not of the world, but for now must live in it. A wise soul wins many souls. He knows the ways of the world, but will not become one with them. Happiness in your soul that God will give as we mature is the magnet to draw others out of it. Being an isolationists is hiding ones soul under a bushel basket.

 

[bèlla]

I'll bite.

Why do we celebrate the same holidays as the pagans and not the Lord’s holy days that are mentioned in the bible?

I treat public holidays as secular events. They're good for gathering and being a beacon of light for others. My spirit is attuned to the Jewish calendar. Those are the holidays I recognize in my walk.

Some may say that we aren't Jewish and to that I ask well are we heathens?

No. My affinity for Jewish practices is appropriate for the Lord's work. It isn't a must for others. They have a different assignment.

Why do we love competition

He fashioned me with a hunger for success and placed me in a family that emphasized excellence. If He wanted another 'Bella' my circumstances would differ. I'm where I'm supposed to be.

as in sports, game night, video games, etc?

I don't love them at all. Some activities are edifying and others are less profitable. I like things that feed my mind and strengthen my calling.

Do you not understand that the spirit behind these things is “PRIDE”? Some might say that I do it for fun but somebody will still lose.

Or they enjoy the challenge of testing their prowess against others. Maybe it inspires their work ethic and pushes them beyond their comfort zone.

Why do we watch tv shows that glorify the sins of the flesh such as Galatians 5:19-21 list?

I like historical reproductions based on classics and educational programming. I'm not a sitcom person.

Yours in His Service,

~Bella

 

[NerdGirl]

Why have we as a church body adopted so many of the world's customs? Why do we celebrate the same holidays as the pagans and not the Lord’s holy days that are mentioned in the bible? Some may say that we aren't Jewish and to that I ask well are we heathens?

I'm more bothered by the church's frantic attempts to become some sort of millenial, Starbucks-wannabe, bookstore/cafe, where you can sit on plush couches and watch the sermon on a TV monitor instead of walking twenty feet into the sanctuary, than I am about whether someone enjoys Christmas or not.

Why do we love competition, as in sports, game night, video games, etc? Do you not understand that the spirit behind these things is “PRIDE”? Some might say that I do it for fun but somebody will still lose.

Because they're fun? Losing doesn't have to be something awful. Go into the game with a proper attitude and it's enjoyable for everyone, no matter who wins or loses. Competition is a healthy trait, as is pride in a job well done, as is learning to handle disappointment and loss.

Why do we watch tv shows that glorify the sins of the flesh such as Galatians 5:19-21 list?

I try not to. If I do, it's very rare.

Why is it hard to distinguish between a Christian and a worldly person? Instead of us converting them, they are converting us to their ways.

It's not.

Why do we say we follow God but hold to the traditions of men that cannot be found in the bible?

Like what? Not every thing we encounter in our daily lives is "found in the Bible".

Why do we get offended by the truth? One of the fruits of the Spirit is love right? Well love is not easily provoked (to irritated, aroused to anger) according to 1 Corinthians 13:4-5. So why take offense? Could it be that it goes straight to the heart of a cherished sin?

Which truth are you claiming that "we" are offended by?

 

[NerdGirl]

I play video games, enjoy fantasy related media with made up worlds and religions, I listen to secular music, I read about other cultures and religions/mythology, I don't see any problems with sports and I watch things with views I don't agree with.

Yet somehow despite all of that, I've never abandoned God not once in my life. I know more about theology and Christianity than a lot of my other friends who were born and raised by strict Christian parents and I talk about God every chance I get to people I meet.

I also celebrate halloween, because I enjoy spooky things and scary stories and horror related media. But I do know more about the real occult than the average layman and can give you quite a few reasons off the top of my head why I would NEVER touch the stuff with a ten-foot-pole.


If I was any different than I am today, there would be a lot of people in my life who wouldn't have even considered listening to me about Christianity. I wouldn't be with my husband, who used to be a devout atheist, and I wouldn't have pursued knowledge as strongly as I do now. I also happen to think God is calling me to write fantasy works--so that I can use it as a vessel for my faith and ideals which won't be so easily detected and discarded by nonbelievers.

I love God. I try my best to please him at all times, and I want to help others as much as I can. I also happen to live in a world full of sin, and so the best thing I can do is let God protect me while I separate the wheat from the chaff and learn how to use everything the world has to offer in order to bring someone closer to God.

I could continue writing an entire essay on this subject, but I'll leave it at that.

BADDA BING!

 

[Jipsah]

We are neither heathens nor members of the Jewish faith. And as for the question of holidays, WE DO NOT as Christians celebrate any pagan holidays. There may be some similarities in incidentals, as there are between all the religions of mankind, and they may fall at about the same time of year, but there are no Christian holy days that are simply revamped pagan ones.

Thank you!

 

[Jipsah]

So should I take your name off the invite list to my Halloween party*?

I'm going to be up in Philly on the 31st, and Almost-Daughter (she obviously should have been my daughter) and I are going to the All Saints Vigil at the RC Church down the street from her house. This is in keeping with trying to "Keep It Real" as far as what ought to be Christian feasts go. It's also in keeping with my wife's refusal to observe Halloween in any form at all because she says, with typical Korean bluntness "it's a stupid holiday". We'll then retire back to AD's residence and probably sip cheap domestic beers while AD and wife will watch Korean dramas and I try (probably in vain), to stay awake. Yep, a real pagan throw-down.

Now if you really want to run wild Lutheran style, you need to hit the Reformation Day services at the nearest Danske Folkekirke. Parteee!

 

[Jipsah]

I believe we ought to keep the biblical feasts minus the sacrifices.

Why minus the sacrifices? If you're gonna keep the Law, why not keep it all? And on that note, what is it in the Law that forbids us to celebrate the Resurrection of our Lord, the most important day in the history of the universe? The day we proclaim before the whole unbelieving world "CHRIST IS RISEN! HE IS RISEN INDEED! Why must we, along with athesists, Muslims, Buddhists, unbelieving Jews, and what have you, ignore our Lord Christ's Triumph over death? May it never be!

 

[Jipsah]

I don't believe that I said the holidays are pagan.

Quite the opposite.

 

[Jipsah]

Interesting. What comes to your mind when you read these scriptures:
Deuteronomy 18:10-13
[10]There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch,
[11]Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer.
[12]For all that do these things are an abomination unto the LORD: and because of these abominations the LORD thy God doth drive them out from before thee.

It means we ought not do those things, duh. Lessee, Nope, never made the young'uns pass through the fire. The thought never occured to me, and anyway my wife woulda had my hide. Never used divination, or consulted an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch, or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer. Always knew those folks were frauds and thieves and liars and cheats whose goal was to swindle people, bilk widows, rob the ignorant and credulous, and generally control the simple-minded who believe their crud. There's a reason those things are abominable, because they're all lies and deceits, and most of them deceive their victims into believing that they speak with the voice of God when in fact they're doing Satan's work. Very nasty stuff indeed.

 

[Jipsah]

HAs stated before the only people who may have any issues with the OP is those who's sins may be called out in it.

There ya go! "The only people who disagree with me are people who are packed full of sin."

 

[Jipsah]

Those holidays that the world and Christians like to celebrate are of pagan origin.

Patently untrue. Christmas is the celebration of our Lord's birth, punto/ The old "pagans use to do something on that day" is rubbish. Pagans probably did *something* every day, are to cede the entire calendar to them? "Nope, can't worship the Lord today, the Kwacala People in the lower Unbwebwe valley used to worship the Tater God on that day, so it's Pagan!". Nemmind that the Kwacala were absorbed into the surrounding tribes a few centuries ago, and the Tater God never existed, they now own 5 November in fee simple for all eternity. Beside that, the Kwacala word for "tater" sounds a lot like the Tagalog word for Easter, and Easter came from an Eqyptian goddess of something or other, so worshipping on 11/5 is actually worshiping the Tater God.

That's the sort of dreck that's offered to establish a "pagan" source for Christian feasts. Utter hogwash, that comes from deciding a priori that Christian feasts must be pagan, then working away like murder to "prove" that they are. Not only intellectually dishonest, but completely fraudulent.

1 Corinthians 5:7-8
[7]Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us:

Read that again. Christ is our Passover. The foreshadowing is past, the reality has come.

[21]But [Paul] bade them farewell, saying, I must by all means keep this feast that cometh in Jerusalem: but I will return again unto you, if God will. And he sailed from Ephesus.

St. Paul was a Jew. I am not.

If you do not want to observe these then that is okay but know that the same days the heathen celebrate is what the visible church has tried to re-brand as being all about Jesus.

How many heathen you know who celebrate Easter (or as it's better called in Korean, "Resurrection Day")? How many proclaim HE IS RISEN? How many Buddhists hit the churches for Midnight Mass on December 25th? (Which is NOT, BTW, the bloody solstice)? The "the heathen celebrate Christuan feasts" canard is untrue, however oft repeated.