Christmas Really Isn't about Christ - Why I'm not Celebrating Christmas Even Though I'm a Christian

Kirchhoff's Law ^ | 12-14-2013 | Mary C. Kirchhoff

[CodeToad]

“The point is to get people thinking and start a conversation.”

That particular conversation has already been going on.

[CodeToad]

“Maybe on a good day one or even two of them will mention Jesus.”

Not in my lifetime. Everyone knows it is about Jesus. I think you are just being too cynical.

[metmom]

For years I celebrated Christmas. But last year, I decided to stop celebrating it. Something awoke in me, and I just felt turned off by the whole thing.

I'd do the same if it were just me, although I do love the Christmas carols and I enjoy the bright colored lights at a particularly dreary time of the year. They're very pretty.

However, I am outvoted by the rest of the family, so up goes the tree and everyone does their shopping.

[metmom]

The writer being a Single Mom, tells me all I want to know.

That's pretty crass.

You have no idea about the circumstances in a person's life that would lead to that situation.

What about women who got pregnant through rape?

What about women whose husbands committed suicide? (I know one for sure)

What about women whose husbands left them for greener pastures?

What about women whose husbands have died?

What about women whose husbands beat them of their kids? Should they be forced to stay, in your opinion?

That's a lot of ASSumptions you make there.

[metmom]

You really overrate the power of your post. It is amusing that you think you have the power to offend anyone.

Actually, she has offended others. Read the comments.

[metmom]

You called it.

[metmom]

And, don’t forget, God said He was as a great Fir Tree (evergreen, undying).

I never heard that one before. Got a reference for that? Chapter and verse?

[stinkerpot65]

Interesting how angry people get over a man-made tradition.

Food for thought to me. Christmas is a purely man-made birthday celebration, but the bible richly and often requests a celebration of the death and resurrection.

So does Christmas please God? I don’t know. I like Christmas. I wouldn’t tell anyone it is wrong, but neither would I slam the door on any discussion of the merits.

[arasina]

If you can celebrate Christmas in a way that avoids Christ, then you probably shouldn't be celebrating it. The rest of us celebrate Christ at Christmas. We also celebrate friends and family, which Christ would have us do.

Well said.

[arasina]

No flak, just two thoughts. First, this is a “meat sacrificed to idols” issue: if your celebrating Christmas as a Christian holy day impedes your relationship with Christ, then don’t do it, because the relationship is more important than the holiday. Second, there is nothing wrong with taking something pagan and making it Christian: Christ died on the cross to redeem the world, so that it can be reclaimed from the devil, and anything that the devil has taken should be taken back by Christ, for Christ, with Christ, through Christ, who works through His Body, the church.

I agree with both of your two thoughts.

[HarleyD]

People constantly over-analyze these things-especially Christmas. The article sounds like someone who can’t afford fancy gifts and wants to justify not buying presents because the “Holy Spirit” told her to do it. Sorry, but if people think Christmas is about giving gifts (even expensive ones), then they completely miss the point.

I for one love Christmas. I love the lights, the decorations, the cookies. I love going to church and singing the carols that we don’t get to sing through the year. I have my USB Christmas tree up at work and proudly display my Santa on the mantle (we always told my son that we pretend there’s a Santa Claus). The snowman collection is out and the nativity is in the breakfast area where we see it at every meal. I don’t need or want presents. I’d be happy with a bit of fruit cake on Christmas day. But I told my family that if they feel the need to get me something, they can get me one of those plastic drawer containers from Wal-Mart or Target for $7 bucks. I love those things.

And what tweeks every atheist’s nose and hand-wringing Christian is that Christmas does come round-year after year after year. And every year we see articles like this saying why we shouldn’t have Christmas. I say bah humbug. It’s really man that doesn’t want it. But it’s God that ordained it. So let “Joy to the World” play once more. I never grow tired of it.

[Conspiracy Guy]

I know. I just don’t understand why people don’t point out how pointless her post is instead of letting it get under their skin.

[Conspiracy Guy]

I know but I can’t speak for them. No one is granted the power to offend me. It is how I live.

[Elsie]

[Elsie]

You don’t win them over by declaring that their Christmas traditions are evil.

MAny on FR try the same tack...

You don’t win MORMONs over by declaring that their SECRET rituals are evil.

[trebb]

Nothing says you have to buy into the commercialism to celebrate His birth. Much fun entertainment has been put together to attract attention of kids and they enjoy it - whether you allow your children to engage or not, they will hear about it and see the happiness other kids are experiencing - gonna sit a child down and tell him/her that Jesus (who is their special Friend and who loves them dearly) is demeaned by all the hoopla so it is bad to have fun the way everyone else is? Just asking - I agree it is overboard, but that is no reason to shun the Season.

[Elsie]

I don’t care whether you care or not whether I celebrate Christmas.

The Watchtower salutes you!

[Elsie]

I'm an atheist and I do celebrate Christmas.

Needed on your homepage.

[Elsie]

OF course, you knew you'd get kick-back from folks.

I, myself, have episodes of Bah! Humbug from time to time.

There is also the lies we teach our children.

They find out the Easter Bunny did NOT bring the candy, and that Santa did NOT bring the gifts, and we wonder why they don't believe us when we try to tell them that another unseen giver of heavenly gifts is real.

No, REALLY real!!??

[Elsie]

Good point!