And; vice versa...
Posted on 12/14/2013 2:56:27 PM PST by InHisService
All right, before you get your freckles in an uproar by reading that title and making a quick, errant assumption about me, let me clarify a few things.
I’m a bible believing, spirit filled Christian. I am not an atheist sympathizer. I do not doubt my faith, nor do I have any doubts about the deity of Jesus Christ. He is my Lord and Savior, and I believe the world is lost without Him.
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.
As a kid, I was coddled just like most children. Every Christmas my brother and I unwrapped numerous presents, and always got what we wanted.
I remember a new bike one year, and an awesome stereo another. I never gave a thought about how hard my parents had to work to pay for the stuff, and I’m sure children these days don’t, either.
And, we did go to church. If fact, we weren’t the proverbial “once a year’ers;” we went weekly. But being a kid, naturally Christmas was all about the presents.
Raising my daughter, though I was a single mom, my daughter was never deprived at Christmas. And I enjoyed giving to her. She was not a spoiled child as she didn’t get much all year long, so Christmas was the time to indulge her.
Anyway, I’ve wanted to write this article for a while. It’s been niggling at me for quite some time. But I put it off because I didn’t want to appear as a snarky Grinch during the Christmas season. My position is a very unpopular one among Christians.
I believe the Holy Spirit has gotten a hold of me, and after seeing a video discussing a particular billboard American Atheists erected this season, I was compelled to write about my position.
One of the billboards, in New York City’s Times Square, reads, “Who Needs Christ During Christmas? Nobody.” The name of Christ is crossed out.
David Muscato, Public Relations Director at American Atheists had this to say about the billboard and about Christmas:
“Most people don’t care about any religious ties to the season because church and religion are not what Americans care about during this time of year—they care about family and friends and giving presents and food and having fun.”
And right he is. Christians can pretend they are honoring Christ this time of year, but they really aren’t. People are consumed with the retail aspect of it: spending.
Muscato goes on to say, “Many so-called ‘Christmas’ traditions celebrated by Americans have nothing to do with Christianity. For example, the North Pole and Santa traditions come from Nordic and Germanic pagan traditions, and caroling, Yule logs, mistletoe, holly wreaths all pre-date Christianity.”
He is absolutely correct in that statement. In fact, every single Christmas tradition we have was started by, and stolen, from the pagans.
That’s right, everything from the tree, to mistletoe to holly to gifts were all pagan traditions. (I’ve done a lot of research into the origins of Christmas; however, this article is not going to elaborate on it as it is very lengthy. An online search of “Pagan origins of Christmas” will yield a million and a half results. An excellent article on the topic can be seen here, True Origins of Christmas: http://rcg.org/books/ttooc.html )
Said David Silverman, President of American Atheists, “We all love this time of year.
“Christianity has been trying to claim ownership of the season for hundreds of years. But the winter solstice came first and so did its traditions. The season belongs to everybody.”
Right again. How can Christian’s claim Christmas belongs to them when we stole it from non-believers? Additionally, there is nothing in the bible about celebrating Christmas. The fact that atheists celebrate what is supposed to be a Christian holy day is alarming. But celebrate it they do, minus anything Christ.
Not only that, Jesus could not have been, and was not born, on December 25th. Most biblical scholars believe he was born in the fall and the biblical account of his birth testifies to that. The date was selected because it coincided with the idolatrous pagan festival Saturnalia. So the date of Christmas was chosen as a sort of in-your-face way of saying, “We as Christians are stealing your date for ourselves! Take that.” Nice gesture on behalf of God, but it hasn’t turned out well. No wonder why.
Now, I don’t like the group American Atheists. In fact, I despise them. I can’t stand David Silverman, who regularly appears on Fox News and elsewhere to tout his anti-God beliefs. To me, they are bullying militant atheists bent on wiping out God and particularly Jesus Christ from the public square. And they have been very successful in a lot of ways.
So, I’m not agreeing with them for any other reason in this area, but they are right on.
(I have written about some of the atheist lawsuits and their attack on Christianity in an article last year on this blog, “It’s not just a War on Christmas, It’s a War on Christianity,” which can be seen here: http://www.maryckirchhoff.com/2012/12/its-not-just-war-on-christmas-its-war.html )
Christmas has become completely distorted and perverted and what is supposed to be a day to honor Jesus has become a two-month long season of out-of-control shopping and spending, overindulgence of food and drink, massive debt and spoiled children.
Christmas, without a doubt, belongs to retailers, not to Jesus. The season begins around late October, and is in full swing right before Thanksgiving, and goes on til New Years.
So let’s be honest here: during this extended period we call Christmastime or the more politically correct Holiday Season, are we talking about Jesus and his birth? Are we marveling that God sent His Son to Earth to save man from his sins? Are we on our knees praying and thanking God for his provision in our life?
More than likely, if we are a believer we are praying that God will provide the finances to overindulge our children so they can open numerous gifts on that “magical” morning.
What really gets me is many of us in this country can’t afford to purchase unnecessary and over-the-top gifts for our kids. Millions of people either get heavily into debt or skip paying necessary bills so they can impress and coddle their kids. Not giving gifts is simply unheard of.
Kids must go to school upon the return of the break and brag about what they got. And what, pray tell, does this have to do with the birth of Jesus Christ? Absolutely nothing.
The wise men gave gifts to Jesus, you say? That happened when He was a toddler, not at His birth. Saint Nick? Another misconception about giving at Christmas.
While parties and gift giving and receiving is fun, for the majority of people, financial stress is increased at this time of year. Holiday parties (oops, can’t call them Christmas parties anymore) require bringing dishes or purchasing elaborate foods. The shopping, the parties, the drinking, the get-togethers, they are all supposed to be part of the merrymaking. Again, where is Christ in this? Decidedly MIA for most people.
When’s the last time you went to a (I’ll be a rebel here) Christmas party and people were excitedly talking about God? Were they marveling about Jesus being born 2,000 years ago, talking about what a gift it was for God to send His Son?
The only gift I’ll guarantee they were speaking of was most likely their Black Friday conquest where they acquired the latest and greatest gadgetry for their kids that they couldn’t afford and will be paying off for months to come.
Is this what God wants for us at Christmas? Or are we deluding ourselves saying “Keep Christ in Christmas.”? I believe so.
The truth is, Christmas is a great lie. Satan is laughing; being the great deceiver, he has really gotten away with a whopper here. Christ never was in Christmas. The entire Christmas season has millions of Christians deceived. It has been bought lock, stock and barrel by believers. The fact that atheists celebrate it should be a giant clue that it has nothing to do with Christ.
Sure, we can sing beautiful Christmas themed hymns, set up a manger and go to church. That will satisfy the God requirement of the holiday, will it not?
Church on Christmas Eve or Day is about the only time you’ll get an hour or so of pure God. A sermon, some singing, some well-wishing among peers. A couple hours of God stuff for over two months of the so-called “Christmas Season.”
I’m not a math person, but that amounts to a microscopic amount of time dedicated to the Birth of Jesus.
Frankly, Christmas is farce, and I’m betting the whole thing makes God very angry.
Below, the link for the aforementioned Atheist Billboard Targeting Christians:
http://video.foxnews.com/v/2933104645001/atheist-billboard-targeting-christians/?playlist_id=930909812001
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.
And; vice versa...
I’m beginning to realize more and more how assumptions people make about others reveal so much about themselves.
When they draw conclusions about why they act or do as they do when they don’t know the circumstances, there’s only one basis on which they make those assumptions. It’s THEIR personal experience or attitude.
Attributing motive can be very dangerous.
Translation: It’s all about me
The Bible DOES, however, mandate celebrating Passover (for Jews, anyway).
.
.
.
Are Christians, who do NOT observe that occasion, committing a sin? (or Jews, for that matter...)
InDEED!!
(But wait'll the pagans find out!)
I've been threatening (to no one in particular) to put up a cross with a bunny on it around Easter time in my yard.
But I've not yet worked up the courage.
I don't want people yelling HERETIC!!! at me!
Because most folks would READ THE WHOLE CONTEXT?
| 1 Hear what the LORD says to you, O house of Israel. | |
| 2 This is what the LORD says: "Do not learn the ways of the nations or be terrified by signs in the sky, though the nations are terrified by them. | |
| 3 For the customs of the peoples are worthless; they cut a tree out of the forest, and a craftsman shapes it with his chisel. | |
| 4 They adorn it with silver and gold; they fasten it with hammer and nails so it will not totter. | |
| 5 Like a scarecrow in a melon patch, their idols cannot speak; they must be carried because they cannot walk. Do not fear them; they can do no harm nor can they do any good." |
I was raised by a single mom.
From about 6 years old on.
Thank you for this reply. I didn’t know that apparently every Christmas, someone posts something similar on here. I’ve obviously ruffled a few feathers. I just want to say, if people are aware of the pagan traditions and still think it’s ok to celebrate Christmas, go ahead. I don’t look down on those who do. After all, I did for years as well, until I had an epiphany. I hope other Christians will come to realize the truth about Christmas, and we will see some changes. God Bless!
Are the 'customers' going to just BURN their money in the fireplace???
I can guarantee you that the 'customers' will spent every bit of their money: sooner of later!
If you think Christmas has nothing to do with Jesus these days, you need to come to my church. Or ring a bell for the Salvation Army. Or spend some time at a mission helping the needy.
It is so much about Jesus that the anti-theists work overtime trying to shut it up. But you are too busy looking for everything but Jesus. Or wondering why it isn’t about you, Mr Scrooge..
“There are many things from which I might have derived good, by which I have not profited, I dare say,” returned the nephew. “Christmas among the rest. But I am sure that I have always thought of Christmas Time, when it has come round— apart from the veneration due to its sacred name and origin, if anything belonging to it can be apart from that—as a good time: a kind, forgiving, charitable, pleasant time: the only time I know of, in the long calendar of the year, when men and women seem by one consent to open their shut-up hearts, freely, and to think of people below them as if they really were fellow-passengers to the grave, and not another race of creatures bound on other journeys. And therefore, uncle, though it has never put a scrap of gold or silver in my pocket, I believe that it has done me good, and will do me good; and I say God bless it!”
Good!
We are ALL on the Same Path here (I hope!).
Some are farther along than others.
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1 Thessalonians 5:14 We urge you, brethren, admonish the unruly, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with everyone.
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Sorry, the idea that putting up a tree in my living room removes Christ from the season for me is just, well....stupid.
Thank you for that. It’s the same Scripture someone used once to accuse me of worshiping my Christmas tree.
Thank you also for a good conversation.
And let me avoid all controversy by saying best wishes to you and yours for a healthy and prosperous 2014!
Ah....my wife makes the best fruitcakes. Every year she makes two-one for Christmas and one for July. One can’t eat enough of those cherries and candied fruit that will last for a 1,000 years.
Speaking of meat sacrificed to idols, Paul said it was fine for believers to eat it, unless by doing so one presented a stumbling block to the weak. Paul understood that pagan gods are not real and have no power.
Essentially Paul was affirming the fact that Jesus has set us free from legalism, and from imaginary influence from nonexistent gods. He made it clear that anyone not comfortable eating meat sacrificed to pagan gods should not violate their conscience and do so.....likewise, you should not celebrate Christmas if you think it's wrong. On the other hand, as long as we use Christmas to reflect on Christ's birth while we celebrate it, there is no problem.
They're out to get your money-just like the after-Christmas sales, the Inventory sales in February, the Spring sales in April, the 4th of July sales, on and on and on. Grant it most stores make most of their money during this season. But let the others spend their money.
Ah, but Christmas is about giving gifts.
Maybe to other but not to me. We do give gifts to our son but ever since he was a teenager I had him make a list with prices and curb expectations. Let others push and shove for those cheap TV sets at 6am in the morning. Amazon.com is my friend and I'm usually done with any shopping within a half hour.
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