Posted on 12/25/2010 8:03:53 AM PST by Tzfat
"Everything is right at Christmas." I quickened my pace and studder-stepped around the corner for home. Stooping, I looked through the trees toward the house with hopes of seeing Grandpa's 1950 Buick... Mom had decorated the house with all of her usual touches - the tree was decked with the once-a-year ornaments, each having its own story to tell. The blinking lights enhanced the tinsel which we had hung, a peice at a time, blanketing the branches with the illusion of snow... Being good Baptists, and not believing in Santa Claus (though we jokingly gave each other gifts marked "from Santa"), we opened presents on Christmas Eve so that no one would think we were waiting for the old fellow...
Some History:
No one can be certain about the exact orgins of Christmas. It is certain, however, that the earliest believers were not at all concerned about celebrating the birthday of the Messiah... Saturnalia figures into the choice of December 25 by the Church for its own festival. Saturnalia celebrated the reign of Saturn, the oldest and most benign deity in ancient Italy.... Many historians agree that while the Church's plan was to provide a substitute for the pagan holidays, what actually happened was an incorporating rathar than a supplanting of many pagan customs...
True Worship and Syncretism:
So how do these facts affect the contemporary believing community? Can't we sanctify for the L-rd's use, what in history was employed for worshiping pagan gods?... What does G-d say about borrowing pagan symbols and celebrations for His worship?...
Hope you don't mind me asking but this scripture intrigues me.
Is there a modern english version and does this mean that if we don't celebrate Christmas .. others shouldn't judge us as un-christian like?
Thanks
> Is there a modern english version
I don’t have a modern English version, but I can assure you it means the same in any language. I have it in Portuguese, and Italian, and it reads the same, virtually word-for-word.
> and does this mean that
> if we don’t celebrate Christmas .. others shouldn’t judge
> us as un-christian like?
Other CHRISTIANS should not judge you as un-Christian if you don’t celebrate Christmas, neither should you, if you are a Christian, judge other Christians who DO celebrate Christmas.
It works both ways.
The words of Jesus to His disciples in John 13:34, John 15:12, John 15:17.
“That ye love one another.”
YOU GOT THE WHITE STUFF!
I hope you and your family had the very merriest of Christmases, and my New Year wish for all of you is health, happiness, and love.
;o)
Lucky you, except when it comes time to cut the grass on all that sward.
We had fog and rain here in SoCal, which is about as close as it’s gonna get to that white stuff.
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