GRPL Whitefield Christmas Ping!
Posted on 12/15/2004 8:58:50 AM PST by Frumanchu
GRPL Whitefield Christmas Ping!
What a wonderful thought by one of the great preachers of all time.
May this be an intelligent and decent discussion of the celebration of our Lord's birth.
I suppose football games are out. Good thing my boys aren't participating
If it is such, and remains so throughout, it can stay up. If it turns into nothing more than a continuation of the recently pulled thread on the same topic, it will go.
I didn't know there was such a thing as an Official FR Religion Moderator. I am glad to see one.
Before this article is pulled I should go on record as saying I enjoy Christmas (even the music) and some of my fondest memories from childhood are from this time of year. I would respectfully disagree with Rev Whitfield. There are times when we need to enjoy ourselves a little bit. We cannot devote ourselves to our labors and the rest of the time to devotion and prayer. I do not believe that is what our Lord intended.
I would respectfully agree with you. Spending time with family and friends is vitally important as well.
I also respect what Whitfield has to say. However, I have to wonder why the church places so much emphasis on a celebration that is not commanded, mentioned or even alluded to in scripture. Christmas is an invention of the church in Rome. I think it's a stretch to say that there is definitely a wrong way and a right way to celebrate it. As Paul wrote in Romans 14:5, "One man considers one day more sacred than another; another man considers every day alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind."
I wonder what Rev. Whitfield would think of my annual tradition of watching "A Christmas Story." I realize it isn't a religious film, but it's the best holiday movie ever made!
I am not speaking against eating and drinking of the good things of life, but against the eating and drinking of them to excess...You see they cannot be said to celebrate this holy time, who thus mispend their precious time to the neglect of their families; such are destroying themselves with a witness...
SECONDLY, Let the good things of life, you enjoy, be used with moderation. I am not, as the scoffers of this day tell you, against eating and drinking the good things of life; no, my brethren, I am only against their being used to an excess...
I think he is simply warning against over-indulgence.
The ACLU and the secular world has declared war on Christmas. Their duty as they see it is to turn our eyes away from Christ at this time. Our duty as Christians should be to preserve the day for the Glory of God and to turn their eyes toward Christ.
Thanks for posting this.
Also a favorite of my family ....
"There is now no condemnation of those that are in Christ Jesus "
Enjoy !
Ping to self.
Thanks! :-)
Actually, they seek to turn our eyes away from Christ in all walks of life.
Why do you say that? I understand it is our duty to live Godly lives, but that applies to every single day. Is Christmas more important than any other day? How can Christians "abandon" the festival to pagans when the festival itself is of pagan origin? Yes, I believe in the importance of tradition, but I don't think we need to elevate this to some kind of biblical mandate.
And that's a good way of referring to it -- a "holiday movie." I love every frame of that film -- Darren McGavin was exactly like my father. "'F-r-a-g-i-l-e.' Must be Italian!"
Speaking of great movies, I encourage all to rent the DVD/video of "Immortal Beloved," starring Gary Oldman as the tortured Beethoven. It was made in 1995 by Icon, Mel Gibson's production company. It's a mystery, a biography, a musical, a love story, an adventure tale, all in one. It's as good as movies get and was completely ignored by Hollywood IMO because it was produced by Gibson. (I was going to suggest this before the other thread was curtailed.) FWIW.
Perhaps in the ways that it is celebrated, but the Birth of Christ was celebrated in Scripture and the birth is what we celebrate. Whitefield was concerned with the MANNER in which it was celebrated, not with the FACT that it was being celebrated.
Why should it be different than any other day? Because the eyes of the world are often turned to Christ when there is mention of the celebration of the day of his birth. Its a good place to begin to draw that person to the true meaning of the day and the meaning of Christ's mission on earth.
Luk 1:14 And thou shalt have joy and gladness; and many shall rejoice at his birth.
Rejoice Rejoice Emanuel.
Merry Christmas
<><
Marlowe
Through the postings of the past few days I've come to see the righteous discernment of this remark. I thank Free Republic and all the posters who've joined in this discussion which ultimately has served God and glorified His name.
Before I’m accused of vacillating let me simply say that I do not believe Christmas is a “Christ-centered” holiday. To say that it is, is to simply ignore the Rudolph the Red-Nose Reindeer displays and Bing Cosby’s White Christmas playing over and over. This has nothing to do with the birth of our Lord Jesus. Just because Muzak plays “Oh Little Town of Bethlehem” doesn’t make elevator music worship. And what about the people who go to church for a half hour to hear and applaud a Christmas cantata never to set foot in the church until next Christmas? Am I to believe they’re there to worship?
We spend four to five days celebrating but what exactly are we celebrating? Our time is spent putting together children toys, eating plenty (but avoiding the fruitcake), and yakking away with relatives. All of these things are fun and I’ll admit I’m a sap for this. But we’re deceiving ourselves if we think any of this brings honor or glory to God and this somehow constitutes religious festivities.
I understand where Rev. Whitfield is coming from but it was also a different time and place in history. I would hope that playing a game of cards at Christmastime with the relatives or drinking a glass of eggnog is not going to destroy your relationship to God. If you look at the article as Frumanchu suggested as over indulgences I would agree but understanding the history of the early Protestants they really did frown on such frivolity not simply over indulgences. If they could only see us now. Perhaps there is much truth-and warning-in what they said.
I love the green garlands, the music, and the festivity but one has to keep one’s perspective on the whole affair as to what this is really about. Simply measure how much time is spent in worship verse how much time is spent shopping for “the perfect gift”. It’s not so much about our Lord Jesus as it is about us. It is a man centered holiday designed to please us.
You got to love those two-titled pieces the Puritans loved to do.
You know it is good stuff when it has two titles. lol
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