Posted on 12/07/2005 4:36:31 AM PST by goldstategop
Exactly.
Jews are not responsible as this author implies.
Yet maybe it's easier to realize the sacrifice Christians and Jews are making around the world when storefront windows display a Nativity scene rather than two seven-foot-long male nude plaster dummies being hung by their testicles upside-down from the ceiling (labeled an expression of artistic freedom near our town a few years ago, no doubt induced by a heavy ingestion of liberalism and Quaaludes.)
(taking this year off from the National Lampoon light display 'cause I just need a break)
LOL. You're entitled. Good luck with the music. I can almost hear it from here.
What exactly is the golden calf that these Jews are worshipping?
IF the bullfrog had wings he wouldn't bump his keyster, either.. but they don't.. Judas had to be replaced by Saul aka Paul(to make 12).. (number of jewels on the high priests breastplate).. Then the messiah could hit the fan.. and the good news could be spread far and near.. Its like painting; with painting.. any mistake ugh.. contingency can be corrected..
Whats the good news.?.
Jesus came to make ALL religion obsolete... AND DID..
For Jews and Gentiles, rich and poor, male and female, smart and dumb, Freeper and non Freeper.. as was said in prophesy long before.. Basically YOUR religion is not good enough.. Drop your external religion and get GOD INTO YOU..
Quite good news.. to those enslaved by one religions clergy or another..
FREEDOM to worship God directly.. FOR FREE..
Only one negative that I can see.. external clergical kibutzers(and their flocks) would/could HATE YOU... or at the least feel sorry for you.. The good news is that they might leave you alone to wallow in the joy and knowing that having God within you allows.. A win/win situation as I see it..
Is God COOL or WHAT.?.
Excellent post Corin. My sentiments exactly :~D
Personally, Christmas no longer has a special religious significance for me. I can state it as a fact that Yeshua was born in the fall rather than the winter, and I think I can state with 99% certainty that He was born on the first day of Sukkot, the Feast of Tabernacles (when God "tabernacled among us"), and was circumcised on the eigth day of the feast. I celebrate His birthday accordingly.
Nevertheless, I love this time of year. I love the weather (strangely enough), the festivities, the decorations, and I still enjoy the nostalgia of hearing classic Christmas carols and seeing Merry Christmas Charlie Brown on the tube. I also love the time spent with my family and my mom's home cooking. (I fortunately have understanding parents who don't mind if I put my Hanukkia up along side their pagan sym--I mean, Christmas tree. ;-) Just teasing.)
The fact that we have sudden, widespread attacks on Nativity scenes and words with "Christ" in them is not the disease. It's merely a symptom of the disease.
I completely understand that this is a particularly distressing symptom to those for whom this is the holiest time (either just before or after Easter) of the year, and that's why we see so much anger directed at, for example, businesses who are trying to go with the flow by saying, for example, "Happy Holidays" instead of "Merry Christmas." Nevertheless, if you have an upper respiratory infection, how much good does it do to suppress symtoms without treating the cause?
The cause of this particular symptom is the increasing secularization and universalization of our culture. But even that cause has a greater cause: The failing of the American Church (and I'm including all denominations here).
When we as a body are on fire for the Lord again, willing to take abuse (psychological, legal, and even physical) as a testimony for our belief that He died for our sins and rose from the dead, then we'll be heard.
When we are more concerned about seeing true repentence ("turning around") and growth in our brethren than in whether a person spouts the right theological formulas and tithes, then we'll be leading others through the narrow gate.
When we are willing to be wierd for God instead of demanding that society mould itself to make our Christian walks more convenient, then we'll start shaping society.
When we spend more time in prayer, study, fellowship, and actively walking the walk of the Spirit than we do in front of the boob tube, then our light won't be hidden under the sofa.
When we are conformed to the image of God's Son, then people will see the Messiah.
Until we stop being lukewarm as a corporate body, why should we be surprised that the Church's influence in America will continue to wane? When God does judge America--and I think it's starting--it won't be because of the sins of the openly pagan and humanistic, but because of the sins of those proclaiming Christ.
Good for your brother...and you
i went into my local Subway to get a sandwich today....run by Indians....Hindu I'd reckon
anyhow, they had a Christmas Tips jar...lol
i thought that was rich
i tipped them of course...soft schlub that I am
Could you get any more eisegetical, my friend?
Don't tell me you actually thought that the shepherds had their flocks out in the mountains around Bethlehem in late December?
Clueless, aren't we?
I don't take a position on the issue of when Christ was born. I do, however, strongly doubt if John's usage of skenoo, even if it was intended to allude to the Tabernacle, meant anything beyond the fact that Christ made his dwelling amongst men. This isn't a nativity narrative, so I strongly doubt if it is intended to suggest Christ's birthdate.
Thank you for the ping. Merry Christmas, Doctor.
What a delightful essay-post, hosepipe! Thank you!
A bit raw.. but heart felt nevertheless.. LoL..
Pakistan is Muslim in the sense that only Muslims can aspire to positions of power in Pakistan. The author must note the difference.
No you are correct. Just stop the spending. This year all I'm making is a contribution to the SA and my church. Let's start a revolution!
I am already spending much less this year--I got a couple of kittens from the shelter, and everyone seems much more thrilled with that. Just cat food, vet bills and kitty litter.
Yes! I'm giving my wife a couple of kittens and she's getting me a puppy. Now that's Christmas!
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