Christmas Before Christ? The Surprising Story

United Church of God ^ | 12/200 | Jerold Aust

[DallasMike]

Who said so? You or G~d? Show me where He changed, please. Chapter and verse.

Show me chapter and verse that allows you to use the internet. Or read the Bible translated into English. Or go to church on Sunday rather than Saturday. Or not wear ringlets on your forehead.

I would suggest that you read and pay attention to what Paul had to say about the Judaizers -- those who maintained that Christians had to follow the Jewish commandments in order to obtain salvation. Christ came to give you freedom, not to cause you to be an old poop.

Galatians 5:1 -- For freedom Christ has set us free; stand fast therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.

[bonfire]

Good post. I used to tell my kids that all the outdoor Christmas lights were like candles on Jesus' birthday cake. WHen he looked down from heaven.....oh what a sight! We also used to make a Birthday Cake for Jesus on Christmas. Sadly, there are those who will never fully enjoy life.

[2sheep]

>Christ came to give you freedom, not to cause you to be an old poop.

He did NOT come to give you freedom to sin.  That is the mantra of the Masonic Illuminist Statue of Ishtar ("Liberty to sin") in NY Harbor.  The promises are to those who CONTINUE in the Word (NOT in sin), DO NOT FALL AWAY and DO FINISH THE RACE.  Those who treat Grace as an Excuse do despite to the spirit of Grace which calls us to HOLINESS.  Those are doing ought presumptuously and that IS a sin unto death.  Num 15:30.  Those who do not obey are called The Lawless Ones. 

Ga 5:17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.

[PleaseNoMore]

This year I have not put as much emphasis on Christmas as a "holy" holiday ( birth of Christ, etc ). The reason for my feeling this way is that I have begun to feel "convicted" in MY OWN spirit that EVERY day is a day to celebrate Jesus' birth, death, and resurrection. Jesus, to me, is not a once a year deal. Jesus is not just the "reason for the season" for me. He is the "reason for living".

We have downsized this year in the amount of gifts for our children. At first I felt extremely guilty but as the days have rolled on that has lessened quite a bit. I am putting more of an emphasis on GIVING, not only during the month of December but EVERYDAY of the year.

Of course, my children will have the disappointment of not having so many things that they can't even begin to use or play with them till the middle of July '03 but that will pass as well. I have conditioned them to expect material things. I will accept full responsibility for that. But I want them to learn and know with all of their being that Jesus is not just important or more important on December 25th, but that He is an EVERYDAY saviour.

[2sheep]

Sadly, there are those who will never fully enjoy life.

42 posted on 12/21/2002 5:20 PM PST by bonfire

Sadly there are those who refuse to repent and are tares bound for the bonfire.

Mt 13:30 Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.

[DallasMike]

Good post. I used to tell my kids that all the outdoor Christmas lights were like candles on Jesus' birthday cake.

I like that a lot! Remember how David was criticized for dancing before the Lord because of his joy at bringing the ark back to Jerusalem? The descendants of those old pooty-heads are still with us today!

Mark 2:27 And he said unto them, The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath:

Mark 2:28 Therefore the Son of man is Lord also of the sabbath.

Jesus is Lord of Christmas, Easter, and every other day!

[DallasMike]

He did NOT come to give you freedom to sin. That is the mantra of the Masonic Illuminist Statue of Ishtar ...

Yeah, whatever.

2sheep, today a friend and I bought 2 shirts and 6 pair of socks for a homeless man named Marvin who lives under a bridge near me. When we walked up to him, I held up the bag and said, "Merry Christmas, Marvin!"

Now tell me, did my friend and I sin by doing that? That should be an easy yes or no answer for you.

[Hootowl]

Oh, for Pete's sake! Friday is named after a pagan god. Does that keep you from picking up your paycheck at week's end?

[Conservative til I die]

I'm guessing this is some annoying fundie that wrote this?

[general_re]

You know, I personally would have said that you weren't sinning by doing that - in fact, I would have said you did a very worthy and good thing.

But now that I've read this thread, I can see how wrong I was. You're going straight to hell, to burn in that eternal lake of fire. Not for helping that homeless guy out, no - you'll go to hell because you said "M---- C--------" to him.

:^)

[PleaseNoMore]

I am not 2sheep but I would like to say that you did just what Jesus says to do. My kids and I have done similar things of late and have always included a bible in with the items we have purchased and given. We also ask the person(s) to whome we are giving if they would mind us praying with them. We encourage them that although things may be "bad" for them here for reasons unknown to me or even them, that they have a Friend who will stick by them regardless of their circumstances and that loves them more than anything. When they thank us, we just say you are wlecome and remiond them that we are sharing with them because He shared Himself with us.

[Conservative til I die]

It's not a pagan holiday. It's an appropriation of a day previously celebrated by pagans, with the new focus on Christ.

[DallasMike]

Well, I guess that's okay just as long as you don't wish them a Merry Christmas or a Happy Easter or anything like that.

[2sheep]

This isn't about Marvin and not about giving...Even the heathen give to have men think well of them.  It is about 365 days in a year and you choose to celebrate the L~rd's birth on a satanic high day!  What do you think HE THINKS of that choice?  Do you think He will line up with YOUR WILL?

"...some are of the opinion that the name Santa Claus originated way back in the time of Nimrod. In some ancient drawings depicting this Babylonish ruler, he is shown wearing a long beard, carrying a spotted fawn or deer, and holding a fir tree in his hand (all symbols now employed in one way or another with Christmas and Santa Claus today)."   Link

Joh 3:19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.
21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.

[Conservative til I die]

Isn't renaming pagan celebrations similar to putting new wine into old skins? Using pagan deities

Jesus Christ is a pagan deity?

and symbols

Many symbols that exist today are pagan in origin. It gets kind of hard to find a truly unique symbol. Hell, the wedding ring and the days of our week are pagan in origin.

with new 'Christian' names hardly replaces the old spiritual aspects of those celebrations.

Yes it does, because it's more than just a name change.

[Conservative til I die]

Are you on prescription medication?

[DallasMike]

...you'll go to hell because you said "M---- C--------" to him.

Yes, I see your wisdom in this. I'll go to the corner and flog myself quietly.

[Conservative til I die]

Are nyou a Jehovah's Witness or something?

[PleaseNoMore]

Well, sadly, I do wish them a Merry Christmas. I do so because this is the time of the year that some people can relate to as a "holy" time. If they can experience someone's kindness and equate it with Jesus' love for them then maybe it will touch their hearts and cause them to seek Him. Of course, I may be "hellbound" because I did so but I would rather Jesus pass judgement on me for doing so than mere man.

Oh, BTW, Merry Christmas.

[Fury]

Perhaps you have your own personal sea of glass awaiting you.

What are you trying to say? That people who were shopping were punished by God?