Islamic Festivals

[ezrider]

No, you have not answered my question. You seem to be implying that there is nothing wrong with Christians taking part in the worship of false gods. I have asked you a simple "yes" or "no" question - Is it acceptable for a Christian to worship false gods? Stop going around the question and answer it directly, either "yes" or "no", not with Bible verses that can be interpreted either way.

The TOG​

You ask for a yes or no, yet acknowledge for yourself that the scripture can be interpreted either way. There is no yes or no answer to your question; only that which Faiths reveals in my hearts.

 

[TOG]

You ask for a yes or no, yet acknowledge for yourself that the scripture can be interpreted either way. There is no yes or no answer to your question; only that which Faiths reveals in my hearts.

I acknowledge that scripture, when ripped out of context, can be interpreted to mean whatever people want it to mean. I see you are not going to answer the question directly. Your unwillingness to publicly denounce the worship of false gods says a lot more than any answer you might have given.

The TOG​

 

[ezrider]

I acknowledge that scripture, when ripped out of context, can be interpreted to mean whatever people want it to mean. I see you are not going to answer the question directly. Your unwillingness to publicly denounce the worship of false gods says a lot more than any answer you might have given.

The TOG​

Your insistence at the idea of worshiping a false god actually gives more credence to the false god, and you give unto that god his standing. This definitely says more about your character and need for knowledge in condemning others much more so than my unwillingness to publicly denounce that which I know to be nothing.

 

[Jethro Bodine]

Your insistence at the idea of worshiping a false god actually gives more credence to the false god, and you give unto that god his standing. This definitely says more about your character and need for knowledge in condemning others much more so than my unwillingness to publicly denounce that which I know to be nothing.

So is it a 'yes', or a 'no'? Why don't you just answer the question?

It looks to me like you want to say, 'yes', it is okay to worship other gods, but you are afraid to say it. If you're so sure it's okay, why don't you just come right out and say 'yes'?

 

[Jethro Bodine]

Here, ezrider, read this:

"19 What do I mean then? That a thing sacrificed to idols is anything, or that an idol is anything? 20 No, but I say that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to demons and not to God; and I do not want you to become sharers in demons." (1 Corinthians 10:19-20 NASB)

False gods may be nothing, but the demons that energize the false worship of idols are.

 

[Kathi]

A Christian would only want to honor a festival that honors God the Father,God the Son and God the Holy Spirit..

 

[Gary]

Liberty in Christ is an awesome thing.

1 Cor 8:9
But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to them that are weak.

 

[tim-from-pa]

A Christian would only want to honor a festival that honors God the Father,God the Son and God the Holy Spirit..

I think Kathi hit the nail on the head. That means no celebrating Islamic festivals or

• The Kalends of January
• Lupurcalia
• Ostara
• Saturnalia
• Dies Natalis Solis Invicti
• Samhain

 

[TOG]

Your insistence at the idea of worshiping a false god actually gives more credence to the false god, and you give unto that god his standing. This definitely says more about your character and need for knowledge in condemning others much more so than my unwillingness to publicly denounce that which I know to be nothing.

Here is all I need to know about false gods:

And God spoke all these words, saying,
“I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.
“You shall have no other gods before me.
“You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing steadfast love to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments. (Ex. 20:1-6 ESV)​

When we take part in festivals that are meant as worship to false gods, then we are serving those gods and violating the first commandment (or second, depending on how you number them).

The TOG​

 

[ezrider]

Exactly. The Liberty we have in Christ, only we should beware that this liberty does not become a stumbling block to those that are weak in the faith. Yet I am also cognizant of the fact that there are wolves parading around in sheep's clothing who would pretend to be weak that they might accuse you of casting a stumbling block before them that they might bring you back in bondage with them. Is that a position one aspires to remain in: to be weak in faith, never coming to the knowledge of God?

 

[ezrider]

Here is all I need to know about false gods:

And God spoke all these words, saying,
“I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.
“You shall have no other gods before me.
“You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing steadfast love to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments. (Ex. 20:1-6 ESV)​

When we take part in festivals that are meant as worship to false gods, then we are serving those gods and violating the first commandment (or second, depending on how you number them).

The TOG​

Do you worship for a God the image made after a man?

 

[Jethro Bodine]

Exactly. The Liberty we have in Christ, only we should beware that this liberty does not become a stumbling block to those that are weak in the faith.

You are sadly mistaken if you think Paul was saying we can worship false gods. What he said is we can touch things connected to the worship of false gods (i.e. a leftover slab of meat a pagan offered in worship to his god). But even then, Paul warns us to not provoke the Lord to jealousy through that liberty. The issue of becoming a stumbling block to another brother who thinks false gods are real (TOG does not) is another issue altogether.

Yet I am also cognizant of the fact that there are wolves parading around in sheep's clothing who would pretend to be weak that they might accuse you of casting a stumbling block before them that they might bring you back in bondage with them. Is that a position one aspires to remain in: to be weak in faith, never coming to the knowledge of God?

I see, to not worship a false god is to have a weak faith and having not come to the knowledge of God. You're kidding, right?

What I see Paul saying is that to think a slab of meat sacrificed to a false god, for example, is somehow tainted by a false god that doesn't really exist is a lack of knowledge in what a false god really is/ is not. But I can not see him saying that not worshiping a false god is somehow a lack of faith. That's absurd.

 

[TOG]

Do you worship for a God the image made after a man?

No, I do not worship any image. There is not a single picture or statue representing Jesus or God in my apartment, nor do I carry such pictures or statues with me in the form of jewelry or any other form.

The TOG​

 

[Gary]

Exactly. The Liberty we have in Christ, only we should beware that this liberty does not become a stumbling block to those that are weak in the faith. Yet I am also cognizant of the fact that there are wolves parading around in sheep's clothing who would pretend to be weak that they might accuse you of casting a stumbling block before them that they might bring you back in bondage with them. Is that a position one aspires to remain in: to be weak in faith, never coming to the knowledge of God?

So it is your belief that anyone who does not follow your lead is weak in the faith and lacking in the knowledge of God.

 

[ezrider]

You are sadly mistaken if you think Paul was saying we can worship false gods. What he said is we can touch things connected to the worship of false gods (i.e. a leftover slab of meat a pagan offered in worship to his god). But even then, Paul warns us to not provoke the Lord to jealousy through that liberty. The issue of becoming a stumbling block to another brother who thinks false gods are real (TOG does not) is another issue altogether.



I see, to not worship a false god is to have a weak faith and having not come to the knowledge of God. You're kidding, right?

What I see Paul saying is that to think a slab of meat sacrificed to a false god, for example, is somehow tainted by a false god that doesn't really exist is a lack of knowledge in what a false god really is/ is not. But I can not see him saying that not worshiping a false god is somehow a lack of faith. That's absurd.

You are not listening to the word that I am saying. You are ascribing your own meaning to the words that I have written because it is you who is obsessed with worshiping or not worshiping god's who are no god's. You have twisted my words into something I have not said with the intent to mock them, yet you apparently see nothing wrong in that. A person who is weak in faith does not worship the false god. But in their weakness they ascribe power to those god's that are not God.

 

[ezrider]

So it is your belief that anyone who does not follow your lead is weak in the faith and lacking in the knowledge of God.

You may wish to follow your own lead according to what knowledge the Bible may reveal to you. But anyone who does not follow after the lead of the Spirit of Christ is certainly lacking in the knowledge of God.

 

[Classik]

I'm lost - long lost

 

[Kathi]

I'm lost - long lost

Add me to your group.

A person is not supposed to feel lost when learning of God's word.I don't think God would like that.

 

[Gary]

You may wish to follow your own lead according to what knowledge the Bible may reveal to you. But anyone who does not follow after the lead of the Spirit of Christ is certainly lacking in the knowledge of God.

Is it your belief that those who refrain from celebrating Islamic holidays are weak in the faith?

 

[ezrider]

Is it your belief that those who refrain from celebrating Islamic holidays are weak in the faith?

NO.