Why do you celebrate Christmas?

[smaller]

It will certainly never change with attitudes like yours.
You sound so anti-Christian, it's pathetic.
But we've all come to expect that of you, haven't we?

I said I made peace enough with it. But I recognize it for what it is. A tradition of man, NOT a bonifide N.T. holiday.

Seeing it for what it is doesn't make me "anti-Christian."

And, fwiw, I never told my children there was a Santa Claus or an Easter bunny, and when they were 5 years old, in the summer, I told them Santa was just a made up fantasy fable. I preferred to be truthful with them. I did do the courtesy of telling them to keep their mouths shut about it to others so they could revel in their fables.

 

[Rollo Tamasi]

I said I made peace enough with it. But I recognize it for what it is. A tradition of man, NOT a bonifide N.T. holiday.

Seeing it for what is is doesn't make me "anti-Christian."

I never called you anti-Christian
I said your remark sounded anti-Christian, and that isn't anything I'd want to be associated with.
Here's one thing you can't debate.
Your remarks and others like you take the joy out of celebrating Jesus at this time of year away from the rest of us.
Does your self righteousness make you feel better?

 

[smaller]

I never called you anti-Christian
I said your remark sounded anti-Christian, and that isn't anything I'd want to be associated with.
Here's one thing you can't debate.
Your remarks and others like you take the joy out of celebrating Jesus at this time of year away from the rest of us.
Does your self righteousness make you feel better?

I recognize this particular holiday for what it is. Not my bad. It's a man made tradition. I do thanksgiving too.

What I particularly DISLIKE about this particular holiday is lying to children about SANTA. My bad.

 

[Rollo Tamasi]

I recognize this particular holiday for what it is. Not my bad. It's a man made tradition. I do thanksgiving too.

What I particularly DISLIKE about this particular holiday is lying to children about SANTA. My bad.

What about Santa?
What are you trying to say?

 

[Rollo Tamasi]

You better watch out
You better not cry
Better not pout
I'm telling you why
Santa Claus is coming to town

He sees you when you're sleeping
He knows when you're awake
He knows if you've been bad or good
So be good for goodness sake!

 

[Rollo Tamasi]

These words are gentle and simple
Children they do wrong
But Santa always gives them a gift anyway
There's a story of love there, the same story of Jesus that you tell them when they get a little older.
And you find fault in that?
Don't you love to see children smile when they get a gift?
Are we missing something here?

 

[GodsGrace]

I don't believe for a minute that the church needs Christmas so the world can see the love of the church.
What the church needs more of is the love of God being expressed through them when the world is not doing 'their' loving. That is the expression of love that will witness to the world. And that should be happening every day of the year. Effective witness happens when you are different than the world.

The New Covenant DOES require new observances. What are we, Jewish? Maybe we should just give up and celebrate all the Jewish spiritual feasts?

It took a little time, but the Jews divorce from the Christians. A little it was also the other way around because they didn't feel at Home anymore.
So we have to create a New Home for ourselves.

Maybe we could celebrate on the Sabbath: Shabbat, when God rested from His creation in Genesis
Maybe we should celebrate Pasach instead of Easter?
Shavuot instead of Pentecost?
Yom Kippur to atone for our sins?

You see, we're totally different and should celebrate our own feasts and NOT let the secular world take them away from us
just because they're commercialized, or whatever. They don't have to be commercialized to US.

Wondering

 

[GodsGrace]

These words are gentle and simple
Children they do wrong
But Santa always gives them a gift anyway
There's a story of love there, the same story of Jesus that you tell them when they get a little older.
And you find fault in that?
Don't you love to see children smile when they get a gift?
Are we missing something here?

Yes. We're missing something.
We're getting carried away from the secular world.
Look at that O.P.
God is being taken out of everything and some here want to help!!!

KEEP CHRIST IN CHRISTMAS.

Wondering

 

[Rollo Tamasi]

This time of year we should be inspired to show love to others.
Let that build in us until we are doing it all year long.

 

[Rollo Tamasi]

Big news!
My church and another are having a Christmas Eve service outdoors, downtown, in front of the courthouse (the best central location).
We are excited and expect 1-2 thousand people.
It will be a 2 hour affair with children first, then the adults.
I'm sure the experience will be a first for me.
Yes, another reason to celebrate Christmas.

 

[GodsGrace]

There is no such thing as Christmas in the N.T. We all know it was a dreamt up holiday. Nobody knows the "exact date" of Jesus' birth. If it was some critical factor in the N.T. we'd have a basis and a date for it. But the basis for it came from "mens traditions." We should at least recognize that. It has little to do with faith in Christ and everything to do with a contrivance of man. I'd just as soon do the Passover or any number of other Jewish holidays myself if we wanted to do "scriptural" traditions with Jesus understanding attached to and revealed in them. BUT the reason we DON'T is because the "guys who set this up" were anti-Semites who wanted to "differentiate" themselves from Jewish traditions.

But it was set a long time before we showed up. Ain't gonna change now.

What a lovely contrivance of man!!!

You could always become a Messianic Jew and celebrate the Jewish Holidays.
No one is stopping you Smaller.
Go for it!!

But, yes, I like to differentiate myself from Jewish traditions.
The Jews DENIED Jesus as the Messiah.
I don't.

Also, re the anti-semites. Yes, some back then were. They blamed the Jews for killing Jesus.
That doesn't take away from our beautiful Christian holidays: Christmas and Easter.
Some countries even celebrate January 6th, Epiphany, when Jesus was first manifested to the world by being found by the wise men.

Yes. I don't see the Jewish Religion arguing about whether or not Hanukah should be celebrated...

Wondering

 

[Rollo Tamasi]

What a lovely contrivance of man!!!

You could always become a Messianic Jew and celebrate the Jewish Holidays.
No one is stopping you Smaller.
Go for it!!

But, yes, I like to differentiate myself from Jewish traditions.
The Jews DENIED Jesus as the Messiah.
I don't.

Also, re the anti-semites. Yes, some back then were. They blamed the Jews for killing Jesus.
That doesn't take away from our beautiful Christian holidays: Christmas and Easter.
Some countries even celebrate January 6th, Epiphany, when Jesus was first manifested to the world by being found by the wise men.

Yes. I don't see the Jewish Religion arguing about whether or not Hanukah should be celebrated...

Wondering

Yes, and Purim is their biggest holiday.
It's mentioned in the Bible, but God did not initiate that one either.

 

[GodsGrace]

Big news!
My church and another are having a Christmas Eve service outdoors, downtown, in front of the courthouse (the best central location).
We are excited and expect 1-2 thousand people.
It will be a 2 hour affair with children first, then the adults.
I'm sure the experience will be a first for me.
Yes, another reason to celebrate Christmas.

WE NEED MORE OF THIS!!!!
Not eliminating!

And as to your post no. 29 where you speak of spreading the love of Christmas all year round
and you also mentioned children above:

In Italy there's a beautiful song that is sung a lot at Christmas time.
Children sing it in school plays, and the like.

Listen to the words:
E' Natale
E' Natale
Si puo' fare di piu'

(It's Christmas time. We can do more...)

More of everything: More helping each other, more being nice, more being generous,
MORE BEING LOVING.

Just think of all that would be missing from teaching children Godly concepts that ALL concentrate on - even non-Christians.
And having the right attitude toward each other can draw us to God.

Wondering

 

[GodsGrace]

Yes, and Purim is their biggest holiday.
It's mentioned in the Bible, but God did not initiate that one either.

Good point.
We're not supposed to wait for God to do everything.
We are meant to celebrate God and give Him glory however we can.
Putting aside days for Him is an excellent way to celebrate our thanks and our praise.
We are God's workers here on earth.

Wondering

 

[Rollo Tamasi]

WE NEED MORE OF THIS!!!!
Not eliminating!

And as to your post no. 29 where you speak of spreading the love of Christmas all year round
and you also mentioned children above:

In Italy there's a beautiful song that is sung a lot at Christmas time.
Children sing it in school plays, and the like.

Listen to the words:
E' Natale
E' Natale
Si puo' fare di piu'

(It's Christmas time. We can do more...)

More of everything: More helping each other, more being nice, more being generous,
MORE BEING LOVING.

Just think of all that would be missing from teaching children Godly concepts that ALL concentrate on - even non-Christians.
And having the right attitude toward each other can draw us to God.

Wondering

It's time we speak up against the nay-sayers.
Christmas is a joyous occassion for family and friends to draw nearer each other in Christ.
We should not let this technical stuff about when Christ's birthday really was, and how it's all a big lie today and everyone wants to make money ruin our holiday.
Who cares what the world does.
Don't let the world destroy our holiday with Jesus.
Don't become part of the world over technicalities.
Are they really that important so as to destroy our most joyous holiday worshiping our Savior.

STOP!

Time for me to wish you all a Merry Christmas!

 

[smaller]

What a lovely contrivance of man!!!

You could always become a Messianic Jew and celebrate the Jewish Holidays.
No one is stopping you Smaller.
Go for it!!

But, yes, I like to differentiate myself from Jewish traditions.
The Jews DENIED Jesus as the Messiah.
I don't.

The days spelled out in scripture for certain matters are not lies. They all speak of Jesus in some way or another.

Also, re the anti-semites. Yes, some back then were. They blamed the Jews for killing Jesus.

There is no question about that.

That doesn't take away from our beautiful Christian holidays: Christmas and Easter.
Some countries even celebrate January 6th, Epiphany, when Jesus was first manifested to the world by being found by the wise men.

However Jesus Name is proclaimed via the Good News, I will rejoice.

Yes. I don't see the Jewish Religion arguing about whether or not Hanukah should be celebrated...

Certainly not looking at how the spiritually blinded may see what is in writing whatsoever.

 

[Edward]

I’ve given you my top 10 reasons for not celebrating Christmas. What do you suppose God thinks of your reasons for continuing to observe it?

I admit to not knowing all of the detailed information which you posted, but do agree with you in general and respect your view on the subject.

That said, I do sort of celebrate Christmas, but nowhere near the extent that most others do.

We don't decorate, have no tree and certainly do not think that Dec 25th was our Lord's birthday (though I usually say happy birthday Jesus, in sentiment of the day).

But the giving of gifts is good I think on several levels. The day that Jesus was born, the Father gifted mankind His Son, that we may live. We're to emulate our Lord and have His mind. He layed His life down of His own accord.

The two most important commandments are, thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart...and to love our neighbors as ourself. We're supposed to be a blessing to all mankind, to help everyone...give to the poor, give to the church, give to God. Give give give. This is ok. God loves a cheerful giver. So with this in mind, is it not good to give gifts to people?

Thoughtful gifts. I try to keep the gift giving to thoughtful gifts, things that people can use and not stumbling blocks. That means, no idols to kids (action figures), no toys at all in fact. Good gifts to kids would be books, Christ centered is best for them. Adults...things they can use around the house, to save money or help them live comfortably and so forth.

I may be wrong about some of this, but is where I am right now. I may tweak my thoughts about it at any moment.

Good thought provoking thread.

 

[smaller]

These words are gentle and simple
Children they do wrong
But Santa always gives them a gift anyway
There's a story of love there, the same story of Jesus that you tell them when they get a little older.
And you find fault in that?
Don't you love to see children smile when they get a gift?
Are we missing something here?

I refused to lie to my children about Santa. Santa didn't have any place in our Christmases and still doesn't. We marked gifts from Jesus.

 

[GodsGrace]

The Top 10 Reasons Why I Don't Celebrate Christmas

Christmas is a hugely popular holiday celebrated by some 2 billion people worldwide. It’s become such an ingrained part of modern culture that even people in nations with little or no Christian history or tradition are celebrating it in increasing numbers.

Christmas is so big that it plays a key role in the economies of many nations. In the U.S. retail industry, Christmas shopping season and stores that have been “in the red”—operating at a loss all year—suddenly see their sales shoot up so fast that they are now operating in the black (at a profit) the rest of the year.

So it’s not surprising that I get some pretty shocked looks when I tell people I don’t celebrate Christmas. So here I offer my top 10 reasons for not celebrating Christmas!

1. Christmas is driven by commercialism.


2. Christmas is nowhere mentioned in the Bible.

3. Jesus wasn’t born on or near December 25.

4. The Christmas holiday is largely a recycled pagan celebration.

5. God condemns using pagan customs to worship Him.

6. Christmas is worshipping God in vain.

7. You can’t put Christ back into something He was never in.

8. The Bible nowhere tells us to observe a holiday celebrating Jesus Christ’s birth —but it clearly does tell us to commemorate His death.

9. Christmas obscures God’s plan for mankind.

10. I’d rather celebrate the Holy Days Jesus Christ and the apostles observed.

I’ve given you my top 10 reasons for not celebrating Christmas. What do you suppose God thinks of your reasons for continuing to observe it?

Hi Maedchen,
You've put a lot of work into this.
God is being taken out of everything. It looks like you want to join and and help the secular world.
I think we should keep Christmas and keep Christ in Christmas.

For instance, when store clerks are told to say "Happy Holidays" instead of "Merry Christmas" we should let it be known that we are Christian and it's a Christian holiday and we are not happy with this rule.

As Christian parents, we should complain when school plays totally remove Christianity from Christmas.
etc. I'm sure we all know of situations where we are quiet instead of speaking up.


1. Who cares if people want to be driven by commercialism at Christmas? Are we going to stop them?
So it's good for the economy - what difference does it make? It's a happy holiday and everyone wants to join in.

Know what should have been different? When store clerks are told not to say Merry Christmas but Happy Holidays, the Christian should have said: Sorry, it's MY holiday and I'm going to have to say Merry Christmas. Instead we cringe.

2. Neither is the Trinity.

3. Jesus was probably born in September. Too late. December is just as good. We DON'T KNOW FOR SURE when Jesus was born.

4. It was a pagan holiday. Right. So the Christian church tried to get a holiday of its own to compete with it so the Christians could show that they were CHRISTIAN. I think it was a good move.

5. We're not using a pagan custom to worship Him. I'm not fellowshiping with any pagan when I go to church on Christmas day.

6. You can NEVER worship God in vain. God should be worshipped every moment of the day. The Nativity scene and Christmas songs are a worship - one that also others can see. It's good and proper to bring everyone's attention to God.

7. How was Christ Never in Christmas. He was never born? It celebrates His birth. It's the Mass of Christ. Mass means to send, to send forth, to go... (to teach people about Christ).

8. The bible doesn't tell me how I should use the internet.

9. Interesting. But if Jesus had never been born, He never could have died for our sins.

10. I think God wants me to observe Christmas because it brings attention to Him.

And last but not least, could you imagine never saying "Merry Christmas" again???

I wish you would rethink..

Wondering

 

[Rollo Tamasi]

I refused to lie to my children about Santa. Santa didn't have any place in our Christmases and still doesn't. We marked gifts from Jesus.

Well, I won't call you wrong.
But you seem to have no problem calling everyone else wrong.
Could it be you feel a need to justify what you have done, denying your children Santa Claus?