Do you celebrate Christmas?

[jabcat]

awe, it's just once a year.  it could be worse, something like free will.    :myahoo:

[jabcat]

awe, it's just once a year.  it could be worse, something like free will.    :myahoo:

heck, come january we might even discuss UR.    :wink2:

[eaglesway]

 :laugh:

[rosered]

 
Great suggestions .....
  I find these   type of threads very helpful , not harmful ...
 
  And we will always have those who are into head knowledge and those into heart knowledge .
Both serve the Lord in their   own ways

Its where ever we are are at in our walk in the  Lord  ,
  Walking in the Spirit of Love is not so easy a task    .
Being in the world but not of it ...

I know Jesus kept company with the common folk and harlots and tax collectors   , those were the poor in Spirit and were willing to  accept Him and His  Word  ,  the  religious  leaders were not willing to hear anything Jesus said and always took offense  , they  were   quit content with the spirit  they   already possessed.

  How we Love  God and our fellow man  is what   will matter in the end ..........   :HeartThrob:

[micah7:9]

Jab and EW & Seth  :rolllol: :dsunny:

[Cardinal]

awe, it's just once a year.  it could be worse, something like free will.    :myahoo:

:LH:

[marie glen]

This is a great discussion, with some really interesting perspectives on all sides!

I have kind of a left-field question... other days and seasons such as Halloween, Ramadan, Karva Chauth, Litha (the Summer Solstice) and Day of the Dead?

This is not meant to offend anyone, or be sarcastic, just add a new layer to that aspect of the discussion.

:Chinscratch: hmmm, very interesting... If I was raised a Muslim.. I wonder if I would observe Ramadan.. personally, likely not, as I tend to view (being a Christian) that system as being of another 'god'. But there is, I believe the moderate ones, which perhaps don't really have to do with that other 'god'...??

If I were raised Catholic I think I would likely still go to mass (this speaking as a pretty much unchurched person! Scratching head..)

I don't care for halloween but I don't try to get my grand children not to go trick or treating, then they would just feel like they're missing something. It's not that they are worshiping ghosts and demons and witches.. I don't much care for the month of October and its chiller movies, etc which seems to take advantage of the month.. And ouigi boards and all as mentioned above.. Oh man! run away from quickly!

If I had been raised Hindu, would I observe the day of (Hindu) prayer and fasting for husband, etc? Would I come out of that whole system? I think I likely would.. unless there had been a great movement, nationally or collectively, to change such days over into Yahweh and Christ centered days of fasting and prayer.. But then again, I'm not much of a joiner anyway..

I kind of think indigenous faiths came about, or were built upon someone's finding of a profound truth.. then over time were added on to.. But the faith that was around ancient Israel was, it seems to me, having to do with human sacrifice (the babes and the baal-molechs, especially). Archaeologically, I read that Jericho was the oldest known city.. Maybe Eden itself was where Jeru-salem was built.. And that, to my mind, could be why the adversary chose that land.. Canaan land.. to desecrate.. :dontknow:

I don't know that much about Hindu.. lots of 'gods' like other nations.. But before I was a Christian I studied about Eastern religion (Brahma and yogi's) and meditation which as I learned it was ideally the silencing of one's mind so quiet one could 'hear' the voice of God.. drifting down like a feather.. Now when I became aware of the God of the Bible, He did not seem to be a different God.. then I learned about Jesus, His Son. But I have still never thought of Yahweh as being a different God from the one I first felt I touched upon in eastern meditation. [I actually 'found' God while in the mountains, and He, it seemed to me used my studies, brief, of world religions, and of astrology, one day when it seemed like a thought drifted across the sky and hit me in the head saying "you've been learning about the forces at work in the universe, what about the force that created the universe, and what if that force has consciousness?" and like a light turning on I thought "God!"And my life was never the same again.. Camping weekends there He would be.. (Nature is after all His reflection except for death and predator-ness!) But when back in the city, I could not sense Him.. Til about a month later read a bible tract called "God's Great Plan of Salvation" - which as we know, is truly "Great"!]

I have sort of the same attitude about what the Native Americans called the Great Spirit.. I believe I have glimpsed a bit of Yahweh in some of that..

I think the angels (and demons) are active in all these faiths (including my own, the Christian!)

But of course there is only one Father God, who is Yahweh.. and one Son sent to be savior of the world.. (And I no longer 'meditate' unless it is upon God's Word, or simply focusing upon God's Spirit/Presence. I still however, find Quietness, in Him, to be quite sacred!)

Summer Solstice.. I don't celebrate or would, but say what you will, there's only One who designed those degrees in the circle of nature which are the solstices and equinox's.. I know Israel was told to observe the new moons..

Ultimately I figure any day which paganism confiscated for pagan observation, were all days which belong only to God who created days..

Day of the dead, I likely would not observe either, but of course they were never my traditions or traditions of my nation and family, so that's easy for me.

We could open up another can of worms and talk about "Sabbath or Sunday worship"? (If it should take off you can thank me later.) I remember doing a whole study about "sunday" in refuting "sunday worship as the mark of the beast". Where I realized Jesus did indeed rise as Sabbath was ending (saturday evening) and sunday was beginning.. as that's the hours He died and He said He would be in the grave 3 nights and 3 days, not 2 and 1/2 or anything.. That meant Passover ended wednesday evening as He was dying. He was in the grave (as unleavened bread in the oven) for those 3 days and nights. (Unleavend Bread also called Sabbath, or even Passover, was always the day right after Passover.) And He rose as the regular weekly Sabbath day was ending, and the third Spring Holy Day was dawning which was "Firstfruits" when a single sheaf of grain was waved in the air. Firstfruits was always on a "sunday". So, i figure(d) how could sunday belong to Satan? And tho some denied it, the early believers (imo) called sunday the Lord's day.. (Meaning the Lord Jesus/Y'shua.) Personally I prefer to worship every day, which I think most of us lovers of the Lord do prefer. If I were so fortunate to have a whole day of rest, the saturday sabbath I would prefer and might even think of as superior.. but now I pretty much think of the whole week-end as very good days.. and what about in the days of Joshua was it? or Elijah? when the sun stopped or went backwards a day.. does this make sunday now saturday? :dontknow: Does it matter? Such being merely a "shadow of things to come". I like to think every day should have set apart time. Time I think of as keeping sabbath. "Resting in Him and in His finished work". The sabbath being a shadow and type of Jesus-in-whom-we-rest - Hebrews 4:1-15, and therefor - verse 16.

And Sabbath and eating meat, and meat offered to idols is the issues discussed in the New Testament.
Romans (13:13) 14:1-22 & 23; Colossians 2:15,16

Please excuse my long winded babbling.. :flamebreath:

[marie glen]

Requires wisdom folks! Sorry- no pat answers.  :laugh:

:thumbsup: :thumbsup:

   this topic defintely needed discussed..so glad all these different aspects were brought up.

     want to share a coping mechanism I have to get around Halloween with my gran-kids.  Harvest festival...the mennonites have

   a harvest festival..with fun things...corn maze..pumpkin patch,hayrides caramel apples etc..  also, seasonal decorating......a display of

bales of hay,  mums..pumpkins/squash and shocks of corn. decorate inside with colored leaves center-pieces/mini-gourds/pumpkins etc


  winter......candles..everygreen boughs with pinecones snowmen and winter- themed etc. sleds/ice-skates......

     a time and  season for every purpose under heaven.........                 

:thumbsup: I like that! We have a place close by here where my daughter takes her children which follows more of the harvest theme..

Also I've read this "A harvest is associated with each of these, Passover with the harvest of barley: Pentecost  with the harvest of wheat; and Tabernacles with the grape harvest..."

[Seth]

awe, it's just once a year.  it could be worse, something like free will.    :myahoo:

YAY a new Christmas tradition!

[sheila]

SMH  Seth ... :laugh:  Marie...Iv'e been hit up aside the head..by a thought of His a time or two,myself.     :HeartThrob:

[Dandelion]

I don't know....but from my perspective, Christmas is not a pagan holiday. It is the celebration of Christ's birth, disguised so that Christians' lives would not be in danger for celebrating it. Just as Jesus, Mary and Joseph went into Egypt to save the life of Jesus, so we as Christians piggy-backed on the winter solace, to save lives.

Do many corrupt it? Absolutely. This is a fallen world and everything becomes corrupt. But, let's stop a minute and think how many children have knelt at the manger and given their heart to Christ? How many people have heard the name of Christ through a care box sent, a present bought, a prison, hospital or nursing home visited? How many hearts have the carols touched. And how about all the beauty of Christians being the light of the world when they stand strong against the tide of criticism and keep Christ the center of their Christmas?

There is a remenent out there......living in the Spirit and choosing God's way and not the world's.

Perhaps Christmas is to our time what Joseph was to his brothers in Egypt...... What men meant for evil, God used for good.

A Christmas hymn, sung by James Taylor:
 

Some Children see Him

Some children see Him lily white,
The baby Jesus born this night.
Some children see Him lily white,
With tresses soft and fair.
Some children see Him bronzed and brown,
The Lord of heav'n to earth come down.
Some children see Him bronzed and brown,
With dark and heavy hair.

Some children see Him almond-eyed,
This Savior whom we kneel beside.
Some children see Him almond-eyed,
With skin of yellow hue.
Some children see Him dark as they,
Sweet Mary's Son to whom we pray.
Some children see him dark as they,
And, ah! they love Him, too!

The children in each different place
Will see the baby Jesus' face
Like theirs, but bright with heavenly grace,
And filled with holy light.
O lay aside each earthly thing
And with thy heart as offering,
Come worship now the infant King.
'Tis love that's born tonight!

[marie glen]

SMH  Seth ... :laugh:  Marie...Iv'e been hit up aside the head..by a thought of His a time or two,myself.     :HeartThrob:

  :laughing7: :LH:  :gimmefive:

I don't know....but from my perspective, Christmas is not a pagan holiday. It is the celebration of Christ's birth, disguised so that Christians' lives would not be in danger for celebrating it. Just as Jesus, Mary and Joseph went into Egypt to save the life of Jesus, so we as Christians piggy-backed on the winter solace, to save lives.

I never thought of that..!

The children in each different place
Will see the baby Jesus' face
Like theirs (but bright with heavenly grace)...

Amen "like theirs" ..I just LOVE that! :dsunny: He is SO Good!

[Cardinal]

awe, it's just once a year.  it could be worse, something like free will.    :myahoo:

YAY a new Christmas tradition!

:cloud9: HILARIOUS! :LH:

[sheila]

very precious Hymn you shared Dandlyon..... :girlheart:

[Cardinal]

 :cloud9: Amen, yes it is  :thumbsup:

[rosered]

 :HeartThrob:

Loved what you shared  Dandelion  !! Amen !!God uses it   all  for good !!  :dsunny:  great song ..

[MusicLover123]

Time to have that yearly opening the can of worms tradition!  :LH:

I will say, basically the persons intention. Is your heart on glorifying God? Or is it on having the perfect decorations? Or the best tree? Or even just be grateful for all your blessings one day a year, and not daily?

But not doing it out of fear either, that if you don't do this and that perfectly God is going to punish you for it. Perfect love casts out fear...

[GodIsLove]

I don't know....but from my perspective, Christmas is not a pagan holiday. It is the celebration of Christ's birth, disguised so that Christians' lives would not be in danger for celebrating it. Just as Jesus, Mary and Joseph went into Egypt to save the life of Jesus, so we as Christians piggy-backed on the winter solace, to save lives.

Do many corrupt it? Absolutely. This is a fallen world and everything becomes corrupt. But, let's stop a minute and think how many children have knelt at the manger and given their heart to Christ? How many people have heard the name of Christ through a care box sent, a present bought, a prison, hospital or nursing home visited? How many hearts have the carols touched. And how about all the beauty of Christians being the light of the world when they stand strong against the tide of criticism and keep Christ the center of their Christmas?

There is a remenent out there......living in the Spirit and choosing God's way and not the world's.

Perhaps Christmas is to our time what Joseph was to his brothers in Egypt...... What men meant for evil, God used for good.

A Christmas hymn, sung by James Taylor:
 

Some Children see Him

Some children see Him lily white,
The baby Jesus born this night.
Some children see Him lily white,
With tresses soft and fair.
Some children see Him bronzed and brown,
The Lord of heav'n to earth come down.
Some children see Him bronzed and brown,
With dark and heavy hair.

Some children see Him almond-eyed,
This Savior whom we kneel beside.
Some children see Him almond-eyed,
With skin of yellow hue.
Some children see Him dark as they,
Sweet Mary's Son to whom we pray.
Some children see him dark as they,
And, ah! they love Him, too!

The children in each different place
Will see the baby Jesus' face
Like theirs, but bright with heavenly grace,
And filled with holy light.
O lay aside each earthly thing
And with thy heart as offering,
Come worship now the infant King.
'Tis love that's born tonight!

[Shev]

Here is how I would sum up my issues with Xmas:

I am not political, but I noticed that the elder Bush had a memorial ceremony recently. It was "about him", and as far as I am aware, the entire focus of the ceremony was on him - the speeches reminisced about him, and so forth. Should someone have come forward and started randomly talking about reindeer, or snowmen, or an imaginary man in a red coat, it would have been unseemly and outrageous. The whole point of the service was to remember one person, and so, the focus was appropriate. Thus it is with any true memorial service.

I have spent entire Xmas seasons working around many fellow believers, and not heard the name of Jesus mentioned one time in many of those years! And yet those same believers will insist that the whole season is about Him! I just don't see it - it is a veneer of the nativity story stretched over a garden variety secular festival that is beloved by multitudes of people who hate Christ. Yes, many believers really "feel Him" in the season...but not because He is in the festival, but because He is in them! If there was suddenly a festival about Him being in a golf course, you would feel Him when you went to the golf course - because He would be in you! It would not validate the "golf course festival" that a spiritually alive person feels the spirit when they are on a golf course!

The New Testament is an example of something else that claims to be all about Jesus - and guess what? It is! You can't go a line or two without being confronted with His sublime person. It does what it says on the tin, so to speak. Now why, when the Father has demonstrated in His holy scriptures what HE means by "all about Jesus", is He suddenly so quick to share His Son's "memorial day" with Santa Claus, Charlie Brown, Xmas trees, and the biggest celebration of commercial activity the world ever sees?

Having said all that, I never believe in trying to force anyone to do this or that - even in spiritual matters, all you end up with is a new attempt at Law. My wife keeps it with her family, and took our new daughter with her, and I have no problem at all, as there would be no point in trying to make her miserable over it, or chain her to something I believe, and she does not. So it is with everyone - we really should be convinced in our own mind to do anything, or else it is not of faith.

[Cardinal]

 :cloud9: It's that time again......no......but blessings to all regardless..... :HeartThrob:

[jabcat]

I think if someone is blessed with it, and in their purity of heart worship and adore Him especially on that day, then that's great.

For me personally, I don't even try anymore to focus on a celebration of His birth on the day.  I believe He should be focused on and celebrated/worshiped every day.  On the other hand, I endure [the stress of] it, and "observe" it as a fairly "secular" time (although blessed) to do special things for my family, enjoy spending time with them, and eating good food I don't necessarily get to partake of every day.

I personally seek to esteem every day as the rest, my life just seems to work better that way.  But if others enjoy and benefit from observing days, that's between them and God.   :2c:

I'm usually glad when it's over :)

*I edited "fairly secular time", because we're supposed to do everything in His name and "as unto the Lord".  So even if not "recognizing" the day as "Christmas", I believe whatever we do should be part of our walk with Him.   :thumbsup:

[Thomas]

 :ty: :iagree:

[GodIsLove]

Here's what is happening in my life:

I remember as a child feeling very much that Christmas celebrated Christ. Obviously also with the oddly thrown in Santa and gifts, but I remember loving to attend church Christmas Eve, and I remember praying at night in bed "happy birthday Jesus" (yeah I know it's not his actual birthday but as a kid I believed it was).

Now that I have my own kids, for the past 7 years of motherhood, each year I have grown more and more to distaste Christmas.

Why?

Because I'm finding that the world around us suffocates us with materialism, consumerism, selfishness, greed, drinking alcohol, overindulgence of food, Santa, unruly overstimulated kids...

Each year I write a list for next Christmas to try to simplify the following year and combat what I listed above and each year, while my husband and I work so hard to push against the tide, the world seems to push harder.

So I think I'm slowly feeling "done" with Christmas because what is has to offer is only negatively impacting my kids and my family.

We have never done Santa in our family, and the world is Santa obsessed and I find it so odd the lies parents are telling their kids each yeas, and my kids feel uncomfortable about it all.

I try to make it about thinking of others so we buy gifts for people in nursing homes etc but everyone just asks my kids what they want and what Santa is brining and so many families overspend, on my kids and their own, that even when we only get our kids a few things they end up with so much from family and friends.

Ok, rant over, I wish it could be a simple time to share with family, but in my life it isn't working out that way.

But.. merry Christmas everyone!  Haha

At the very least I do love many of the carols.

"God rest ye merry gentleman let nothing you dismay. Remember Christ our savior was born on Christmas Day, to save US ALL from satan's power when we had gone astray. Tidings of COMFORT and JOY, comfort and joy, oh tidings of comfort and joy"

"Oh come oh come Emmanuel"

"Oh holy night"

"This, this is Christ the King,
Whom shepherds guard and Angels sing"

Etc.

[GodIsLove]

Amen Shev and Jabcat.

Shev—the part about Bush's ceremony—YES!

Jabcat—"I'm usually glad when it's over" YES...this to me is a sign that it's not working for me anymore, when all I feel surrounding the holiday is dread and I'm glad it's over.

Does anyone have advice about dealing with family and friends? I tell people we don't do Santa and I tell people we want a simple Christmas with few/no gifts but people don't listen.

For people who opt out when their other family members celebrate—do you physically stay home? Do you care about causing rifts in family? Am I just being too timid to go along with it? I like spending time with family, for example for thanksgiving it's nice to eat a meal, but Christmas is just so overwhelming I can't enjoy it anymore, each year it's been like this but each year I think "next year I can change this and that and it will be better" but it doesn't work out.

[sheila]

I dread it every year,too.I buy thoughtful gifts..and always try and distribute them before..during Hannaka days is good generally.

I told my granddaughter..Happy Hannuka!when I give hers.Generally unwrapped..or seasonal paper/snowflakes/pinecones etc..It's a

thorn in my side.It's a big burden on a lot of people....Last week at the doctors office,she asked if I was ready for christmas...I

said..'ready for it to be over" she said'so amI"

I don't do any special dinner or anything..however when grandkids come after for a fewdays..may fix tacos and

invite family during that time. Generally,I spend it alone...and don'tmind at all[prefer it] However,my brother doesn't like the ideaofthat

...and to spare hisfeelings...I am goingover there this afternoon...a simple meat/cheeseplatter andchips.No tree at his house or mine

  In this world..it seems it's always the one who loves and gives the most that gets the short end of the stick..andIjust feelthat

FatherandJesus are gettingthat short end regarding Christmas.my  :2c: