ARCHIVE: Will You Be Celebrating Christmas?

[Lighthouse]

Originally posted by Christine

OF, you're entitled to your opinion, but don't expect me to believe you based on that one statement. It was the Israelites that were required to keep religious holy days and feasts. As Body members, we are not required to, indeed, we should not partake of religious holidays. To partake of such would be putting ourselves, as believers, under the bondage of leagalism again, which we are freed from.

Where did Paul ever write that we should not celebrate? What Paul said was that it didn't matter, and that it played no part in our relationship with God. We can celebrate those days, but we don't have to. That is all he said, and nothing more. Now, if you want to argue that Christ's birthday was not actually on Dec. 25th. And that the date was originally a pagan holiday, then fine. If that's your reason, that's cool with me.

 

[Granite]

Originally posted by Christine

Granite, you don't even claim to be a Christian, so why am I not surprised you don't understand the reasoning behind my decision?

I understand it and I disagree with it. If this kind of dour, grim, self-righteous holiday snobbery makes you feel better, knock yourself out.

I've known Christians who eschew Christmas and they are, to put it mildly, real miserable this time of year.

 

[Aimiel]

I agree with Granite.

[Homer Simpson voice]Mmmm, eggnog.[/Homer Simpson voice]

 

[Granite]

Originally posted by Aimiel

I agree with Granite.

[Homer Simpson voice]Mmmm, eggnog.[/Homer Simpson voice]

:shocked:

 

[Nathon Detroit]

Originally posted by Lucky

I know at least two Christians here won't be celebrating Christmas this year, for religious reasons. I'm just wondering how many more of them there are like that.

I love Christmas!

It's a blast! Friends, family, Christmas lights, presents under the tree. I hope I get a BB gun this year. I know... I know... I will shoot my eye out with that thing.

All this.... AND getting to share the gospel with others... it's great!

Only hardcore legalists don't celebrate Christmas. So sad for them

 

[Granite]

Originally posted by Knight

I love Christmas!

It's a blast! Friends, family, Christmas lights, presents under the tree. I hope I get a BB gun this year. I know... I know... I will shoot my eye out with that thing.

All this.... AND getting to share the gospel with others... it's great!

Only hardcore legalists don't celebrate Christmas. So sad for them

Never thought I'd do this, but...

:thumb:

You know. Except for that whole "sharing the gospel" part.:chuckle:

 

[Nathon Detroit]

Originally posted by Christine

I will not be celebrating Christmas this year for religious reasons. This article explains quite well why I don't celebrate Christmas.

Christine... don't let the legalists judge you for having a nice holiday with friends and family. You have liberty in Christ! Don't entangle yourself in the bondage of legalism!

Colossians 2:16 So let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or sabbaths,

 

[erinmarie]

Originally posted by Knight

Christine... don't let the legalists judge you for having a nice holiday with friends and family. You have liberty in Christ! Don't entangle yourself in the bondage of legalism!

Colossians 2:16 So let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or sabbaths,

YAY FOR CHRISTMAS!!!
(by the way my husband LOVES your avatar Knight!! )

 

[philosophizer]

"A DENTIST?!!"

 

[Nathon Detroit]

Originally posted by erinmarie

YAY FOR CHRISTMAS!!!
(by the way my husband LOVES your avatar Knight!! )

And if he were on TOL I would love his avatar!

Tell him thanks and Merry Christmas!

 

[Christine]

Originally posted by Nineveh

Christine,
I don't see non/celebration today as a "requirment". I am not mandated to observe (or not) special days, but Paul says, "One man considers one day more sacred than another; another man considers every day alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind. He who regards one day as special, does so to the Lord. He who eats meat, eats to the Lord, for he gives thanks to God; and he who abstains, does so to the Lord and gives thanks to God. "

Nineveh, the Jews were the ones who kept holidays, abstained from certain foods, and did other such things that we consider "leagalistic" when a Body member does today. As a Body member I don't need to put myself under that bondage, I'm freed of it. There are no ceremonies or holidays for the church today. Granted I could keep Christmas, but I'd just be putting myself in the bonds of leagalism again.

Col 2:16-17 "Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days:
Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ."

I'm curious, I read over the list of prohibited days and didn't see birthdays listed. Do you celebrate birthdays and anniversaries?

Did you read the rest of the article or just jump ahead to the list of holidays the author doesn't keep (nor do I)? I don't keep those holidays because they are religious in nature. Birthdays and anniverseries are not religious holidays, but family celibrations, that are often completely void of religious reference.

 

[philosophizer]

Originally posted by Christine

Nineveh, the Jews were the ones who kept holidays, abstained from certain foods, and did other such things that we consider "leagalistic" when a Body member does today. As a Body member I don't need to put myself under that bondage, I'm freed of it. There are no ceremonies or holidays for the church today. Granted I could keep Christmas, but I'd just be putting myself in the bonds of leagalism again.

Christine,

Wouldn't being "freed of it" mean that one could choose whether or not to celebrate it? If someone doesn't want to celebrate Christmas, I got no problem with that. But once they say that they "aren't supposed to" it just doesn't sound very free anymore.

 

[Nathon Detroit]

Originally posted by Christine

Nineveh, the Jews were the ones who kept holidays, abstained from certain foods, and did other such things that we consider "leagalistic" when a Body member does today. As a Body member I don't need to put myself under that bondage, I'm freed of it. There are no ceremonies or holidays for the church today. Granted I could keep Christmas, but I'd just be putting myself in the bonds of leagalism again.

Christine this is exactly what you are doing. You are placing yourself in bondage by thinking that it is forbidden to celebrate holidays. As the article you linked states....

Members of the Body of Christ are to live according to Paul's gospel, and are forbidden to participate in religious holy days, ceremonies, symbolisms and rituals.

If you made he claim that you didn't celebrate holidays simply because you didn't want to celebrate holidays I would have no problem with that other than I would say you are missing out on some fun and evangelistic opportunities. But since you believe that you are forbidden to participate in holidays I think its rather obvious the bondage you are placing yourself under. Even by the verse you supply!

Col 2:16-17 "Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days:
Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ."

If Paul says "let no man judge you in holidays" why on earth would you let some man tell you that holidays are forbidden?

 

[Nathon Detroit]

Legalism, Not legalism

Holidays good...

Legalism...
"I celebrate holidays because it is a good work."

NOT legalism...
"I celebrate holidays because they are fun and a good opportunity to fellowship and preach the gospel. Yet I certainly wouldn't have to celebrate holidays if I didn't want to."

Holidays bad...

Legalism...
"I do NOT celebrate holidays because Christians are forbidden to celebrate holidays."

NOT legalism...
"I do NOT celebrate holidays because I choose not to but I certainly could if I wanted to."

 

[Lighthouse]

Amen, Knight!

 

[Nineveh]

Originally posted by Christine

Nineveh, the Jews were the ones who kept holidays, abstained from certain foods, and did other such things that we consider "leagalistic" when a Body member does today. As a Body member I don't need to put myself under that bondage, I'm freed of it.

I understand As Paul says, " Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind." I am sure you are

For me, I am "fully convinced in my mind", it would be more like trading in manditory holy days by Law for no celebration by theological decree. Thats why I left Lutheranism, I had traded the Law for church rules.

For the Jews it was Law. For Christians it's an option

There are no ceremonies or holidays for the church today. Granted I could keep Christmas, but I'd just be putting myself in the bonds of leagalism again.

If you see holidays as Law then the way you handle holidays is following along the lines of what Paul says. "He who regards one day as special, does so to the Lord. ... and he who abstains, does so to the Lord and gives thanks to God."

Did you read the rest of the article or just jump ahead to the list of holidays the author doesn't keep (nor do I)? I don't keep those holidays because they are religious in nature. Birthdays and anniverseries are not religious holidays, but family celibrations, that are often completely void of religious reference.

I jumped to the list

Do you basically just regard all days the same, then? Would it be incorrect for you to have a family celebration regarding God? Like a more personal family worship celebration?

 

[Delmar]

Originally posted by Christine

I don't keep those holidays because they are religious in nature. Birthdays and anniverseries are not religious holidays, but family celibrations, that are often completely void of religious reference.

So is it OK to pray before the meal at a family celebration or would that put you in bondage?

 

[pwbayon]

Holidays I celebrate (not holy days)

4th of July - to honor our nation

Thanksgiving - as a general reminder of God's blessing on this country

I do not celebrate a holy day that makes use of paganism (Easter and X-mas) The hymns of Christ's birth are valid to sing any time of the year just like any other hymn. I do not give a place to any holy day that was set up o replace a pagan holiday.

My only exception is to "help" out at my Uncles church when they have a harvest party on Oct 31. I admit it is replacing paganism but more of a safety issue for kids to have a place to come to instead of wandering the streets at night. Personally I do not need the day nor would my family need the day.

If the Chruch today needs holy days than using the old testement holy days would be the only possible ones to use if a person needs to have holy days. Today we worship in spirit and not at a certain temple site. The legalism of the law has been superceded but grace.

I find the putting of gifts under an Xmas tree to be an actual example of idolatry for this day and age.

 

[OMEGA]

NO CHRISTMAS FOR ME .

CHRISTMAS is utterly Pagan and God Hates it .

There is absolutely nothing Christian about it.

It takes away from the Truth of the Bible and

does not portray what God requires of us.

TRUE Christians want to OBEY God and not Flaunt this

Pagan Substitute in God's Face.

 

[Nineveh]

pwbayon,
Instead of celebrating a harvest, have you considered celebrating the reformation?