Being attacked about Christmas....by another Christian?!

[okstateprincess11]

I have an aquaintence that shared the biblical fact that Jesus was not born on the 25th of December and that we celebrate absolutely nothing on this day. I respectfully agreed with the fact that it was not the actual day He was born but I didn't agree that we celebrate nothing on this day. I also stated that it's like the Lords supper. It may not have taken place on the first Sunday of the month but it doesn't mean that there is nothing to reflect upon and remember about the resurrection. I was then told that I basically would burn in hell for all of eternity for celebrating the pagan holiday and that I would never be part of Christ word and the body of believers. I can't even tell you how much my soul was rocked. I immeadiately prayed and not just for me but for this person as well. I have since decided to temporarily separate myself from this person but I do wonder if what I said was taken out of context or if I even did the right thing. I had this feeling that I needed to say something but I have never had my soul stirred as much as it is now...any advice?

 

[Revmitchell]

It is not a pagan holiday. Just a heads up, there is a knucklehead or two on this board who will do the same thing. Ignore them. They most likely had bad childhood Christmas experiences and never got over it.

 

[okstateprincess11]

It is not a pagan holiday. Just a heads up, there is a knucklehead or two on this board who will do the same thing. Ignore them. They most likely had bad childhood Christmas experiences and never got over it.

Thanks! :thumbs: I'll remember that.

 

[OldRegular]

I would say you handled the situation about as well as could be. I agree with your decision to temporarily separate yourself from this person, permanently if necessary. Your eternal destiny is a matter between you and God. No person has the right to make the remarks she did. God is the Judge of all the earth, not this person. [Genesis 18:25, 2 Timothy 4:8}

 

[Thousand Hills]

I have an aquaintence that shared the biblical fact that Jesus was not born on the 25th of December and that we celebrate absolutely nothing on this day. I respectfully agreed with the fact that it was not the actual day He was born but I didn't agree that we celebrate nothing on this day. I also stated that it's like the Lords supper. It may not have taken place on the first Sunday of the month but it doesn't mean that there is nothing to reflect upon and remember about the resurrection. I was then told that I basically would burn in hell for all of eternity for celebrating the pagan holiday and that I would never be part of Christ word and the body of believers. I can't even tell you how much my soul was rocked. I immeadiately prayed and not just for me but for this person as well. I have since decided to temporarily separate myself from this person but I do wonder if what I said was taken out of context or if I even did the right thing. I had this feeling that I needed to say something but I have never had my soul stirred as much as it is now...any advice?

Obviously this idiot was out of line to say this to you, and you made the right decision to avoid this person.

That being said there are plenty of threads here, (some recent) discussing this time of year. Some of us who choose to keep it more simple are often called Scrooges for doing so. Others have no problem going all out. Regardless, when it comes to this and other heavily debated issues, we could all benefit from reading this short article on Christian Liberty:

http://www.ligonier.org/blog/4-principles-exercise-christian-liberty/

 

[okstateprincess11]

That article is great!! Really what I needed to read...

 

[Thousand Hills]

That article is great!! Really what I needed to read...

I'm glad this scrooge could help out :smilewinkgrin:

 

[JamesL]

I have a hard time believing the friend is a Christian. Obviously stuck on a set of do's and don'ts for his/her eternal destiny, meaning he/she is not hoping in Christ for redemption.

It's a works mindset that is an exercise in hellhound futility.


That said, I don't believe "Christmas" has anything to do with Christ. It's simply a tradition of decorations and gifts. And it is true that this Solstice festival season does find its roots in paganism, but don't let that scare you.

There's nothing pagan about it nowadays. It's simply a tradition, like having a picnic on the 4th of July. Pagan worship had false deities in mind when the celebrated the Solstice.

I don't know of anyone who has a deity in mind when they're blowing up an inflatable Rudolph or wrapping up an X-Box


This year, my 8 year old son is enjoying the first Christmas tree of his life. It's not that I've caved and become a pagan. I didn't want him to develop a materialistic mindset about Christmas, so we simply didn't indulge in the winter celebration. But he is growing up in Christ, and I believe he can separate the two

The traditions and the birth of Christ are mutually exclusive. But that doesn't mean the traditions are evil or pagan.

Share the gospel with your friend. It's obviously needed

 

[T Alan]

 

[okstateprincess11]

I have a hard time believing the friend is a Christian. Obviously stuck on a set of do's and don'ts for his/her eternal destiny, meaning he/she is not hoping in Christ for redemption.

It's a works mindset that is an exercise in hellhound futility.


That said, I don't believe "Christmas" has anything to do with Christ. It's simply a tradition of decorations and gifts. And it is true that this Solstice festival season does find its roots in paganism, but don't let that scare you.

There's nothing pagan about it nowadays. It's simply a tradition, like having a picnic on the 4th of July. Pagan worship had false deities in mind when the celebrated the Solstice.

I don't know of anyone who has a deity in mind when they're blowing up an inflatable Rudolph or wrapping up an X-Box


This year, my 8 year old son is enjoying the first Christmas tree of his life. It's not that I've caved and become a pagan. I didn't want him to develop a materialistic mindset about Christmas, so we simply didn't indulge in the winter celebration.

The traditions and the birth of Christ are mutually exclusive. But that doesn't mean the traditions are evil or pagan.

Share the gospel with your friend. It's obviously needed

I am actually glad you shared this with me. The way I was raised was I was educated on the traditions of christmas but it was constantly taught thAt this was a time to celebrate our Lord and Savior. I was taught about the significance of the Nativity. So I always associated the holiday with celebrating Christ. My parents did use Santa when we were small children but made sure we understood what this was really about and to not make Santa an idol.

 

[JPPT1974]

As a kid we used to believe in getting toys and getting stuff. Plus Santa and reindeer.

But now as an adult. Your priorities and way of thinking change. As it is all about CHRISTmas and not X-Mas.

As hopefully it is not just that way for the holidays. But in all of life!

 

[TCassidy]

I have an aquaintence that shared the biblical fact that Jesus was not born on the 25th of December . . .

Biblical fact? Uh, well, no. Check out Luke 1:5-10.

Zachariah was a priest who served in the Temple in the Course of Abijah. According to 2 Ch 23:8; 24:7-19; each course served for one week and Abijah's course was the 8th. Zachariah would have served in the 8th week following the beginning of the month Nissan, which begins the Jewish calendar year (1 Chr 24:10).

Nothing much was happening at that time (no feast days) so it would not fit the narrative of verse 10 (And the whole multitude of the people were praying without at the time of incense).

However, after the 24th course served they started all over again so we have to add 24 weeks, plus 8 weeks, plus 2 weeks for the feast days when all courses served. That puts us at week 34, on or about the 10th of Tishri which was also the Day of Atonement which would not only account for the "whole multitude of the people" as well as the topic of the Angels talk with Zachariah about the Atonement (Luke 1:16 And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God.)

10 Tishri is late September. Zachariah went home and Elizabeth got pregnant, so John was born 9 months later in late June.

Jesus was 6 months younger than John, so He would have been born in late December (Luke 1:26).

It's all there. All you have to do is dig a little bit.

 

[Zenas]

But now as an adult. Your priorities and way of thinking change. As it is all about CHRISTmas and not X-Mas.

The use of X-mas is not an attempt to remove Christ from the holiday. X is the Greek letter Chi, which is the first letter of the Greek word Christos, which of course is Christ.

 

[Zenas]

Biblical fact? Uh, well, no. Check out Luke 1:5-10.

Zachariah was a priest who served in the Temple in the Course of Abijah. According to 2 Ch 23:8; 24:7-19; each course served for one week and Abijah's course was the 8th. Zachariah would have served in the 8th week following the beginning of the month Nissan, which begins the Jewish calendar year (1 Chr 24:10).

Nothing much was happening at that time (no feast days) so it would not fit the narrative of verse 10 (And the whole multitude of the people were praying without at the time of incense).

However, after the 24th course served they started all over again so we have to add 24 weeks, plus 8 weeks, plus 2 weeks for the feast days when all courses served. That puts us at week 34, on or about the 10th of Tishri which was also the Day of Atonement which would not only account for the "whole multitude of the people" as well as the topic of the Angels talk with Zachariah about the Atonement (Luke 1:16 And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God.)

10 Tishri is late September. Zachariah went home and Elizabeth got pregnant, so John was born 9 months later in late June.

Jesus was 6 months younger than John, so He would have been born in late December (Luke 1:26).

It's all there. All you have to do is dig a little bit.

:thumbs::thumbs:

 

[righteousdude2]

It is not a pagan holiday. Just a heads up, there is a knucklehead or two on this board who will do the same thing. Ignore them. They most likely had bad childhood Christmas experiences and never got over it.

This is a a fact. I have come accross those same folks here, but the majority of us cele brate His birth and love being able to wish each other a "Merry Christmas!"

Thanks for sharing, and never be surprised what other believers profess to believe. Let them be miserable in their own little, doctinally confined world! Tat is their right, and this is OUR right!

Shalom! :wavey:

 

[okstateprincess11]

Biblical fact? Uh, well, no. Check out Luke 1:5-10.

Zachariah was a priest who served in the Temple in the Course of Abijah. According to 2 Ch 23:8; 24:7-19; each course served for one week and Abijah's course was the 8th. Zachariah would have served in the 8th week following the beginning of the month Nissan, which begins the Jewish calendar year (1 Chr 24:10).

Nothing much was happening at that time (no feast days) so it would not fit the narrative of verse 10 (And the whole multitude of the people were praying without at the time of incense).

However, after the 24th course served they started all over again so we have to add 24 weeks, plus 8 weeks, plus 2 weeks for the feast days when all courses served. That puts us at week 34, on or about the 10th of Tishri which was also the Day of Atonement which would not only account for the "whole multitude of the people" as well as the topic of the Angels talk with Zachariah about the Atonement (Luke 1:16 And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God.)

10 Tishri is late September. Zachariah went home and Elizabeth got pregnant, so John was born 9 months later in late June.

Jesus was 6 months younger than John, so He would have been born in late December (Luke 1:26).

It's all there. All you have to do is dig a little bit.

Love this!!! :thumbsup::applause:

 

[righteousdude2]

As a kid we used to believe in getting toys and getting stuff. Plus Santa and reindeer.

But now as an adult. Your priorities and way of thinking change. As it is all about CHRISTmas and not X-Mas.

As hopefully it is not just that way for the holidays. But in all of life!

It's not the presents, but RATHER it is HIS PRESENCE in us and around us that this day is all about! Christmas is about giving and it began with Him giving His Son as the Sacrificial Lamb for all mankind.

 

[blackbird]

I have an aquaintence that shared the biblical fact that Jesus was not born on the 25th of December and that we celebrate absolutely nothing on this day. I respectfully agreed with the fact that it was not the actual day He was born but I didn't agree that we celebrate nothing on this day. I also stated that it's like the Lords supper. It may not have taken place on the first Sunday of the month but it doesn't mean that there is nothing to reflect upon and remember about the resurrection. I was then told that I basically would burn in hell for all of eternity for celebrating the pagan holiday and that I would never be part of Christ word and the body of believers. I can't even tell you how much my soul was rocked. I immeadiately prayed and not just for me but for this person as well. I have since decided to temporarily separate myself from this person but I do wonder if what I said was taken out of context or if I even did the right thing. I had this feeling that I needed to say something but I have never had my soul stirred as much as it is now...any advice?

What does Romans 14:1-9 say??

You want to have you a Christmas tree?? Go out and get you one---decorate it and put lites on it-----hang you up some mistletoe over a door way and kiss your wife every time she walks under it---what business is that of his??:type: Can you live your life unto the grace of the Lord Jesus with that tree all decorated?? Are you alive to the day?? Is that what you are living for----or or you living unto the Lord Jesus Christ??

Sounds to me that his problem is himself----he thinks you should live just like him-----when in all actuality----God designed you not to live just like your neighbor-----but to live unto Him and live your life like God would be living it if He were you!!:saint::saint: If you can live your life just like God would live it if He were you----and you can live that life with a Christmas tree in your house-----I would say----light that sucker up(the Christmas tree, that is)!!!

 

[HAMel]

@okstateprincess11..., these kinds of people were probably ill-potty trained. Kick the dust off your feet and move along.

It's really not about His specific birthday but about worship regarding His birth. Our Savior Was Born!!! ...amen!

 

[Tom Butler]

Reminds me of a sign I saw outside a small Western Kentucky Community:

Welcome to Clinton, Kentucky. Home of 1,500 happy people and one old grouch.