Nativity Bloopers

Thanks, but no thanks. We'll focus on the postive and read from both Matthew and Luke, as is our tradition.

Merry Christmas to all as we celebrate His birth, God's gift.

That's reality.

 

Are we loosing sight of what is important?

Who cares if Mary rode a donkey, walked or took the bus?
Who cares if there were three wise men or 43?

How about this one, Some people put snow (or a snow looking substance) under the nativity.

Why argue with every little detail. A nativity is a way to remember that Christmas is the time when we celibrate our Lord being born. And the start of His ministery on earth that led to our salvation. Thats what is important, not if Mary rode a donkey.

 

And a resounding AMEN!

And another resounding AMEN!

 

Yes, it is a springboard to some very good Bible study! Very often we have a strong tendency to believe the traditional way of things rather than actually looking at what the Bible says. God bless you and have a very Merry Christmas.

 

It is important because believers today should know the Word of God, not the traditions of man. We settle for traditions so often instead of really knowing what the Word of God teaches.

Good stuff Martin, thanks for posting it!

Merry Christmas to all!

 

Thanks, Martin.
Count me out of the "it doesn't really matter" crowd.
God gave us His word and it most certainly does matter if we get it right or not.

Merry Christmas.

MR

 

In what way does it matter if Mary rode a donkey or not?

I just think this is a very small thing to worry about when there are real issues.

 

I agree... We should know fact from fiction.

I also notice we leave this verse out for some reason...

Luke 2:11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,
14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

We say an Angel appeared but leave out the heavenly host...

DeeJay = She traveled in a day when donkey's were the common mode of transportation. Especially for those not fit to walk. If it were today, they'd probably have her in a modest automobile.

 

A few years ago, our pastor handed out a "test" on a Wednesday night service just before Christmas. It was a multiple choice test, and it was over the birth of Christ and the nativity in general.

Once everyone had finished, we went through the scriptures. It was very eyeopening for the vast majority of people. Most of their answers fell right in line with what the media shows us... a stable, three wise men showing up right after the birth, angels singing, yada yada yada.

 

While the overall message of Christmas remains the same whether there is a donkey or not, the point is that we should truly know what Scripture teaches and not settle for what we are told by the traditions of man.

 

Exactly, Pastor.
Perhaps DeeJay should not waste so much time worrying about convincing people that things that don't really matter to him shouldn't matter to anyone at all.

Maybe he can find a thread addressing "real issues."

MR

 

I know what the Scriptures say, but most of the lost world does not.

When they see a Nativity Scene, they expect to see wise men, and I will not disappoint them.

It is a great source to use in witnessing. I usually start off with, "Did you know the three wise men were not really at the manger?" You'd be surprised how far I can get with that opening comment...

 

Yep, we should always look to please the world around us. So basically the lesson is to forget what Scripture really says, but make sure you do not disappoint the world around you.

 

Some one said "it is such a small thing, it ddoesn't really matter'.

I would argue that it does matter for this reason: With God, there ARE no "small" details.

Truth is IN the details. For example....some folks today will argue that it was a stake which Christ was crucifeid on. Others say it was a real tree. following such logic as the above mentioned comment, why does it matter whether it was a stake, a tree or a cross made of beams or 2 x 4's? Becuase God is a God of details.

Have a Merry Christmas folks.

 

Of course details matter! I'm a Christian!

But do you think the lost people really care? Of course not!

I'm all for getting them saved, whatever the method, and then they will learn the 'details' through discipling and reading the Word.

I'm amazed that so many Baptists on here, including pastors, have a problem with a Nativity set.

It is a great outreach tool and I would think they would thank God for ANY tool that could be used to bring the lost to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ...

 

And I am amazed at the number of Christians around here that do not care what Scripture teaches, just pleasing the world.

Nothing wrong with a Nativity set at all. But why in the world can we not have the details right?

 

I am big on getting the details right. For years I had it wrong and I just think if we know the truth, then we should replicate that as best as possible.

I cant remember if I put this in this thread or not, but we always have the wise men off in the distance in our nativity sets. Good conversation piece.

 

In our "Nativity set," we have the wise guys right there along with the shepherds. We just know that they began their trip to our "Nativity set" some 2 years earlier in 2004.