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Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Answers, Unanswered Bible Questions, Notes Ordered by Verse | ||||||
Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
1 | Christmas | Jer 10:1 | Aixen7z4 | 107050 | ||
What a strange idea! Yet we hear it so often. We have been free to change the types of clothes we wear and our mode of transportation and the silverware we use. Therefore we are also free to invent religious ceremonies or import strange practices into the church. We can take any pagan practice and put an X in front of it and that makes it good for us to do. Since life continues to bring changes, and the accoutrements we use continue to evolve, is there any limit to what we can add or change in the church? There are some who say they celebrate Christmas by recalling what the Bible says about the birth of Christ. That sounds better. The admit that the Lord never asked us to celebrate his birth, but they feel free to do it because he did not prohibit it. Some of us wonder if they will one day decide to all climb trees on Fridays since that is not prohibited either. There is a rumor that the Druids used to do it and some Christians have thought it might be a good idea since Jesus was hung on a tree on such a day. But God has not left it up to us to decide what we should remember and celebrate and do. He tells us what he wants. That is why we remember his death. He said "This do". That is why we preach the Gospel. He said, "Go ... and preach the Gospel". That is why we baptize new believers. He said, " ... baptizing them in the name of the Father ...". Are we free to add other sacraments and celebrations ad infinitum to our liking whether or not the Lord requires them? That is the question. People who celebrate Christmas will likely continue to do so regardless of what we say here. But some of us will let it be known, for what it is worth, that we stopped celebrating Christmas when we found out about the origin of the practice. |
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2 | Christmas | Jer 10:1 | Taleb | 107076 | ||
I appreciated your thought, Aixenyz4 - “Therefore we are also free to invent religious ceremonies or import strange practices into the church”… because it shows that you CAN understand exactly where Tim and others who experience the joys of this Christmas, Hanukkah or Chanukah season. We are free to worship Him as David did when he saw the ark was coming up the road – with dancing and … Then, you tossed a foul ball, when you added, “But God has not left it up to us to decide what we should remember and celebrate and do. He tells us what he wants.” Where is the verse that states the God wanted the Jews to celebrate what John the Apostle wrote in John 10:22: “It was the time when the feast of the Dedication WAS BEING celebrated in Jerusalem. It was winter and Jesus was in the Temple walking up and down in the Portico of Solomon.” WHY would John mention a “celebration of the rebirth of a temple built with hands” that was apparently pleasing to God, yet, some people today preach that the “celebration of the birth of the firm once and for all foundation of the temple built without hands” be considered pagan? I can’t imagine an answer either. What exactly was happening during the “celebration” John mentioned? The one that the God DIDN’T decide, but the Jews “themselves decreed by public edict, ratified by vote, that the whole Jewish nation should CELEBRATE those same days EVERY year.” 2 Maccabees 10:8 Eight days are STILL set aside beginning on the 25th of the Jewish month which happens to be “THIS month, on a different day than “our” 25th, BUT the same month. What happens during this every year “celebration”? Besides the lighting of candles, there is many gifts exchanged, music, extra festive food, gathering together of family, friends … Does it sound familiar yet? If your church sings old worship songs, how many carry the tunes from the taverns. Many do, you know. Words of praise and adoration sung to tunes once carrying an opposite theme. Please, in order to fulfill your heart’s plea – that which you wrote to Tim – “Since we have so much freedom, why not use it in the area that God has suggested? Let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good works. Let's see how inventive we can be in encouraging love and helping out in times of need” – abide by what Paul admonished so eloquently in Romans. 14:6a “The one who observes special days does so in honor of the Lord.” 14:22 “Hold on to your OWN belief, as between yourself and God, and consider the man fortunate who can make his decision without going against his conscience.” Blessings, Taleb P.S. In case you really want to know – it had to be pagan who invented men’s pants. :) The reasoning is obvious |
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3 | Christmas | Jer 10:1 | TommyS | 107084 | ||
Merry Christmas, Taleb Thanks for the informative info on Christmas. Yet ... You claim that it's obvious that pagans invented mens pants. I realize that some churches wrongly attribute the pagans for a lot of things that isn't exactly true, escpecially since Alexander Hislop's ramblings about such. I'll "bite". Please, pray tell, how so is the reasonings for pagans inventing pants obvious? Or was that statement with a tongue in your cheek? I'm sure glad that I get to wear pants in this cold winter wind. The kilt wearing days of mine ending when I was but a lad. TommyS |
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4 | Christmas | Jer 10:1 | Aixen7z4 | 107218 | ||
It is such an uncomfortable time for some of us, this time of the year. It is somewhat like holding our breath till it all passes. We do not know how to respond when people speak to us of Christmas, or speak across our faces to each other. Most often we smile or grunt or say, “God bless you”. But now and then we say something, knowing it is not popular. But we feel we would be failing the Lord if we refrained. Some of us want to say, as followers of Christ, that Christmas does not fit. It is not of God and has nowhere, to our knowledge, earned his approval. But we do not want to contribute to an argument, or even a discussion. We want to say simply that Jesus never celebrated his birth and never asked us to do so. We want to say that there is no record in the Bible of believers having done it. We feel no need to do it. We wonder why we have adopted a pagan practice and tried to offer it to God. We fear we may have turned again to the weak and beggarly elements. When the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, to redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. And because we are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba, Father”. Wherefore you are no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ. Howbeit then, when we knew not God, we did service unto them which by nature are no gods. But now, after that we have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn we again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto we desire again to be in bondage? We observe days, and months, and times, and years. But some of us will let it be known, for what it is worth, we do not submit to that bondage. We do not observe days, and months, and times, and years. We will let our brethren know that we stopped celebrating Christmas when we found out about the origin of the practice of it, and of the practices within it. Nor do we celebrate the new year. We would not debate with those who do, for “he that regarded the day regarded it unto the Lord”. These trembling souls wanted only to make this statement. We are not willing to answer questions concerning this. We will not even answer who “we” are for fear that it would pit us against “them”. We wanted to make this statement wile maintaining the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. It took all our energy to choose our words carefully, and we post this here in the hope that the Lord will use it for his glory. |
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5 | Christmas | Jer 10:1 | EdB | 107220 | ||
Aixen7z4 You said "We would not debate with those who do, for “he that regarded the day regarded it unto the Lord”." If this be true would you let it go. If you can't see a reason for celebrating Christmas, sharing joy with others, reminding those around us of Jesus Christ, His humble birth, If you can't justify setting aside a special day dedicated to celebrating the living God that stepped from heaven to earth through the womb of a virgin to come to earth to show us the way then fine. How about giving the rest of us a break and letting us enjoy the season. EdB |
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