The Truth About Christmas

[Didymus]

I know this is a hot topic, especially this time of the year. But, I have to bring it up because I do not celebrate Christmas. But, it seems about 80% of all that is called Christianity does.

You see, I don't believe that God ever intended for the birth of His only begotten Son to be used by capitalistic societies to bolster their economies at the end of every year.

Nor do I believe God ever intended for the birth of his only begotten Son to be merged with the pagan religions of 5th and 6th century Rome. Yet Christmas was institutited by Pope Liberius to appease those very pagans. There is a plethora of historical evidence that shows this.

With this in mind, I ask; Should Christians celebrate Christmas?

Thanks for your time.

:fred:

[TheForgiven]

That's a very good question my friend. Should Christmas be celebrated by Christians?

My answer is, this a personal choice of each individual. Is it a sin to celebrate Christmas from a Christian's point of view? I don't believe that it is.

Christmas was once a pagan holiday from the Roman Empire which was celebrated in December, from the 17th, lasting about 7 days, in honor of the god of Saturn. And then a second celebration started on the 25th, ending on 1 Jan, celebrating the birth of Mithras-the god of light. Emperor Constantine, after having the vision of a cross in the sky around 312AD, decided to blend Christianity with the pagan holidays. He included the Nativity story, and Christmas from a Christian's perspective was born. Gifts were exchanged between families and friends, and the birth of Jesus was celebrated, although no one honestly knows when Jesus was born. The exchanging of gifts is in celebration of the gifts offered to Jesus at His birth. On a side note, the best gift ever offered to all of mankind was His death on the cross, and His resurrection and ascension into heaven, which we celebrate on Easter.

Now is Christmas such a bad thing? I find no reason to feel ashamed of celebrating Christmas. It's a time of giving, not only among families and friends, but strangers as well. Christmas is the one time of the year where Joy and celebration takes place among our society, and in most of the world. There are of course bad sides to Christmas. As you mentioned, it is an economical scam for big businesses. Toys production, clothing sales, and electronics are all big-money when it comes to Christmas. But is this honestly a bad thing? This depends on how you look at it. It takes people to spend money for others to earn money; that's what drives our economy. What may seem like cooperate greed is actually beneficial to those whom they employ.

Lastly, think about the children. The dreams, the cheers, and the joy of singing song, making music, and expressing excitement when the open their gifts. Should children be robbed of such a joyous time of the year? Some may think so, as though the lives of children are supposed to be firm, miserable, and unhappy.

All in all, it all comes down to personal preference. Is it a sin to celebrate Christmas? No, not from a Christians perspective, any more sinful than a Christian eating foods once considered to be "unclean". So it’s not a sin to celebrate Christmas, but it's not a sin choosing not to celebrate it.

Good question my friend. God bless.

Joe

[The Homemommy]

I see no problem in celebrating Christmas as long as you keep in mind the reason. Many families only go to church this time of year, (like Easter) and what if this happens to be a time where they hear the Word of God and believe? This may be one of the only two times a year they actually hear a sermon.

My problem, however, is Santa Claus. I grew up believing in him and don't remember feeling disappointed when I found out it was a "white lie". I have a dear childhood friend, though, that found out and it hurt their belief in God. They, to this day, feel God is a lie, like Santa Claus.

I, as a mother, kinda feel bad about the lie of Santa Claus. My kids are 6 and 4 and I mentioned to my mother I might tell them and she hit the roof!! She said, "Why would you crush them like that? Let them find out by themselves." She said they will probably find out at school. Well...this I have a serious problem with. I don't want them to find out the truth from kids at school. It's like sex. My mother thought it was o.k. to skip the "sex talk" and I learned from kids at school. I subsequently found out all kinds of things about sex from them that turned out to be flat wrong. LOL!!

anywho...I have mixed feelings about Christmas, but it is my favorite time of year. It's a time to be with your families and develop family traditions that follow you throughout your life.

[Didymus]

That's a very good question my friend. Should Christmas be celebrated by Christians?

My answer is, this a personal choice of each individual. Is it a sin to celebrate Christmas from a Christian's point of view? I don't believe that it is.

Christmas was once a pagan holiday from the Roman Empire which was celebrated in December, from the 17th, lasting about 7 days, in honor of the god of Saturn. And then a second celebration started on the 25th, ending on 1 Jan, celebrating the birth of Mithras-the god of light. Emperor Constantine, after having the vision of a cross in the sky around 312AD, decided to blend Christianity with the pagan holidays. He included the Nativity story, and Christmas from a Christian's perspective was born. Gifts were exchanged between families and friends, and the birth of Jesus was celebrated, although no one honestly knows when Jesus was born. The exchanging of gifts is in celebration of the gifts offered to Jesus at His birth. On a side note, the best gift ever offered to all of mankind was His death on the cross, and His resurrection and ascension into heaven, which we celebrate on Easter.

Now is Christmas such a bad thing? I find no reason to feel ashamed of celebrating Christmas. It's a time of giving, not only among families and friends, but strangers as well. Christmas is the one time of the year where Joy and celebration takes place among our society, and in most of the world. There are of course bad sides to Christmas. As you mentioned, it is an economical scam for big businesses. Toys production, clothing sales, and electronics are all big-money when it comes to Christmas. But is this honestly a bad thing? This depends on how you look at it. It takes people to spend money for others to earn money; that's what drives our economy. What may seem like cooperate greed is actually beneficial to those whom they employ.

Lastly, think about the children. The dreams, the cheers, and the joy of singing song, making music, and expressing excitement when the open their gifts. Should children be robbed of such a joyous time of the year? Some may think so, as though the lives of children are supposed to be firm, miserable, and unhappy.

All in all, it all comes down to personal preference. Is it a sin to celebrate Christmas? No, not from a Christians perspective, any more sinful than a Christian eating foods once considered to be "unclean". So it’s not a sin to celebrate Christmas, but it's not a sin choosing not to celebrate it.

Good question my friend. God bless.

Joe

So, if someone came up with the idea of blending Christianity and Islam, to appease the Muslims so they would stop killing us. Would that be okay? In 1500 years it will be tradition, as Christmas is today. So, when this new Christian/Islam hybrid religion becomes tradition, will it be okay?

For a Christian, I always believed that everyday is a time for giving. Am I in error?

Is it okay to lie to children, and tell them, "If you don't behave, you won't get anything from Santa"? You know some parents do this. Is it right?

II Corinthians 6.14-18 states:
Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said:

' I will dwell in them
And walk among them.
I will be their God,
And they shall be My people.'

Therefore

' Come out from among them
And be separate, says the Lord.
Do not touch what is unclean,
And I will receive you.'
' I will be a Father to you,
And you shall be My sons and daughters,
Says the LORD Almighty.' - NKJV

It seems to me that blending Christianity with other religions is a sin. Yet, isn't that how we got Christmas?

:dontknow:

[CWH]

I know this is a hot topic, especially this time of the year. But, I have to bring it up because I do not celebrate Christmas. But, it seems about 80% of all that is called Christianity does.

You see, I don't believe that God ever intended for the birth of His only begotten Son to be used by capitalistic societies to bolster their economies at the end of every year.

Nor do I believe God ever intended for the birth of his only begotten Son to be merged with the pagan religions of 5th and 6th century Rome. Yet Christmas was institutited by Pope Liberius to appease those very pagans. There is a plethora of historical evidence that shows this.

With this in mind, I ask; Should Christians celebrate Christmas?

Thanks for your time.

:fred:

Poor Didymus,

Looks like you won't be celebrating everyday because everyday and most holidays are originated from pagans and pagan worships. Life must be very miserable if one is so sensitive to all these. As long as we don't worship any other gods except the Lord, Jesus Christ, it is not a sin to celebrate any day and holiday. As long as we celebrate with the Christian God everyday in mind, there is no sin even if we know that everyday and holidays were pagan in origin. BTW, holiday is derived from "holy day". Below are the original "pagan" days and months which we celebrated for granted:

Days of the week:

The First Day: Sunday was named after the Sun god.

The second Day: Monday was named after the moon goddess.

The Third Day: Tuesday was named after the god Tyr.

The Fourth Day: Wednesday was named after the god Odin.

The Fifth Day: Thursday was named after the god Thor.

The Sixth Day: Friday was named after the goddess Frigga.

The Seventh Day: Saturday was named after the god Saturn.


Months:

JANUARY:

Named for Janus, the Roman mighty one of portals and patron of beginnings and endings, to whom this month was sacred. He is shown as having two faces, one in front, the other at the back of his head, supposedly to symbolize his powers.

FEBRUARY:

This name is derived from Februa, a Roman festival of purification. It was originally the month of expiation.

MARCH:

It is named for Mars, the Roman mighty one of war.

APRIL:

This name comes from the Latin APRILIS, indicating a time of Fertility. It was believed that this month is the month when the earth was supposed to open up for the plants to grow.

MAY:

This month was named for Maia, the Roman female deity of growth or increase.

JUNE:

This name is sometimes attributed to June, the female mighty one of the marriage, the wife of Jupiter in Roman mythology. She was also called the "Queen of heaven" and " Queen of mighty ones." The name of this month is also attributed to Junius Brutus, but originally it most probably referred to the month in which crops grow to ripeness.

JULY:

Named for the Roman emperor Julius Caesar, this is the seventh month of the Gregorian year.

AUGUST:

Named for Octavius Augustus Caesar, emperor of Rome; the name was originally from augure, which means, "to increase."

SEPTEMBER:

This name is derived from the Latin septem, meaning "seven."

OCTOBER

This name comes from the Latin root octo, meaning "eight."

NOVEMBER:

This name is derived from Latin novem, meaning "ninth."

DECEMBER:

This name is derived from the Latin decem, meaning "ten."


BTW, Welcome :welcome: to the forum, Hope you will enjoy the fellowship here with us and looking forward to your active participation.

Many Blessings.

[Rose]

So, if someone came up with the idea of blending Christianity and Islam, to appease the Muslims so they would stop killing us. Would that be okay? In 1500 years it will be tradition, as Christmas is today. So, when this new Christian/Islam hybrid religion becomes tradition, will it be okay?

For a Christian, I always believed that everyday is a time for giving. Am I in error?

Is it okay to lie to children, and tell them, "If you don't behave, you won't get anything from Santa"? You know some parents do this. Is it right?
Hi Didymus,

I don't think using the analogy of blending Christianity and Islam works very well for the reason that the secular practice of celebrating Christmas is solely focused on the idea of giving ~ even if it is promoted in many cases to make money. Churches are free to fill in the details of Christmas with their own teachings on the faith, so nowhere is there even a hint of what maybe had its origins in paganism.

Take the idea of worshiping a god with prayers and offerings....pagans did it long before Christians did, so does that mean Christians should not? I think it's the motive behind what we do, more than the tradition its founded in.

Parents use all sorts of ploys to get their children to obey rules, and be good...Santa Clause is just one of them.


II Corinthians 6.14-18 states: - NKJV

It seems to me that blending Christianity with other religions is a sin. Yet, isn't that how we got Christmas?

:dontknow:

I don't really think that celebrating Christmas is blending Christianity with another religion, as the verses you quoted imply.
2Cor.6:14-16 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.

Celebrating Christmas does not necessitate holding to any particular religious practice, so it matters not from whence it came if the focal point is freewill giving. Maybe, giving at Christmas will encourage people to give of themselves every day as you mentioned...:D

Blessings,
Rose

[Kangaroo Jack]

I know this is a hot topic, especially this time of the year. But, I have to bring it up because I do not celebrate Christmas. But, it seems about 80% of all that is called Christianity does.

You see, I don't believe that God ever intended for the birth of His only begotten Son to be used by capitalistic societies to bolster their economies at the end of every year.

Nor do I believe God ever intended for the birth of his only begotten Son to be merged with the pagan religions of 5th and 6th century Rome. Yet Christmas was institutited by Pope Liberius to appease those very pagans. There is a plethora of historical evidence that shows this.

With this in mind, I ask; Should Christians celebrate Christmas?

Thanks for your time.

:fred:

Paul said, "To the pure all things are pure." Paul said that he could eat meat sacrificed to idols if it did not harm his brother's conscience.

Roo

[Kangaroo Jack]

So, if someone came up with the idea of blending Christianity and Islam, to appease the Muslims so they would stop killing us. Would that be okay? In 1500 years it will be tradition, as Christmas is today. So, when this new Christian/Islam hybrid religion becomes tradition, will it be okay?

For a Christian, I always believed that everyday is a time for giving. Am I in error?

Is it okay to lie to children, and tell them, "If you don't behave, you won't get anything from Santa"? You know some parents do this. Is it right?

II Corinthians 6.14-18 states: - NKJV

It seems to me that blending Christianity with other religions is a sin. Yet, isn't that how we got Christmas?

:dontknow:

Paul also said that we are not under the letter of the law but under the spirit of it (2 Cor. 3). So any old covenant commandment that Paul quotes is to be observed in the spirit and not in the letter. He set up the spirit principle in chapter 3.

If we followed Didy's old covenant letter application of 2 Cor. 6, then we could not even greet a pagan family member with a hug because according to the letter we would be prohibited from even touching the unclean.

Roo

[Kangaroo Jack]

Didymus said:
It seems to me that blending Christianity with other religions is a sin. Yet, isn't that how we got Christmas?

This is pure legalism. "To the pure ALL things are pure!" Paul said that he could sit in a pagan temple and eat meat offered unto idols as long as it did not harm his brother's conscience. Didymus and I have sparred on this topic before. He doesn't realize that we are not under the letter of the law because Paul said that the letter KILLS.

Roo