Why There Are No Christian Holidays

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Dec 11, 2017
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#21
Ok... while you are waiting for him to answer your question, I have one for you....

How do you feel about birthdays.... do you celebrate yours? Your kid(s)' ? anybody's ?

I mean, God didn't TELL us to celebrate birthdays, either...
I personally do not celebrate them---mine or anyone else's, as a matter of personal faith. My focus is on my eternal life rather than my years on this earth, and I see no reason to celebrate them like it's an accomplishment or a blessing to be a year older. What I consider to be an accomplishment is living my life for the Lord and fulfilling His purpose for me in my years on this earth, however many or few that may be. And I'll celebrate having done this when I get to heaven.
 
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#22
LYNX:

Your apparent anticipation of some kind of entertaining argument on this thread is very unspiritual. (And given your posts on other threads of mine I wonder whether there isn't something to that predatory cat you chose for your user picture.)

This thread is not for you, or people with your attitude. You'll do whatever you please.
Entertainment argument is very unspiritual? Hmmm, does not compute. You just said we can neither add nor subtract from the NT, and yet "entertainment argument" isn't in there, so by your own rules, you can't say that, because it's not in there.
 
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#23
But you didn't answer my question. Are you seriously saying we should eschew any and all holidays, celebrations, etc?
I think there is one holiday that needs to be eschewed.

International Sushi Day. (June 18.) Boycott it. It is evil. Sushi is bait, not food.
 
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#25
My response to your post was based upon your comments and your demonstrated attitude on this and other threads of mine. Anticipating an altercation, as your original post seemed to imply, isn't a spiritual attitude. It seems you benefit not at all from anything I post, but do enjoy making mocking remarks and following my threads for the purpose of mocking and criticizing. Predatory cats are bloodthirsty and stalk prey, and I was likening your behavior to this because you seem to enjoy seeing people debate with me for unrighteous reasons, and to follow my posts with the sole intention of mocking, criticizing and encouraging or anticipating altercation.

What positive thing have you posted in response any topic of mine? I don't recall any. And if you disagree, or have purposed to disagree with everything I post, why do you continue to read what I post and bother to comment?

Now, how do you perceive your own behavior and motives? I'm willing to hear and consider your explanation.

As for your question:

In the case of observing "Christ"-Mass and Easter, it's adding something to Christianity that God didn't give us, and which have their origins in Roman Catholicism and in pagan festivals that were conveniently "Christianized" by the Roman Catholic Church. This is more than just a disputable matter of personal faith; these practices are being kept as, and presented to the world as, a part of Christianity, and they are not.

It's not acceptable or pleasing to God for Christians to add things like holidays to the practice of Christianity which have nothing to do with Christianity and which He did not give us, anymore than it was okay for the Jews to add new practices to the religion He gave them. (Or was it not okay for them to do, but it pleases Him for Christians to do it? No, it does not.)

And contrary to what some or many Christians believe, doing something in Jesus' Name or putting a "Christian spin" on a practice doesn't make it Christian, or pleasing to God.

I already explained about Jewish holidays in the original post.

As far as other 'holi'days go, like national days of observance (Memorial Day, Independence Day, Thanksgiving---although that last one has connections to pagan harvest celebrations), it has to be a matter of personal conviction from the Lord as to what He would have the individual to do, whether it honors and is pleasing to Him or not. These days of observance are not additions to Christianity, but rather matters of personal faith, as far as whether a Christian believes it is pleasing and acceptable to God for him or her to keep them.

Regarding the keeping of Christmas and Easter, ask yourself, "Am I really doing this because I am convinced that it pleases the Lord, and I want to honor Him by it, or am I doing it because I like it, and I want to keep doing it, and because all my friends and family do it and expect me to do it, regardless of whether it really honors and pleases God or not?"


The Christian with the mentality of seeking to know the Lord's will about all things and to do what pleases and honors Him, and to abstain from whatever does not, regardless of what it is, will be blessed with wisdom and discernment to do this. But a Christian who does not have this attitude, will not be, and will do whatever he or she pleases, and find a way to justify doing it.

Just make sure you're the first kind of Christian, and not the second. God knows the difference, and as Romans 14:12 says, Each of us will give an account of himself to God.


Blessed is the one who has no reason to pass judgment on himself for what he approves. But whoever has doubts is condemned if he eats, because the eating is not from faith. For whatever does not proceed from faith is sin.
(Romans 14:22,23 ESV)

As with food, so with all things.
"Anticipating an altercation" wasn't what Lynx said, it is what you imagined.

I'm thinking Lynx knew where this was going, because there are people like me on this site. I like fun!

 
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#26
Also read up on lynx. They only hunt rodents and an occasional rabbit. They never attack humans unless provoked.

The reason I mention this is because I did nothing to attack you. I only asked for a simple clarification of your original post. You did all the attacking. Why would you provoke a lynx?

Again... So what about birthdays? Are they also evil?


"Only hunt rodents and an occasional rabbit?" Look at my avatar for this month and tell me you can't think of two stuffed animals that might have just become alarmed to read that.

 
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#27
I remember when my father worked for PPG Aerospace, they observed Good Friday, and they always got off that day.....so in a way that can count for a Christian Holiday
Most of the places I've worked gave half day off for those who observed Good Friday. It always amazed me how many atheists, Jews, christians, and Muslims observed Good Friday. I just got the half day because they didn't want to waste all that electricity to accommodate just one employee -- me. lol
 
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#29
I personally do not celebrate them---mine or anyone else's, as a matter of personal faith. My focus is on my eternal life rather than my years on this earth, and I see no reason to celebrate them like it's an accomplishment or a blessing to be a year older. What I consider to be an accomplishment is living my life for the Lord and fulfilling His purpose for me in my years on this earth, however many or few that may be. And I'll celebrate having done this when I get to heaven.
Your first post was nothing but "personal faith" too, and yet you sure are trying to convince everyone else to give up our freedom in Christ to join you. What's the difference?

I really have no problems with you not celebrating any holidays. I have huge problems when you try to teach that is New Testament based on it's not in there. If you want to lock yourself into a little cage of your own special beliefs, not a problem. Trying to command others to join you? HUGE problem!
 

17Bees

Senior Member
Oct 14, 2016
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#31
Why would there be a fight about this among Christians? Does any body NOT agree that Christmas and Easter are not commanded by God? If LightShines wishes to not observe them, especially if she feels it's in deference to God, then how does anyone find fault?

I actually struggle with this basic question. If you read Romans 11 - especially 11-31, we, as gentiles, are grafted into the tree of Abraham. Should we, as grafted branches, tell the tree what to observe? LightShines says that God's commanded feasts - the 7 feasts of Passover, Sukkot, Pentecost, etc. are only for the Jew and not for the Christian, but how can we make this charge? Again, will the branches tell the tree how to live? Isn't this part of the Mystery of Israel's Salvation"? Romans 11:25-26.

So, it's a good question and why I struggle with it. The same people who tell us about the religious holidays of Christmas and Easter are the same that tell us we don't have to observe Passover or the Feast of Unleavened Bread. But if God commanded it as a forever thing in writing, then ... who am I going to believe?
 

Lynx

Folksy yet erudite
Aug 13, 2014
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#32
Too fun, not to join in!

If God had wanted us to observe the NT doctrine of raspberries, He would have given them to us. He did not.

If God had wanted us to observe the NT doctrine of swimming, He would have given them to us. He did not.

If God had wanted us to observe the NT doctrine of stained-glass making, He would have given them to us. He did not.

If God had wanted us to observe the NT doctrine of sneakers, He would have given them to us. He did not.

If God had wanted us to observe the NT doctrine of bras or neck ties, He would have given them to us. He did not.

If God had wanted us to observe the NT doctrine of chocolate, He would have given them to us. He did not.

Be careful not to add to His doctrine; He gave it to us as He wanted it to be. What is there is there for a reason, and what is not there is not there for a reason.

Stick to the New Testament.

Anyone else want to join in?


LYNN! Stop tipping my hand. Finding other common things we do that are not mentioned in the Bible was going to be the very next card I played, but first I was going to see just how far the OP took this concept. Go get your own hand of cards! :p

Your first post was nothing but "personal faith" too, and yet you sure are trying to convince everyone else to give up our freedom in Christ to join you. What's the difference?

I really have no problems with you not celebrating any holidays. I have huge problems when you try to teach that is New Testament based on it's not in there. If you want to lock yourself into a little cage of your own special beliefs, not a problem. Trying to command others to join you? HUGE problem!
And that is precisely the problem I had with the whole premise of this thread. It sounds too much like (a certain church organization) saying "we don't use instruments in our church because it's not in the new testament, and YOU shouldn't either... and if you do use them, you're not REAL christians!"

1. Absence of proof is not proof of absence. They are not prohibited, therefore there is no reason to think God changed His mind from the old testament.

2. Just because you made up a law for yourself doesn't mean you need to apply it to everybody and say we're not real christians if we don't follow your law. Your law might be very good for you, a necessary thing in your life. It might be amazingly wrong for somebody else's life.

3. "All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy." We should all cut out every celebration? Really? After seeing what lack of any celebration has done to the OP, no way am I going to go that road! :rolleyes:
 

Lynx

Folksy yet erudite
Aug 13, 2014
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#33
Oh, and just in case the OP says "Well sneakers were not invented in the Bible days, so you can't expect the Bible to mention them..."

We should wear nothing but sandals, because sandals were the only shoes mentioned in the new testament.

And we should not eat walnuts or pecans or cashews or oranges or bananas or... none of those things were mentioned in the new testament. Figs are cool, they were mentioned. Eat all the figs you want. But definitely we should avoid eating turkey. And peanut butter... ooooh, that sinful peanut butter!

What? It's the same logic!
 
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Ugly

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#34
LYNX:

Your apparent anticipation of some kind of entertaining argument on this thread is very unspiritual. (And given your posts on other threads of mine I wonder whether there isn't something to that predatory cat you chose for your user picture.)

This thread is not for you, or people with your attitude. You'll do whatever you please.
Actually this, and all threads, are open to public comment. If your need to control your environment and others words is so strong then the internet isn't for you.
Your inability to maintain an open dialogue to support your beliefs, and desire to only have people support your belief, is a poor reflection on your character.
 
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joefizz

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#35
LET'S GET READY TO RUMBLEEEEEEE!!!!
I know you'd find this amusing as I did,every once in awhile a new battle type thread appears it makes me so thirsty...
 
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joefizz

Guest
#36
Ok... while you are waiting for him to answer your question, I have one for you....

How do you feel about birthdays.... do you celebrate yours? Your kid(s)' ? anybody's ?

I mean, God didn't TELL us to celebrate birthdays, either...
But we "know" Jesus's "birthday" was "celebrated" and oh dear "it's in the New Testament"!
 
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joefizz

Guest
#37
I know you'd find this amusing as I did,every once in awhile a new battle type thread appears it makes me so thirsty...
I spelled knew wrong,blast you big fingers and small keys,again!
 
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Ugly

Guest
#38
Where in the bible does it say that if something isn't in the bible it's wrong? If you can't answer that and show scripture then it's a man made philosophy.
 
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joefizz

Guest
#39
Actually this, and all threads, are open to public comment. If your need to control your environment and others words is so strong then the internet isn't for you.
Your inability to maintain an open dialogue to support your beliefs, and desire to only have people support your belief, is a poor reflection on your character.
I immediately cracked up and couldn't take the Op "seriously" after claiming not only that Christian holidays weren't biblically real as well as Jewish holidays,which is just silly.
 
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joefizz

Guest
#40
Where in the bible does it say that if something isn't in the bible it's wrong? If you can't answer that and show scripture then it's a man made philosophy.
Sage wisdom this...
Yep electrical devices aren't ordered or mentioned in the bible yet lo and behold man made them,we use them,does that mean such things are necessarily "wrong"?,no.