Why Do We Pretend to know when JESUS was BORN?
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Christmas was not always legal in America or in Europe for that matter.
Maybe we might consider we should not act like unto the Pharisee's and insist a Christian can't celebrate Christmas.
It's easy. Choose. Celebrate or don't. God isn't going to judge someone worthy of his condemnation if they chose to celebrate.
Also, a lot has been made of pagans as relates to this holiday. Pagans celebrated winter solstice.
The Farmer's Almanac to this day references Winter's Solstice.
Winter Solstice does not fall on December 25th.
As pertains to the pagans, maybe we can see our early sisters and brothers brought the light of Christ to fall after their celebration. And incorporated some of their practices into a day that honored the Lord through symbolism familiar to them, so as to bring our faith into something they were already familiar with..
Easter is said to have formerly been the pagans celebration to Ostara.
Our calenders days of the week are derived from pagan gods and goddess names.
How do we reconcile that?
No one knows the date of Jesus' birthday.
We know why we celebrate Christmas. God does too.
Can't we find peace on earth in all this?
Maybe we might consider we should not act like unto the Pharisee's and insist a Christian can't celebrate Christmas.
It's easy. Choose. Celebrate or don't. God isn't going to judge someone worthy of his condemnation if they chose to celebrate.
Also, a lot has been made of pagans as relates to this holiday. Pagans celebrated winter solstice.
The Farmer's Almanac to this day references Winter's Solstice.
Winter Solstice does not fall on December 25th.
As pertains to the pagans, maybe we can see our early sisters and brothers brought the light of Christ to fall after their celebration. And incorporated some of their practices into a day that honored the Lord through symbolism familiar to them, so as to bring our faith into something they were already familiar with..
Easter is said to have formerly been the pagans celebration to Ostara.
Our calenders days of the week are derived from pagan gods and goddess names.
How do we reconcile that?
No one knows the date of Jesus' birthday.
We know why we celebrate Christmas. God does too.
Can't we find peace on earth in all this?
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K
This is called legalism. You don't bow to a tree, you bend to put objects under it. Worshiping an idol isn't something you do by mistake. You deliberately install that idol and you speak to it, you believe it has powers. No one does that to a tree. Once the season is over it goes in the trash. You don't do that to an idol. I have a friend that is a carpenter and he had a client ask him to build an altar in their home, why, to worship their idols. A Christmas tree is not an idol, period. You're way out in left field.
So is a broom, so are some bowls and spoons. So what? None of them are idols, neither is a tree.
Isaiah 44:12-28
12 A blacksmith works with his tool and forges metal over the coals. He forms it with hammers; he makes it with his strong arm. He gets hungry and loses his energy; he drinks no water and gets tired. 13 A carpenter takes measurements; he marks out an outline of its form; he scrapes it with chisels, and marks it with a compass. He patterns it after a man, like a well-built man, and puts it in a shrine. 14 He cuts down cedars and acquires a cypress or an oak. He gets trees from the forest; he plants a cedar and the rain makes it grow. 15 A man uses it to make a fire; he takes some of it and warms himself. Yes, he kindles a fire and bakes bread. Then he makes a god and worships it; he makes an idol and bows down to it. 16 Half of it he burns in the fire— over that half he eats meat; he roasts a meal and fills himself. Yes, he warms himself and says, ‘Ah! I am warm as I look at the fire.’ 17 With the rest of it he makes a god, his idol; he bows down to it and worships it. He prays to it, saying, ‘Rescue me, for you are my god.’ 18 They do not comprehend or understand, for their eyes are blind and cannot see; their minds do not discern....
Not similar in any way to a Christmas tree. No one prays to a tree, no one expects magic from a tree, it's used for a season and tossed out. You don't do that to an idol.
So is a broom, so are some bowls and spoons. So what? None of them are idols, neither is a tree.
Isaiah 44:12-28
12 A blacksmith works with his tool and forges metal over the coals. He forms it with hammers; he makes it with his strong arm. He gets hungry and loses his energy; he drinks no water and gets tired. 13 A carpenter takes measurements; he marks out an outline of its form; he scrapes it with chisels, and marks it with a compass. He patterns it after a man, like a well-built man, and puts it in a shrine. 14 He cuts down cedars and acquires a cypress or an oak. He gets trees from the forest; he plants a cedar and the rain makes it grow. 15 A man uses it to make a fire; he takes some of it and warms himself. Yes, he kindles a fire and bakes bread. Then he makes a god and worships it; he makes an idol and bows down to it. 16 Half of it he burns in the fire— over that half he eats meat; he roasts a meal and fills himself. Yes, he warms himself and says, ‘Ah! I am warm as I look at the fire.’ 17 With the rest of it he makes a god, his idol; he bows down to it and worships it. He prays to it, saying, ‘Rescue me, for you are my god.’ 18 They do not comprehend or understand, for their eyes are blind and cannot see; their minds do not discern....
Not similar in any way to a Christmas tree. No one prays to a tree, no one expects magic from a tree, it's used for a season and tossed out. You don't do that to an idol.
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Okay. Understood. Is not the form of communion you're talking about in a Church meeting/attendance setting really in effect part of the 'traditions' instituted by clergy?
And isn't it the case that Christians can 'commune' daily and throughout each day '"never cease praying" - with God when we look on Him as our friend and Father.....and that being the case it brings a different perspective to the clergy instituted 'communion.'
And isn't it the case that Christians can 'commune' daily and throughout each day '"never cease praying" - with God when we look on Him as our friend and Father.....and that being the case it brings a different perspective to the clergy instituted 'communion.'
Who do you mean by "clergy" ? Are you speaking of the Roman Catholic clergy? If so, why do you think they instituted the weekly breaking of bread? This practice was mentioned by apostolic fathers as early as 60 or so years after Jesus' death and resurrection.
Yes, absolutely, amen.
That is why I think we could partake of "communion" every day, if we wished. Whenever you eat this bread and drink this wine, you proclaim the death of Jesus to the world....
How often did the apostles and first century church eat bread and drink wine? Every day..... we are to remember and proclaim every day... it doesn't have to be in a formal gathering of believers. BUT, when the believers gather, I believe it is imperative that we partake, and remember/proclaim...
Yes, absolutely, amen.
That is why I think we could partake of "communion" every day, if we wished. Whenever you eat this bread and drink this wine, you proclaim the death of Jesus to the world....
How often did the apostles and first century church eat bread and drink wine? Every day..... we are to remember and proclaim every day... it doesn't have to be in a formal gathering of believers. BUT, when the believers gather, I believe it is imperative that we partake, and remember/proclaim...
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I agree brother.
God uses the most common things (eating, bread, table wine, crops, water, etc.) to reveal the most profound characteristics of His nature.
That is why, for example, we give thanks for the food we are about to eat: to recognize that all things that are made were made through Christ, and that without Him nothing was made that has been made. This is a reminder that we live and move and have our very being in Him. This, we are reminded of, whenever food touches our mouth or drink to our lips throughout the day.
Believing is a way of life, not something regulated or liturgized for Sunday morning meetings. In Christ we are all clergy because we all have an inheritance in Him. The greatest offense that religion has committed is monopolizing access to God who is our Father. The idea that we have to "go to" something we are (the church) is evil.
God uses the most common things (eating, bread, table wine, crops, water, etc.) to reveal the most profound characteristics of His nature.
That is why, for example, we give thanks for the food we are about to eat: to recognize that all things that are made were made through Christ, and that without Him nothing was made that has been made. This is a reminder that we live and move and have our very being in Him. This, we are reminded of, whenever food touches our mouth or drink to our lips throughout the day.
Believing is a way of life, not something regulated or liturgized for Sunday morning meetings. In Christ we are all clergy because we all have an inheritance in Him. The greatest offense that religion has committed is monopolizing access to God who is our Father. The idea that we have to "go to" something we are (the church) is evil.
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