Pagan Symbols and Christianity

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Dec 26, 2012
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#41
Let me know how to get the bunnies to lay the eggs. I will get rid of the chickens. They poop all over my front porch.
You just have the wrong type of bunnies :)

 

zone

Senior Member
Jun 13, 2010
27,214
164
63
#42
Ok, back to the NEW TESTAMENT......
1 Cor 8:4 We know that “An idol is nothing at all in the world” and that “There is no God but one.”

Now... who said anything about making symbols sacred?
Having a big tacky inflatable Easter bunny in your front yard is not making anything sacred.
It's nothing more than a big, tacky piece of material shaped like a creepy rabit. There is no good or evil behind it. It's just an object. No one is glorifying it or putting it before God. No one is bowing down to it. It is just a decoration.
beth...
tell me it isn't your yard.



is it the big white one with the yellow hat, from Walmart?
i hadta duct tape it right off the bat.
it stayed inflated for like, a minute.

7 miles to get my 12.99 back.
talk about a headache for days after - all that blowing.
and that stupid rubber plug thing NEVER says in right.
ya try to bite the hole just right while trying to blow,
trying to get the air in,
then ya gotta be like....bang...
plug it!

but no.....sqeeeeeee......out comes the air.
ya know?

never again.
 
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cookie39

Senior Member
Oct 5, 2009
616
12
18
#43
there has been much said here, and some I agree and much I disagree......... I agree with all what the bible say about the issue.... so let the Word of God speak for itself. Ok, some of us know that Jesus Christ is our passover and the need to celebrat passover is the same as to celebrate Christ, He was the passover in the Old testament and he is in the New and forever: (1 Corinthians 5:7
Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us:)

I would like to ask how is it that people can use what Satan has invented to be used to worship him, through fake gods (real devils) be also used to worship God, when God said that Israel went a whoring around, he was saying how they took the blessing he gave them to worship pagan gods... he told them they make the harlot look like a saint compared to what they were doing..... WHAT DOES LIGHT HAS TO DO WITH DARKNESS.... THE BIBLE SAY THEY CANNOT COMMUNE WITH ONE ANOTHER,,,,,, where there is light, the darkness must flee...... So to think that we can take Satan's tools and worship God wit them, we are fooling ourselves.....

[h=3]Deuteronomy 7:25-26[/h]King James Version (KJV)

[SUP]25 [/SUP]The graven images of their gods shall ye burn with fire: thou shalt not desire the silver or gold that is on them, nor take it unto thee, lest thou be snared therin: for it is an abomination to the Lord thy God.
[SUP]26 [/SUP]Neither shalt thou bring an abomination into thine house, lest thou be a cursed thing like it: but thou shalt utterly detest it, and thou shalt utterly abhor it; for it is a cursed thing...............

Deut. 13:16-18

Malachi 1:14But cursed be the deceiver, which hath in his flock a male, and voweth, and sacrificeth unto the Lord a corrupt thing: for I am a great King, saith the Lord of hosts, and my name is dreadful among the heathen.

Num 16:26.............

There are many verses in the bible that show us that God will not except gifts of devils to worship him........... He kille a man and his whole family because he brought an item that was from people who worshiped false gods into his tent.........the bible tells us we should not be tainted by the things of the world.... do we not know that what is in the synagogue of satan will not be used in the temple of God?

Jesus told us that we ought to wash each other feet, and break bread together, drinking the wine that reminds us of the death he had to go through in remembrance of Him and His death.......

God want us to forsake the rudiments of that world......Colossians 2:8
Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and NOT after Christ.

Titus 1:14-16

do we make void the commandments of God with the tradictions of man? Do our works deny God?.... God say that some will say the love him, but their works will deny him....

I personally prefer to not endulge in worldly tradictions, because I rather please God as much as I am able, when He tell me from His Holy Word that something is wrong.... I stay away from it no matter what other say, or how they try to make excuses to why it is okay..... everything that is formed, invented, created for the worship of unclean spirits... I will not use it or touch it......

Now, lets use the wisdom God has given us..... now if you use a candle to light your house, or to entertain your spouse, and not say it is for anything else other than something Godly... I believe that is okay..... I had a bath set given to me.... it was the soap, the salt and the shower gel... lavender.... every time I took a shower I felt the need to get rid of it ( it was pretty in it's case so I used it for decoration) so one day I said let me see why I keep getting a bad feeling about this stuff, so I read what it said, and it was supposed to be used to heal, and mental restoration, and it was supposed to bring wealth and prosperity..... If I soak in the salt, and bathe with the soap, and let the candle fragrance enter my body and all these thing was to come to me..... you should have saw how fast that crap went into the garbage and out of my house and I told every foul spirit that was sent with it to go........ I although I did not listen to the urging of the Holy Spirit all those days before, I had to thank God for not letting the His Spirit give up.....

oils that are SAID to be used for things other than what God made them from to do, we should not use them, candles that are made for crazy stuff, and so many things are not made from God intended them for, are evil..... those items were made for one reason and one reason only... to serve the purpose of the devil to enter your life and destroy it...... so just be careful when buying things or excepting things that was not intended for Godly reasons. will some one say, I will use the Buddah statue for decorations... although you don't bow down and actually worship it, it is still of the devil, will a charm of st John be good for jewelry, will rosary beads be okay to wear cause they match your out-fit? will the cross bone and scull, be okay to have cause everyone else you know are wearing it.... do you depend on the 12 devils who are over wheel of astrology be your spirit guide, because others read them and said their's came true..... can a witch tell you your future because the devil can tell her your past? we need to ask ourselves...... WHY WOULD GOD WANT WHAT THE DEVIL HAS USED TO DECEIVE SO MANY PEOPLE, BE APART OF HIS KINGDOM? WHY? HOW CAN EVIL APPEAR RIGHTEOUS AND HOLY UNTO GOD....






 

Elizabeth619

Senior Member
Jul 19, 2011
6,397
109
48
#44
beth...
tell me it isn't your yard.



is it the big white one with the yellow hat, from Walmart?
i hadta duct tape it right off the bat.
it stayed inflated for like, a minute.

7 miles to get my 12.99 back.
talk about a headache for days after - all that blowing.
and that stupid rubber plug thing NEVER says in right.
ya try to bite the hole just right while trying to blow,
trying to get the air in,
then ya gotta be like....bang...
plug it!

but no.....sqeeeeeee......out comes the air.
ya know?

never again.
Nah, I don't have one. That was just the only easter decoration I could think of at that time.
I dont really like those big inflatable things anyway.
They give me nightmares n junk.
 

cookie39

Senior Member
Oct 5, 2009
616
12
18
#45
If someone choose to honor a time of the year for something God had done, I believe God is okay with that.... but to use defiled things to do it, the bible say that is an abomination to God...... The bible tells us that one man may exsualt one day above all and another may every day the same, but as long as they do it unto the GLORY of the Lord in faith, it is okay....... but how can God get all the glory, for the easter egg? which people used to worship the dead and to believe that their dead family will have their souls enter the colored eggs and return into the world through them.... they laid them on the graves of their family........ the bunny, is from a fertility god, who was a statue of a woman with the head of a rabbit and 8 breast....... and there are so many origins that are mingled in what look good and is fully evil.....I know Christ was raised from the dead and I love the fact that people celebrate the power of God's Spirit which brought our savior out of the grave....... but to mingle wickedness with it.... is aweful.... read how the catholic church through Constatine.... allowed people not to give up their pagan ways into their way of serving Jesus Christ...... he never told them they had to give them up??? every god they worshiped they were still allowed to do so, but also had to worship Christ Jesus.... so they mixed all of it together and now look what the world have........... FALSE RELIGION.
 

zone

Senior Member
Jun 13, 2010
27,214
164
63
#46
Nah, I don't have one. That was just the only easter decoration I could think of at that time.
I dont really like those big inflatable things anyway.
They give me nightmares n junk.
oh.
ya...the santa one is extremely creepy.
the belt kept comin' off it.

the Family Day one (in Kanada we invent holidays so everybody gets one stat per month)
was out - of - the - question.
like i'm gonna blow up a mom a dad and 2.2 kids??

doubt it.
 
Oct 31, 2011
8,200
182
0
#47
Ok, back to the NEW TESTAMENT......
1 Cor 8:4 We know that “An idol is nothing at all in the world” and that “There is no God but one.”

Now... who said anything about making symbols sacred?
Having a big tacky inflatable Easter bunny in your front yard is not making anything sacred.
It's nothing more than a big, tacky piece of material shaped like a creepy rabit. There is no good or evil behind it. It's just an object. No one is glorifying it or putting it before God. No one is bowing down to it. It is just a decoration.
The only thing our churches do to worship God that is scripture inspired is Communion, Baptism, and reading scripture in church. All others follow some man’s idea of what to do. It was decided a very long time ago, but it was men who decided on it. There are endless arguments about what inspired them, but it comes down to it was man’s ideas.


As Christians we take on Christ to follow Him, not men. I am not God, I don’t know how God looks at it, but there are some clear indications that God does not approve. God lays out a narrow way. God says that way leads to the most abundant happy life.


If we follow what Christ did, let Christ lead, our holidays would be just as fun and joyous, but we would KNOW it was from God. We would be so busy following God that the subject of bunnies, easter eggs wouldn't come up.


I don’t see how it could be a wrong thing to do. Then there would be no arguments or negatives or wondering, just go for the gold.


Paul said there was to be no judging about this, but Paul didn’t have man made holidays to decide about with easter bunnies.


 

Elizabeth619

Senior Member
Jul 19, 2011
6,397
109
48
#48
The only thing our churches do to worship God that is scripture inspired is Communion, Baptism, and reading scripture in church. All others follow some man’s idea of what to do. It was decided a very long time ago, but it was men who decided on it. There are endless arguments about what inspired them, but it comes down to it was man’s ideas.


As Christians we take on Christ to follow Him, not men. I am not God, I don’t know how God looks at it, but there are some clear indications that God does not approve. God lays out a narrow way. God says that way leads to the most abundant happy life.


If we follow what Christ did, let Christ lead, our holidays would be just as fun and joyous, but we would KNOW it was from God. We would be so busy following God that the subject of bunnies, easter eggs wouldn't come up.


I don’t see how it could be a wrong thing to do. Then there would be no arguments or negatives or wondering, just go for the gold.


Paul said there was to be no judging about this, but Paul didn’t have man made holidays to decide about with easter bunnies.


Yet in Paul's time Christianity was new. Alot of the symbolism that people argue over today was rather popular among the gentiles(aka pagans) who converted. Many were unsure about eating food sacrificed to idols. 1 Corinthians 8 is specifically about this issue.

Paul could eat food that was sacrificed because he knew there was only one God. To him, it was nothing more than food and did not recognize it as part of idol worship. His conscience was clean on the issue. Food(or even Easter bunnies) does not bring us near to God. We are no worse if we do eat it and no better if we dont.

A new convert was likely to have a weak conscience because they may have considered the food as part of worship. They could have recently rejected that lifestyle, but still felt guilty eating food they thought was defiled.

Paul does say that one should not encourage one who is weak in faith to eat. If they feel the food is defiled then they should abstain. This was to prevent them from falling in to sin.

There is no reason why this passage would not apply to other instance where one may look at something as an idol. Whether Paul was discussing food or cute little bunnies the same rule applies. If your conscience is clean, and you do not consider it part of something ungodly then there is nothing wrong with it.
IF you feel convicted, and look at Peter Cottontail as evil then of course one should refrain from it.

I guess we could use an example here. Let's say I invite you to my home on Easter to assist with an egg hunt for my son, nieces, and nephews. You politely tell me no because you don't feel comfortable participating in it. I would completely understand. I would not try to encourage you or influence you. I wouldn't get mad, and we would still be friends.

Now, if I harrassed you and put a guilt trip on you and if you gave in only to shut me up then we both have sinned. You participated without a clean conscience, and I influenced you to go against your conscience.
 

tribesman

Senior Member
Oct 13, 2011
4,622
282
83
#49
Yet in Paul's time Christianity was new. Alot of the symbolism that people argue over today was rather popular among the gentiles(aka pagans) who converted. Many were unsure about eating food sacrificed to idols. 1 Corinthians 8 is specifically about this issue.

Paul could eat food that was sacrificed because he knew there was only one God. To him, it was nothing more than food and did not recognize it as part of idol worship. His conscience was clean on the issue. Food(or even Easter bunnies) does not bring us near to God. We are no worse if we do eat it and no better if we dont.

A new convert was likely to have a weak conscience because they may have considered the food as part of worship. They could have recently rejected that lifestyle, but still felt guilty eating food they thought was defiled.

Paul does say that one should not encourage one who is weak in faith to eat. If they feel the food is defiled then they should abstain. This was to prevent them from falling in to sin.

There is no reason why this passage would not apply to other instance where one may look at something as an idol. Whether Paul was discussing food or cute little bunnies the same rule applies. If your conscience is clean, and you do not consider it part of something ungodly then there is nothing wrong with it.
IF you feel convicted, and look at Peter Cottontail as evil then of course one should refrain from it.

I guess we could use an example here. Let's say I invite you to my home on Easter to assist with an egg hunt for my son, nieces, and nephews. You politely tell me no because you don't feel comfortable participating in it. I would completely understand. I would not try to encourage you or influence you. I wouldn't get mad, and we would still be friends.

Now, if I harrassed you and put a guilt trip on you and if you gave in only to shut me up then we both have sinned. You participated without a clean conscience, and I influenced you to go against your conscience.
You say that Paul could eat meat sacrificed to idols? This is totally contrary to the testimony of scripture. Where did you get this from? Who taught you this?
 
C

cfultz3

Guest
#50
You say that Paul could eat meat sacrificed to idols? This is totally contrary to the testimony of scripture. Where did you get this from? Who taught you this?
For one who knows all the isms the world has to offer, it seems you have forgotten what is written:

1Co 8:4 As concerning therefore the eating of those things that are offered in sacrifice unto idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is none other God but one.
1Co 8:5 For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or in earth, (as there be gods many, and lords many,)
1Co 8:6 But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.
1Co 8:7 Howbeit there is not in every man that knowledge: for some with conscience of the idol unto this hour eat it as a thing offered unto an idol; and their conscience being weak is defiled.
1Co 8:8 But meat commendeth us not to God: for neither, if we eat, are we the better; neither, if we eat not, are we the worse.
1Co 8:9 But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to them that are weak.
1Co 8:10 For if any man see thee which hast knowledge sit at meat in the idol's temple, shall not the conscience of him which is weak be emboldened to eat those things which are offered to idols;


So I guess the Holy Spirit told her in Scripture and not an ism of a man
 
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Elizabeth619

Senior Member
Jul 19, 2011
6,397
109
48
#51
You say that Paul could eat meat sacrificed to idols? This is totally contrary to the testimony of scripture. Where did you get this from? Who taught you this?
I just gave scripture explaining it.
 
L

LisaWong

Guest
#52
Dzi beads and feng shui are not kristian, but chinese wear them too. Not worship them.. worship GOD alone.
 

tribesman

Senior Member
Oct 13, 2011
4,622
282
83
#53
For one who knows all the isms the world has to offer, it seems you have forgotten what is written:

1Co 8:4 As concerning therefore the eating of those things that are offered in sacrifice unto idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is none other God but one.
1Co 8:5 For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or in earth, (as there be gods many, and lords many,)
1Co 8:6 But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.
1Co 8:7 Howbeit there is not in every man that knowledge: for some with conscience of the idol unto this hour eat it as a thing offered unto an idol; and their conscience being weak is defiled.
1Co 8:8 But meat commendeth us not to God: for neither, if we eat, are we the better; neither, if we eat not, are we the worse.
1Co 8:9 But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to them that are weak.
1Co 8:10 For if any man see thee which hast knowledge sit at meat in the idol's temple, shall not the conscience of him which is weak be emboldened to eat those things which are offered to idols;
Again you show your ignorance.

The verse does not imply what you falsely read into it. It actually speaks of the importance to avoid eating such meat for the sake of the love of the brethren. This is if anything seen in the three last verses of same chapter, which you omitted in your quote.

Then we have other NT scriptures clearly condemning such a practice:

Acts.15

[19] Wherefore my sentence is, that we trouble not them, which from among the Gentiles are turned to God:
[20] But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood.
[21] For Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath day.

Acts.21

[25] As touching the Gentiles which believe, we have written and concluded that they observe no such thing, save only that they keep themselves from things offered to idols, and from blood, and from strangled, and from fornication.
Rev.2

[14] But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication.
 

tribesman

Senior Member
Oct 13, 2011
4,622
282
83
#54
Dzi beads and feng shui are not kristian, but chinese wear them too. Not worship them.. worship GOD alone.
If they are christians they should not wear them.
 

tribesman

Senior Member
Oct 13, 2011
4,622
282
83
#55
I just gave scripture explaining it.
Gave a scripture? And then you gave your erroneous interpretation of same.

Paul did NOT say it's OK to eat meat sacrificed to idols. OK?
 
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Oct 31, 2011
8,200
182
0
#56
Yet in Paul's time Christianity was new. Alot of the symbolism that people argue over today was rather popular among the gentiles(aka pagans) who converted. Many were unsure about eating food sacrificed to idols. 1 Corinthians 8 is specifically about this issue.

Paul could eat food that was sacrificed because he knew there was only one God. To him, it was nothing more than food and did not recognize it as part of idol worship. His conscience was clean on the issue. Food(or even Easter bunnies) does not bring us near to God. We are no worse if we do eat it and no better if we dont.

A new convert was likely to have a weak conscience because they may have considered the food as part of worship. They could have recently rejected that lifestyle, but still felt guilty eating food they thought was defiled.

Paul does say that one should not encourage one who is weak in faith to eat. If they feel the food is defiled then they should abstain. This was to prevent them from falling in to sin.

There is no reason why this passage would not apply to other instance where one may look at something as an idol. Whether Paul was discussing food or cute little bunnies the same rule applies. If your conscience is clean, and you do not consider it part of something ungodly then there is nothing wrong with it.
IF you feel convicted, and look at Peter Cottontail as evil then of course one should refrain from it.

I guess we could use an example here. Let's say I invite you to my home on Easter to assist with an egg hunt for my son, nieces, and nephews. You politely tell me no because you don't feel comfortable participating in it. I would completely understand. I would not try to encourage you or influence you. I wouldn't get mad, and we would still be friends.

Now, if I harrassed you and put a guilt trip on you and if you gave in only to shut me up then we both have sinned. You participated without a clean conscience, and I influenced you to go against your conscience.
Your points are so very good, and it could be we can keep our hearts and minds pure, even with worshipping as we personally choose.

I look at how God the Father saw it, and it was a complete "no". When we received the Holy Spirit we were given the ability to better worship in spirit and truth. But all through the entire bible, obedience and doing, we are told, expresses this. Every verse in the bible fits each other, they work together but it is easy to look at one without balancing it with another that on the surface seems to disagree. Is it really a sign of weakness to do physical things to help obey? If it is, and we get strength in obedience is that bad?

I like your point that I can say how I think God wants us to do and be, but my job with you is to build you up, I cannot say I judge you as a sinner because you do not see God's ways the same as I do.

At the same time, I think the church is leading wrong with using only man made holidays, and I would give about all of myself to steer them to a safer way to worship. I so hope I am wrong, but I know the way God leads isn't wrong.
 
C

cfultz3

Guest
#57
Acts.15


[19] Wherefore my sentence is, that we trouble not them, which from among the Gentiles are turned to God:
[20] But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols (so that they would not offend the believing Jews (verse 5). Again, agrees to 1Cor 8), and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood.
[21] For Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath day.


Acts.21


[25] As touching the Gentiles which believe, we have written and concluded that they observe no such thing, save only that they keep themselves from things offered to idols (so that they will not offend those weak in faith, as to 1Cor 8), and from blood, and from strangled, and from fornication.


Rev.2


[14] But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols (to know and purposely eat things sacrificed to idols. It is the intent as 1Cor 8 explains), and to commit fornication.






So you see, Scripture and not ism tells us what we need to know.
 
C

cfultz3

Guest
#58
Again you show your ignorance.

The verse does not imply what you falsely read into it. It actually speaks of the importance to avoid eating such meat for the sake of the love of the brethren. This is if anything seen in the three last verses of same chapter, which you omitted in your quote.

Then we have other NT scriptures clearly condemning such a practice:

Gave a scripture? And then you gave your erroneous interpretation of same.

Paul did NOT say it's OK to eat meat sacrificed to idols. OK? (but yet it does)
Life would be better if all would agree with you, would it not?
 

tribesman

Senior Member
Oct 13, 2011
4,622
282
83
#59
Acts.15

[19] Wherefore my sentence is, that we trouble not them, which from among the Gentiles are turned to God:
[20] But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols (so that they would not offend the believing Jews (verse 5). Again, agrees to 1Cor 8), and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood.
[21] For Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath day.

Acts.21

[25] As touching the Gentiles which believe, we have written and concluded that they observe no such thing, save only that they keep themselves from things offered to idols (so that they will not offend those weak in faith, as to 1Cor 8), and from blood, and from strangled, and from fornication.

Rev.2

[14] But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols (to know and purposely eat things sacrificed to idols. It is the intent as 1Cor 8 explains), and to commit fornication.
The issue is primarily whether if Paul says it is OK to eat meat sacrificed to idols or not. He does NOT say so.

With your reasoning above it seems unfair to single out the eating of meat sacrificed to idols, people might as well engage in fornication, if their consciences are "clean", since, after all, its just something that can upset jewish or weak believers.

See where your reasoning leads?

So you see, Scripture and not ism tells us what we need to know.
True. I wonder what your ism is. Balaamism? Whatever it is, scriptural it is not.
 
C

cfultz3

Guest
#60
The issue is primarily whether if Paul says it is OK to eat meat sacrificed to idols or not. He does NOT say so.

With your reasoning above it seems unfair to single out the eating of meat sacrificed to idols, people might as well engage in fornication, if their consciences are "clean", since, after all, its just something that can upset jewish or weak believers.

See where your reasoning leads?



True. I wonder what your ism is. Balaamism? Whatever it is, scriptural it is not.
Yet you yourself said it was because of the weak faith of others one should not. Yet 1 Cor says it is ok but not to the hurt of those weak. It is not about meat and drink, it is about the intent.

I have not been drawn into isms because I see people like you and others and how they belittle those who disagree with them. I have never seen someone like you going around and taking the place of the Judge, you do condemn anyone who dares to resist your ism. And yet, no one else will say a word to you because of your snapping and rude and condemning attitude.