Anyone NOT celebrate Christmas?

lago ~  mmmmmm latkes yum!  Happy Hanukkah sista!

Barb

Happy Chanukah everyone!  My friend had her annual Chanukah party on Saturday.  She makes the best latkes (other than my mom and grandmother, of course) - both regular and sweet potato latkes!  Iago and Karen, I'm sure yours are yummy as well!

Lisa

Imc1970, shorbr, KatherineNaomi, Mom3,  ~  I think it offends God when people are mistreated by others in the name of their religion.  We are all judged by the way we deal wih our fellow human beings within our religion and out. 

Was Jesus born on December 25^th ?

No, He probably was not. The hills would have been bitterly cold and snow covered in December. The Watchtower once recommended, "The event is so important that it is always appropriate to call it to the minds of the people, regardless of the date " (Watchtower-Dec. 15, 1926, P. 371). The Early Church originally celebrated his birth on Jan.6. The eastern Orthodox still hold to this date. We do know the date of Lincoln's birthday; yet we often celebrate on a different day since it is the memory not the exact date being emphasized. Col. 2:14-17 " So let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival regarding a festival or a new moon or Sabbaths. "Rom. 14:5-6 ", One person esteems one day above another; another esteems every day alike. Let each be fully convinced in his own mind. He who observes the day, observes it to the Lord;"  If someone wants to set a certain day aside he has the liberty and right to do so.  It can be any day of the week, however if he makes it a requirement for others to have to do the same then he has become legalistic and is no longer operating in grace, he has become a judge of his brother without any Biblical substantiation.  In the same manner if someone makes it illegal to celebrate it they are a legalist. Scripture does not forbid celebrating the birth of Christ. Jesus was at "the Feast of the Dedication" in John 10:22. This was not an official Holy day. Yet we do not find that Jesus refusing to participate in the celebration, he actually condones it and this was on Dec.25.  Does this mean Jesus is practicing paganism?  While we are not specifically commanded to celebrate Jesus' birthday, we are not brought into bondage by it either. By practicing the freedom in the NT we can remember the time the savior visited our earth.

Does Scripture forbid celebrating Jesus' birth ?

The Watchtower says there is no command to celebrate his birth in scripture like remembering his death! There is no command not to either. There is no command to meet on Sundays but we do out of our freedom to worship. This is something they changed their mind on over the years "Don't quibble about the date; join in with the world and celebrate Christmas (WT 12/1 1904 p.3468).  "Christmas is so important, regardless of the date." (WT 12/15/1926 p.371)  "It is quite immaterial the day Christmas is celebrated; we may properly join. (WT 12/15/1903 p.3290) They state, "We are to remember Jesus' death not his birth. "While the emphasis of forgiveness is on his death we should be thankful he became a man. Who set the precedent for our response to His birth? Lets take a look at Luke 2:8-14 and you find it was the inhabitants of Heaven, the angels! Jehovah definitely approved of celebrating the birth of Christ. Opposition only came from the kingdom of Satan. We read, Jesus' birth is characterized by "the glory of the Lord" and "great joy! " For who? 'All people!" A multitude of heavenly host" was joyous with celebration and praise! Do you suppose the shepherds said, "Oh, I just don't see what all those angels are excited about"?   They joined Heaven and celebrated the birth of Christ, they were excited!   Herod didn't celebrate his birth because the promise of God was born, he wanted him dead. (He asked The wise men who came to bring him gifts and worship him to report back so he might do 'fake' worship of him Mt.2:9-11)

What about the pagan origins of the Christmas tree?

Consider the pagan origin of the word "December" written on the front of every Watchtower magazine this month. What about the names of the week being of pagan origin (Saturday =Saturn) Is the Watchtower pagan simply for mixing a word of pagan origin with its religion?  Watchtower readers would say no. The Watchtower is not recommending the worship of Greek gods by using something common to both cultures. For the Watchtower to be consistent they would have to remove the words of the weeks and months from their publications. Do Christians attach Pagan meanings to the tree today?   No, not anymore than the J.W.'s do!

What about the Old Testament references of the heathen  decorating a tree ?

Read the context of those Old Testament passages. The person was making an idol to worship. They built buildings for idol worship, should we no longer go into buildings ? They sacrificed foods to Idols, should we discontinue eating? To say people who enjoy Christmas worship Christmas trees is simply  not being honest! Christians do not worship the cross on a building or a tree in their living rooms. Do Christians attach pagan meanings to lights or other decorations?  No. Of course not! Rather, lights remind God's people about Jesus! Jesus said, "I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life" John 8:12. The real problems of Christmas are the commercialism which removes the focus from the Lord to the exultation of mythology (Santa Claus versus the Lord).  Satan will use the commercialism and fantasy about Santa Claus to keep people from the real meaning of Christ's birth.  So do J.W's by the material that they print, making Christ a creature and ignore the incarnation of God visiting man.

Should we be giving Jesus such praise?

Remember how He commended the children who praised Him, saying the stones would cry out if they stopped." (Luke 19:3 7-40) When was the last time you heard someone from the Kingdom Hall praise Jesus? If Jesus does not receive worshipful honor, equal to the Father, your honor of the Father is not accepted (John 5:23). From the beginning people "worshipped him " (Matthew 3:1 1), not "him and her" (Mary) as Roman Catholicism does. Was Jesus worshipped by His disciples, or does the Watchtower Bible accurately suggest otherwise?  Test those Bibles by the Greek. See how the Watchtower translates the following verses, then compare the Greek spellings (Rev. 22:8 with Mark 2:2), (Rev. 5:14 with Mat. 2:1 1; 14:33; 28:9,17), and (Heb. 11:21 with Mark 5:6 and John 9:38). The exact worship the Father receives, the Son also receives. Isaiah called the Christ child, the 'Mighty God" (Isaiah 9:6). He goes on to write the mighty God is Jehovah the LORD (Isaiah 10:20). Mt1:23 Emmanuel "The God with us."

   What about gift-giving?

Good-will to all men is commended! Under the former light Judge Rutherford, the Watchtower president at the time, was very excited about his "numerous Christmas presents" " (Watchtower-Jan. 15, 1919, P. 3 1).According to their own judgment he was a pagan! Did not the wise men bring expensive gifts to Jesus Mt.2:1.  How wise are you? Would a J.W. turn down a gift on any other day of the year? If you were at work and thirsty and someone bought you a drink for free isn't that a gift?  If someone bought you a meal isn't that a gift?  If gift-giving is acceptable on other days of the year, why not on December 25^th ? God's only condition for celebrating is do so "unto the Lord" (Rom. 14:5,6).   Christmas maybe your stumbling-block, but for Christians, it is a stepping-stone to share the real meaning. Using any Opportunity to point people to Jesus Christ. The light of the Watchtower may change, but the Light of the world (Jesus Christ and his word) is never changing.

What is the best gift?

The best gift you can give to God is yourself.  He has already given his best gift to all the world almost 2,000 years ago. Salvation is his free gift to you through his Son not an organization. "The gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." (Rom. 6:23 ). No one reaches for their wallet to pay off a free gift! You, simply receive him (Rom. 4:4; 11:6; Gal. 3:24). What about "Working hard for the reward of eternal life" (Watchtower--April 15, 1972, P. 491). Eternal life is not a reward which must be earned by works. The Bible tells us salvation is a free gift! "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God.' not of works, lest any man should boast." (Eph.2:8,9). See, it is not by works, God is trying to keep you from boasting. Accept God's gift, Jesus! but as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name" (John 1: 12). Rom.3:26-28" To demonstrate at the present time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believes in Jesus.   Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? No: but by the law of faith.   Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law." Rom.11:6 And if by grace then it is no longer of works; otherwise grace is no longer grace. but if it is by works, it is no longer grace; otherwise work is no longer work." Are you willing to receive what God has given? How do you receive?

"For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord Barb

I DO celebrate Christmas, I do not care the origin of it, to me my religion is based on Faith.

 I also work in a Pediatric Hospital as well as part time in a cancer center, and this time of the year we make their days very special , by the way patients that are terminal do not die during Christmas in the hospital, they do after.

 I was married with a Jewish man and since be spoke about it before marriage, my kids are Roman Catholic, I am a practicing one, we lived in several Muslim countries and there was a lot of respect for Christians more than I see here lately.

We have a Baby Jesus that has been in my family since the 1700 and  to us Christmas is about giving and sharing and I do speak about presents.

I liked the wording where one relgion found the process stumbling blocks and for the other it was stepping stones. Nicely put.

Interesting how Santa and Satan have the same letters.......hey, I'm just sayin' !

Iago:  I don't celebrate holidays but I WILL help eat the goodies.  I'll gladly feast on your latkes (whatever they are!).  Happy Hanukkah nd latkes feasting!

Medigal Latkes are just potato pancakes. I'll gladly share. I "celebrate" holidays that involve eating… meaning I do the eating part just not the other religious stuff.

So who's going to Chinatown to celebrate Christmas eve?

I love how pagan and Christian traditions intertwine.  I have my MA in Classical Studies and some of my classes studied this.  When Christianity was spreading, what better way to convert the locals than to incorporate some of their traditions?

My family isn't religious but still has Christmas Day celebrations.  I haven't gone for the family dinner for over 20 years.  It's the bickering and tension that made me drop out.  And I can easily snag a few washers and dryers in the laundry room and get a ton of laundry done instead.  :-)  I also get very sad for those that are suffering, the homeless, the poor.  All the commercialism seems to me to just be a slap in the face for them.

The only day around Christmas that I do celebrate is the first day of winter -- the sun is finally starting come back north!  There's hope of spring and summer again.

I was alone for years in-between husbands and I hated when I'd go back to work after the holidays and people would say "Was Santa nice to you?" DUH..... I got nuthin', what about you?

Hows this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IDvHO5ZSGo8

HOLIDAY!!!

Dreaming I don't see this thread as a bash Christians day. Matter a fact it appears to me that many of the jokesters are Christians themselves just not practicing or just don't celebrate.

Sorry you feel the joking is offensive but that's not what it's meant to be. So many of us need a chuckle in these times. Seems people here just know how to laugh at themselves. I can't tell you the number of Jewish jokes I tell. Matter a fact most comedians Jewish, Christian and etc. have made their living poking fun at themselves and their culture/religion.

I think most of us are saying that the true reason for the season is not being celebrated properly as well. I certainly didn't "hear" any Christian bashing, till now.

barbe1958 ~ jpsgirl96 ~  I agree. I haven't heard any "Christian bashing" on this thread either.  I did notice, however, that some have told us that celebrating Christmas is offensive or displeases Almighty God, and have attached some of the literature that comes out and condemns those who do choose to celebrate. Rather than just giving the history of these celebrations, it comes out and suggests that you should "take a stand" against the celebration.  I have the impression that those who choose to celebrate their traditions are judged by some as "offending God".  To me it's just overjudgmental self-righteousness when these statements are being made towards those who may choose to celebrate the Season.

Barb

This post was started by someone who doesn't celebrate Christmas. It wasn't a poll on who does and doesn't. It wasn't meant to be a history lesson on Christmas. I assume that she wanted to speak to people with the same beliefs as herself not be shot down for her beliefs. Are we ever allowed to say anything on this site without being ridiculed or told we are wrong? If you celebrate Christmas-good for you. I don't-I believe with all my heart the bible tells us not to. I also believe that if God wanted us to celebrate this day He would have told us to in the bible-after all he tells us how to live our lives in every other way. It's got nothing to with me not having faith. I'm not meant to have faith for Christmas....Anyway I have expressed how I feel and if that makes me self-righteous and overjudgemental then so be it. It was only a matter of time before the name calling started.

BTW sharing your opinion doesn't mean you are judging others. If you are feeling judged, there may be other reason for it.

Ridicule and negative comments? Ok Shanagirl think what you like, I was merely excited to share my beliefs with other like-minded people on a post that was started by a person that thinks like I do. I didn't go on a "Why Christmas is Great" forum and start telling everyone they were wrong and nor would I. I could sit here and call you names and go through your posts and tell you where you are scripturally wrong but I just don't care enough about this issue nor have I come on here to tell people they are wrong. Again, I was sharing what I believe to be true just like you have shared.I was foolish to think I could speak freely here- But sure-after you have called me names and told me I started the redicule and negative comments, I will find it very easy to get along with you.....

PS this was a forum for those who don't celebrate Christmas (or so I thought)...I thought it would be a safe place to share my beliefs with others that feel the same way I do. I was wrong.