I have a Malaysian Christian friend on the facebook and she said that she doesnt celebrate Christmas... when I asked her whether she's a christian or not.. this is her answer:
[PIE]I am a Christian yes, but I dont celebrate Christmas, or Good Friday or Easter because these are all man made celebrations. The problem is that the Christians today do not study their own scriptures. And those who do, dont see what I see. Even the Christmas tree la... I threw out our Christmas tree 5 years ago when I found a verse in the bible about how the pagans would get a tree and dress it with silver ornaments.
My husband doesnt exactly agree with me but he will la one day. He has seen and read and studied the same Bible verses.
And I don't attend buildings that call themselves a church also. The word church in the bible means Ekklesia which means those who have been called out of the system.
The problem with most Christians is that they love themselves too much when we are supposed to not do that. I can send you some articles I have on why Christmas is pagan.
By the way, I'm not a Jehovah's Witness. I dont even believe in denominations macam Protestant, or AOG or others. The bible also says sectarinism is a sin... tapi those people are too blond to say it la.
But the Bible also says, some will not see the truth because the Lord himself will send strong delusions to test them [/PIE]
I have to say, I never quite understand this necessity to distance oneself from 'paganism'. So the Christmas tree is a pagan ritual, so what? Christmas is by and large a Christian holiday, but that doesn't stop me from celebrating it. It's simply part of our culture.
Why this incessant need to do away with anything that doesn't root in your own religion? Is this prescribed in the Bible anywhere? Are activities that have pagan roots "wrong" by definition? I know in Islam 'imitating the kuffar' is explicitly discouraged. Is there anything similar in Christianity?
I would quite simply say that it depends on how you rate traditions in Christianity.
Celebrating Christmas and Easter, having Christmas decorations, Advent wreaths, Lenten fast etc, etc are not prescribed practices, they are traditions which have developed over the centuries and which some Christians uphold and others don't.
Having a Christmas tree or celebrating Christmas per se is not what makes us Christians.
Keeping Lent and celebrating Easter is not what makes us Christians.
Believing that God came to earth in the form of Jesus, and that Jesus died for us and was raised again, that God's Spirit lives in all of us if we invite him to, that Jesus will return to jduge mankind ... those are the things that make us Christians.
Some Christians find the traditions and celebrations helpful in focusing their faith. (I am following an Advent reading in preparation for Christmas for the first time this year and find it very beneficial)
Others find it distracting and irrelevant. (Your friend seems to one of those people, and at one point I would have agreed with her in many ways)
Peace
Peace glo
Here I stand.
I can do no other.
May God help me.
Amen.
Come, let us worship and bow down •
and kneel before the Lord our Maker
[Psalm 95]
I understand the point I think, no-one really knows when the dates are and yes xmas and santa, trees etc are of pagan and Turkish origins( and coke), I think most Christians would celebrate xmas appropriately but recognise that the pagan part has become a chance to spoil and show love to their children. With all the evil done to innocents in this world I think they have got it right and hope they have a happy xmas.
"O ye who belive! Endure, outdo all others in endurance, be ready, and observe your duty to Allah, in order that you may succeed"
I haven't stepped into a church for 2 years now, but I still celebrate Christmas,Easter and some other Catholic/Christian holidays with may family and friends.
format_quote Originally Posted by TKTony
and hope they have a happy xmas.
Any particular reason for not using the word Christmas?
I haven't stepped into a church for 2 years now, but I still celebrate Christmas,Easter and some other Catholic/Christian holidays with may family and friends.
Any particular reason for not using the word Christmas?
You again Haha. No sorry it was a bit rude wasnt it, just way of world I guess. Merry Christmas all
"O ye who belive! Endure, outdo all others in endurance, be ready, and observe your duty to Allah, in order that you may succeed"
I have to say, I never quite understand this necessity to distance oneself from 'paganism'. So the Christmas tree is a pagan ritual, so what? Christmas is by and large a Christian holiday, but that doesn't stop me from celebrating it. It's simply part of our culture.
Why this incessant need to do away with anything that doesn't root in your own religion? Is this prescribed in the Bible anywhere? Are activities that have pagan roots "wrong" by definition? I know in Islam 'imitating the kuffar' is explicitly discouraged. Is there anything similar in Christianity?
I haven't stepped into a church for 2 years now, but I still celebrate Christmas,Easter and some other Catholic/Christian holidays with may family and friends.
I knew many Muslims who never pray or fast in Ramadan... but celebrating the Eids like crazy...
She mentioned to me that she's the only person in her family doing this... I think she might be the only Malaysian Christian doing this...
P/S: She has a "crucified santa" as her profile pic.
Thats maybe the reason. She is quite "unique". Because its true that Jesus Christ wasnt born exactly at 24 december, its just that we celebrate this event since hundreds of years on that day, Christmas Eve. It would be strange if we change it now. It doesnt matter, what unchristian roots it has, but what matters is the current meaning for us , christians.
This country is dying because of a lack of men, not a lack of programs.
One can follow the cultural traditions of the Christmas holiday without compromising the religious significance. I don't take Santa or the Eastery bunny seriously because as a Christian I understand that these are cultural additions to a religious observance. I don't feel the need to state "I do not celebrate Christmas" however. I do celebrate Christmas, and Santa has nothing to do with it.
"Imagination was given to man to compensate him for what he is not, and a sense of humor was provided to console him for what he is."
Let me tell you why imitating pagans and ADDING things to your religious practices is bad.
Because the purest generation of CHristians DID NOT celebrate it. Jesus DID NOT prescribe it.
I dont understand this behavior. WHy the hek should I add stuff TAKEN FROM OTHER religions and add it as ways to celebrate mine???
Do you think by doing this you make Christianity better? You think you could do it better than JEsus or the apostles did it???
Is that so hard to grasp? Between choosing how Jesus practiced Christianity and putting up a pagan tree and santa and celebrating his birthday on the WRONG day too, I would opt for the former.
One can follow the cultural traditions of the Christmas holiday without compromising the religious significance. I don't take Santa or the Eastery bunny seriously because as a Christian I understand that these are cultural additions to a religious observance. I don't feel the need to state "I do not celebrate Christmas" however. I do celebrate Christmas, and Santa has nothing to do with it.
You compromise your religion. People think that adding stuff to their religius practices is no biggie but thats how Christianity went from monotheism to polytheism.
Keep adding more and more unrelated stuff and let's see if when Jesus returns he will even recognize his own religion.
Have fun! Tell me when you feel like celebrating a new pagan holiday like "Christmmer" in the middle of July. Put up a little Sun god statue and pass it off as teaching Children the relationship between "Christ and his father."
I honestly cant believe the responses from the Christians on this board.
Last edited by AntiKarateKid; 12-13-2008 at 09:22 PM.
Here's a question... does anyone think it's insulting to Jesus that his birthday is celebrated on a pagan holiday instead of his actual birthday, and that this date was chosen simply to gain Roman converts by kowtowing to their paganistic religion of which Jesus adamently preached against as "foolish" in several places in the Bible?
You see, this is the same thing. The Kaaba was used by the pagans, to worship. Then it was used by your prophet Muhammed and used in islamic cult. Kaaba is the place where muslims turn their faces during every prayers.
And im not saying this to attack your religion. Its just that your arguments against Christmas could be turned against your religious practices.
BTW maybe few people know but the Christmas Tree was spoused to represent the Tree of Good and Evil from the Paradise.
This country is dying because of a lack of men, not a lack of programs.
You see, this is the same thing. The Kaaba was used by the pagans, to worship. Then it was used by your prophet Muhammed and used in islamic cult. Kaaba is the place where muslims turn their faces during every prayers.
And im not saying this to attack your religion. Its just that your arguments against Christmas could be turned against your religious practices.
BTW maybe few people know but the Christmas Tree was spoused to represent the Tree of Good and Evil from the Paradise.
Tree was originally inverted and hung with shiny objects in order to scare off evil spirits. Dont worry about explaining not attacking religion, its a forum and you have right to youre veiw. Peace
"O ye who belive! Endure, outdo all others in endurance, be ready, and observe your duty to Allah, in order that you may succeed"
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