In anticipation of the annual "Christmas is pagan" thread

[Man of Steel]

 

The Roman Catholic church chose December 25th to celebrate the birth of Christ in an attempt to subvert the pagan celebrations that annually occurred at or around that same time; in essense, replacing pagan traditions with a celebration of Christ....it took too!  

No one knows the exact birthdate of Christ.  Some say it was in the spring and others the fall.  That said, the church made a strong attempt to establish the annual celebration of Christ's birth in a way that both glorifies our Lord and Savior and symbolically suppresses the evil of men.

The verses in Jeremiah don't refer to Christmas trees....that's a forced fit many employ for the sake of making an argument.  The verses refer to those people that fashioned wooden idols and decorated them for purposes of pagan worship.  And where does one get wood?  From trees in a forest.  Christians do not worship Christmas trees.

To be very clear, Christmas isn’t a pagan holiday.  

A day is not made “wholly unholy” because ungoldly pagans placed one of their festivals within it.  As it states in Psalms 118, each day is a day “that that Lord has made” and each day that we give him the glory and praise affirms that.

The Roman Catholic church chose December 25th to celebrate the birth of Christ in an attempt to subvert the pagan celebrations that annually occurred at or around that same time; in essense, replacing pagan traditions with a celebration of Christ.  In this instance their motivations were accurate in my opinion.

No one knows the exact birthdate of Christ.  Some say it was in the spring and others the fall.  That said, the church made a strong attempt to establish the annual celebration of Christ's birth in a way that both glorifies our Lord and Savior and symbolically suppresses the evil of men.

The verses in Jeremiah don't refer to Christmas trees....that's a forced fit many employ for the sake of making an argument.  The verses refer to those people that fashioned wooden idols and decorated them for purposes of pagan worship.  And where does one get wood?  From trees in a forest.  Christians do not worship Christmas trees.

Christians celebrate Christmas annually to give specific praise and glory to God because of the coming of the incarnate Son of God in Jesus Christ.

The only problem with your argument is that no one in the church worships Christmas trees or Nimrod.  The tree is not an idol....it's merely simple decor.

Asherah poles are also referenced in scripture in Jeremiah and are idols of wood harvested from the trees in the forest for purposes of worship of the false God Asher/Ashur....it has nothing to do with Christmas trees.  Your interpretation is a false hermaneutic and eisegeitcal interpretation of the text.   These scriptures were written hundreds of years before Christ, Christians, Christmas, etc....nothing to do with Christmas whatsoever.  Neither does Christmas relate to the winter solstace, the birth of Horus, Osiris or any mystery God of the mediterrenean or Egypt.  

It no longer holds any pagan influence except for those that persist in forcing it's origins upon it.....which were changed for Christ's glory....to eliminate the idolatry.  

Pagan traditions have been subverted by the church and Dec 25th used to celebrate the birth of our God, Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  This is the ultimate slap in the face for those who oppose Jesus Christ.  

You know what other symbol of pain, suffering and death has been forever changed for Jesus Christ's glory?  The cross of crucifixion.  And it's origins also had nothing to do with Christ, Christianity or the church.

As I noted in my previous reply, we don't know the exact date of Christ's birth.  Some say the Spring and some the Fall.   Regardless, live for him daily and join the time of worship on the 25th.  

If you prefer to continue to align the 25th with an antiquated pagan celebration and ideology then so be it....that's your choice.  The rest of Christ's body of believers will lift him up and worship him....that's the point friend.  

Various threads from previous years this is addressed in:

http://www.getbig.com/boards/index.php?topic=450309.msg6467843#msg6467843

http://www.getbig.com/boards/index.php?topic=559374.msg7841102#msg7841102

http://www.getbig.com/boards/index.php?topic=561448.msg7866807#msg7866807

http://www.getbig.com/boards/index.php?topic=563490.msg7910788#msg7910788


Further, we started this discussion on a Monday.  Monday is derived from the pagan "Moon-day" and both you, me and church recognize Monday (that is derived from pagan traditions) yet the church, Christ and scripture remains undefiled.  The pagan tradition no longer has any influence or authority over the topic.....praise God!!

Merry Christmas!!!

[Sizwe]

Merry Christmas!
 
And since its advent let us remember to pray the Angelus thrice daily =)

[IrishMuscle84]

[Man of Steel]

Now that it's December 1st I try to get ahead of this each year.

[Agnostic007]

Christmas is Commercialism and Capitalism

[Man of Steel]

Christmas is Commercialism and Capitalism

you ain't wrong!!

[Agnostic007]

sadly... even I cringe at how what was supposed to be a time for family to spend time together and give gifts symbolizing the birth of Christ, it's become a billion dollar industry where people go into debt buying things that they don't need in order to feel good about themselves. It's gotten way out of hand when stores start displaying Christmas items after Halloween as well as playing the music. Of course I just spent 2 days decorating the house so I'm just as guilty I suppose. But for Christmas the wife and I are heading the San Francisco 24th - 1st. Sometimes you just need to get away

[Man of Steel]

sadly... even I cringe at how what was supposed to be a time for family to spend time together and give gifts symbolizing the birth of Christ, it's become a billion dollar industry where people go into debt buying things that they don't need in order to feel good about themselves. It's gotten way out of hand when stores start displaying Christmas items after Halloween as well as playing the music. Of course I just spent 2 days decorating the house so I'm just as guilty I suppose. But for Christmas the wife and I are heading the San Francisco 24th - 1st. Sometimes you just need to get away

I hear ya.  Me and the family have taken a vacation from Christmas a couple of times.  The portion of buying tons of gifts, the huge get togethers (and expense of that)....just all of it.  Instead we went to church and then later went to a movie and forgot the rest of it.

[Agnostic007]

I hear ya.  Me and the family have taken a vacation from Christmas a couple of times.  The portion of buying tons of gifts, the huge get togethers (and expense of that)....just all of it.  Instead we went to church and then later went to a movie and forgot the rest of it.

There was a point years back with friend and family and parties it got stressful rather than joyful. Did I get everyone a gift or card I was supposed to? Oh great, friggin Bob got me a gift and I didn't get him one because I thought we had this understanding..

[Man of Steel]

There was a point years back with friend and family and parties it got stressful rather than joyful. Did I get everyone a gift or card I was supposed to? Oh great, friggin Bob got me a gift and I didn't get him one because I thought we had this understanding..

That's what I keep telling family and friends....let's stop exchanging gifts or $20 bills.   When I need something I'll just go get it LOL.   I also tell people not to bother wrapping gifts for me (that is if they insist on giving me a gift).  Put it in plastic grocery bag or just hand it to me.   The pomp and circumstance of it all for what?  Spend $3.50 on Santa paper and red bow I'm gonna shred and throw away immediately is weird to me.

I don't mind giving to others...I rather enjoy it.  It's the forced joy you noted.  The forced everything of it.

[Agnostic007]

That's what I keep telling family and friends....let's stop exchanging gifts or $20 bills.   When I need something I'll just go get it LOL.   I also tell people not to bother wrapping gifts for me (that is if they insist on giving me a gift).  Put it in plastic grocery bag or just hand it to me.   The pomp and circumstance of it all for what?  Spend $3.50 on Santa paper and red bow I'm gonna shred and throw away immediately is weird to me.

I don't mind giving to others...I rather enjoy it.  It's the forced joy you noted.  The forced everything of it.

word...

[The Ugly]

I just think it's fantastic that President Trump decriminalized those two beautiful words. Have you noticed? We're saying "Merry Christmas" again!

Isn't it wonderful? About time we got a REAL Christian in the White House. Even before the election, I knew God chose him to end Obama's illegal war on Jesus.

God bless us, Getbig. And God bless this here Merry CHRISTmas.

[Man of Steel]

I just think it's fantastic that President Trump decriminalized those two beautiful words. Have you noticed? We're saying "Merry Christmas" again!

Isn't it wonderful? About time we got a REAL Christian in the White House. Even before the election, I knew God chose him to end Obama's illegal war on Jesus.

God bless us, Getbig. And God bless this here Merry CHRISTmas.