this is a serious question. i dont know if i should have christmas any more.
2006-09-29 19:27:10 · 17 answers · asked by bassetluv 4 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
The real issue should be whether or not celebrating Christmas as a holiday would make you stumble in your walk with Christ. I have a major problem with the rampant commercialism that surrounds Christmas and I put out a call on my website last year for people to forsake Christmas presents and give to the needy instead. Check out the links below for a series of blog entries I wrote about Christmas.
2006-09-29 19:51:03 · answer #1 · answered by Pastor Chad from JesusFreak.com 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Is Christmas Pagan? No. Proof? I know of no pagan religion that practices Christmas as a religious holiday. Many pagans I know celebrate Christmas as a secular holiday, removing anything Christian from it, but I know of no religious beliefs connected to Christmas today that are anything but Christian.
Do any Christmas traditions have Pagan roots? Yes. However, why should that matter? We do not need to worry about what symbolism a Christmas Tree might have had 1400 years ago, all we need to be concerned about is what does it mean to us today? There is nothing about the Christmas Tree that does not have Christian roots, as well. The Evergreen was chosen as a representation of eternal life. The fact that it appears triangular in shape has also been given the significance of representing the Trinity. The first lights ever put on a Christmas Tree was done by Martin Luther. Ornaments were originally all fruit. This came from churches performing Christmas pageants. They wanted trees, but since the only trees they could use in the winter were evergreens, they put fruit on them to show that they were representing another kind of tree. That began the tradition of hanging fruit on Christmas Trees, which later evolved into other ornaments.
If we need to worry about any pagan influence, we have much more to worry about than just Christmas. Singing in four part harmony is "pagan." Early Christians sang mostly by chanting. Does that mean we are sinning every time we sing Amazing Grace? Of course not.
We have been given FREEDOM in Christ. While we are called to be separate from the world, that has to do with HOW we live our lives, and our PURPOSE in life, not such trivial things as whether or not some Christians might have gotten the idea of bringing a tree in their home from their earlier pagan beliefs. If you celebrate Christmas for Christ, it is most certainly NOT PAGAN.
2006-09-30 03:03:38 · answer #2 · answered by Serving Jesus 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Christmas may have Pagan roots, that doesn't mean it isn't a Christian holiday. December 25th is the day Christians celebrate the birth of their Lord and Savior.
I am Pagan I celebrate the Winter Solstice also known as Yule, I am celebrating the birth of the sun/Son. I give thanks because the days will begin getting longer and the sun stronger.
It is my personal opinion that some things are taken to an extreme. Christians would not have many holidays at all if they refused to celebrate the ones with Pagan origins.
Blessings )O(
2006-09-30 02:38:24 · answer #3 · answered by Epona Willow 7 · 4⤊ 0⤋
Don't be a stick in the mud .Anyone with a brain knows the Christmas tree,the yule log,Dec.25th and all that is Pagan ...so what .Guess what? we've taken it over(typical American ,eh?)it's ours now.We celebrate the birth of Christ .We read the first chapters of Matthew and Luke on Christmas Eve.We thank God for His Son.Then we have fun with all the presents and turkey and decorations and Ho,Ho,Ho,!!Maybe go down and dish out food at the homeless shelter.
You know in the Old Testament only one of the Festivals was a Fast and a sad day,The day of Atonement (Mon. this year) all the rest were Feast Days..Time to eat and have a good time.Even Jesus said"I come to bring life and that more abundantly"......Mellow out you won't be any holier if you do...or if you don't. Read Collasians chpt.1 and 2. and Romans 14
2006-09-30 02:42:14 · answer #4 · answered by AngelsFan 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
When the Christians first started to spread their religion they found the pagans celebrating a winter festival. They simply adopted the date and celebrated Christmas. Jesus actual birth date is Aug.21. See Urantia Book.
2006-09-30 06:19:29 · answer #5 · answered by samssculptures 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's simple.
If you celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ on Christmas, then it's a Christian holiday.
If you celebrate the birth of some pagan on Christmas, then it's a pagan holiday.
It is exactly what you make of it.
2006-09-30 05:39:25 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
My mom wont celebrate it, for that reason. My dad went along with it. Both of them had chistmas growing up.
It was pretty sad being the only kid on the block/in the school/or friend who didn't get any damned presents, because their mother's a religious nut.
You could take out the Christmas tree and the lights, or have Hanukkah. Nothings wrong with giving your kids a couple presents.
2006-09-30 02:55:29 · answer #7 · answered by lilith 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
What do the networks do? They run their best shows against each other. So of course, the early church chose the times of pagan festivals to have its own big feasts. Shrewd marketing, and it worked.
And look -- have some fun, for crying out loud. Celebrate Christmas in church and have fun with your family. Do you think God wants you to be some miserable cultist who shuns every public display of cheer? Are you going to be some kind of dour Puritan shaking a finger at all us 'pagans'? Give me a break. God gave you life, so enjoy it.
2006-09-30 02:34:26 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
No, all educated people know that the roots of Christmas and Easter are pagan....
I am a Christan by the way.
2006-09-30 02:29:40 · answer #9 · answered by Adyghe Ha'Yapheh-Phiyah 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Many elements of Christmas have pagan elements--the tree, for example, and even the date.
All that really matters, though, is the spirit in which you celebrate it. If you and your family use it as a time for family togetherness, or for celebration of your god, then why does it matter?
2006-09-30 02:29:30 · answer #10 · answered by N 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋