how should christians treat christmas?

Question

if the reason to celebrate christmas is jesus's birth,
are christians parents justified spending several hundred dollars on gifts for their children and close friends and relatives?
If so many christians are going to complain about specific christian christmas carols being banned from being performed in schools and retailers displaying "happy holidays" instead of "merry christmas," isn't it hypocritical for them to herd with the secular masses who celebrate it too materialistically? I mean, what type of message is someone sending to their child when they tell them about the importance of christ's birth and what he has done for us all and why we need to follow him, and then you give him a few hundred dollars worth of toys?
Wouldn't it glorify god more if christians would make the primary "gifting" that is given during christmas go to some type of charity or something along those lines?

harod- you can expect secularists to stop telling christians how to live as soon as christians stop secularists how to live their lives

Answer 1

This is a topic of much debate within Christian circles, and I think that Augustine said it best:

"In essentials unity, in non-essentials liberty, in all things charity."

Answer 2

i think the presents are nice and make people happy in the spirit of the season. that doesn't mean you need to make it all lavish etc. things have become very materialistic granted but that isn't true of everyone. charity should be done all year round not just at christmas. you can enjoy the season but never lose track of the importance and why you are really celebrating the event. the pagan tradition was abolished by christians and so the event can be celebrated as we celebrate the birth of christ - not what the pagans worshipped the day for.

Answer 3

I completely agree. I'm a Chrisitan, and I receive gifts at Chirstmas, but over all the materialistic possessions I receive, the most rewarding and memorable gifts are the ones that we give not to ourselves, but to others. My family likes to buy gifts for each other by buying gifts for others...For example, one of my gifts last year was to sponsor a child in Peru. A gift I gave to my aunt who is a teacher is buying school supplies for poor children through a Chrisitan organization.

Gifts are excahnged because the baby Jesus Christ is viewed as a gift to all of God's people. By giving gifts to others, we express gratitude and love for one another. I completely side with you in the fact that Christmas has become extremely commercialized, and the ultimate part of CHRISTmas has been overlooked and ignored.

Answer 4

Great question! You are absolutely right! We are by nature selfish creatures. When we give a gift we see happiness in the person we give it to which makes us happy, so to get that feeling again we give another gift, etc. My parents once took me and my cousins to handout gifts and food in the poorest part of our town Christmas eve. It was the best Christmas ever - can you imagine if we all did that???

Answer 5

She has gone off and joined some protestant fundamentalist sect or different. maximum of them are virulently anti-catholic and their leaders dreamt up all kinds of myths about Catholicism to save their followers from studying the actuality. both Halloween and the Christmas tree are initially Christian, Catholic in certain. Halloween began because the Eve of All Saints Day (All Hallows Eve) with a lot of interesting customs round it in spite of the indisputable fact that it became attacked by technique of those puritan communities and their propaganda referred to as it a ceremonial dinner of the devil. The puritans who depending the united states of a further this theory with them. In Catholic countries it remains a good Christian party. The Christmas Tree is yet another Catholic image. It became utilized in Europe in Medieval secret performs because the decrease back drop to a play tracing the heritage of salvation from Adam and Eve to the arrival of Christ, the 2d Adam. it really is a Paradise tree.

Answer 6

It is amazing to see how many people acknowledge that Christmas is pagan but will still justify why it is okay to celebrate it. True Christians avoid Christmas, Easter, Halloween and any other observances that God hates.

Answer 7

Treat it like any other day. That is how Christians should treat Christmas.

I am opposed to having just one day of peace and love. Many people treat Christmas as that one special day where they can be kind to others.

In actuality, a person should treat every day like that. What makes Christmas so special? Is it because it's been attributed to the birth of Christ? Then why would you cheapen his birth by practicing love and kindness on only one day a year?

Answer 8

Gift giving is an act of remembrance for the wise men bringing gifts to the Christ child. Since we are made in the "image and likeness of God" we give gifts to each other and hence to God. Is it exploited in terms of expense and importance; I think so.

Answer 9

Rev 18:3...And the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies.

4 And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.

5 For her sins have reached unto heaven, and Yahweh hath remembered her iniquities.

http://www.yahweh.com/booklets/Xmas/Xmas.htm

Answer 10

God I hate these stupid ideas! Listen, it's a celebration of the birth of JC. For others it's a celbration of friends and family. For others it's just another day off from work.

If celebrating the birth of JC is your priority, then celebrate any damn way you please. I, and others, will celebrate the birth of JC any damn way we please.

Quit telling other people how to live their lives!