christmas has become so much about santa and food does anyone remember why (as a christian) we celebrate christmas.
yes it is a time of celebration and good food but have we lost the true meaning? god bless and merry christmas
2006-12-05 04:05:53 · 23 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
People celebrate Christmas in many different ways. That's fine with me. Those who consider Jesus the center of the holiday should celebrate it that way. Those who enjoy Santa, Rudolph, Frosty, and the Grinch have them, too. Some even manage to enjoy both the religious and secular aspects of Christmas with no ill effects whatsoever.
Each to his own.
2006-12-05 04:09:51 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
As for modern Western World Christmases? Yes. People are so involved in the consumerist dream that they can't hope to get through the eye of the needle -- with or without the camel. Being the best gift-giver instead of thanking God and Christ for salvation has replaced the whole point of Christian Christmases. Gifts were once given out of love and were often made. Now gifts are markers as to how efficiently we can find the best stuff at bargain-basement prices while going into insurmountable debt to impress people who will be returning the hastily collected gift on the twenty-sixth anyway.
It does beg the nostalgia of a traditional Christmas again, where a family reunion for the holiday is the centerpiece, and the feast celebrates the whole family getting together to catch up. Instead of feeling obliged to give gifts, presents express guests' thankfulness for life and the bounties they can share willingly with those they love, understanding that we give what we can, even if it's very small. Christian Christmas is supposed to be about the best gift of all, which no mall or boutique can provide -- eternal life which was paid for by the ultimate price, the blood of the Lamb.
That said, Paul L is right; the Catholic church, in an attempt to ease conquered pagans into the church, took over their holidays and gave them to saints. Christmas, once a movable feast, was placed near the Winter Solstice because the rebirth of the sun (son) of the Northern European cultures blended well with the Nativity.
2006-12-05 12:20:06 · answer #2 · answered by Jess B 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Actually no...Christmas is a Pagan celebration and it was to celebrate the beginning of when the days start to get longer, i.e., December 21-28 is typically the shortest day of the year.
Many many years ago, the catholics tried so hard to get the people to come to their churches so they lied and told you that Jesus was born on that day and combined the Pagan ritual with Jesus.
Two points to note...Jesus was actually born sometime in the fall, i.e., late September to early November. Secondly, Jesus was born in 2 BCE. Surprise and there is proof of both of these points in the Bible.
So sometime later came St. Nicolas, Santa Clause, Father Christmas...whatever. Also another note that is usually not very popular and that is Santa has the same letters as Satan...just switched around...go figure.
So lastly, as a real Christian, you would never celebrate Jesus' birthday as there is no instruction or guidance in the Bible for you to do so. There is no mention of Christmas in the Bible whatsoever.
So why do you celebrate Christmas...certainly not for Jesus...it's more of a commercial cash grab for all the retailers and it pretty much leaves all the adults wasted, tired, and almost bankrupt in the end.
Has Santa ever taken Jesus' place...nope, it was never his place to begin with.
2006-12-05 12:17:55 · answer #3 · answered by Paul J 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Actually, Santa is the spirit of Christmas, Jesus is the reason for the season.
Yes, so many people have put getting presents and who can outdo the neighbor in getting things for Christmas and they forget that Christmas is because Jesus Christ was born on Christmas Day, to become the Savior of the world.
2006-12-05 12:10:14 · answer #4 · answered by nevada nomad 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Christmas was originally a pagan holiday. Don’t get me wrong, it’s fine that Christians celebrate it, but don’t go fooling yourself that Christmas has anything to do with Jesus. Christmas now days is a time of year when everyone takes time out of their schedule to spend time with there families and give a little to charity. Don’t go clouding the issue with Christianity.
I hope Santa replaces Jesus. He’s is much more jolly. (JOKE)
2006-12-05 12:16:51 · answer #5 · answered by A 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Santa Claus is an idea that came from a true living saint Nicolas who obviously believed in Christ and his message was to give, was this not Jesus' message? I think both the story of giving and the Nativity are important.
2006-12-05 12:16:47 · answer #6 · answered by Francis Z 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Satan has a counterfeit for everything the Lord has and he tries to pass it off as truth every chance he gets. Paul tells us in Ephesians 6:11 to “Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.” We need to know if we have the real thing or a counterfeit. There is a holiday that is celebrated every year called Christmas that Satan has deceived us into believing that it’s the birthday of Jesus Christ. The Catholic Church not only gives us the mass of Christ but it supplied us with another counterfeit, Saint Nicolas (Santa). Look at all the ways this counterfeit is like the real thing, the Lord Jesus Christ.
1.Psalm 48:1-4 the city of the great King is in the North. Santa lives in the North.
2.John 4:24 God is a Spirit. We also have the spirit of Christmas.
3.Psalm 139:7-12 God is present everywhere. We tell our children that Santa is everywhere watching them.
4.Romans 11:33 God has all wisdom. Santa has all wisdom.
5.Isaiah 46:8-14 God knows all. Santa knows all.
6.Acts 1:9-11 Jesus returns in the clouds. Santa comes in the air.
7.Revelation 19:11-14 Christ returns on a white horse. Santa rides on a slay pulled by reindeer.
8.Revelation 19:13 Christ returns with a red and white outfit. Santa has a red and white outfit.
9.Luke 17:34 Christ comes at night. Santa comes at night.
10.Revelation 20:12 Christ keeps a record of all the works that are done. Santa keeps a record of all the good and bad you have done.
11.Revelation 11:10 there is a time when gifts are exchanged. Santa has a time when gifts are given.
12.Revelation 1:14 Christ has white hair. Santa has white hair.
13.Jeremiah 10:1-4 the heathen had a custom of cutting down a tree and decking it with silver and gold. Santa leaves our gifts under a tree that has been decorated.
14.Ephesians 2:8 Christ is a giver of gifts. Santa is a giver of gifts.
15.Hebrews 4:16 believers come boldly unto the throne of grace. Believers in Santa approach his throne and ask for what is wanted.
16.Ephesians 6:1-3 the Word commands children to obey their parents. Santa tells children to obey their parents.
17.Luke 12:40 the hour of His coming is a mystery. Santa coming is a mystery.
18.Mark 10:14 Christ tells the children to come to him. Santa tells the children to come to him.
19.Zechariah 2:6 the Lord says Ho; ho. Santa says Ho, ho, ho.
20.Mark 6:3 Jesus was a carpenter. Santa builds toys.
21.Revelation 19:6 Christ is all-powerful (omnipotent). Santa is all-powerful. He can deliver all the toys to the entire world in one night.
Do not be deceived by Satan’s devises. Satan has given us many ways to get to heaven: Do good works; be baptized, believe in God, be a member of a church, etc.
According to God’s word for this age there is only one way to heaven and that is to truly believe that Christ died for your sins, that he was buried and that he rose again the third day (I Corinthians 15:1-4).
2006-12-05 12:13:11 · answer #7 · answered by Ray W 6 · 4⤊ 1⤋
Faithful Christians will always celebrate Christmas as the birth of Christ,the coca cola Santa though represents the greedy face of capitilism, and thats not going away either.
2006-12-05 12:10:18 · answer #8 · answered by Sentinel 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
No...no where near that...As a catholic I start out my celebration for the whole month of december...Its just that maybe you need to change what you are not happy with if you want to celebrate and don't worry about what the world is doing and think about your values and what you want to be treasured that special day! GooD LuCK
2006-12-05 12:23:31 · answer #9 · answered by ChIkaBuEnA 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I think it is true that Christmas has become too commercialized. It is a societal problem, I think. It is up to individuals to make the decision to make their Christmas celebration what THEY think it should be, not what society thinks it should be. By its very nature, society is secular. By its very nature, Christmas is religious. The two will never meet. Do what YOU think is best for YOU and don't worry about others.
2006-12-05 12:09:43 · answer #10 · answered by harpertara 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋