Do You Find it IRONIC that "So-Called" Christians that Celebrate (PAGAN) Holidays; then "Twist & Turn" the Situation by Saying that BECAUSE We(JW'S) don't "Follow their Xample" that SOMEHOW "Suddenly" We're the NON-Christians ??? !!!
2007-11-05 09:09:05 · 17 answers · asked by . 7 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I believe most do not ever open their Bibles except to record births and deaths. They just accept what Grandma or Grandpa once told them. Their clergy offered no help to them. Preferring to keep them in the dark and be their connection to God. It keeps the cash flowing.
They are shown individual scriptures to prove unbiblical beliefs. No looking at context or other scriptures for correct meanings. No real research into what the Bible really says.
2007-11-05 09:24:25 · answer #1 · answered by grnlow 7 · 8⤊ 2⤋
The words "Judge not that ye be not judged, for by the judgment that ye judge shall ye be judged" comes to mind. It is not up to an individual to degrade or belittle another for his or her beliefs. If one chooses to engage in a holiday that promotes an increase in love, giving, charity, and kindness, why would that be considered bad? The problem with many of these holidays is the commercialism that has degraded the meaning of these holidays. If you chose not to celebrate that holiday, that’s your choice. Regardless of where your idea of how it was founded. For one to belittle or demean another for engaging in these holidays to me is unfortunate. At the same time to become angry at another’s faith and condemn it based upon your limited knowledge (all of us are infants spiritually in-spite of our learning) is short sited and hypocritical.
Bottom line, faith is a choice. I chose to believe the way that I do based upon my own spiritual experiences. Debate will get your no where. I could debunk most any religion. But what good does that do. Spirituality is not a matter of debate. The important thing to consider is being the kind of person that would portray your faith by your actions. I know many Jehovah's Witnesses that are good and kind people as well as many Mormons who are good and kind people that live Christ like lives better then some of the so called Christians who would condemn them(which I think is unfortunate). At the same time, there are many good so called Christian that are good and decent people. Be true to what you believe and who you believe in. By their fruits ye shall know them. Do not condemn others, rather get to really know and understand them and their faith. You may find that they are just good people trying to live their lives the best that they can. Making fun of or condemning another’s faith will only alienate you and your faith to them.
2007-11-05 17:49:47 · answer #2 · answered by Joe W 2 · 2⤊ 2⤋
As the questioner notes, Jehovah's Witnesses are Christians; they teach that Christ was and is Divine and of the same nature as God.
Jehovah's Witnesses teach that no salvation occurs without Christ, that accepting Christ's sacrifice is a requirement for true worship, that every prayer must acknowledge Christ, that Christ is the King of God's Kingdom, that Christ is the head of the Christian congregation, that Christ is immortal and above every creature, even that Christ was the 'master worker' in creating the universe!
Jehovah's Witnesses love and respect and honor Christ. They do NOT celebrate so-called "Christmas" because "Christmas" does NOT celebrate Christ; "Christmas" celebrates the pagan Saturnalia. Jesus was not even born in December. Nearly all so-called Christmas customs dishonor Christ.
(Jeremiah 10:2-5) This is what Jehovah has said: "Do not learn the way of the nations at all... 3 For the customs of the peoples are just an exhalation, because it is a mere tree out of the forest that one has cut down, the work of the hands of the craftsman with the billhook. 4 With silver and with gold one makes it pretty. With nails and with hammers they fasten them down, that none may reel. ...the doing of any good is not with them."
http://watchtower.org/e/19981215/article_02.htm
http://watchtower.org/e/20001215/
http://watchtower.org/e/20041215/article_01.htm
http://watchtower.org/e/19981215/
http://watchtower.org/e/rq/article_11.htm
By contrast, it's tragic that the one holiday Christ actually *DID* ask Christians to commemorate is entirely ignored by almost all of Christendom. It is, of course, the Memorial of Christ's death, sometimes called "the Last Supper" or "the Lord's Evening Meal".
(1 Corinthians 11:23-25, NWT) The Lord Jesus in the night in which he was going to be handed over took a loaf... Keep doing this in remembrance of me.” 25 He did likewise respecting the cup.. Keep doing this... in remembrance of me.”
(1 Cor 11:24, 25, NEB) "Do this as a memorial of me.”
Christ Jesus himself personally celebrated and explained the significance of that Last Supper to his followers (see Matthew 26:26-29). Christians who commemorate the Last Supper have done so on the same Jewish calendar date as Jesus did, Nisan 14, which generally falls between late March and mid-April. Interestingly, Christians in the centuries immediately after Christ's impalement were sometimes called "Quartodecimans" which literally mean "Fourteen-ers", because the early Christians were well-known for this true holy day.
How would Jesus feel to learn that the holiday he commanded was widely ignored, while his so-called followers chose to celebrate a pagan false god and their own traditions of men? We don't need to wonder.
(Matthew 15:6-9) You have made the word of God invalid because of your tradition. 7 You hypocrites, Isaiah aptly prophesied about you when he said, 8 ‘This people honors me with their lips, yet their heart is far removed from me. 9 It is in vain that they keep worshiping me, because they teach commands of men as doctrines.’”
Learn more:
http://watchtower.org/e/lmn/index.htm?article=article_08.htm
http://watchtower.org/e/rq/index.htm?article=article_11.htm
http://watchtower.org/e/20041215/article_02.htm
http://watchtower.org/e/20011115/article_02.htm
http://watchtower.org/e/20050101a/
http://watchtower.org/e/jt/
2007-11-06 17:05:35 · answer #3 · answered by achtung_heiss 7 · 2⤊ 2⤋
Abraham and Sarah had a big celebration when Isaac was weaned / 3 years old..birthday??
this is a common tradition celebration for all children...including baby Jesus...
and there was a big celebration for the bris....circumcision on the eight day....
at age 12 a boy celebrates bamiztva and there is similar celebration for the girl when reaching age of adult....
those are three big celebration that I know and believe Jesus and his family celebrated..
And the first big celebration when he was born!!!
not to acknowledge a child's birthday with even a cookie, a happy card, pair of socks.....
I do not like the commercialized shop and drop...
a special meal with family , remembering the journey and the birth of the Child, etc...to acknowledge that little family so long ago.....the gifts of the wise men, sharing and knowledge....
I think you have a camel stuck in you tea strainer......it is a theology thing.....
what?? JW won't say bless you when some one sneezes!!!??HUH??? How rude?? what do they do when when they fart? call an elder?
2007-11-05 17:36:05 · answer #4 · answered by coffee_pot12 7 · 3⤊ 7⤋
These "Twist & Turn" FALSE Christians Will (SOON) "Fall INTO the Hands of the Living God" !
2007-11-05 20:00:11 · answer #5 · answered by Bye-Bye 3 2 · 4⤊ 2⤋
Jesus said that We're Living in a "TWISTED and Crooked Generation" !
2007-11-05 20:16:59 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 2⤋
I don't celebrate the paganism associated with those dates. I do however rejoice in our Lord on those days, as I do any other normal day, that the Son of God would willingly give His life so that my sins could be forgiven, as well as any one else that comes to Him. He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.
2007-11-05 17:22:26 · answer #7 · answered by Thomas The Servant 4 · 2⤊ 6⤋
I agree with you brother. Jesus told us to celebrate his death not his birth. my neighbor celebrates Xmas and I asked her, if you say it is Jesus Christ birthday, what does he get for his birthday. any gifts? she looked at me and could not answer me. we are the only ones doing what Jesus commanded at Matthew 28 verse 19 and 20. Mike Jesus never said he was God. yes he said you seen me you seen the Father, he was the first creation and was with Jehovah a long time before coming to earth. who was he praying to? you cannot pray to yourself. who resurrected Jesus when he was on the stake? Jesus could not resurrect himself. why would we celebrate xmas. it has nothing to do with Jesus Christ. many people don't celebrate xmas either. Jesus said to celebrate his death once a year on Nisan 14 or the last supper.
2007-11-05 17:16:04 · answer #8 · answered by lover of Jehovah and Jesus 7 · 9⤊ 3⤋
“Not everyone saying to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter into the kingdom of the heavens, but the one doing the will of my Father who is in the heavens will.
22 Many will say to me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and expel demons in your name, and perform many powerful works in your name?’
23 And yet then I will confess to them: I never knew YOU! Get away from me, YOU workers of lawlessness"
Jesus talked not me.
MIKE: what Date Jesus died for our sins? why the H. S revealed that to JWs an "many Chrsitians" as Jesus said in MAtthew 7:21 don´t know that?
2007-11-05 17:13:20 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 11⤊ 2⤋
Jehovah witnesses have it right in some ways, they may be right about what they believe about pagan holidays, but alot of the other major topics they believe are wrong. a good book to read is "Answers to my Jehovah Witness Friends" forgot the author?
2007-11-05 17:15:48 · answer #10 · answered by ultimatewarrior 2 · 3⤊ 8⤋