pleaasse helpp question about jehovah witness and christmas?

Question

My mom has been dating her boyfriend for about 12 yrs now. Last year he started studying to be a jehovahs witness. Now he doesn't want to celebrate holidays. He's not a jehovahs witness yet but is trying to be one.

Is it wrong for him to make us not put up a christmas tree? We think so but he's saying he's comprimising with us.

And he's saying if we love holidays and stuff so much he doesn't want to be here so hell leave.

Is it wrong for him to do that?
Pleasse give me some advice or suggestions etc.

Answer 1

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/

Answer 2

I am a Jehovah's Witness, and there is a lot more going on than it seems. There are a lot of Witnesses whose spouse doesn't agree with what we believe. He may not leave for good, just while you and your family are celebrating the holidays. Another BIG thing that is eventually going to come up is the fact that they are living together and are not married. If he's serious about becoming a witness, he will end up leaving your mother anyway, so this will no longer be an issue for you. We are discouraged to marry outside of the religion.

Answer 3

He should leave you guys during this time if he is to be a Christan. His leaving you is showing you that he does not agree with the celebration of this pagan hoilday. He is not making you not celebrate it. He is showing you by his actions (I wish more Christian would act instead of talk) a strong stance for God word. But God gave us all free will so if you guys want to put a tree up that is up to you.

Here is what the bible say and you must ask yourself, "If I follow the Bible why do I put up a tree and be like the world"

Learn not the way of the heathen,. . . For the customs of the people are vain- for one cutteth a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman, with the axe. They deck it with silver and with gold; they fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it move not... But they are altogether brutish and foolish: the stock is a doctrine of vanities"
(Jer. 10:2-4, 8).
Here you have a perfect description of the Christmas tree, called by God, "the way of the heathen." We are commanded not to learn that way or follow it! The Christmas tree is also viewed in this passage as idolatry. The fifth verse says that these trees cannot speak cannot walk-must be carried. Some people misread this to make it say that there is no harm in having a Christmas tree, but that is not what it says at all. Rather, the Prophet Jeremiah tells us that it is vanity and foolishness, and says,
"....Learn not the way of the heathen..... "
Some people will stay up all night to work on an old dead tree. They'll trim it all up and stand off a little ways and admire their handiwork. Then many of them will sit up all night and look at that old Christmas tree.

Did you know that the green tree is mentioned 14 times in the Bible, and in every instance it is linked with idolatry? There isn't one place in the Bible where God commends the use of the "green tree" in connection with true worship.
Perhaps you're wondering why people have a Christmas tree during the Christmas celebration. You can search the Bible through and through, but you won't find a reason for it there. The first decorating of an evergreen tree began with the Greeks and their worship of their god Adonia, who allegedly was brought back to life by the serpent Aessulapius after having been slain. And each Christmas, multitudes of people will secure an evergreen tree and dress it up with bright glitter, lights, and tinsel, not realizing that they are following in the tradition of a pagan festival in honor of a false god!

Are many sincere Christians who think that they are honoring Christ by having their Christmas tree when, in reality, they are dishonoring Him by having anything to do with a heathen festival that God hates?

Answer 4

Well you leave some details out, like how old you are, who lives with who, etc.

There is nothing wrong with him deciding to not celebrate the holidays. Clearly I don't see him having a right to force your Mom to not do so.

As for saying he'll leave, it is up to him. Your Mom and him need to decide what is most important, the relationship, or the beliefs of the 2 of them.

I am a Christian, one of Jehovah's Witnesses.

Answer 5

It is wrong for him to assert his newly found religious views on y'all. He has no right to declare that you cannot but up a tree. If your tradition is to do so, then by all means decorate you tree to the nines and have a fabulous time in doing such.
He has decided to become a Witness on his own and should not force traditions of another religion upon your family. In situations like this be wary. You should celebrate the holiday as you normally would. If the boyfriend doesn't want to participate then so be it. Don't let him spoil your Christmas cheer.

Answer 6

So if he is truly studying to be a JW he shouldn't be dating a non JW. You guys are going to have to sit down and have a discussion about his new found religion and how it impacts your lives. I guessing mom didn't sign on to do this otherwise you would have written that. The kids need to talk with mom about this and have mom handle it.

Personally, you live in the house with your mom and I would say the tree goes up - if he wants to go live with a JW family then maybe he should to not be "compromised".

Answer 7

How is that considered compromising!?!?!?

He has no right to act that way. I'm assuming he celebrated Christmas before until now. A relationship is an even trade. And when it comes to holidays I think others should respect how others celebrate holidays. Don't give in...he can leave if he doesnt he might just be a rain on your parade.

Answer 8

Yes,That's VERY wrong.He's still not one of the Jehovah's witnesses.He should be able to respect your religion too if you're trying to respect his.It's wrong for him to not make you want to put up a Christmas tree 'cause that's rude and disrespectful.But...If he's really trying to compromise with you then you shouldn't be too hard on him for doing that.It's kinda hard to give a good answer on this one...ehh...sorry...don't have any real advice.

Answer 9

I agree with Belle, if he is serious then he would not want to associate himself with non JW but then that also includes his relationship with your mother. I think if he's her BF and not your stepfather, then he really has no right to force his religion on the rest of your family unless that is your Mom's choice also, but as Belle said - you did not say anything about that, so i assume not. I would also talk to your Mother about the choice of his religion and the fact that it is his choice and not yours. Best Wishes!

Answer 10

Jesus never celebrated Christmas and/or birthdays.
Why?
First century Christianity considered Birthdays to be pagan.
If you lived then would you have forced Jesus to celebrate his birthday?
I doubt that you would.