Why do Christians Celebrate Christmas P 2?

Question

This is in response to (Theists Are Here Seeking Freedom) as that person will not allow me to answer tat question, so I will ask it myself.

Is the Christian free to celebrate a holiday that not only has pagan origins, but also is used by the unbelieving world a promotion of commercialism? In my opinion, it depends.
The Christians must hold his standard of righteousness and devotion to God above those of the world. The Old Testament says that we are to worship God in truth according to the dictates that He has established (Exodus 20:1-4; 24:12-31:18). Christmas was not established by God. In addition, there are no records at all of the early church celebrating the birth of Christ.
On the other hand, there are those who say we have freedom Christ and can celebrate any day we want to. Paul says, "All things are lawful, though not all are profitable" (1 Cor. 6:12).
Should we then participate in the celebration of a festival origins and exceeding commercialism?

It is my opinion that we are free to celebrate the day. This is why.
In the Bible in 1 Cor. 10:23-33, Paul speaks about meat sacrificed to idols. This meat was often sold in the meat market and the question arose, "Should a Christian each such meat?" Paul said in verse 25, "Eat anything that is sold in the meat market, without asking questions for conscience' sake." The origins of the meat were, essentially, pagan. Many animals were raised for the purpose of sacrificing to pagan deities and their meat was offered in the market place. In reference to this Paul said it was okay to eat the meat.
Then in verses 28-29 he says, "But if anyone should say to you, 'This is meat sacrificed to idols,' do not eat it, for the sake of the one who informed you, and for conscience' sake; 29I mean not your own conscience, but the other man's; for why is my freedom judged by another's conscience?" (NASB). Paul is saying that if you are with someone who might be stumbled by your eating meat

http://www.carm.org/questions/christmas.htm

Ok..This is not Plagarism as long as I list the source and not try to claim it as my own words.
And I did in reference to the question.

Answer 1

Read this. It will answer your question.

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AjQwiU_cBqmaLedq4Lgq5nPsy6IX;_ylv=3?qid=20071204072620AAl6a2S

Answer 2

This is kind of the same thing about why we are on here. Are we casting our pearls before swine? Are we really trying to help them who say there is no God or are we fooling ourselves into thinking maybe some of these none believers will actually come back to have Jesus Christ as their Lord & personal Saviour? We celebrate the birth of our Lord & Saviour & I think He is truly happy about that because w/out the sacrifice we would all be lost & damned to HELL. Thank the blessed Lord He did just that. I do find sometimes that there area a few people that really want to have a ? resolved & I really get a good feeling when it helps some 1 who really wants my help. Jesus said to LOVE one another. The meat issue is when we goto the Lord in prayer we should be making the example not for the pleasing of men but to God. I think it would be ok to eat that meat as long as we ask God to bless it. I even heard that their meat actually tasted better then their own meat. Have a wonderful day!

Answer 3

First of all, no religion being practice today is original. They are all based on some other religious practices that happened before they were devised. Second, would it not make sense to put Christian holidays around the same time as pagan holidays in order to recruit and spread the word they believe? Think about it if the pagans celebrated the winter solstice and the Christians were trying to get them to convert it only helps their cause if the new holidays are roughly the same time as the old. That's also why Easter is around the Spring Equinox. So in essence, it allows for easier conversion if holidays match up and if there is as little change as possible to status quo. You follow?

Answer 4

Gods own words: Jer 10:1 Hear ye the word which the LORD speaketh unto you, O house of Israel:
Jer 10:2 Thus saith the LORD, Learn not the way of the heathen, and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; for the heathen are dismayed at them.
Jer 10:3 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.
Jer 10:4 They deck it with silver and with gold; they fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it move not.
Jer 10:5 They are upright as the palm tree, but speak not: they must needs be borne, because they cannot go. Be not afraid of them; for they cannot do evil, neither also is it in them to do good.

Answer 5

lion of judah in this reerence both to christmas and food sold in the market place that was offered toidols is correct , many christians dont read fully what is written about this,,
the food, meat itself wasnt unclean in biblical standards . it was just that it was offered up first to a foreign god, when pagans came to christ it reminded them of this when they saw meat in the market place,, to them it was sinful but to the jewish folks it was not, paul as u stated says if it offends someone then dont do it in front of them for it weakens them

you should not put a stumbling blockin front of your brother or sister in the LORD.. some of the early converts from paginisim went to a vegan lifestyle for they felt it was too offensive to eat the meant offered to idols.. .. christmas initself is not sinful..
yes it has gotten out of hand . christians too have been caught up though in the pagan practise that the world had adapted , they go into debt buying needless things. // if u going to buy a gift for someone , and that initself isnt sin,, dont be foolish and be a unwise steward and think it has to be expensive .. what about the needy then? . would it not be better to help someone in need at this time rather on those that have too much already??
if u be a christian and its the season to give gifts why not do so to those who realy are in need then just as christ commanded ?? no lectures here ,, think about it prayerfully isall.. ,, come lets reason together . is thiswrong?? soooo many children in need sooo many homeless too! why cant u spend a little just a little to put a smile on the face of a needy child or homeless one>>.?? bro murray

Answer 6

that's basically a style of issues that the church had co-opted to end the pagans from having their annual wintry climate Solstice pageant and the comparable element with Easter and Halloween. they actually did no longer understand whilst Jesus exchange into born and desperate that December 25 could be fairly much as good as time and any to rejoice his beginning. The Catholic Church "saved" the pagan trip trips by potential of injecting Jesus into them. that's a robust day to get which include acquaintances and kin and supply presents even though it is likewise very demanding. for some years the trip exchange into no longer celebrated interior the united states and Congress has even been in consultation on Christmas Day.

Answer 7

lion, you need to keep in mind that many people are yes/no or black/white when they take a stand and otherwise unfocused in their thoughts. For example, a person can not believe in God and yet they have christmas with family and have good times and renew friendships. Then as christmas rolls around, they decry the enforcing of religion (christmas) on the masses, just to celebrate again.

it reminds me of mindless babble.

i myself do not celebrate christmas though I try to send some gifts to people I have not seen to remind them that though I am not a frequent friend, i am still a friend.

i can not stand the commercialism of christmas. I have seen christmas fliers in august and it was not even halloween and i started getting BBM (business bulk mail or junk mail) for christmas.

I grew up very old school. my great grandparents were born in the 1800's and my parent's parents kept those traditons that chrismas was all about celebrating our salvation to come in the person of Jesus Christ, and renewing family members traveled afar and above all, love for one another.

this I still do, but the commercialism can be deep six'd to the depth of the sea. they say Jesus is the reason, but who anymore even knows who the Savior is?

Answer 8

I think us Christians should set an example by celebrating what was meant to be when it was changed to a Christian holiday. Sure, we can buy gifts, decorate, stuff our tummies, and sing carols, but we should do it all to the glory of God and his Son Jesus. We should give gifts to show love, and thus point the reciever to Christ's love, or strengthen friendships. That's my take.

Answer 9

You even copied and pasted the line "It is my opinion..."

Are you sure you wouldn't be better off developing your own opinions?

To answer your question, I have no problem with Christians celebrating Christmas. However, I don't think it's justified for some Christians to demand that others not partake in the various secular holiday traditions that go along with it.

Answer 10

Celebrate what ever holiday you want. I would think as long as you are praising the lord that it wouldn't go against your faith.
Have a Merry Christmas to you and yours and a Happy Yule from me and mine.

Answer 11

Do I hear a pharisee? Can we say LEGALISM?

Next week, we'll teach you all how to come under the burden of LAW.

"Stand fast in the liberty wherewith Christ has set us free and be not entangled again with a yoke of bondage. ... For brethren we have been called unto liberty, only use not liberty for occasion to the flesh but to serve one another. ... For the fruit of the Spirit is Love, Joy, Peace, Longsuffering, Gentleness, Goodness, Meekness, Temperance, Faith, against such there is no Law. Stand fast in the liberty wherewith Christ has set us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage."

(Sorry, but I wasn't able to include the melody with this old Scripture song.)