Merry Christmas to one and all !!

[Nicodemus1968]

Originally Posted by diakonos

First, stop conflating issues. Second, red herring ever where.

Where did any anti Xmas poster post about taking up arms?

It’s the one guy on your side of the Xmas debate that wants to have his version of the Boston Tea Party at a Starbucks inside of a Target.

You understand what I’m saying.

Christians will say chirstmas is pagan and then stand for something that’s completely opposite of Christ. For instance they’ll preach against TV, yet they’ll watch it on their phones. They’ll stand against swearing, yet they’ll be entertained by it on a movie.

Where you going to be in 5 years?

[Nicodemus1968]

Originally Posted by diakonos

I usually don’t mention that I’m anti Xmas. I have never forced an anti holiday sentiment down anyone’s gullet.

I did repost a status on FB recently.



I have a Pic of a Christmas tree posted. I was asked if it’s my tree. I said no, I’ve posted it every year for about 10 years. It was then suggested that I should put up a tree. I responded with, “No idols in my apartment.”

(Only on my Facebook page )

Look, this has been my own experience. While never being militant anti Christmas- I’d mention it in passing. Then comes the diatribe spewing from the mouths of the pagan Pentecostals and the generic Christians about how they have a million reasons to justify their paganism that they prettied up by pasting the name of Jesus in a few places.

There’s a nativity scene, a baby Jesus mentioned in some songs. But, come on. All that gets plastered over by the prettily painted pagan elements.

What about in your heart?

[Originalist]

Originally Posted by Nicodemus1968

Lol!

Would you mind quoting where I ever advocated for a Boston Tea Party or shooting people?

I have an MA in History, so I think I know a little something. Randon acts of violence and vandalism committed by the Sons of Liberty included not only the Tea Party but also included actually KILLING innocent British trade officials. These acts were CONDEMNED by the likes of John Adams who was at odds with his cousin Samuel Adams over such acts.

I do advocate for a well-regulated militia in every State, that, like the Colonial Militias, will continue to stress loyalty to the U.S. Government until such a time arises that independence is the only option. Sadly, history might repeat itself. There may be occasions where militia firing on Federal Troops will be necessary. Remember, that during the first couple of years of full-blown armed conflict during the Revolution, the aim of the Colonials was not independence, but simply maintaining their rights under English and Natural Law. Independence was the last resort and should be viewed the same now. Nevertheless, armed conflict to maintain our constitutional republican form of government is inevitable.

[Nicodemus1968]

Originally Posted by Originalist

Would you mind quoting where I ever advocated for a Boston Tea Party or shooting people?

I have an MA in History, so I think I know a little something. Randon acts of violence and vandalism committed by the Sons of Liberty included not only the Tea Party but also included actually KILLING innocent British trade officials. These acts were CONDEMNED by the likes of John Adams who was at odds with his cousin Samuel Adams over such acts.

I do advocate for a well-regulated militia in every State, that, like the Colonial Militias, will continue to stress loyalty to the U.S. Government until such a time arises that independence is the only option. Sadly, history might repeat itself. There may be occasions where militia firing on Federal Troops will be necessary. Remember, that during the first couple of years of full-blown armed conflict during the Revolution, the aim of the Colonials was not independence, but simply maintaining their rights under English and Natural Law. Independence was the last resort and should be viewed the same now. Nevertheless, armed conflict to maintain our constitutional republican form of government is inevitable.

I never said you did. I was using what I did say as an example on how unbalanced church goers are. They get this soap box, and that’s all they harp on.
Jesus warned us of such things.
They strain at a gnat, yet swallow a camel. He calls them blind guides.

[Evang.Benincasa]

Originally Posted by Originalist

I don't think that most people who decorate their homes at Christmas really are thinking about the Lor. In fact, there are plenty of unsaved folks that probably never give Christ a thought this time a year. To them, it is a non-religious tradition, like eggnog and Claxton's Fruitcake.

Furthermore,

feast days for Christians are NOT found in the New testament at all.

At the same time, a "feast" to meditate on Christ's birth, death, burial, or resurrection is not prohibited. Thus, to say it is an abomination to do so is illogical, and frankly, is silly.

What a laugh.

I think if you keep posting you might well end up refuting yourself.

[Evang.Benincasa]

Originally Posted by Nicodemus1968

I’m sorry to disappoint you, however I’m not in the ditch. Hence the reason why I’m having this discussion. I’m calling for a balance. I think thats funny you believe I celebrate Christmas in the way of Protestants. Go back and read my posts, I’m against Christmas trees, lights, mistletoes, Yule tide logs, wreaths etc. I am for making the day one to be with friends and family. Because of the time of year, I teach the church the paganism side of Christmas, and I also teach that its fine to celebrate the birth of Christ, not with trees, or lights yet with worship and fellowship, and gifts. I refuse to be in the camp where you throw the baby out with the bath water. I was in church like that for years.

Nuttyprofessor1968, what baby is being thrown out with the bathwater? You mean the fellowship part? Aren't we supposed to be doing that with the church family continually? I don't know what you are doing. But we don't do it once a year. We aren't waiting around for December 25th to come around to have fellowship. I don't think you are in any camp. I don't think you even have a baby, let alone bath water. But, please continue you. Whatever you are now arguing for is pretty fragmented at this point.

Originally Posted by Nicodemus1968

I’m glad I’m not LDS, there celebrating of Christmas is the last thing they need to worry about. They should start with prayers for the dead, baptism for the dead, the witchcraft they have fed for many years, the perversion, the confusion. My town is very heavily Mormon populated. I’m glad I wasn't raised LDS

Easy, hey bro, you are formulating your own religious practices. Joe Smith, Brigham Young and the 15 other presidents of the church formulated their own religious practices. Only difference is that you put yours through a philosophical blender. But obviously the LDS reference was lost on you. I'm often puzzled how people can be "raised" around a religious group yet never ever understanding what that group really believed.

Originally Posted by Nicodemus1968

Christmas is not important to me.

But it is. It may be your own morphed version, but still an acknowledged holy day within your religion

Originally Posted by Nicodemus1968

I can give how I celebrate to the Lord and not pick it up again. Because I post about Silent Night, by Dean Martin, doesn’t mean I’m some “Christmas everything Christian”, far from it.

Oh, and thank you for sharing. Because what you have been constructing is like an ex alcoholic drinking non alcoholic beer. People who become Christian and listen to Heavy Metal Christain Rock. They don't want to get rid of their old culture. Therefore they baptize their new creation into the Church.

Originally Posted by Nicodemus1968

I understand concerning the day, I completely agree the chance of Jesus being born on December 25, is pretty much zero.

NickyDemo1968, now you just sound silly. Whatever.

Originally Posted by Nicodemus1968

This was the Elders whole point about pointing out that if he was pagan for celebrating Christmas, then his scoffers were as well. Many of us including me, go back centuries and say, “this is when it began, therefore the roots are pagan, and if you are apart of such and such a thing you’ll be tied to paganism.” Ok, thats fine, whats good for the goose is good for the gander. Then we need to go back and look at everything we do and are apart of and make sure it does not have the smallest of ties to paganism. Whoever does that let me know when your finished and what you would be allowed to do. I brought up the days of the week, where did the names come from, as Esaias pointed out concerning our SUNday services and change to the sabbath, oh wait Saturday was originally dedicated to Saturn, a pagan god. Again were do you draw the line?

Where do you draw the line? Bro, I asked for scripture and verse where we are to appoint a day to celebrate and reflect on Christ's birth. You gave me the nativity story in Luke. Now, maybe you didn't understand the question? But even if you didn't you should of never got involved in the discussion. Originalist copped out with "show me in scripture where God commands us not to worship him on a particular day?" With you saying he has a point? You were raised around LDS? Was your head in the sand? Did your parents allow you to have LDS friends? Bro! That is exactly the whacky reasoning the LDS come up with in an argument. "Show me in Scripture where God commands us not to worship him on a particular day?" The fact is GOD WOULDN'T!!!

Yet, don't argue with someone holding a righteous logical prohibition against something. When all you want to do is eat hot dogs, listen to Dino Martinelli, and get sentimental over THE REAL THING! Not Jesus. You both got into "lets compare some silent night memories together." Albums came out and eggnog laced with tears. No reflection of Christ and the power thereof. Not at all.

Originally Posted by Nicodemus1968

Not sure about this?

You said you got a day off on Xmas? Correct? Giving credence to your arguments.

Originally Posted by Nicodemus1968

Matthew 23:24 KJVS
[24] Ye blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel.

All I’m saying is we need a balance, and if your or anyone doesn’t believe that, ok, still love you.

You just called me a gnat straining blind guide? You love me if I don't buy what your selling? Seriously?

Originally Posted by Nicodemus1968

My Christian walk started in a church that celebrated Christmas not with trees, lights, etc just fellowship with the church family, maybe a gift or two, nothing spectacular. Then from there it went to EXTREMISM, December 25 is of the devil, and if you celebrate then your lost going to hell. Yet, he would celebrate Easter SUNday and he just changed the name to Resurrection SUNday. And I’m ok with that, what I’m not in agreement is, saying one is wrong and pagan, yet then you turn around and say the other is ok.

Listen, first off. You need to kill it. Absolutely remove that from your mind. I'll tell you this, don't think about it anymore. Because you return to that baloney at times like these. I don't need to know about it. The church family doesn't need to know about. Remember Meshach Shadrach and Abednego came out of the fire? But what is important is no one can smell the smoke on them. In a discussion we don't need to be compared or what we believe compared to some ecclesiastical nightmare you were once involved in.

Originally Posted by Nicodemus1968

Like you brought up the TV and Internet debate. Great debate, much needed debate! A preacher can rail against TV, and ill back him 110%, yet if he is watching videos on the internet, whats the difference? The smartphone just became the old fashioned square box that was placed in the living room, that had all the furniture positioned in a way to watch the box at any moment. Now, the phone is WORSE, you can bring it with you anywhere you go, to bed, bathroom etc...

All I’m saying is we need balance.

All I am saying is that you guys need to figure out what you are saying.

[diakonos]

Originally Posted by Evang.Benincasa

I was over a friends house and he had a nativity scene. Well, there were all these children from his church over his house. One little boy was running with the ceramic infant from the nativity scene lifted high aloft in his hand. He kept making airplane sounds, as he dive bombed the other children. My friend's wife lost it. She snatched the boy up from the back of his collar. She wrenched the ceramic infant from the frightened boy's hand. She screamed, "THIS IS THE BABY JESUS!!!" The bewildered young lad, waited until she was done with her rebuke, and reply to her, "why is his arms held out like wings and he has a gold propeller on his head" Needless to say I burst out laughing with a healthy, HO HO HO UH OH!!!

And yet no real lesson learned. Just a rebuke. Poor kid.

[diakonos]

Originally Posted by Nicodemus1968

What about in your heart?

[diakonos]

Originally Posted by Nicodemus1968

I never said you did. I was using what I did say as an example on how unbalanced church goers are. They get this soap box, and that’s all they harp on.
Jesus warned us of such things.
They strain at a gnat, yet swallow a camel. He calls them blind guides.

So why don’t you actually join the discussion and forget that Jon and Jane Doe are doing xyz at the church of seventh day latter day western Greek Roman orthodox sect of holy mount zion Methodist episco-bapticostals.

[Evang.Benincasa]

Originally Posted by diakonos

And yet no real lesson learned. Just a rebuke. Poor kid.

The lessons learned that day, there were a few. One, was the child will never touch a nativity figurine. Two, this particular minister's wife believes an actual statue represents a holy figure. Therefore cannot be handled disrespectfully. Three, you just might lose a friendship when you laugh and make lite of someone's wife having a meltdown over an unchurched child mishandling her religious relics.