Thanksgiving vs Christmas

[jaxfam6]

I have a question for all of you who do not celebrate Christmas. I have no problem with you deciding not to. I have no problem with it being a "spiritual" thing for you or if it is just a "cheap" thing for you. Doesn't matter.
What I would like to know is do you celebrate Thanksgiving? Why or why not?
If you do not celebrate Christmas but do celebrate Thanksgiving please explain what your reasoning is.

Personally I celebrate both. I do know all the arguments about Christmas I just think it is a good thing that most of the world recognizeds our Saviour's birth. We do not make a big production out of it but it is a special time for our family. I celebrate Thanksgiving because of what it means to America.

So what about the rest of you??

[Sept5SavedTeen]

I vote "nay" on xmas, but "yea" on Thanksgiving. There is nothing in the Bible against Thanksgiving, unlike Jer. 10 being enough Scripture for me to see xmas and it's heatheness. Also, Thanksgiving isn't commercial, which is a plus. Overindulging in Thanksgiving food may be wrong, but being with your family, on a day particularly set aside for giving thanks to the Judeo-Christian GOD, while having NO pagan connotations is good in my book- but some brothers esteem no days higher than any other, and that's fine with me too (not that I am the judge or anything, or what I think matters).

-Bro. Alex

[Shawn]

I celebrate Christmas. Just not in what most would consider the traditional sence. No trading gifts or trees and ornaments.

[My Own Eyes]

Originally Posted by Sept5SavedTeen

I vote "nay" on xmas, but "yea" on Thanksgiving. There is nothing in the Bible against Thanksgiving, unlike Jer. 10 being enough Scripture for me to see xmas and it's heatheness. Also, Thanksgiving isn't commercial, which is a plus. Overindulging in Thanksgiving food may be wrong, but being with your family, on a day particularly set aside for giving thanks to the Judeo-Christian GOD, while having NO pagan connotations is good in my book- but some brothers esteem no days higher than any other, and that's fine with me too (not that I am the judge or anything, or what I think matters).

-Bro. Alex

But is it REALLY about the judeo-christian God???

I mean, when you think of the first Thanksgiving, between the pilgrims and the indians....only half of them were giving Thanks to the Christian God.

So technically doesn't Thanksgiving have pagan roots as well?

I think just to be safe you better shun turkey this year!

[jaxfam6]

Originally Posted by My Own Eyes

But is it REALLY about the judeo-christian God???

I mean, when you think of the first Thanksgiving, between the pilgrims and the indians....only half of them were giving Thanks to the Christian God.

So technically doesn't Thanksgiving have pagan roots as well?

I think just to be safe you better shun turkey this year!

I understand your comments. I don't want Alex or anyone else to take that as a slam. They have the right to feel how they do. I really would like to understand more about how a lot of think and why.

[My Own Eyes]

Originally Posted by jaxfam6

I understand your comments. I don't want Alex or anyone else to take that as a slam. They have the right to feel how they do. I really would like to understand more about how a lot of think and why.

I didn't intend for it to be a slam at all, and I apologize if it at all sounded like it. I have no issue with the personal convictions of others whatever they may be. My only issue lies when those others try to take their personal conviction and use it to legislate morality for all others.

For example, I personally believe that people shouldn't spend money that they don't have, and incur debt. And I personally do my whatever is in my power to avoid it. However, I don't personal judge others who carry a balance on their credit cards. Nor do I feel that my debt free state makes me in anyway spiritually superior to those who have debt (regardless of the fact that it was due to conviction from God that I felt led to payoff all my debt).

Now, as to Thanksgiving, just because I find it interesting, I am including an article that I happened across...

http://paganismwicca.suite101.com/ar...ng_pagan_roots

Native American and Pagan European Roots

The Wampanoag had their own harvest celebration in which they gave thanks for abundant crops to Kiehtan, the Creator. They believed corn, the most valued crop, was a gift from him. The tribe expressed gratitude to the spirits of the game for the animals they killed for food.

By the time Abraham Lincoln declared Thanksgiving a national holiday in 1861, other Europeans had settled in America and brought their traditions, some Pagan, with them.

Harvest festivals were celebrated by Europeans. Romans celebrated Cerelia by giving thanks to Ceres, Goddess of Harvest. Celtic and Anglo/Saxon Pagans celebrated Lughnasadh and Mabon, the first and second harvests. The Greeks gave honor to Demeter during the Thesmophoria. The New Englanders’ Pagan ancestors celebrated Harvest Home, the first reaping of crops, in August. There was a silent time for gratitude and reflection, followed by singing and dancing after which a joyous feast was held.

[jaxfam6]

Originally Posted by My Own Eyes

I didn't intend for it to be a slam at all, and I apologize if it at all sounded like it. I have no issue with the personal convictions of others whatever they may be. My only issue lies when those others try to take their personal conviction and use it to legislate morality for all others.

For example, I personally believe that people shouldn't spend money that they don't have, and incur debt. And I personally do my whatever is in my power to avoid it. However, I don't personal judge others who carry a balance on their credit cards. Nor do I feel that my debt free state makes me in anyway spiritually superior to those who have debt (regardless of the fact that it was due to conviction from God that I felt led to payoff all my debt).

Now, as to Thanksgiving, just because I find it interesting, I am including an article that I happened across...

http://paganismwicca.suite101.com/ar...ng_pagan_roots

You do know you have just ruined Thanksgiving for several people now? They will no longer be able to celebrate in peace. This was the one last Holiday they could truly celebrate without fear of something pagan being brought into it. You have just SHATTERED their dreams.

[Praxeas]

Originally Posted by Sept5SavedTeen

I vote "nay" on xmas, but "yea" on Thanksgiving. There is nothing in the Bible against Thanksgiving, unlike Jer. 10 being enough Scripture for me to see xmas and it's heatheness. Also, Thanksgiving isn't commercial, which is a plus. Overindulging in Thanksgiving food may be wrong, but being with your family, on a day particularly set aside for giving thanks to the Judeo-Christian GOD, while having NO pagan connotations is good in my book- but some brothers esteem no days higher than any other, and that's fine with me too (not that I am the judge or anything, or what I think matters).

-Bro. Alex

NO verse in the bible directly or indirectly addresses celebrating the birth of the savior..

The verse some thing refers to a Christmas tree really does not.

It's talking about taking a Tree and carving it into the image of false god and then plating them with gold or silver.

Thanksgiving IS commercial. People buy decorations, and lots of food.

Why can't Christmas be a day or a time to be with your family and be thankful for the birth of the savior?

In fact many American's celebrate thanksgiving without any thought of thanking God

[ronharvey]

Originally Posted by Praxeas

NO verse in the bible directly or indirectly addresses celebrating the birth of the savior..

The verse some thing refers to a Christmas tree really does not.

It's talking about taking a Tree and carving it into the image of false god and then plating them with gold or silver.

Thanksgiving IS commercial. People buy decorations, and lots of food.

Why can't Christmas be a day or a time to be with your family and be thankful for the birth of the savior?

In fact many American's celebrate thanksgiving without any thought of thanking God

False wooden gods were never fastened with nails.

Jeremiah 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."

Jeremiah 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."

Jeremiah 10:4 "They deck it with silver and with gold; they fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it move not."

Jeremiah 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."

Nothing in these verses even hit that this tree was 'carved' into a god. It is a tree cut out of the forest.

Decked with silver and gold in its branches.

FASTENED with hammers and nails THAT IT MOVE NOT. Totems and carved gods were never hammered with nails to stop them from 'moving' e.g. falling over.

It is compared to the palm tree in that it is UP-RIGHT.

Isaiah 66:17 "They that sanctify themselves, and purify themselves in the gardens behind one tree in the midst, eating swine's flesh, and the abomination, and the mouse, shall be consumed together, saith the LORD."

It is a religious event.
************************************************** *****

No one said that Thanks Giving has not been commercialized or that it wasn't observed by persons who don't give thanks. That doesn't change what it was intended for or places it on an even par with the Christ-mass as a pagan observance that God forbids.

[Praxeas]

Originally Posted by ronharvey

False wooden gods were never fastened with nails.

Jeremiah 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."

Jeremiah 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."

Jeremiah 10:4 "They deck it with silver and with gold; they fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it move not."

Jeremiah 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."

Nothing in these verses even hit that this tree was 'carved' into a god. It is a tree cut out of the forest.

Decked with silver and gold in its branches.

FASTENED with hammers and nails THAT IT MOVE NOT. Totems and carved gods were never hammered with nails to stop them from 'moving' e.g. falling over.

It is compared to the palm tree in that it is UP-RIGHT.

Isaiah 66:17 "They that sanctify themselves, and purify themselves in the gardens behind one tree in the midst, eating swine's flesh, and the abomination, and the mouse, shall be consumed together, saith the LORD."

It is a religious event.
************************************************** *****

No one said that Thanks Giving has not been commercialized or that it wasn't observed by persons who don't give thanks. That doesn't change what it was intended for or places it on an even par with the Christ-mass as a pagan observance that God forbids.

How do you know no idol was ever fastened with nails to keep it from falling?

After cutting it down he works the wood...what do you suppose he works it into?

Jer 10:3 for the customs of the peoples are vanity. A tree from the forest is cut down and worked with an axe by the hands of a craftsman.
Jer 10:4 They decorate it with silver and gold; they fasten it with hammer and nails so that it cannot move.

Jer 10:3 For the religion4 of these people is worthless.They cut down a tree in the forest,and a craftsman makes it into an idol with his tools.5
Jer 10:4 He decorates it with overlays of silver and gold.He uses hammer and nails to fasten it6 togetherso that it will not fall over.
Sometimes it's helpful to use translation that were translated not into an outdated Elizebethian language

Isa 40:19 An idol! A craftsman casts it, and a goldsmith overlays it with gold and casts for it silver chains.

Isa 44:14 He cuts down cedars, or he chooses a cypress tree or an oak and lets it grow strong among the trees of the forest. He plants a cedar and the rain nourishes it.
Isa 44:15 Then it becomes fuel for a man. He takes a part of it and warms himself; he kindles a fire and bakes bread. Also he makes a god and worships it; he makes it an idol and falls down before it.

This is what they did. They cut down trees. Fashioned them into some idol/god, then over layed it with gold and other things