Christmas/Holidays

[Jason B]

Originally Posted by NewWine

What's the big deal about Christmas?
Many in the world celebrate Christmas, however, I do not. To me it is just another day, there is no big deal in my household. I believe what I believe about Christmas (which is that it is a pagan celebration); regardless of others trying to assign it as Christ's birth. They celebrate it and I don't; therefore, it is what it is; life goes on for everyone. Doesn't make me or them any better than the other. (However, some feel it does...ridiculous).

I take my wife to eat on valentine's day, it's not because I believe cupid shot her with an arrow.

I eat Turkey on Thanksgiving, it has nothing to do with pilgrims and Indians.
I love ham, not really a turkey gal; just made myself some soup with my ham bone...(I know that was wayyyy off topic).

I shoot fireworks off at 4th of July, I don't worship the emperor/president.
Not quite sure where the emperor/president came into play on this one. This holiday is to celebrate our freedom in the United States.

I cook a burger on Memorial Day, I don't agree with killing people.
Memorial Day is about remember those who have fought and fallen in wars. It is not about the killing of people. I would hope that no Christian or anyone else for that matter doesn't agree with killing people. However, war is not wrong and death comes with war. War is not un-biblical.

I cook another one on Labor Day, doesn't mean I'm greddy for gain.
Hmm..interesting now that I think of it I never do anything for Labor Day.

I celebrate Easter,but I don't commit adultery because of the fertility God.
I do nothing for Easter and put that in the same category as Christmas.

So many things I find to simply be cultural, not religious. To me there are religious aspects to Christmas and Easter. I wouldn't say Christmas is a religious holiday. It is a secular holiday, however one which prominently features Jesus Christ. Easter is the closest thing we have to a religious holiday (unless you want to call the day of Pentecost a religious holiday ). There are many things that are celebrated that are cultural, however, for many holidays that are celebrated they are both cultural and religious. Christmas, Thanksgiving, Easter, Valentines, and probably other holidays that I'm unaware of.

I think tis and so much more simply fits into the Romans 14 argument for Christian liberty. What say ye?

Verse 10 sums up my feelings "But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ". So there you go. People shouldn't get all riled up every December, because this disagreement will continue until the good Lord takes us out of this world. I know plenty of people the celebrate holidays that I am adamantly opposed to, but they know that and they respect that; just as I respect them. Nothing worth dis-fellowshipping over, as some people take it to the extreme and become ugly spirited over this sort of thing. Bottom line in all things seek the face of God and he will direct you.

Some of what I followed with are from ridiculous arguments I've heard against celebrating any holidays. For example, the emperor/president/empire argument is used by JW's as a reason why no true Christian should celebrate 4th of July.