WHAT!?! No Christmas???

[AncientPaths]

Originally Posted by Digging4Truth

You're starting to catch on.

The majority of symbols in Christianity comes from the worship of other gods.(nearly all I would imagine). It's a crying shame really.

Oh well. Does it really matter? I, for one, couldn't care less.

[Digging4Truth]

Originally Posted by AncientPaths

Oh well. Does it really matter? I, for one, couldn't care less.

Yep... and that's what amazes me.

Has it, historically, mattered to God when the worship of other gods was mingled with the worship of the one true God?

[Aquila]

Originally Posted by Digging4Truth

Yep... and that's what amazes me.

Has it, historically, mattered to God when the worship of other gods was mingled with the worship of the one true God?

Ummm.... the key is "worship". I wouldn't even know the names of the gods that ancient Europeans worshipped when they used these cultural decorations. lol

If I'm worshiping a pagan god by decorating my home with a season holiday tree... you're worshiping a pagan god every time you say the word "Thursday". At least, I'm not envoking the name of a pagan deity when putting up my tree, I'm listing to "Little Town of Bethlehem". When you schedule your calendar on Thursday... you're speaking the name of Thor and thereby saying he rules the day. lol

See how insane your position is?

[Digging4Truth]

Originally Posted by Aquila

Ummm.... the key is "worship". I wouldn't even know the names of the gods that ancient Europeans worshipped when they used these cultural decorations. lol

No.

The key word is "mixed".

God has historically not responded well when his people worshipped Him... not others... with what came from the worship of another God.

That is clear.

[Aquila]

Originally Posted by Digging4Truth

No.

The key word is "mixed".

God has historically not responded well when his people worshipped Him... not others... with what came from the worship of another God.

That is clear.

Yes... and under the old covenant God was focused on keeping a single nation, a single people, a single tongue, a single culture, pure from outside influences. Why? That they might be pure enough to bring forth Messiah.

Under the New Covenant all nations, kindreds, peoples, and tongues are found in Messiah and honor Him in various ways. In eternity, when we stand in worship in the New Jerusalem on the New Earth, we're going to hear all sorts of songs, languages, and phrases... see dances, and celebratory gestures of honor and praise that we've never seen before. All reflecting the peoples and nations who were redeemed. Give Him praise and glory!

Father, let thy will be done... on earth as it is in Heaven. Christianity, in all it's various cultural customs, is a taste of Heaven in the now.

[AncientPaths]

Originally Posted by Digging4Truth

Yep... and that's what amazes me.

Has it, historically, mattered to God when the worship of other gods was mingled with the worship of the one true God?

You bet. Thank goodness I'm not worshipping other gods.

[AncientPaths]

Originally Posted by Digging4Truth

No.

The key word is "mixed".

God has historically not responded well when his people worshipped Him... not others... with what came from the worship of another God.

That is clear.

I'll risk it.

[Digging4Truth]

Originally Posted by AncientPaths

I'll risk it.

Yes sir... but what would you have to say about someone who said the same thing about shorts?

Across the board... people see things in different windows of reasoning depending on their particular bent or preference.

I know I'm surely the same way because our ability to see it in others doesn't improve our ability to see it in ourselves.

And... I'm not attempting to fight with you on this. Just discussing. But I will say that I have been surprised with your answers considering that you are someone who posts from a consistently conservative area of reasoning. I'm not surprised that you celebrate the holidays... most people do... But to see "I'll risk it" etc was a pretty amazing sight for me. Especially since, as I have mentioned, that sounds like the type of response that you might see as disrespectful and demonstrating lack of desire for Gods will were you to receive that reponse on an issue of holiness.

But... like I say... it's no biggie. But it is sometimes eye opening.

[Aquila]

My issue is the legalism involved with "fox hole" religion. Give me... liberty in Christ... give me... DOMINION.

[commonsense]

Originally Posted by Cindy

Yeah, how can you do what you do for a living and not believe? And look at all those beautiful people you have to share with.

Precisely.....as Mary Poppins would say!