Big Bubba - The Holidays Threads Merged

[Daughter]

Mitsy, don't take offense. All I'm saying is that Easter and Christmas are pagan holidays. Simple.
Am I wrong? Somebody?

[LindaLee]

It all has to do with the right Attitude...is celebrating any Holiday or Holy Day done for the glory of God or for our own selfish reasons? If we do it to honor God, then it isn't wrong...

There are ways that seems right unto man, but the end thereof is death...this has more to do with an attitude of deception and celebrating those things that do not glorify God.

Christmas and Easter do have their roots in paganism, known fact and can be verified by doing research on them...But God does look on the heart and the intent.

[Daughter]

I'm sorry if I offended.

There are certain practices such as observing lent before easter as well as bunnies and eggs, and certain Christmas traditions (12 days of Christmas, yule-tide logs, evergreen trees, mistletoe, santa clause, etc.) which are all pagan.

I know it's part of tradition and I know that we are free to go ahead and practice these traditions. I just wanted to point out that it's all pagan in origin.

Again sorry if offended.

[Mitsy]

Mitsy, don't take offense. All I'm saying is that Easter and Christmas are pagan holidays. Simple.
Am I wrong? Somebody?

Most Island natives when Christianized by Missionaries didn't give up totally their pagan ways. So you see a mixture of their traditions and pagan rituals in their form of Chrisitanity today. HOWEVER, a person who really comes to know Christ and is not just a Christian by the fact their parents and grandparents etc.. were Church goers will have their eyes opened. So their worship will be clean and they will rid themselves of the pagan connections.

So it was with me. I come from an Eastern Orthodox Christian background and there are many Christian traditions and rituals I will NOT participate in with my family. I have in my Christian walk been shown by the Lord what does not glorify him. For example I will not bow before icons of Saints nor light candles to the dead.

I have no problem with Christmas or Easter. My hubby & I go to a protestant Church and we worship there on these holidays. I send Christmas cards as they may be a commercial thing but not pagan ritual, I just use Christian cards not Santa etc.. ones. Like LindaLee said it's all about attitude.

I understand you are pointing out that there were pagan holidays once upon a time on these days but that was years ago. It's not helpful to baby/young(not actual age but in maturity) Christians for us to be pointing this out as if they might be defiling themselves by enjoying these holidays.

[Daughter]

Most Island natives when Christianized by Missionaries didn't give up totally their pagan ways. So you see a mixture of their traditions and pagan rituals in their form of Chrisitanity today. HOWEVER, a person who really comes to know Christ and is not just a Christian by the fact their parents and grandparents etc.. were Church goers will have their eyes opened. So their worship will be clean and they will rid themselves of the pagan connections.

So it was with me. I come from an Eastern Orthodox Christian background and there are many Christian traditions and rituals I will NOT participate in with my family. I have in my Christian walk been shown by the Lord what does not glorify him. For example I will not bow before icons of Saints nor light candles to the dead.

I have no problem with Christmas or Easter. My hubby & I go to a protestant Church and we worship there on these holidays. I send Christmas cards as they may be a commercial thing but not pagan ritual, I just use Christian cards not Santa etc.. ones. Like LindaLee said it's all about attitude.Sorry if I offended.

[LindaLee]

Daughter, I am not offended. I kept the Feasts in the old Testament for 25 plus years, and to some degree still observe them. I also to some degree observe the traditional Christian holidays too. It is all in the attitude and our reverance to God.

I think pointing the Holidays out as having their roots in pagan customs is good for one to know, for the simple fact many do not know this. They take what they have done for years as simple truth, when it is much more than that. Thank you for pointing it out to those whom may not have known these truths about Christmas and Easter.

[Mitsy]

Daughter

I have not been offended in any way. I was just giving you my opinion. You are obvioulsy finding your legs when it comes to Christianity without all the religious guilt attached to it. Know it well. Eastern Orthodoxy can be very similar on teaching traditions and not the gospel truth. It took me years to realise Christ died for me and how much God loved ME that he allowed Christ to die for me. Also your Sins were all forgiven, past, present and future on the Cross. You are NOW justified and sanctified.

Justified = Just as if I'd never sinned.
Sanctified = made clean and holy so God can use you.

Romans chapter 8 please go and read that whole chapter. It is such a beautiful chapter telling us how completely we are loved and saved now and NOTHING will separate us from God again. Please do it for me and for yourself.

I love you. You are my sister in Christ a beautiful child of God.

Cheers
Mitsy

[teresa13]

I don't know but I think that "celebrating" easter and christmas is actuallly going along with paganism and in these last days, we are provoking God's anger.

I'm not into legalism, but this is really making me think hard (and has been for years). I don't know what to think anymore. Easter, Christmas, these are all pagan celebrations. I would like other's opinions. I don't like to celebrate pagan holidays.

I'm with you on this one, and understand where you are coming from. I've felt convicted on this issue for many years, but went along with the crowd to avoid conflict. I finally gave in to my convictions this past year, and sat out on having a Christmas tree, along with all the ususal decorations in our home this past Christmas. We also didn't do the Easter egg/bunny thing this past Easter. I couldn't get past the thought of 'what does this have to do with Jesus?', other than take the focus off of Him and give it to something else. I also kept thinking of the verse referring to our God being a jealous God. We treated this past Easter Sunday as a normal Sunday, and instead read scripture together on passover. I posted to a similar thread on this issue this past Easter on how I came to this point if you're interested.

[Yeshuaiscomingback]

I don't know but I think that "celebrating" easter and christmas is actuallly going along with paganism and in these last days, we are provoking God's anger.

I'm not into legalism, but this is really making me think hard (and has been for years). I don't know what to think anymore. Easter, Christmas, these are all pagan celebrations. I would like other's opinions. I don't like to celebrate pagan holidays.

I totally agree,
they are NOT christian feasts....
but we are free....
Praise The Lord:preach

[sunshine2777]

The key to handling the holidays IS to change your perspective. Get His perspective.

I dont do bunnies on Easter but I do go to service. Its not an overly exciting service as far as emotions go to me as I celebrate His resurrection every day. BUT I see it as a time of outreach to nonbelievers. People are saved and seeds are planted all over the world. It does bring people into church to hear the gospel message.

Christmas is pretty much the same way. I think we as believers celebrate His birth every day. BUT again, God uses it as an outreach to save people. I do like some of the "traditions" such as christmas trees, etc. But when I decorate it is for other reasons. When I see the tree it makes me think of Him, it brings my family together and gives me one more opportunity to make sure the kids know why we celebrate Christmas. The average nonbeliever does not know that these holidays have pagan roots. If they pass by and see a tree in the window or a manger scene or someone just celebrating "Christmas" with lights, it reminds them of the special season, etc.

For a second, imagine that all christmas lights are banned, trees, etc.. and Christmas becomes just another day in our society.... I know as believers we would all be pretty much ok w/ it.. but the others? The Lord uses alot of things to reach people and even as commercial as it has gotten, subtle things about the holidays are still a vehicle that the Lord uses to reach people's hearts, one heart at a time.