Big Bubba - The Holidays Threads Merged

[Anddra]

Beautifully stated and great analogy. Thanks isong -A good part of scripture to apply to celebrating the first coming of the Messiah- the Promised One, our Hope, prophecy fulfilled!
Some thought the ointment should have been saved for what they thought would be the best use of it, they considered what she did a waste of it - but Jesus thought otherwise. He saw the womans heart.

Thou gavest me no kiss: but this woman since the time I came in hath not ceased to kiss my feet. My head with oil thou didst not anoint: but this woman hath anointed my feet with ointment. Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, [the same] loveth little. And he said unto her, Thy sins are forgiven. And they that sat at meat with him began to say within themselves, Who is this that forgiveth sins also? And he said to the woman, Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace. Luke 7:45-50

He knows the true heart of you, what you do, why you do. If you want to use your "perfume" to celebrate the birth of Jesus, don't let anyone tell you not to. :)

Yes we are called to celebrate his resurrection but it should be somehow 'forbidden' to celebrate his birth because of what the world does? Not in my house. ALL things Jesus will be celebrated.

Everyone follow your own convictions and your own heart - which the Lord sees in full and don't slam [judge] a sibling in Christ for thiers. If you feel convicted not to partake in any 'traditional' Christmas festivities I can totally respect that and sincerely applaud you for following your convictions. If you can't respect those who do celebrate the Lords birth Dec 25th out of love & worship and follow thier convictions, then just remember that God judges you with the same measure that you hold others to.

Good post, Vickimac. :thumb

P.S. I edited your scripture quote to save space.

[Sing4Him]

Originally Posted by Vickimac :
Beautifully stated and great analogy. Thanks isong -A good part of scripture to apply to celebrating the first coming of the Messiah- the Promised One, our Hope, prophecy fulfilled!
Some thought the ointment should have been saved for what they thought would be the best use of it, they considered what she did a waste of it - but Jesus thought otherwise. He saw the womans heart.


Thou gavest me no kiss: but this woman since the time I came in hath not ceased to kiss my feet. My head with oil thou didst not anoint: but this woman hath anointed my feet with ointment. Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, [the same] loveth little. And he said unto her, Thy sins are forgiven. And they that sat at meat with him began to say within themselves, Who is this that forgiveth sins also? And he said to the woman, Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace. Luke 7:45-50
He knows the true heart of you, what you do, why you do. If you want to use your "perfume" to celebrate the birth of Jesus, don't let anyone tell you not to.

Yes we are called to celebrate his resurrection but it should be somehow 'forbidden' to celebrate his birth because of what the world does? Not in my house. ALL things Jesus will be celebrated.

Everyone follow your own convictions and your own heart - which the Lord sees in full and don't slam [judge] a sibling in Christ for theirs. If you feel convicted not to partake in any 'traditional' Christmas festivities I can totally respect that and sincerely applaud you for following your convictions. If you can't respect those who do celebrate the Lords birth Dec 25th out of love & worship and follow their convictions, then just remember that God judges you with the same measure that you hold others to..


great response, Vickimac.:thumb

[Vickimac]

Thanks guys :hug




And is this the Lorraine Day M.D. I just googled who has ethical issues and what's more, is theologically aberrant?

I got this far and could not read any more of her site as she is off-base:

"The present-day Jews are NOT God's 'Chosen People'. On this web site, you will find an in-depth analysis of the story behind the news...the bigger picture of the diabolical plan of the Illuminati and the Zionist Jews to destroy America and to rule the world."

And she goes on from there. No thanks. :nono

I did read on further .... wow, all I can say is :shocked

[jckliew]

a) Yes, I realize that. God gave the feast days that related to the Jewish people in the land of Israel -- to the Jews. Can a Gentile really read the Pesach Haggadah and thank God for their fathers being released from Egypt? Just one of many examples.

b) People have short memories, God does not. He has no need to observe the feast days. The Jews did because God commanded the Jews to.

Right! God doesthe feasts not need . He made for man. But He wants them to meet them at His appointed times.

c) Jesus was an obedient and observant Jew. Until He died and was resurrected. Same with we who are in Him, as He is the Firstfruits. The Mosaic Law, given to the Jews and not Gentiles, was a tutor.

A tutor at that time was someone who brought the child to school until the child grew up. We who are in Jesus Christ have no need of a tutor. By the grace of God, we got to the purpose of the end of the Mosaic Law - Jesus. This is it. No looking back to other covenants for other people in other dispensations.

d) First Fruits is not for Gentiles. It is a Jewish feast. Not to be hijacked by Gentiles.

He was the first fruits of ALL beleivers, jew and gentile alike.

20 But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. 21 For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. 23 But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming

e) They have great insight into God's plan and salvation in Jesus. Agreed. The Old Testament is the shadows, the New Testament is the fulfillment. No looking backward.

Are you saying you dont read the Ot at all? The scriptures starts from Genesis 1:1. The gospel starts from Genesis 1:1.

f) I would be careful to call Christians - Jews and/or Gentiles - leaven. That's one of the jobs of the enemy - to accuse the brethren. Saved believers - Jew and Gentile, the Church - have the blood on the lintels of our hearts. We are seen by God to be as pure as Jesus because of that.

Is not accusing. Leaven is sin. If you study the feast, all the other feast have unleaven bread ie depciting Jesus. Only the Firstfruits Feasts, they are instructed to have TWO loaves of Leaven bread. This depicts the two congregations of jews and gentiles. Thats why we need the UNleaven bread in our lives because we have leaven.

g) Jesus told His disciples to eat the bread and drink the wine in remembrance of His death for our sins. He did not command any holiday. For Jewish believers. For Gentile believers.

He commanded a celebration in remebrnace of His death, represented by the Pesach.

h) If you don't want to celebrate the Lord's birth, don't. There is no law against anything done for pure worship of the Lord, in spirit and in truth.
i agree

i) What you cannot do is to pin your personal convictions onto other believers. Colossians 2:16-17 - period.
i agree. this is a discussion.

Israel is Israel. Gentiles are Gentiles. The Church is the Church.
The church(eekelsia) is made up of Israel and gentiles.

[jckliew]

The great focus and emphasis on Christmas has hidden the real purpose and meaning of Gods of deliverance to mankind through His death and not His birth!

It appears most forumers here are westerners? pls correct me...If so, it would be easier for you to accept Christmas.

i am not..

i am an easterner living in a muslim country. Now the gist is the above.
Over here, the muslims have no qualms celebrating Christmas as it is a religious holiday. They even provide funds for the christians to celebrate it in the town square with the nativity et al. We all know they want the commercial activity associated with it. The christians gleefuly oblidge to doing this! :rolleyes

Howvere, there is no possibilty of celebrating the death and ressurection publicly in the town square. You have to wonder why? Thats why i have brought up this question above.

i refuse to be shaped by a holiday thats man made, only by scriptures.
i am of the opinion that the greater emphasis placed on His birth have placed the gospel of His death in the shade as far as Truth is concerned.
i realise that each culture has their own days. i cannot find christmas in scriptures, so thereby ny approach.

My challenge( that i am also facing)to all christians: IF the manmade festival of Christmas was not around yet and you have here a celebration in the Feast of Tabernacles…………… which is mentioned in scriptures albeit to Israel BUT a feast of the Lord, no less, would you celebrate it?

Another : Lets try to establish whther Christmas or Passover/ressurection has more foothold in the minds of even christians.

Do a test: They say that children are an evidence of their environment.

ask a child age 7 to 15 years old: which celebration do you think is more important.

Passover(Death)/Easter/Ressurection oR Christmas?

Shalom Y'all

[missionethiopia]

i cannot find christmas in scriptures, so thereby ny approach.


Luke 2 is a good place to start. Purim which is celebrated by the Jews is based on the historical account of Esther and Hannukah, which Jesus celebrated, is based upon the temple oil and Antiochus IV.

What a waste of an opportunity to neglect this season for the Savior when people are more open to Christianity. Redeem the time and this month often provides ample ways of doing that.

fwiw,

don

[jckliew]

Luke 2 is a good place to start. Purim which is celebrated by the Jews is based on the historical account of Esther and Hannukah, which Jesus celebrated, is based upon the temple oil and Antiochus IV.

What a waste of an opportunity to neglect this season for the Savior when people are more open to Christianity. Redeem the time and this month often provides ample ways of doing that.

fwiw,

don
Well, Jesus was a jew. Those were jewish festivals, not Feasts of the Lord.
A slight difference, no?
Luke 2 showed passover?

41Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the feast of the passover.

42And when he was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem after the custom of the feast.

Thats my point, is it not?

Isnt Easter(Death and Ressurection) a better time to tell the old story?

Is it not that Christmas is more oft viewed as christian culture? Even the muslims know 'Jesus', but they do not accept His ressurection.

Isnt it strange that Jesus instruction celebration of His death, but never His birth? Manmade perhaps? Thats why it appeals to the flesh? :thinking

[Anddra]

The only thing we are asked to *celibrate* is the Lord's Supper. We do this on a weekly cycle. However, as soon as we start making rules about what we can and cannot celebrate, then we become legal and lose the benefit of what we do. We become no better than the Pharisee who prayed to himself (Luke 18:11 ). jckliew, I think the answer to this has already been posted and explained above. Maybe you should read over Acts 15 and Colossians 2 again prayerfully.

[jckliew]

The only thing we are asked to *celibrate* is the Lord's Supper. We do this on a weekly cycle. However, as soon as we start making rules about what we can and cannot celebrate, then we become legal and lose the benefit of what we do. We become no better than the Pharisee who prayed to himself (Luke 18:11 ). jckliew, I think the answer to this has already been posted and explained above. Maybe you should read over Acts 15 and Colossians 2 again prayerfully.

Why is it when we ask about this, phariseism comes up?

If you have not read my posts. i am not here to condemn or judge.
i am not a western christian. i amfrom the far east.
i am seeking the Truth about all this.

i agree that all we need to celebrate is the Lords supper. Thats His death, not birth.

Maybe you should read my post


It appears most forumers here are westerners? pls correct me...If so, it would be easier for you to accept Christmas.

i am not..

i am an easterner living in a muslim country. Now the gist is the above.
Over here, the muslims have no qualms celebrating Christmas as it is a religious holiday. They even provide funds for the christians to celebrate it in the town square with the nativity et al. We all know they want the commercial activity associated with it. The christians gleefuly oblidge to doing this!

Howvere, there is no possibilty of celebrating the death and ressurection publicly in the town square. You have to wonder why? Thats why i have brought up this question above.

i refuse to be shaped by a holiday thats man made, only by scriptures.
i am of the opinion that the greater emphasis placed on His birth have placed the gospel of His death in the shade as far as Truth is concerned.
i realise that each culture has their own days. i cannot find christmas in scriptures, so thereby ny approach.

My challenge( that i am also facing)to all christians: IF the manmade festival of Christmas was not around yet and you have here a celebration in the Feast of Tabernacles…………… which is mentioned in scriptures albeit to Israel BUT a feast of the Lord, no less, would you celebrate it?

Another : Lets try to establish whther Christmas or Passover/ressurection has more foothold in the minds of even christians.

Do a test: They say that children are an evidence of their environment.

ask a child age 7 to 15 years old: which celebration do you think is more important.

Passover(Death)/Easter/Ressurection oR Christmas?

[Mommytoa3rdgradeboy]

Why is Jesus birth important? Jesus left Heaven to be born in a lowly manger to a poor family. Jesus who left the Godhead to be a helpless baby depending on mankind to clothe and feed Him. We cannot imagine the sacrifice it was for God to give up Heaven for 33 years to live on earth with sin and sinful human beings.
Yes, I do believe we need to celebrate Jesus birth. Even the angels celebrated the night Jesus was born.

Very well stated! By setting aside a day a year (as Christians, we should do this EVERY day of year) it is also an OUTWARD appearance to non-Christians to enforce how important it is that we accept Christ as our savior. Some people only seem to go to church on Christmas and Easter, so we should seize the opportunity to get the gospel out and to witness to our non-Christian friends/family/peers. Salvation is for an eternity!