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Celebrating Christmas

Discussion in 'General Baptist Discussions' started by Salty, Jan 26, 2013.

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  1. Preach that any celebration of Christ-mas is wrong - if not a sin

    2 vote(s)
    10.5%
  2. Its best to totally ignore any mention of Christmas

    0 vote(s)
    0.0%
  3. He should preach a Christmas message - but only from the Biblical perspective

    15 vote(s)
    78.9%
  4. When preaching a Christmas message - it should include Santa is wrong

    0 vote(s)
    0.0%
  5. When preaching - he should mention that Santa is not real

    1 vote(s)
    5.3%
  6. When preaching on Christmas -its okay to mix Santa in a little bit

    0 vote(s)
    0.0%
  7. During the message - it would be okay to have Santa come up on the platform

    0 vote(s)
    0.0%
  8. Anything goes

    0 vote(s)
    0.0%
  9. Other answer

    1 vote(s)
    5.3%
  1. Salty

    Salty 20,000 Posts Club
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    Interesting discussion
    Now lets do a poll about it
     
    #1 Salty, Jan 26, 2013
    Last edited by a moderator: Jan 26, 2013
  2. OldRegular

    OldRegular Well-Known Member

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    I have no problem with picking a day to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. I say this knowing some of the history behind the particular day we celebrate.

    That being said there is no reason to bring profane things into the worship of God, including Santa, the living Christmas tree, etc, etc!

    Then there is Easter which should be a Holy Day for all Christians. Neither you, nor I, nor anyone else, has the slightest idea what Jesus Christ suffered on the Cross. Therefore, I believe that it is blasphemous for any Christian to imitate the suffering of Jesus Christ on the Cross, whether it is done as a part of a worship service or a community play.
     
  3. Squire Robertsson

    Squire Robertsson Administrator
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    What better time of the year to preach on:
    The Incarnation of Our Lord.
    The Virgin Birth.
    The Faithfulness of God in sending The Redeemer.

    You've got people thinking about our Lord's birth, why not take advantage of it.
     
  4. Oldtimer

    Oldtimer New Member

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    AMEN!

    What better time is there to teach separation of "fact" from "fiction" with regards to our Saviour?

    That He was born in the fall. That He was about 2 years old when the wisemen came. That Santa evolved from St. Nicholas. To use exchanging Christmas presents as the basis to proclaim the Greatest Gift Ever Given. To use the Drummer Boy to distinguish which gifts are most important in the eyes of God. To set the basis/beginning which points to and concludes on Resurrection Sunday. To make clear the distinction between secular/worldly "Christmas" and worship of our Lord and Saviour.

    How many professing Christians don't know the differences because they haven't been taught?
     
  5. Salty

    Salty 20,000 Posts Club
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    I'm a bit surprised! From comments on the other thread, I sthought for sure some would have vote option # 1

    Oh, Well, when you remain silent, you have spoken
     
  6. 12strings

    12strings Active Member

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    Unless you are speaking to a bunch of young children, there is no reason to mention in a church message that Santa isn't real...If you are preaching to adults, and ANY of them thing Santa is real...they have major problems.
     
  7. Salty

    Salty 20,000 Posts Club
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    I suppose that a few of those who posted in the other thread, would preach it was a sin to tell their kids it was okay to believe in Santa Clause
     
  8. SaggyWoman

    SaggyWoman Active Member

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    I think one can preach on the biblical basis, but can run with other things and direct towards the Lord.
     
  9. smalltown

    smalltown New Member

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    I’m not sure that the Lord appreciates having His name identified with a mass. A mass is blasphemy. One of the reasons Christmas is full of the devil is the designation of the holiday season. Every time you say the word “Christmas,” you are referring to Christ and the mass. You are mixing the Son of God with a pagan, Romanist religious observance.

    As far as the cult of Jehovah’s Witnesses is concerned like the old saying goes, even a broken clock is right twice a day.

    Flame protector on
     
  10. Bob Alkire

    Bob Alkire New Member

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    I'm with you on this. You have more people just wander into a church at Christmas and Easter than any other time of year. Funerals are another good time to lay it all out due to the amount of lost folks who find their way in.
     
  11. Bro. James

    Bro. James Well-Known Member
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    It is a better time to preach Jesus Christ, and Him crucified because of sin, righteousness and judgement to come; with the premise that all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.

    "The Totality of the Depravity of man" as a sermon title would not fill many coffers. It would comply with what Jesus told His disciples to do.

    "Why do you call me Lord and do not what I say?"

    Even so, come Lord Jesus.

    Bro. James
     
  12. Oldtimer

    Oldtimer New Member

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    I can't speak for anyone else.

    God knows what's in my heart when I say "Hope you have a Blessed Christmas" to the person running a cash register at the grocery store. Jesus knows that I am not thinking of pagan rituals, when I utter those words to acknowledge Him during this holiday season.

    Nor is that cashier, unless he or she has been "educated" to the point those pagan rituals or Catholic mass are the first thing that come to their minds, when they hear CHRISTmas.

    Interesting how "modern" terminology is used. "Flame protector on" compared to the "shield of faith". Ephesians 6:9-19.
     
  13. Salty

    Salty 20,000 Posts Club
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    You do realize that Jehovah is too sacred to say or even spell. As to not be accused of being blasphemous,Thus it should be Y H V H.


    (for extra credit - what do you think of X-mas?)
     
  14. smalltown

    smalltown New Member

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    I understand that there is some good that can come out of the emphasis on the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ. The miracle of the incarnation is a wonderful thing but the devil wants to get attention away from the crucifixion of the MAN Christ Jesus and put it upon the birth of the BABE. If overly emphasized the devil can use this portrayal. It is not the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ that is the center of our message; it is the death of the Lord Jesus Christ that is the center of our message.
     
  15. smalltown

    smalltown New Member

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    I wasn't accusing anyone of being blasphemous. I was just stating the facts. It seems as though Christmas has become the proverbial “sacred cow.” Speak out against it at your own peril.
     
  16. Oldtimer

    Oldtimer New Member

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    Jesus Christ, our Saviour, HIMSELF is the "center" of our message.

    We can argue, until we are blue in the face about this point or that point. We can come to blows (verbal, physical, virtual or whatever name we wish to apply) over this aspect or that aspect of God's walk upon this earth among us.

    If is often said, during debates about various passages of scripture, that those passages must be read in context to gain a more full understanding. Not the world's understanding or application, but that of our own growth in maturity led by the Holy Spirit.

    Jesus said, "Do this in remembrance of me". I don't remember a qualifier, in scripture, that says only to remember 3 days of His life. I can't even begin to make a claim that I know what God intended when He decided what to include when He inspired men to record His word. That said, I believe that our Triune God had a reason to record, in great detail, the humble and miraculous human beginning of our Messiah - Jesus, the Christ, our Redeemer. To record very little, after His birth, until He began His ministry. Even then, much about His ministry was left untold. In His last days, again much detail is given.

    Genesis 1:1 In the beginning, God created the heaven and the earth.

    Just as He did with the first verse in the Bible, God gave us the basis that we need, as human beings, to accept ONE human being, as God's own sacrifice upon the cross at Calvary. Without remembering the circumstances of His birth, remembering the humility of His ministry, how can we begin to understand and accept what He did for us when He said, "It is finished."

    In the center, between the miracle of His birth and the miracle of His conquering of death stands our Saviour, Jesus Christ. He is the right, left, and center of our message.
     
  17. smalltown

    smalltown New Member

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    If Jesus were the reason for the season, there would be less depression, not more. Jesus said, "I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly" (John 10:10). The happiest people in the world ought to be those who know why Jesus came into this world.

    The truth of the matter is that with the name of the Lord broadcast all across the globe, as far as His title of Christ goes, there is still more depression at Christmas than at any other time of the year. The psychiatrists get ready for. The druggists get ready for it. There are people who get very, very "down" at Christmas. There are many people who would be very pleased if the season did not come at all.
     
  18. Salty

    Salty 20,000 Posts Club
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    Key word < SEEMS >


    Actually this is a common misconception. The middle of January is the most depressing time

    As Squire said:
    What better time of the year to preach on:
    The Incarnation of Our Lord.
    The Virgin Birth.
    The Faithfulness of God in sending The Redeemer.

    Lets pray that Christmas 2013 will be a time of Revival!

    Salty

    PS Is it now time to start our annual discussion on Easter!
     
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