Featured Christmas Questions

3) Unbelievable that Christians would cancel worship.

8) A lot of misinformed propaganda on that thesis, see: https://www.firstthings.com/blogs/firstthoughts/2009/12/why-is-christmas-on-december-25

 

5) There is no English ex (X) in Xmas. That is a Greek Chi. It doesn't replace Christ, it abbreviates Christ.

http://www.ligonier.org/blog/why-is-x-used-when-it-replaces-christ-in-christmas/

 

My own opinion. Our regional Salvation Army chapter is an excellent organization.

 

Personally, I celebrate the incarnation as has been mentioned: The Word became flesh an dwelt among us.

No we are not having a church service but who ever said we need a church building to worship God in Spirit and truth? That is a 24X7 part of our lives.

There is the other aspect of Christmas which is the seasonal winter celebration which we do to a limited extent.

However, I have never bowed down before a Christmas tree and worshiped it or Mithras the sun god.

Merry Christmas?

Or Bah Humbug!

HankD

 

1) Thoughts about letting your little kids believe in Santa. No issues with it. It's all part of the fun of being a kid at Christmas.

2) Thoughts about having a Christmas tree in your church building. I'm all for it. My church has one right outside the main auditorium.

3) Thoughts about cancelling services on 25 Dec - since it is Christmas. I don't think churches should do it, but I won't condemn those that do.

6) Thoughts about how much you should spend for Christmas Presents. I'm notoriously cheap, so I prefer to spend as little as possible. Drove my wife nuts.

7) Thoughts about volunteering at a rescue mission type of ministry on Christmas Eve/Day. Did it a couple of times many years ago. Now that I live alone and don't do much "celebrating," it's something I should look into doing again.

9) other - feel free to discuss.... Christmas lights should be multi-colored, not "clear."

 

I don't have an issue with the Santa figure, but I would ground it in reality and not simply ride along with the culture. There was a St. Nicholas and we are honoring the spirit of Christian giving by carrying on a cultural tradition.

It's a fire hazard, especially if it is illuminated and the building is closed up for any significant time.

You miss the point of Xmas if you refuse to worship.

The Red Cross has been less than honest about donations I have given previously, so I don't give to them on a normal basis. I just made a gift to the Salvation Army because I know the kind of work they do and fully support their efforts.

I go out of my way to use the word Xmas so as to dismiss the foolish stories that go around this time of year that "atheists" are trying to "X" out Jesus. Even the spellchecker on my computer know what it means, why don't so many Baptist pastors?

The thought and attention to the person must be the most important thing. Money should be used wisely. Never spend yourself into debt and keep in mind what is appropriate. Also, don't be afraid to be generous.

A wonderful idea! An even better idea is to serve on non-holidays when they have a harder time getting volunteer assistance.

There's lots of foolishness going around about that. We provide the meaning we want to the holiday. For some it is a holiday of commercial excess. For Christians, it should be a time of joy, contemplation and gratitude.

I like turtles.

 

1) I'm not a fan, and I don't encourage it. But I won't make a fuss of it.
2) No problem at all with this. It's just decor.
3) Canceling? Nope. Maybe having one late service in the morning would be good--time to open gifts and things in the morning. I think canceling an evening service is fine to allow people to spend that time with family.
4) No preference. I think it's a individual thing.
5) I have no problem with it as an abbreviation (X, after all, looks like the first letter of Jesus's name in Greek.)
6) I don't have a lot of money, so I just try to do the best I can. Those who can afford more can give more, and if they feel convicted, they should respond accordingly.
7) A good thing to do
8) I don't think the current expression of Christmas is anywhere close to its origins, so I don't have an issue here.

 

1) Thoughts about letting your little kids believe in Santa.

I did let my 23yo, I was not a believer until he was 5yo.

I did not with my 10yo.

My thoughts about were impacted by a man who simply asked....
If they believe in Santa, who they can't see, and later come to discover he isn't real, and the same with the Easter bunny and tooth fairy, what will they do with Christ as they get older?

2) Thoughts about having a Christmas tree in your church building

"Christmas tree" is a misnomer

Trees are not Christ. Nothing wrong with celebrating a winter festival and including trees and blow-up deer and lights, but they are not Christ - and they should not bear the name Christ

3) Thoughts about cancelling services on 25 Dec - since it is Christmas

I don't like the idea having having "service" at all. Who are we supposedly serving for one hour a week?

4) Thoughts about what charities (such as Red Cross, Salvation Army) you would give extra to

I believe Christian benevolence should go to believers, so I don't give any money to businesses where they're blowing it on unbelievers who by and large are lying about being needy in the first place

5) Thoughts about using the term X-mas

Means nothing to me.

6) Thoughts about how much you should spend for Christmas Presents

I don't spend money on Christmas presents because presents are not Christ

We do, however, celebrate a winter festival with a tree, presents, etc. There's nothing wrong with these secular traditions, just don't confuse them with Christ

7) Thoughts about volunteering at a rescue mission type of ministry on Christmas Eve/Day

I like the idea a lot. I've never done it, but it has intrigued me in the past

8) Thoughts about if we should even celebrate Christmas - since it was based on pagan worship

the whole notion of pagan worship is just that - the worship of false deity

I don't think anyone has any deity in mind when they're blowing up an inflatable Rudolph or hanging lights from their gutters. It's simply secular tradition at this point. It has no religious significance whatsoever

 

Good point.

A dry tree is the biggest hazard, so I would hope that any church putting up a real tree has staff on site who can water it daily.



(Ah, found a video from NIST. I toured their facility once, and they even let me stand on top of their reactor. )

 

I don't think there is inevitably anything wrong with it-- but when they they ask questions such as "How does Santa travel the whole world in one night?" , answer truthfully. IOW don't insult their emerging abilities to reason.

I'm alright with it. I know it comes from a seasonal pagan tradition, and I know what Jeremiah 10 says-- but if you want to take that with all seriousness all the time, then is it wrong to varnish a wooden pew, let alone use a router on it?

I'm not in favor of it, but the reality is most people are not going to come. If it's a very small church that would not expect even 10 people to attend, just encourage them to remember to worship in their own homes or groups.

I may give to those organizations I know about, but probably not to those I've never heard of.

To me it's not a problem because I know X [chi] represents Christ. But I had a grandmother who hated that, claiming that replaces Christ with X, as in "Mr. X." It's a matter of perception, and I respect anybody's perception. If a logical explanation is beyond a person, then leave it.

Too much indicates you're trying to buy someone's love or respect. Too little indicates someone is not worth the effort or the money. But "too..." is always relative.

That's a good thing under most circumstances.

Jerusalem was already a fortified city before David captured it and made it his capital city-- so it's not without precedent that God's People take something pagan and dedicate it as holy [separate] for a worshipful purpose.

Christmas is excessive.For most people in lands that celebrate it, it does add to happiness, with gifts, decorations, seeing family, being charitable... But for some, it may have the opposite effect, if it's associated with tragedy, disappointment, or knowing it will never be the special time it was before. It's interesting that Sol Invictus [the Unconquered Sun] starts to "return" about this time, and we only need change one letter -- Sun to Son-- to make what ancient pagans celebrated to what we celebrate.

 

1.- I had no problem with my children (now grown) believing in Santa. Knowing, that Christ is the reason for the season and Santa was a mere symbol to share with others.

2.- They are pretty so not a problem. Especially, when they are decorated with ornaments reflecting on loved ones and ornaments collected and made by our children and grandchildren.

3. What??? Having the Christmas fall on a regular worship day is such a blessing. I have always felt a special blessing on Christmas Eve and Christmas day when I get to join others in corporate worship of God on these days.

4.- Local Food Bank

5.- Never understood the X part. It is Christmas.

6.- Grandkids are hard to budget for! But, we do not go into debt. As far as myself, I get what I need year around and sometimes what I want. My best gift is the enjoyment of hitting the nail on the head when giving a gift to others or that truly warm hug from loved ones.

7.- Great thing to do, we should remember that volunteer work is needed year around. Harder to get volunteers during no holiday times.

8.- I do not let pagans stop me from celebration of my GOD's handiwork designed to show HIS love for me.

9.- Merry Christmas to all!!!

 

Harmless fun.

Add to the festive atmosphere of the season.

Don't like the idea, but to each their own. Our church is canceling the Sunday services on Christmas Day but are having two of them on Christmas Eve. I'm not too thrilled about it.

I guess Salvation Army because they make an extra effort at Christmas and they are a good charity.

Doesn't bother me...too much.

Use discretion. Don't rack up the credit card bill if it will take you more than one payment to pay it off.

If you can swing it, go for it!

We should celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior; December 25th is the tradition, I say go with it.

.

One strange thing I've noticed, at least in our neighborhood. The people that put up the most outdoor Christmas decorations are the ones I suspect need Christ the most. The people that I know are Christians don't put up much stuff. In other words, the more lights on the house, in the trees, in the windows, the more they need Jesus.

 

Children should not believe in Santa and neither should Santa be in our churches.