Quote:
Originally Posted by Evangelical
Christmas, is like taking a copy of the Quran, decorating it with pretty adornments and saying it reminds us of the Bible. That's what Emperor Constantine did when he merged paganism with Christianity.
Romans 14 was about Jewish converts to Christianity who felt the need to continue their traditions (including the Sabbath) .They had biblical instructions to do so and these came from God in the first place.
Romans 14 does not, however, give a person a license to celebrate any old false religion day however they want. Take any idol, decorate it up and call it "worshiping God", without any instruction in the Old or New testament to do so.
|
Christmas does not remind people of
the bible. It not only as a reflection, a reminder that JESUS WAS BORN and lived, died and resurrected if nothing more. More & more it's more like IT USED TO BE a reminder. Christmas has become soooooo commercialized..and has for decades and decades, just more so now. I remember seeing a whole lot of nativity scenes in front yards. Now it is about the best inflatable santas and best lighted up homes. There was even one I saw last year with a 'Christmas dragon' inflatable on top of a house roof.
For me, Christmas is a great tool to reach the lost, to give them hope. It might be the one time of the year, they are willing to listen to the Gospel of Hope and Love. It might be the one time of the year, people's hearts are softened.
And as for Christianity... well... I did not convert to Christianity. Did you? I converted my heart, my life to Christ, to Jesus Christ and our Heavenly Father and His Holy Spirit. Christianity is a religion and don't forget God hates religion.
Constantine merged one religion with another religion. Btw, if you search deeply, you will find that Catholicism invented/created Islam.
And while I don't care for the commercialism of Christmas, I do like seeing homes decorated with Christmas lights at night.
As for evil Santa...consider
Revelation 1:17
"I saw one like a Son of man, clothed in a robe reaching to the feet, and girded across His chest with a golden sash. 14 His head and His hair were white like white wool, like snow; and His eyes were like a flame of fire. "
You are probably a very straight and narrow guy so you might never have seen the movie,
The Chronicles of Narnia: the Lion, the witch and the wardrobe. "Santa" appears in a sleigh and gives the kids weapons as presents to fight the evil witch and company.
It was the first time i recognized him as the Son of man described in Revelation 1:13-14
And you know, Elijah was translated/raptured on a chariot with horses ( a sleigh)
Quote:
|
As they were going along and talking, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire and horses of fire which separated the two of them. And Elijah went up by a whirlwind to heaven. 12 Elisha saw it and cried out, “My father, my father, the chariots of Israel and its horsemen!” And he saw Elijah no more. 2 kings 2: 11-12
|
You will probably argue and scoff.
Just saying... the LSM has so many people tied up in knots about trivial matters. I knew many LCrs who took 'vacations' with their families during the Christmas season. They wanted to celebrate family time together alone without the LC pressure. They did not tell anyone of course.
The diehards don't do that anymore. .
Of course I also know a lot of true blue believers who never have been associated with the LC/LSM and never even heard of Nee or Lee who don't celebrate Christmas. I respect that.
I myself don't celebrate Christmas but I have taken the opportunity of the season to point people to Christ the SAVIOR.
And I think GOD has been pleased with me. See He's not religious.
In the late 60's and early 70s, there was true freedom in Christ in the LC. Or so I thought. But it became like the church in Ephesus who lost her first love while persevering in deeds and toils and have not grown weary and cannot tolerate evil men, (
OH WAIT.. there are a couple of exceptions in the Lee camp) and put to the test those who call themselves apostles, and they are not, and found them to be false;
But remember and heed to the warning from the SON OF MAN:
I have this against you, that you have left your first love. 5 Therefore remember from where you have fallen, and repent and do the deeds you did at first; or else I am coming to you and will remove your lampstand out of its place—unless you repent.
Shalom and Peace in Christ Jesus Who was and IS and IS TO COME AGAIN.