Quote:
Originally Posted by LifeGoesOn
So, for the first time since I was born, I will be celebrating Christmas. I am headed with my family to my mother-in law’s tomorrow on Christmas Eve. My wife and I want to use this holiday to share the Gospel with our kids and create new family traditions centered around the importance of our Messiah coming into the world.
As a kid I was told that we just don’t celebrate Chtistmas. I don’t even recall the reason given for not celebrating it. Just a big void around that time of year and feeling abnormal.
How have you guys felt about celebrating Christmas since you left the LC and who is celebrating it this year?
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So I know this is a little late, being that it's almost June! And I haven't read what others have posted, so that will be interesting to read . . .
Since leaving the LC I've been all over the map regarding Xmas. I used to rail against it, because it is basically just a pagan holiday with some Christ things added in by the Church in Rome to pretty it up. But I'm surrounded by people who do celebrate it, although they are not really sure why. In the end, it's just like the Roman Catholic Church - a big hairy mystery . . . a little dark (all the overt moneymaking of "the season") but glittery.
But what has been the result of me railing against this mixed-bag holiday - Did one person get saved from it? Not that I'm aware. Did one person even get life from what I told them? I doubt it. Do I loose my peace? Yes.
(And it fascinates me that there are so many glorious songs and hymns about Christ that people hear during this season, but it seems as if nothing of light comes through in their hearts. Maybe I'm wrong, and I hope I am, but I haven't seen much of that happen at all. In fact, I wonder if it anesthetizes people to the glory of Christ by mixing reindeer and Deck the Halls party type songs with Silent Night and other such hymns. Maybe though it's like Paul said - at least Christ is preached . . .)
Ultimately I came to realize that the bottom line is, if my brother honors that day, I will honor it with him. If he doesn't honor it, I'm there too. That is, I endeavor not to be any stumbling to anyone, nor to break the oneness of the Spirit. I doubt that at the Bema Seat the Lord will look at any of us and be critical about whether or not we celebrated Christmas. What I think He is concerned about is whether I stumble my brother or build him up!
So brother, if you celebrate Christmas, do it unto Him. If you don't celebrate it, do it unto Him.
Now to read what others have said . . .