Tis the season

[Cal]

Originally Posted by ZNPaaneah

You can't embrace Christmas without embracing all that it includes.

Not true at all. That's like saying you can't embrace America without embracing all it includes: crime, injustice, etc. Or you can't embrace Christians without embracing all they include: sin, hypocrisy, weak faith, etc.

I can celebrate Christmas without celebrating the Playboy Christmas issue.

Let's try not to act smarter than we really are.

[ZNPaaneah]

Originally Posted by Igzy

Not true at all. That's like saying you can't embrace America without embracing all it includes: crime, injustice, etc. Or you can't embrace Christians without embracing all they include: sin, hypocrisy, weak faith, etc.

I can celebrate Christmas without celebrating the Playboy Christmas issue.

Let's try not to act smarter than we really are.

The context of my comment was your question about it confusing the gospel. A person in the world walks down the street, they see "Merry Christmas" outside a church with a Christmas tree all decorated and a manger scene.

To the unbeliever the church is embracing all that Christmas includes. You can argue they aren't doing that, to the unbeliever they are. You have therefore confused the gospel.

[Cal]

Originally Posted by ZNPaaneah

To the unbeliever the church is embracing all that Christmas includes. You can argue they aren't doing that, to the unbeliever they are. You have therefore confused the gospel.

How do you know what unbelievers are thinking?

I don't agree in general with your thesis that the gospel is confused. As I've said A LOT more good comes from having Christ in Christmas than would be done by taking him out. Christmas is part of our culture. By the time you explain to some unbeliever why you don't celebrate Christmas they are liable to be more confused than they would be otherwise.

I just think you are overthinking things. The LCM has eradicated Christmas, and it hasn't exactly caused their gospel campaigns to take off.

[ZNPaaneah]

Originally Posted by Igzy

How do you know what unbelievers are thinking?

When you preach the gospel one on one, they respond. Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.

[countmeworthy]

Originally Posted by Igzy

A LOT more good comes from having Christ in Christmas than would be done by taking him out. Christmas is part of our culture. By the time you explain to some unbeliever why you don't celebrate Christmas they are liable to be more confused than they would be otherwise.

I just think you are overthinking things. The LCM has eradicated Christmas, and it hasn't exactly caused their gospel campaigns to take off.

I totally AGREE!!! I think it's a great opportunity for true believers to talk about Christ from His Birth to His Resurrection to His Promise of coming again.

I sometimes plant a little nugget in people telling them, Jesus came the first time and guess what? He's coming again.... sooner than later.

And btw... while I didn't do it this year, for several years, I would write scriptures on index cards during the month of October. Then on Halloween evening, I would sit outside with a bowl of candy and cards. I wrote scriptures for the youngsters under 10 and for the older ones. And would pray quietly for each kid and their parents.