Celebrating Christmas

[37818]

Why wouldn't it be? Does he need to use sarcasm tags?

Only for those who are so impaired as to not know the difference between a jest and a serious statement.

For the sarcastically impaired the following is said in jest

Which would be everyone on Tweb.

[shunyadragon]

The apostles were not sola scriptura; we shouldn't be either.

I believe the apostles were likely sola scriptura, but there is no direct evidence that this was the case. Celebrating Christmas is not in scripture, but related to the celebrating a Roman holiday celbrating one or more Roman Gods over time as a Christian holiday.

[One Bad Pig]

I believe the apostles were likely sola scriptura, but there is no direct evidence that this was the case.

You mean, the ones preaching Jesus Christ for 30 years or so before the NT was even written?

Celebrating Christmas is not in scripture, but related to the celebrating a Roman holiday celbrating one or more Roman Gods over time as a Christian holiday.

This has already been covered in-thread.

[Jedidiah]

Only for those who are so impaired as to not know the difference between a jest and a serious statement.

For the sarcastically impaired the following is said in jest

Which would be everyone on Tweb.

You can not always tell the difference.

[NorrinRadd]

I do hope this is tongue in cheek. I wish that the Christmas tree post was also.

Yes, it was a joke. Legalism is ridiculous, and should be mocked at every opportunity.

[Super Cow]

If people have traditions that aren't explicitly found or forbidden in scripture, I see no reason why they can't keep them. My wife grew up with Holiday traditions, but I didn't. I let her have her little family thing, but I refused to lie to my kids, so I tell them that Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny, etc. is just pretend. If they want to have a story about the real St. Nicolaus, I'll give them a history lesson about the real one from the 4th century who from what I can tell did his best to be a righteous, generous and spiritual person. Dec. 25th is not Jesus birthday, but just a wild guess that people picked because nobody knew the real answer so they picked the time of a Roman festival. Passover was meant to be observed without chocolate rabbits and egg hunts, but if you want to chase eggs with a bunch of other kids, have fun without trying to mix the two.

Traditions are not a sin, but I think lying is.

[KingsGambit]

Traditions are not a sin, but I think lying is.

Not only that... it doesn't look good if you teach your kids about God, as well as Santa, the tooth fairy, etc... and they gradually figure out the others don't exist.

[Jedidiah]

My kids learned from me that Santa was just for fun. They still sort of believed, or so acted.

[Sparko]

I don't understand. What do you mean Santa is just pretend?

[Cerebrum123]

If people have traditions that aren't explicitly found or forbidden in scripture, I see no reason why they can't keep them. My wife grew up with Holiday traditions, but I didn't. I let her have her little family thing, but I refused to lie to my kids, so I tell them that Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny, etc. is just pretend. If they want to have a story about the real St. Nicolaus, I'll give them a history lesson about the real one from the 4th century who from what I can tell did his best to be a righteous, generous and spiritual person. Dec. 25th is not Jesus birthday, but just a wild guess that people picked because nobody knew the real answer so they picked the time of a Roman festival. Passover was meant to be observed without chocolate rabbits and egg hunts, but if you want to chase eggs with a bunch of other kids, have fun without trying to mix the two.

Traditions are not a sin, but I think lying is.

Not how it happened from what I understand. According to what I've read, it had to do with an early Christian, and I believe Jewish belief that prophets, and others approved by God died the corresponding day to when they were conceived. Just add the 9 months from the date of Jesus' death, and you get a date sometime around December 25th.

[One Bad Pig]

Not how it happened from what I understand. According to what I've read, it had to do with an early Christian, and I believe Jewish belief that prophets, and others approved by God died the corresponding day to when they were conceived. Just add the 9 months from the date of Jesus' death, and you get a date sometime around December 25th.

Yeah, I link an extensive article up-thread that deals with this. In any case, the church has felt free to pick a convenient date if the actual one is not known (or the actual date conflicts with something more important). For example, the Transfiguration is generally acknowledged to have happened shortly before the Crucifixion; however, it is celebrated in August in order to move the celebration outside of the Lenten period.

[rogue06]

I don't understand. What do you mean Santa is just pretend?

He said Santa was "just for fun" as in he brings toys which are fun.

[Sparko]

He said Santa was "just for fun" as in he brings toys which are fun.

well duh. But Super Cow said he was just pretend. Maybe he meant that Santa likes to pretend he is just imaginary to fool the adults?

[Super Cow]

Not how it happened from what I understand. According to what I've read, it had to do with an early Christian, and I believe Jewish belief that prophets, and others approved by God died the corresponding day to when they were conceived. Just add the 9 months from the date of Jesus' death, and you get a date sometime around December 25th.

Tree decorating and gift-giving and (I think) mistletoe come from the Roman Saturnalia festival, which also was celebrated for 7 days on December 25th. Your point about the conception/death of prophets is real, but I think it's accuracy can be refuted scripturally at least in this case.

[Faber]

I don't understand. What do you mean Santa is just pretend?

When I was teaching on Paul's trip to Rome, when he passed the Island of Myra, I did a diversion. That's where Saint Nicholas lived. He was born into a wealthy family, and his parents died while he was a young adult. Adhering to Jesus's statement to the rich man to give what he had to the poor and follow Him, Nicholas gave his wealth to poor people. He later became a bishop and took part in the Council of Nicea where they had to deal with the Arian heresy in AD 325. He became so angry with Arius that he got up and punched him in the face. Can you imaging getting slugged in the face by Santa Claus? I guess getting coal in his stocking wasn't enough.