Should a Christian celebrate christmas or easter?

[tanach]

I am sick to death of these holier than thou would be puritans laying guilt trips on other believers. If they want a miserable life they are completely free to have one. Just dont try to inflict it on everyone else, or set yourselves up as spokesmen for God. As for Hot Cross buns, in the Uk they are now sold all year round as opposed to a few weeks before easter. In any case they are merely ordinary buns with a cross added on and a bit more spice

 

[Miri]

Ps what do you get if you pour boiling water down a rabbit hole.

Hot cross bunnies!

I know, it's the way I tell um

 

[JustAnotherUser]

Personally, we've always had some type of celebration with Christmas and Easter. Christmas was more traditional in the sense of materialistic and listening to the Christmas music while setting up the Christmas tree. There were mentions of Christ being the center of Christmas, but that wasn't our main focus on the holiday. Similar can be said for Easter. We looked forward to dying eggs and receive the chocolates on Easter morning. Then later on when seeing what it was about Christ's Crucifixion, it brought some attention. This year when it passed, it was focused more on Christ since I'm obviously too old to color dye eggs. Prior to that with Christmas was similar, I didn't have as much hype over it. Probably also because I worked in retail and saw how needy and selfish little kids got at the toys section and just the hype with Christmas stuff.

I did look into the main roots of both holidays as well and how things got altered by the Roman Catholic Church to fully declare such holidays as official religious ones (which also ties in with the dates originating from Pagan celebrations/rituals). It started to grow as to what the point really would be if it's not a directly instructed rite to do so and I don't know or think I'll want to celebrate it in similar senses if and when it'll be left up to me. I'm still going to be seeing Christmas decorations since my mother likes putting them up and for the past year or two I was sluggish on doing them. I still like some Christmas songs as long as it's not overly played, so I'd probably look forward to that still. Heck, I still listen to them sometimes.

Also if it's not known by now...these type of topics stir debates on both ends no matter what. Even if it's not close to Easter or Christmas, it's still going to catch attention. Good luck surviving it.

 

[just-me]

Personally, we've always had some type of celebration with Christmas and Easter. Christmas was more traditional in the sense of materialistic and listening to the Christmas music while setting up the Christmas tree. There were mentions of Christ being the center of Christmas, but that wasn't our main focus on the holiday. Similar can be said for Easter. We looked forward to dying eggs and receive the chocolates on Easter morning. Then later on when seeing what it was about Christ's Crucifixion, it brought some attention. This year when it passed, it was focused more on Christ since I'm obviously too old to color dye eggs. Prior to that with Christmas was similar, I didn't have as much hype over it. Probably also because I worked in retail and saw how needy and selfish little kids got at the toys section and just the hype with Christmas stuff.

I did look into the main roots of both holidays as well and how things got altered by the Roman Catholic Church to fully declare such holidays as official religious ones (which also ties in with the dates originating from Pagan celebrations/rituals). It started to grow as to what the point really would be if it's not a directly instructed rite to do so and I don't know or think I'll want to celebrate it in similar senses if and when it'll be left up to me. I'm still going to be seeing Christmas decorations since my mother likes putting them up and for the past year or two I was sluggish on doing them. I still like some Christmas songs as long as it's not overly played, so I'd probably look forward to that still. Heck, I still listen to them sometimes.

Also if it's not known by now...these type of topics stir debates on both ends no matter what. Even if it's not close to Easter or Christmas, it's still going to catch attention. Good luck surviving it.

I agree. You may be interested in this thread.
[h=3]Protestants follow many Catholic traditions that began during the 1st century[/h]

 

[Elysian]

Personally, I'm not trying to convert Muslims or anyone else for that matter. Witnessing your Christian faith is a good thing but it is up to the hearer of the Word whether to convert or not.

There is nothing wrong biblically wrong about celebrating Christmas, Easter or even Halloween. Why take all the enjoyment out of life
There is nothing in your post that I am in agreement with.

''Nothing wrong with celebrating Halloween'', why not just celebrate the black mass as well.

 

[Eva1218]

All pagan religious holidays are not counted as Holy Days. Though many like to think they are honoring GOD it is quite the opposite. The word Easter/Passover is recorded in the Bible. Acts 12:4. Now we know that the holiday easter is not the same as the Holy Day Easter/Passover. Now the Jewish custom was to celebrate the Passover. What we honor is GOD sending HIS Only Begotten SON JESUS CHRIST to Save mankind by Offering HIS Body as a Living Sacrifice. The LORD's Supper/Communion Luke 22:19 and 1 Corinthians 11:24 by this we show the LORD's Death. When we do this it shows forth that we truly believe that JESUS was made flesh, lived among men, gave HIS LIFE as a Sacrifice and rose again now sitting at the right Hand of the FATHER. While many Jews believe in the lie recorded in Matthew 28:13-15.

Every day with every breath we are to celebrate our GOD in every form and fashion. Not in rituals but in lifestyle.

Blessings!!!!!!!

 

[prove-all]

The day Christ rose from the dead is the same day that Israel crossed the Red Sea on dry land, close to 1500 years earlier. This is another confirmation that Hope in Christ is a sure thing because God provides for His own.

after passover was over, on the night to be most remembered,

they left egypt on first night of unleavened bread.

was just curious where was passover linked to the red sea parting.

my thought was they where all baptized in the red sea, was this on passover day?

passover symbolised the shed blood for us, then repent and be baptized, believe in the gospel

 

[sparkman]

Why do you lie to set up new user IDs continually if you believe that one should observe God's laws?

That's the paradox.

As a true follower of Messiah, I have forsaken the ways of the word, and now seek to do the will of Yahweh. The Father makes it very clear in His word that He despises the methods used to worship other gods, and warns His people on several occassions not to participate in such practices.

Deuteronomy 12:29-31
The LORD your God will cut off before you the nations you are about to invade and dispossess. But when you have driven them out and settled in their land, and after they have been destroyed before you, be careful not to be ensnared by inquiring about their gods, saying, "How do these nations serve their gods? We will do the same." You must not worship the LORD your God in their way, because in worshiping their gods, they do all kinds of detestable things the LORD hates. They even burn their sons and daughters in the fire as sacrifices to their gods.

 

[MarcR]

I don't celebrate either one of them.Christmas is about Santa who took the place of Christ and is utterly evil.Easter was a Roman Pagan holiday that ran alongside the passover,I think the good ol KJV mentions Easter.Add to that most Christians celebrate the resurrection on'' Easter Sunday'' which is a day early as Jesus was dead for 3 days not 2 days and then there is those wretched eggs,the pagans used to paint patterns on them, hench the pretty wrappers.Basically these two holidays are Roman catholic not Christian.

I totally agree; but I have 1 reservation.

Unbelievers are (as a matter of fact) more receptive to the Gospel at Christmas and Easter than at any other time.

Believers (in fact) have all been given one primary task: to lead unbelievers to faith

Matt 7:6
6 Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you. KJV;

means don't preach to the unreceptive.


Should we not then attempt to reach people when they are most receptive?

 

[sparkman]

Yes, all Easter means to me is that they are going to preach a salvation message that day, and it's a good day to bring seekers.

And "Sunday" churches focus on placing one's faith in Jesus Christ for salvation..I don't hear any sort of message like this from most of these Sabbathkeeping or lawkeeping churches. All they want to do is proclaim the necessity of keeping ceremonial and ritualistic aspects of the Old Covenant, and throw rocks at other organizations.

Another thing you won't find very often is a focus on reaching the poor and needy. The organizations may collect funds for that, but they spend them on other things. My Sabbathkeeping organization spent 60 million on a corporate jet from the fund designated for widows and orphans...did they run out of needy people to help?

Straining at gnats and swallowing camels is what Christ said about such things.

Funny thing is they read James and proclaim justification by faith AND works but miss the part about pure and undefiled religion....

James 1:27 [SUP]27 [/SUP]Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained [SUP][a][/SUP]by the world.

Again, I'll match the works of my Sunday church who doesn't take a stance on Easter and Christmas with the works of their organizations any day. The church raised enough funds to build a new orphanage for 60 Indian children which they sponsor with monthly donations in addition to the new building.

I have not been donating to the fund due to being on disability so I am not bragging on myself but on them.

I totally agree; but I have 1 reservation.

Unbelievers are (as a matter of fact) more receptive to the Gospel at Christmas and Easter than at any other time.

Believers (in fact) have all been given one primary task: to lead unbelievers to faith

Matt 7:6
6 Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you. KJV;

means don't preach to the unreceptive.


Should we not then attempt to reach people when they are most receptive?

 

[Elysian]

All pagan religious holidays are not counted as Holy Days. Though many like to think they are honoring GOD it is quite the opposite. The word Easter/Passover is recorded in the Bible. Acts 12:4. Now we know that the holiday easter is not the same as the Holy Day Easter/Passover. Now the Jewish custom was to celebrate the Passover. What we honor is GOD sending HIS Only Begotten SON JESUS CHRIST to Save mankind by Offering HIS Body as a Living Sacrifice. The LORD's Supper/Communion Luke 22:19 and 1 Corinthians 11:24 by this we show the LORD's Death. When we do this it shows forth that we truly believe that JESUS was made flesh, lived among men, gave HIS LIFE as a Sacrifice and rose again now sitting at the right Hand of the FATHER. While many Jews believe in the lie recorded in Matthew 28:13-15.

Every day with every breath we are to celebrate our GOD in every form and fashion. Not in rituals but in lifestyle.

Blessings!!!!!!!

Easter was a Roman holiday/celebration that ran alongside the passover,Easter was a separate celebration from passover.and was actually called Easter during the time of Christ,this is why our Easter dates are defined by the cycles of the Moon.Google the CREATION LIBERTY website for a complete understanding on this.

 

[tanach]

Is this a record? In a newspaper today, (25 july), there was a picture of a person dressed as Santa Claus in an Asda Supermarket promoting Christmas gift vouchers!!

 

[Tintin]

I freely celebrate Christmas and Easter, but I just find the concept of Christmas in July to be distasteful.

 

[sparkman]

I freely celebrate Christmas and Easter, but I just find the concept of Christmas in July to be distasteful.

It is a bit early to start in on this discussion isn't it? Usually they wait until at least October

 

[KohenMatt]

The way I overall look at it, is Christmas and Easter are holidays established by man. So for that reason, I do not follow man's traditions, but Gods.

Yeshua teaches multiple times against following man made traditions.

I do not believe it is wrong to observe His birth/resurection, as far as His birth it has been founded that He was born on the first day of sukkot (feast of tabernacles, which is usually September/Octoberish), and that's when the people I fellowship with celebrate His birthday, and then we recognize His resurrection through Passover.

You must spread some Reputation around before giving it to Biblelogic01 again.

 

[KohenMatt]

So, let's put this into todays perspective. . . . Let's say we take a holiday like Ramadan, and let's change it up a little and put Jesus in it, and we're doing this so we can try and convert muslims to our faith, that way they're comfortable in it.

Do any of you agree with doing this?

Because that's what christmas and easter were made for, it may not have the same meaning today as it did back then, but that was the intent of these holidays. They were taking pagan ways and put christian beliefs into them to get the pagans to change their faith, and still be comfortable.

Do you think Jesus would be ok with this?

I do not think so.

Like I said, they're man made traditions, and if their is one thing we all know is the Jesus teaches against man made traditions multiple times.

Love this!

 

[just-me]

I truly believe it's a travesty that so many professing Christians belonging to protestant denominations verbally reject the doctrines of the Catholic persuasion, and demand to ascribe to some of those same doctrines they say they have protested against. Then they accuse others (such as myself) who esteem all of God's word (focusing on the Torah) of promoting a false doctrine by revealing the comparison between Rome's ancient religion and the (supposedly) protesting religions of this day. I see very little difference between hypocritical Pharisees, Catholics or these types of professing Protestants these days. They all distort scripture by demanding separation between Jews and Gentiles, old against the new covenant and testaments. Is this on purpose, or do they not understand that "a house divided against itself will not stand" the test of time? (Mark 3:25)

The Pharisees hated Jesus, the Catholics hated the Jews, and the Protestants say they are not like either one, yet practice Catholic heresies and compare Torah observers to the Pharisees and the HRM, while rejecting, and distorting the same as did the Pharisees and the Catholics. What's wrong with this picture?

In addition I challenge those of you who are sincerely and willingly ready to suffer verbal abuse and persecution for Christ's sake, to define Christmas and Easter as non-Biblical, plus anything else that might be revealed as false in scripture that produces division of God's Word both Old and New. Then in addition, try spiritually defining the feasts, and Sabbaths that are Biblical, and you will certainly be labeled as a heretic by those who demand separation in the "Kingdom of God." It's in our face.

 

[prove-all]

Polycarp

After the death of the apostle John, a disciple of his, Polycarp,
waged a controversy over the Passover-Easter question with the
bishop of Rome, by then leader of the church started by Simon.

Still later, another disciple of Christ’s true Christianity,
Polycrates, waged a still hotter controversy over the same
Passover-Easter question with another bishop of Rome.

This theological battle was called the Quartodeciman Controversy.
Polycrates contended, as Jesus and the original apostles taught,
that the Passover should be observed in the new Christian form
introduced by Jesus and by the apostle Paul (1 Corinthians 11),

using unleavened bread and wine instead of sacrificing a lamb,
on the eve of the 14th Nisan (first month in the sacred calendar,
occurring in the spring).

But [the Rome church] insisted that it be observed on a Sunday.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quartodecimanism
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Easter_controversy
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polycarp

he was a disciple of John the Apostle
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polycrates_of_Ephesus

those who keep the lively oracles of God, the sabbath keepers

 

[prove-all]

If Jesus were in the grave only from late Friday afternoon to sometime before dawn
on Sunday morning, then the only sign He gave that

He was the prophesied Messiah was not fulfilled.

The claim of His messiahship rests on the fulfillment of His words

 

[sparkman]

Again, here we go with the "professing Christians" rhetoric which is an accusation that those who don't agree with your views are not true believers.

This is part and parcel with a certain crowd in here.

http://christianchat.com/bible-disc...-old-covenant-observance-causes-division.html

It was also the mentality of the cult I belonged to as a young man. Accuse others who don't agree with your doctrine as being false Christians, so-called Christians, and claim they are following a counterfeit version of Christianity.

I truly believe it's a travesty that so many professing Christians belonging to protestant denominations verbally reject the doctrines of the Catholic persuasion, and demand to ascribe to some of those same doctrines they say they have protested against. Then they accuse others (such as myself) who esteem all of God's word (focusing on the Torah) of promoting a false doctrine by revealing the comparison between Rome's ancient religion and the (supposedly) protesting religions of this day. I see very little difference between hypocritical Pharisees, Catholics or these types of professing Protestants these days. They all distort scripture by demanding separation between Jews and Gentiles, old against the new covenant and testaments. Is this on purpose, or do they not understand that "a house divided against itself will not stand" the test of time? (Mark 3:25)

The Pharisees hated Jesus, the Catholics hated the Jews, and the Protestants say they are not like either one, yet practice Catholic heresies and compare Torah observers to the Pharisees and the HRM, while rejecting, and distorting the same as did the Pharisees and the Catholics. What's wrong with this picture?

In addition I challenge those of you who are sincerely and willingly ready to suffer verbal abuse and persecution for Christ's sake, to define Christmas and Easter as non-Biblical, plus anything else that might be revealed as false in scripture that produces division of God's Word both Old and New. Then in addition, try spiritually defining the feasts, and Sabbaths that are Biblical, and you will certainly be labeled as a heretic by those who demand separation in the "Kingdom of God." It's in our face.