Is it OK for our churches to have Christmas trees, bingo games, or Easter egg hunts?ts,

  • Christian Chat is a moderated online Christian community allowing Christians around the world to fellowship with each other in real time chat via webcam, voice, and text, with the Christian Chat app. You can also start or participate in a Bible-based discussion here in the Christian Chat Forums, where members can also share with each other their own videos, pictures, or favorite Christian music.

    If you are a Christian and need encouragement and fellowship, we're here for you! If you are not a Christian but interested in knowing more about Jesus our Lord, you're also welcome! Want to know what the Bible says, and how you can apply it to your life? Join us!

    To make new Christian friends now around the world, click here to join Christian Chat.

Ted01

Well-known member
May 14, 2022
1,055
447
83
#82
If that makes it better. Christian can "fellowship" in a wrong manner.
Like playing bingo, hunting for eggs, and putting presents under a tree?
Why are these things so abhorrent to you?

Are you one of those that thinks the Enemy has so much power that he can actually "capture" a day or an activity with such power as to make those days/things disgusting to God, who made the days and delights in our joys?
 

Beckie

Well-known member
Feb 15, 2022
2,516
939
113
#83
If that makes it better. Christian can "fellowship" in a wrong manner.
We sure can we can have a prayer chain that is truly nothing but gossip. Or we can choose to have real prayer. We are the church the building is a building.. My understanding of the OP is speaking about different churches , which was including the groups of people and the buildings they meet in.
Having lived in church buildings as a kid , 3 different times if my memory holds. The 'sanctuary' area was great for making forts . Mom could hang the laundry over the benches in the winter. Sister practiced piano there. The best part was we hade 2 bathrooms when not every house did. Sunday school rooms were our bedrooms. We kids knew the difference, how to behave in a church service.
We are the building Jesus is the corner stone our reverence is to Him not some mad made building.
 

John146

Senior Member
Jan 13, 2016
17,097
3,683
113
#84
Like playing bingo, hunting for eggs, and putting presents under a tree?
Why are these things so abhorrent to you?

Are you one of those that thinks the Enemy has so much power that he can actually "capture" a day or an activity with such power as to make those days/things disgusting to God, who made the days and delights in our joys?
I don't think there's anything wrong with playing bingo as long as there's no gambling involved. "Capture" a day? Should not everything we do please the Lord? Santa Claus and Easter bunnies is not pleasing to the Lord. They are a distraction for the truth. Are kids more excited about Santa Claus or the birth of Christ? And whose fault is this?
 

John146

Senior Member
Jan 13, 2016
17,097
3,683
113
#85
Having lived in church buildings as a kid , 3 different times if my memory holds. The 'sanctuary' area was great for making forts . Mom could hang the laundry over the benches in the winter. Sister practiced piano there. The best part was we hade 2 bathrooms when not every house did. Sunday school rooms were our bedrooms. We kids knew the difference, how to behave in a church service.
Same memories, good stuff
 

Ted01

Well-known member
May 14, 2022
1,055
447
83
#86
I don't think there's anything wrong with playing bingo as long as there's no gambling involved. "Capture" a day? Should not everything we do please the Lord? Santa Claus and Easter bunnies is not pleasing to the Lord. They are a distraction for the truth. Are kids more excited about Santa Claus or the birth of Christ? And whose fault is this?
Okay...
So, what exactly is it about Easter bunnies and Nicholas of Myra that God finds distasteful, in your opinion? Distraction alone? My cats distract me all the time... should I get rid of them?

I think that kids should be given "right" instruction from their parents... not a cartoon about Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer, or a Macy's advertisement.

So, you tell me, whose "fault" it is.
 

ThereRoseaLamb

Well-known member
Jan 17, 2023
4,731
2,025
113
#87
I don't think there's anything wrong with playing bingo as long as there's no gambling involved. "Capture" a day? Should not everything we do please the Lord? Santa Claus and Easter bunnies is not pleasing to the Lord. They are a distraction for the truth. Are kids more excited about Santa Claus or the birth of Christ? And whose fault is this?
Depends on how you're taught. We knew what Christmas was about, and it wasn't Santa. My almost always took in people who were alone, people new to the church, one year they took in a single mother her four kids and bought all of them presents. My parents were rich by any means. But they taught us to be givers.
 

hornetguy

Senior Member
Jan 18, 2016
7,075
1,702
113
#88
A million years ago mid 50s it was the day to have a new dress for church cause we were celebrating the Risen Saviour.
Yeah.... I was there, too. Does it make any more sense to celebrate the risen Savior by buying a new dress than it does to celebrate by letting children hunt easter eggs?
 

Magenta

Senior Member
Jul 3, 2015
59,815
29,195
113
#89
I don't think there's anything wrong with playing bingo as long as there's no gambling involved. "Capture" a day? Should not everything we do please the Lord? Santa Claus and Easter bunnies is not pleasing to the Lord. They are a distraction for the truth. Are kids more excited about Santa Claus or the birth of Christ? And whose fault is this?
You could look at it as, Every time you spend money you are gambling. Will this movie be any
good? Will this avocado be rotten? Will these tomatoes be sweet? Will this apple be juicy?
Will these shoes wear out or last a long time? Will this dress be suitable for my friend's funeral?
Spending a few dollars to pass the time in community with others hardly seems a sinful social activity.
 

Ted01

Well-known member
May 14, 2022
1,055
447
83
#90
I remember that in my youth, Easter and egg dying, hunting and all that was absolutely wonderous to me. And I'm really glad that my family encouraged my youthful imagination... my brother putting on a bunny suit and pretending to deliver eggs.
Also, the messages from Santa, thanking us for the cookies and milk that we left for him.

Today, I'm more thankful that my mother and grandmother instilled me with a reverence for God... but I still hold fond memories of the trivial fun and excitement of me, as a child... the two seemed to have produced a pleasing "someone" to God... IMHO.
 

Magenta

Senior Member
Jul 3, 2015
59,815
29,195
113
#92
Yeah.... I was there, too. Does it make any more sense to celebrate the risen Savior
by buying a new dress than it does to celebrate by letting children hunt easter eggs?
Don't forget the hats we had to wear!!!
1687277786486.png
 

Ted01

Well-known member
May 14, 2022
1,055
447
83
#93
Noooooooooooooooooooooooooo...
I hang my head in shame... 'tis true, sometimes, while in prayer even, the cats act up and I excuse myself from God in order to tend to their needs. :oops:

I think, God gave them into my care, and they help me so much with "interaction" and "relationship"... they're God's educational aides for a somewhat autistic, personality type.
 

hornetguy

Senior Member
Jan 18, 2016
7,075
1,702
113
#94
Suuure , perhaps we should also bring beer and all other alcoholic beverages along with cigarettes and legal pot smoking into church after all its all just social right ?
YES.... it's that slippery slope into HELL..... free love and nickel beer....

We should go back to this, immediately.... men on one side, women on the other.... don't look at each other....

Puritans-Conformity-300x218.jpg
 
L

Locoponydirtman

Guest
#95
Yeah.... I was there, too. Does it make any more sense to celebrate the risen Savior by buying a new dress than it does to celebrate by letting children hunt easter eggs?
You mean buy a dress in order to present yourself specially reverently before Christ as you celebrate his ressurrection. You have an issue with that?
 

hornetguy

Senior Member
Jan 18, 2016
7,075
1,702
113
#99
You mean buy a dress in order to present yourself specially reverently before Christ as you celebrate his ressurrection. You have an issue with that?
Yeah.... right. No, it was a reason for all the women to buy a new dress.....

Do YOU think that Jesus cares what we wear, or how we dress? Do you think he loves us more if we dress to impress?

If you DO think that, then you need to go back and read more about Jesus....

I think I should go buy me a new Mercedes convertible to go to Easter Sunday worship services.... so I can present myself specially reverent..... SMH....