Yes, no, and no. Look, I am not going to bring my home church into this. AFF has a history of people calling my pastor. I wish these folks would address me, and leave my church family out of it.
And, if you must know, it is called the Christmas banquet.
But my question is, are you going to attend?
Edited to add: I see you already answered this.
I've attended churches that celebrate things I don't. It's difficult, but not impossible to do both.
__________________
You become free from who you have become, by becoming who you were meant to be. ~Mark from another forum I post on
God did it for us. Out of sheer generosity he put us in right standing with himself. A pure gift. He got us out of the mess we're in and restored us to where he always wanted us to be. And he did it by means of Jesus Christ. ~Romans 3:24 from The Message
A Christmas tree is just an ancient European tradition. Yes, many Christians have carried over these traditions out of their pagan origins and include them in modern seasonal festivities. There is no sin in this. No one is worshiping a tree. Steeples originated on pagan temples, in fact they are a phallic symbol used to denote where pagans would perform their orgiastic worship services. Yet most churches, even churches pastored by men that condemn Christmas trees have them. C'mon folks. Even the "sermon" as we know it is a pagan innovation. And the custom of "dressing up" for official services is a Catholic innovation. We could go hog crazy on this line of thinking...it's DIVISIVE. Divisiveness is far worse than a holiday tree that serves as a seasonal decoration. Those who are condemning others over their desire to have a seasonal decoration are truly doing far more harm to the body than anyone who puts up a holiday tree. C'mon folks.
On a side note, I think there is a war against our European heritage and traditions. If we were African and held some of our customary garb and redefined some of our customs to maintain our culture we'd be tolerated. But let a white European value their ancient cultural traditions and look out. I'm of European decent (Dutch, Irish, English, and German). I'm proud of my heritage, customs, and traditions. I firmly place my faith in Christ alone...and no stupid tree that decorates my home should be allowed to define my Christian faith. Personally, those who have such problems with me having a Christmas tree have deeper issues than my holiday decorations.
Excuse me. I did not say I was going. In fact, I excused myself from the banquet. How about asking before you insert foot in mouth? I guess you liberals are willing to hate that much that you put words in people's mouths. But, then again, I have learned to expect such from this place.
I stand by my statements, that Christmas is pagan, and we should not celebrate it. My church is not celebrating this day, but are celebrating fellowship. But, in the mind of the perverse, this stance would be compromising. But, to the pure, all things are pure, and to the liberal, nothing is pure.
One more time, I am not attending the banquet. I excused myself. now, you may proceed placing foot in mouth.
Hey wait, I thought you'd stopped reading/posting here. Not that I didn't know you were still reading based on topics discussed...
But, Bill, really. Let's leave the labels out of this (I'm a liberal who doesn't celebrate Christmas....that should be confusing enough to help with that).
If you don't celebrate, for whatever reason, then don't. But don't make not celebrating it's own celebration.
Your church is either celebrating Christmas, in which case you are right to stand by your convictions and not attend. Or it's celebrating fellowship, in which case you are distancing yourself from your fellowship and choosing not to celebrate that fellowship.
I'm also confused by the bolded. If it's pure, then it's pure. Go, enjoy yourself and your fellowship!
I also have to say I especially enjoyed being insulted with such a broad generalization.
__________________
You become free from who you have become, by becoming who you were meant to be. ~Mark from another forum I post on
God did it for us. Out of sheer generosity he put us in right standing with himself. A pure gift. He got us out of the mess we're in and restored us to where he always wanted us to be. And he did it by means of Jesus Christ. ~Romans 3:24 from The Message
You know...with so many loosing jobs and homes this year...why bicker over trees? Why not go out and do something for the less fortunate? Let'or s turn all this energy into doing something good.
I challenge all here to buy just $5 in canned goods to give to a local food pantry or foodbank. Then come back and bicker about trees.
What church are you attending?
Does it believe or not believe in c'mas? would you accept an expensive christmas gift..... say a new car?
I would accept a gift.
Gifts purchased because it's just the thing to do bother me (birthday, graduation, wedding, baby shower, Christmas...there are oh so many reasons for having to purchase something). But gifts given because a person thought about me, no matter what caused them to think of me, I appreciate and accept.
__________________
You become free from who you have become, by becoming who you were meant to be. ~Mark from another forum I post on
God did it for us. Out of sheer generosity he put us in right standing with himself. A pure gift. He got us out of the mess we're in and restored us to where he always wanted us to be. And he did it by means of Jesus Christ. ~Romans 3:24 from The Message
You know...with so many loosing jobs and homes this year...why bicker over trees? Why not go out and do something for the less fortunate? Let'or s turn all this energy into doing something good.
I challenge all here to buy just $5 in canned goods to give to a local food pantry or foodbank. Then come back and bicker about trees.
EXCELLENT suggestion, Antipas
__________________ "Many people view their relationship with God like a "color by number" picture. It's easier to let someone else define the boundaries, tell them which blanks to fill in, and what color to use than it is for them to take a blank canvas and seek inspiration from the Source in order to paint their own masterpiece"
It might seem silly to you, D4T, but really, it isn't silly to me at all. The reason for this is that the fear that Emma shows is the fear that I lived under when I felt like I had to do certain things like not having a tree or not be right with God. It does get crazy, I will grant you that.
I'm sorry that you had that experience. Would you agree that your experience is not everyone’s experience across the board?
That not everyone had to blindly submit. Not everyone had to forego well informed choices.
Hey wait, I thought you'd stopped reading/posting here. Not that I didn't know you were still reading based on topics discussed...
Excuse me but the individual you are addressing doesn't play by the same rules you and the rest of mankind play by. Nothing he says is even remotely reliable. He can make wonderful orations on how he will no longer do thus and thus, and turn around and contradict every word he had just spoken.
In times long gone they would take individuals like him and throw them into a pit full of snakes to scare some sense back into the individual. Indian tribes feared them and considered them big medicine and would drive them out from the tribe. The Internet has made Andy Warhol a prophet and has given way more than 15 minutes of fame out to those who would not even of been known in their own neighborhoods, let alone a whole apostolic community.
Excuse me but the individual you are addressing doesn't play by the same rules you and the rest of mankind play by. Nothing he says is even remotely reliable. He can make wonderful orations on how he will no longer do thus and thus, and turn around and contradict every word he had just spoken.
In times long gone they would take individuals like him and throw them into a pit full of snakes to scare some sense back into the individual. Indian tribes feared them and considered them big medicine and would drive them out from the tribe. The Internet has made Andy Warhol a prophet and has given way more than 15 minutes of fame out to those who would not even of been known in their own neighborhoods, let alone a whole apostolic community.
I know all of that. I'm not even frustrated...sad though.
__________________
You become free from who you have become, by becoming who you were meant to be. ~Mark from another forum I post on
God did it for us. Out of sheer generosity he put us in right standing with himself. A pure gift. He got us out of the mess we're in and restored us to where he always wanted us to be. And he did it by means of Jesus Christ. ~Romans 3:24 from The Message
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