More on the taking something bad and making something good out of it... what about music? Most of our Christian music has 'pagan' roots. Some of the songs that we consider classic hymns were taking directly from 'pagan' music and Christianized.
Why is it bad to go into a culture that doesn't honor God, convert them, and then help them to turn some of their traditions into traditions that honor God? (again, as long as the traditions aren't sinful acts) Do we expect other cultures to completely and totally change everything about themselves?
How many times have we heard people say 'I used to dance for the devil, but now I dance for the Lord!' Do we ban dancing because it's done in bars and pagans do it?
More on the taking something bad and making something good out of it... what about music? Most of our Christian music has 'pagan' roots. Some of the songs that we consider classic hymns were taking directly from 'pagan' music and Christianized.
Why is it bad to go into a culture that doesn't honor God, convert them, and then help them to turn some of their traditions into traditions that honor God? (again, as long as the traditions aren't sinful acts) Do we expect other cultures to completely and totally change everything about themselves?
How many times have we heard people say 'I used to dance for the devil, but now I dance for the Lord!' Do we ban dancing because it's done in bars and pagans do it?
If O Holy Night has pagan roots, God put it to good use with me.
It was thru that song, I as a Jew, first felt the presence of the Lord.
That experience differs little from any experience I've had since becoming His own.
Is there other pagan customs we can christianize as long as we don't intend to worship a false God?
I do not even see it as christianizing anything. It's giving gifts beneath a decorated tree.
Quote:
Can a converted buddhist continue with buddhist customs as long as his heart is not worshipping buddha?
If buddhists waved their hands to buddha on Saturday afternoon at 1:46am in some form of worship, that does not mean former buddhists cannot wave at a friend at 1:46am on saturday Morning. That is really all it amounts to.
Quote:
How long out from pagan intent is a custom harmless? 1 year? 5 years? 10 years?
It has nothing to do with time. If someone worshiped a pagan tree god by putting sacrifices beneath a decorated tree, then left that false faith, and two hours later put a gift beneath a decorated tree for a friend, there is nothing wrong with that second act. All anyone can do is distort the point we are making and change it into some strawman like time passing to condone a ritual used in worship.
__________________ ...MY THOUGHTS, ANYWAY.
"Many Christians do not try to understand what was written in a verse in the Bible. Instead they approach the passage to prove what they already believe."
One big difference is that we can't control name of a day, but we can control what customs/practices we partake of.
There is no big difference. You are actually saying SOME instances of pagan worship are fine while others are not, depending on what we can control? You see no error in that reasoning? And yet you say we are wrong since we allow some things and not others?
__________________ ...MY THOUGHTS, ANYWAY.
"Many Christians do not try to understand what was written in a verse in the Bible. Instead they approach the passage to prove what they already believe."
More on the taking something bad and making something good out of it... what about music? Most of our Christian music has 'pagan' roots. Some of the songs that we consider classic hymns were taking directly from 'pagan' music and Christianized.
What songs would that be?
Why is it bad to go into a culture that doesn't honor God, convert them, and then help them to turn some of their traditions into traditions that honor God? (again, as long as the traditions aren't sinful acts) Do we expect other cultures to completely and totally change everything about themselves?
It's not culture that's an issue but pagan practices, no sin in culture such as mexican, asian etc.... but the customs adopted to celebrate his birth did not come from culture but pagan worship
How many times have we heard people say 'I used to dance for the devil, but now I dance for the Lord!' Do we ban dancing because it's done in bars and pagans do it?
dancing is a poor comparison. Dancing unto the lord is scriptural while pagan customs are not.
__________________
Today pull up the little weeds,
The sinful thoughts subdue,
Or they will take the reins themselves
And someday master you. --Anon.
The most deadly sins do not leap upon us, they creep up on us.
If buddhists waved their hands to buddha on Saturday afternoon at 1:46am in some form of worship, that does not mean former buddhists cannot wave at a friend at 1:46am on saturday Morning. That is really all it amounts to.
. . .
And that about sums it up!
__________________
Hebrews 13:23 Know ye that our brother Timothy is set at liberty
I do not even see it as christianizing anything. It's giving gifts beneath a decorated tree.
If buddhists waved their hands to buddha on Saturday afternoon at 1:46am in some form of worship, that does not mean former buddhists cannot wave at a friend at 1:46am on saturday Morning. That is really all it amounts to.
It has nothing to do with time. If someone worshiped a pagan tree god by putting sacrifices beneath a decorated tree, then left that false faith, and two hours later put a gift beneath a decorated tree for a friend, there is nothing wrong with that second act. All anyone can do is distort the point we are making and change it into some strawman like time passing to condone a ritual used in worship.
I know we can go down alot of rabbit trails of what if's, but what if one burnt an incense unto buddha today got coverted tonight but tomorrow say they burning it unto Christ?
Most truely converted pagan person would hold unto their idolatrous ways. Something about abstain from idols would mean something to them.
19Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
21Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
What would such like mean? I have no doubts a true converted pagan would not want anything to do with "such like" their past pagan customs.
__________________
Today pull up the little weeds,
The sinful thoughts subdue,
Or they will take the reins themselves
And someday master you. --Anon.
The most deadly sins do not leap upon us, they creep up on us.
I got a visual now. LOL. Guess I shouldn't wear the feathers.
waving hands does not compare to pagan customs
Linear Mode
