We're Not Putting X-Mas Trees Up!

[Evang.Benincasa]

Originally Posted by ChTatum

I'm too stupid to read it, brother.

Is their a reason you always do this?

[Antipas]

Originally Posted by Evang.Benincasa

So what's wrong with a golden calf? What about placing a calf in the middle of the living room and calling that the decoration equipped with flashing and blinking lights?

The tree is the same as having an eight armed Shiva in the living room, or a carved Woten with a jeweled forehead.



But to everyone who knows what it represents it is stupid that Churchians celebrate a Roman Catholic sacrament and then mock the Catholics.

What irony!

In Jesus name

Brother Benincasa

www.OnTimeJournal.com

The Commandment of the Lord...

Exodus 20:4-6
4Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.
5Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;
6And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.

The key is that we don't decorate a Christmas tree and bow down to it. It's just a seasonal decoration like flowers on the mantle in Spring time.

But here's something very real...if you observe a Catholic "communion" with a wafer and grape juice as opposed to the Biblical "Lord's Supper" as the Apostles....you're actually practicing a Catholic ritual at perhaps what should be a most sacred moment of remembrance and fellowship.

If putting up a Christmas tree makes me pagan...munching a communion wafer makes you Catholic. Break out your rosery and practice your Hail Mary's my brother.

[ChTatum]

Originally Posted by Evang.Benincasa

Is their a reason you always do this?

I'm sure there is. Aren't you?

[Antipas]

Originally Posted by Evang.Benincasa

I bet the priests, Jesuits, and the Pope himself would be rolling on the floor holding their stomachs with tears in their eyes, after reading the above.

While you sit under your xmas tree.

What confusion, and the interesting thing is you all won't see it.

In Jesus name

Brother Benincasa

www.OnTimeJournal.com

They point is that you judge a brother over a pagan tree...and swallow a Catholic wafer. Typical Pharisee.

It's just a seasonal decoration with cultural significance. Your communion, if you much wafer, is purely a Catholic religious practice.

[ChTatum]

Antipas,

Are you an adherent of "spiritual communion"?

[Evang.Benincasa]

Originally Posted by Antipas

The key is that we don't decorate a Christmas tree and bow down to it. It's just a seasonal decoration like flowers on the mantle in Spring time.

Does the flowers on the mantle have any significance to any holiday?
My guess is no, they are just like a picture of your mom, or a ornate table in the hallway. We are not talking about that. Those flowers be they fresh picked are placed in the vase, and will be removed when they die. Yet, the tree will only not be placed in it's own special unit and have water added, but it will have jewels and ornaments, lights, candles, action, and other baubles. It will also have it's trimmings saved, after it dies. If it be artificial it will be carefully preserved until next year.

The tree unlike the spring flowers will have the gifts placed under it, and those gifts are only given out once a year. The xmas tree is a special symbol during the time of season. To compare it to mere flowers in a vase, is ridiculous and a sad attempt to win an argument.

Originally Posted by Antipas

But here's something very real...if you observe a Catholic "communion" with a wafer and grape juice as opposed to the Biblical "Lord's Supper" as the Apostles....you're actually practicing a Catholic ritual at perhaps what should be a most sacred moment of remembrance and fellowship.

If putting up a Christmas tree makes me pagan...munching a communion wafer makes you Catholic. Break out your rosery and practice your Hail Mary's my brother.

For the sake of not going dowwn the rabbit hole, the Lord's supper was the Passover table, always believed that and never, have taken grape juice or crackers.

In Jesus name

Brother Benincasa

www.OnTimeJournal.com

[Evang.Benincasa]

Originally Posted by ChTatum

I'm sure there is. Aren't you?

I was asking you.

[Antipas]

Originally Posted by Evang.Benincasa

Reading Frank Viola? So the religious Jews dressed the way they did because of the pagans? If you take the time to read Mr. Viola's books and read his footnotes. You will find that Frank Viola is not reading to present Truth, just...his version of it.

The Jews are not a model for the New Testament Church...do you want to wear an Ephod oh most holy bro?

More of Frank's stuff, how big were these homes? Interestingly enough Frank never tells his readers that the homes weren't split level ranches, and a small group drinking Pepsi and eating pizza. From what the archeologists have found that they met in Roman villas able to accommodate groups of close to a hundred people. Back issues of BAR (Biblical Archeology Review) has the articles. Also it was a motto in ancient Rome that stated, "What you wore, was who you are." With that in mind, the early Christians didn't walk around looking like they were shot out of a canon.

Actually your ignorant. Christians met in larger forums only after Christianity began to flurish without persecution. For the most part Christians met in homes, nor more than small groups of perhaps 10 to 20 people. It could have been a death sentence for Christians to meet en mass in larger forums. In addition, they met and fellowshipped down in catacombs.

They were also forced to go to church, and forced to wear a wedding ring, and forced to celebrate the Church holy days, should I go on?

You're generalizing some very important things her EB. These are subjects that deserve their own address.

George Barna and Frank Viola need to ask the question, "did the apostles charge the church for their writings?"

If often cost Christians more than money for parchment to possess Scriptures.

Skewed view of the world, builds for a skewed view of the Faith once delivered unto the saints.

The only thing skewed here is your quest to be holier than everyone else. If this is holiness, you're obviously more holy than me. I tip my hat to you bro. You're holier than the rest of us. Now do something more holy with your time than posting on a forum arguing with us hell bound pagans while souls go to Hell. You can argue until you're blue in the face...but you're wasting your time. Get out, practice what you believe, and reach souls...if you REALLY believe it. I think you just want to argue and feel more holy than someone. Well, I give it to you...you're oh so holy.

I mean the saints that are speaking in tongues, not the ones that glow in the dark on the dash board of your car.

LOL I will say, I liked that one.

Next to your swinging rosary.

Speaking of swinging...you do know that modern swingers have sworn off wedding bands. They feel it makes marriage far more "high profile". You a swinga bro? lol

[Antipas]

Originally Posted by Evang.Benincasa

I have a good friend who is a Roman Catholic priest who has 3 PhDs was in two different orders. Now he is with the Franciscans. Do you know he presents the same arguments for the rosary, and all of their practices and ceremonies?

We see nothing in the Word to practice any festivals of celebration for the baptism of Jesus by John, the birth of Christ, the visitation of the Magi, the day of Pentecost, the resurrection of Christ, or days dedicated to certain saints and apostles. Yet, the same arguments that you present are presented by my Catholic priest friend. Also have a couple who are very close to my wife and I that are both in The Eastern Ukranian Church. They present a similar argument concerning Icons.

Why should we as Christians go back to idolatry and adopt rituals that the Bible never shows us? We as Apostolic Pentecostals adopt the rituals and practices of the Eastern Orthodox, and the Roman Church. Yet, the early church was Jewish, and the converted Gentiles were taught by Jews.

No Jew would’ve worshiped the flesh of Christ, because they didn't see Him as worshiping a 30 year old Jew, but God in human flesh. Jesus never gave the flesh worship but gave the Spirit worship. Jesus said why callest me good, there is one good that is God alone. So the focus of worship is God the Spirit and not the human flesh and image of man. Jesus is all in all, and is the one true living God. He doesn't become a baby every year, and re-crucified every spring to rise again, and again, at the dawning of the morning.

In Jesus name

Brother Benincasa

www.OnTimeJournal.com

If I actually bowed or venerated my Christmas tree...you'd have a point.

It's a decoration. No more, no less.

Scripture DOES condemn worship or veneration of objects and repetitious prayer. Plainly. Your Catholic buddies are stupid and you're really missing it if you think they're right. As for just picking a day to honor something...that isn't condemned in Scripture in the slightest.

[Antipas]

Originally Posted by Evang.Benincasa

Where Bill? Where did you try to be civil? Did you do it in this post?




Sorry, Bill, you weren't civil in this post. Do you even know what it means to be civil? No, Bill, after the above quote you leave the subject of the thread and start to attack my beliefs on Eschatology? In which as far as you're concerned, you have changed your view too many times to keep count.

Yet, you are not the bit ashamed, no problem for you Bill, you just jump up on the dinner table with the lampshade on your head and do the Cabbage Patch, in front of God and man with no embarrassment whatsoever.




Does that have anything to do with Green Fuels?




Are you trying to say that you don't recognize me as a Brother?

You know Bill, I just don't know what to say.




Bill how many different views have you held within one year?
You are a funny guy Billy Boy. A real laugh, a virtual screamfest.




A Catholic doctrine? How so Bill? Since when has the Roman Catholic Church accepted a total fulfillment of the book of Revelation? That's news to me Bill.
Roman Catholics and Eastern Greek Orthodox still believe that Revelation is yet to be fulfilled.




Guess what Bill, what anyone says to you means nothing to you.



Farewell, Bill, until next year when you become a Baptist, Muslim, or maybe a Mormon? Hey, Bill a Mormon! It's really cool out in Utah, and they have scones with honey butter! Yummy, yummy!

May the Lord help you.

In Jesus name

Brother Benincasa

www.OnTimeJournal.com

That's right....you're a Full Preterist. You don't even believe that Jesus will return bodily. And you condemn a brother over a Christmas tree. Geeesh.