Sam, I would offend some people just by breathing. I try not to cause offense to reasonable people, or by pushing what I believe off onto others, whether they are reasonable or not.
__________________
What we make of the Bible will never be as great a thing as what the Bible will - if we let it - make of us.~Rich Mullins
I do not feel obliged to believe that the same God who has endowed us with sense, reason, and intellect has intended us to forgo their use.~Galileo Galilei
D4T, following through with what you've said, taking the day off is acknowledgment of a pagan holiday. Those who don't celebrate such holidays surely shouldn't take the day off, since the holiday is not a by-product of the idolatry, but is part of the idolatry itself.
And I even sense that you are serious. Amazing.
No ma'am.
The offices to where I work are closed and locked and no one is there. I would be risking jail to go to work on that day.
The suggestion in this post is reminiscent of the people you speak of in the post below.
Quote:
Sam, I would offend some people just by breathing. I try not to cause offense to reasonable people, or by pushing what I believe off onto others, whether they are reasonable or not.
If my office closes on halloween and calls it Samhain that has nothing to do with what I practice and recognize. The offices are closed.
Now... if I go home and set up an altar to Samhain... at that point... you are right. But don't worry. It ain't happening.
I wasn't serious about not taking the holiday off. It was TIC. However, it does follow fairly well with some lines of thinking that I've been exposed to.
There really are people who are offended by my existence though. I won't stop existing because they take offense that I do.
__________________
What we make of the Bible will never be as great a thing as what the Bible will - if we let it - make of us.~Rich Mullins
I do not feel obliged to believe that the same God who has endowed us with sense, reason, and intellect has intended us to forgo their use.~Galileo Galilei
Last edited by missourimary; 12-01-2010 at 12:14 PM.
I wasn't serious about not taking the holiday off. It was TIC. However, it does follow fairly well with some lines of thinking that I've been exposed to.
There really are people who are offended by my existence though. I won't stop existing because they take offense that I do.
Yes ma'am.
I would hope that this does not follow with my line of thinking.
I don't think it does, D4T. Your reasons for not celebrating are a lot different than theirs.
__________________
What we make of the Bible will never be as great a thing as what the Bible will - if we let it - make of us.~Rich Mullins
I do not feel obliged to believe that the same God who has endowed us with sense, reason, and intellect has intended us to forgo their use.~Galileo Galilei
I am just saying that if one is refraining from it due to pagan origins, one should not refrain since the pagan origin is not an issue when the intentions of people enjoying the day are simply to have fun with family and friends. I am saying if people think God is looking down on them for christmas trees and gifts, because some ancient rites started that trend, when in reality the people today are not intending any worship to any false god, they are wrong in thinking God is looking down on them for this.
It is not a holy-day (holiday), but simply a time of gifts and fun with my family. I think it's a shame people rob their families of this. I think it is extreme legalism to say we should not reach down and put a gift beneath a christmas tree, when all we are intending is to leave a gift for someone, just because it looks like we're bowing down to an idol. If I speak the word "Monday" on the second day of the week, and do not intend to be honouring any moon god on that day, but just entitling that twenty four hour period by the common title, that is no different than reaching down and putting a gift beneath a christmas tree and not intended any sacrifice to any tree idol. God sees the intents of the heart and knows if it is false worship or not.
How more legalistic can one get than by saying the outward similarity of an action of worship, done without an ounce of intention for any such worship, is judged by God as false worship?
If that is not your concept, then my thoughts do not apply to you.
When I was in Bible college a well-known preacher was added to the college staff to correct (his words)some doctrinal problems the school was accused of having.
One day in the cafeteria, I was twisting the stem off an apple saying the letters of the alphabet after each turn. Completely innocent. This spiritual giant made it a point to tell me that "In Kenya, this is occultic". My response to him was I wasn't in Kenya and to lighten up.
Sometimes people just have to give unsolicited opinions when they'd be better off keeping to themselves.
Now I'm going to go to the Mt Hood Forest and chop down a tree for Christmas! The bigger the better. (and hopefully has a spotted owl or two in it! lol)
__________________
What we make of the Bible will never be as great a thing as what the Bible will - if we let it - make of us.~Rich Mullins
I do not feel obliged to believe that the same God who has endowed us with sense, reason, and intellect has intended us to forgo their use.~Galileo Galilei
Last edited by missourimary; 12-01-2010 at 01:12 PM.
Making a car an idol is consciously adoring something. That is apples and oranges to enjoying gift giving. No one is worshiping anything when they give gifts at Christmas and decorate their homes, compared to idolizing a car. Putting a gift beneath a tree is nothing like worship. It is placing a box where people expect to retrieve them and open them. lol How is THAT anything similar to idolizing a car?
Point being there's no intent to worshop the car. Remember, it's not idolatory if no intent as you say.
__________________
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 said, "If I speak the word "Monday" on the second day of the week, and do not intend to be honouring any moon god on that day, but just entitling that twenty four hour period by the common title, that is no different than reaching down and putting a gift beneath a christmas tree and not intended any sacrifice to any tree idol. God sees the intents of the heart and knows if it is false worship or not." Let me clarify that. Hollering the name of the MOON on the second day of the week was honouring the moon god in ancient times on MONDAY. Does that mean hollering the word "MONDAY" on Monday means we are worshiping the moon god simply because we are doing something SIMILAR to what they did in false worship? No. By the same token it is not bowing in worship of an idol just because we lean down and put a gift beneath a decorated tree. What's the difference?
Anyway, y'all can think what you want.
Days of the weak is such a weak defense, we can't help the name of the days of the week, but we don't have to partake of 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.
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