Yes i know this is a double post but i want to share this long message with you "my brother/sister in Christ".
If you still have
doubts if you can celebrate or not Christmas here it is:
To express the thoughts that follow on the subject, it is not my intention to judge what others do. This is between the Christian and God.
Regarding the Christmas perhaps in my opinion the chapter 15 of Acts can be one of the answers (I could be wrong.)
The context is: The new converts (who probably had their customs and holiday parties and birthdays ie Pharaoh and King Herod)
cap 15
1 - Certain men then came down from Judea + and began to teach the brothers: "Unless ye be circumcised, + according to the custom of Moses, ye can not be saved +
5 - However, some of the sect of the Pharisees who had believed, rose from their seats and said: "It is necessary to circumcise them + and warn them to keep the law of Moses.
8-11 - and God, who knows the heart, + bore witness by giving them the holy spirit, + as well as given to us. 9 And he made no distinction between us + and them, but purified their hearts by faith. + 10 Now therefore why are you putting God to the test by imposing on the neck of the disciples a yoke + that neither our ancestors nor we are able to take? + 11
On the contrary, we trust to be saved through the undeserved kindness + (or grace) of the Lord Jesus, just as those people also. "+
19-20 - Therefore, my decision
is not afflict those of the nations (pagan people) who turn to God, + 20
but to write to them to abstain * from things polluted by idols + and from fornication * + and from what is strangled * + and blood. * (everything that happened in that Saturnalia)
27-29 - We have sent therefore Judas and Silas, +
that they also may report the same things by word + 28 For it seemed good to the holy spirit + and do not be ourselves adding no further burden, (can celebrate Christmas.? ) + except these necessary things: 29 persist in abstaining from things sacrificed to idols + and from blood + and from things strangled * + and from fornication * + (this does not happen at Christmas only in Saturnalia). If you carefully keep yourselves from these things, + prosper. Good health to you! (And Merry Christmas?) "*
all taken from the NWT
http://www.jw.org/pt/publicacoes/biblia/bi12/livros/atos/15/
I may be mistaken but reading the chapter gives idea that one can participate in the celebrations of nations.
Regarding the Jeremiah Text:
A tree is cut down the forest and decorated it does not seem that this text is speaking of the Christmas tree here? Of course, when Jeremiah wrote these words, there was no Christmas, no Christmas trees (only AD is appeared Crhistmas). Instead, in his writing he referred to the manufacture of an idol.
to be continued....
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Despite his lack of biblical foundation, we can not but remember that Christmas is also an excellent opportunity to preach the gospel, because a lot of people who feel quite sad and melancholy this time of year. So if you really want to make a difference this time, do something positive and constructive.
Rather than go around burning christmas trees, refusing gifts or hitting with the Bible in Santa's head, preach the gospel.
Many Christians do not celebrate Christmas and use the following arguments:
1. The Bible does not command Christians celebrate Christmas or prohibit it;
2. Do not there is an indication that the early Christians celebrated Christmas;
3. Jesus was not born in December;
4. Christmas is a celebration of materialism;
5.The popular Christmas celebration has its origins in pagan festivals, as well as associated elements such as the Christmas tree;
6. Christmas tree are prohibited in Scripture, in passages like Jeremiah 10: 2-4, Isaiah 44: 14-15 and Jeremiah 3:13;
7.Santa our “Satan” Claus is a myth that takes the focus off Jesus.
Some of the most common responses of Christians who celebrate Christmas are:
1. The Bible does not command nor specifically prohibits the celebration of Jesus' birth, but encourages it
(announcement of joyful angels, for example); Gospel of Luke chapter 2:10-18
2.The early Christians were not many other things that today Christians make and accept naturally;
3. much discussion about when Jesus was born and there is no consensus, even among scholars.
It is possible that Jesus was born in Ocotber or June, although there is no certainty.
4.Christians should celebrate Christmas differently, not falling into materialism.
5.Christians should take every opportunity to exalt Christ and transform completely the same pagan celebrations into something that honors God.
6.As passages refer to the creation of idols, are outside the context of the passage and do not refer at all the Christmas trees. Nobody worships the Christmas tree.
7.It is true that Jesus has to be the center of all our attention, and we must condemn the lie. Christians need not in any way accept Santa Claus to celebrate Christmas.
Dangers You Can Fall
There are two dangers in the Christian can fall at Christmas time. The first is to accept all that the current society and culture say that Christmas should be and how it should be celebrated. The second is to reject the festival altogether and
end up falling into a kind of legalism, that distracts us from Good News which is the coming of Jesus to the world.
So believer should or should not celebrate Christmas?
Yes, every Christian should celebrate the birth of Jesus, the Savior. Along with the death and resurrection of Jesus, his incarnation (the moment when the Word became flesh, became one of us) should be celebrated yes.
But each is free to do so according to their conscience and as the Holy Spirit guide and need not be in any particular date.
You celebrate Christmas on the 25th? Do it for the glory of God. Would you rather not celebrate that day? Glorify God in it.
Do you have Christmas tree? Use the opportunity to remember the many blessings we have in Jesus. He is convinced that should not have? Take the time to tell everyone you prefer celebrate this otherwise super important event that was the birth of Jesus!
Whatever your belief, the important thing is to bless people not only this time but throughout the year. Give the good news that Jesus came, died and rose again to save us has to be always and not only in December!
http://www.respostas.com.br/cristaos-devem-celebrar-o-natal/
"No man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink or in respect of an holyday,
or a new moon or a Sabbath day. These are a shadow of things; the reality, however, is in Christ. "(Colossians 2.16-17)
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I know well that the texts I sent you are huge but well worth your reading.
Grateful for the attention
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But the angel said to them: “Do not be afraid, for look! I am declaring to you good news of a great joy that all the people will have. 11 For today there was born to you in David’s city+ a savior,+ who is Christ the Lord.+ 12 And this is a sign for you: You will find an infant wrapped in strips of cloth and lying in a manger.” 13 Suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly army,+ praising God and saying: 14 “Glory in the heights above to God, and on earth peace among men of goodwill.”* 15 So when the angels had departed from them into heaven, the shepherds began saying to one another: “Let us by all means go over to Beth′le·hem and see what has taken place, which God* has made known to us.” 16 And they went quickly and found Mary as well as Joseph, and the infant lying in the manger. 17 When they saw this, they made known the message that they had been told concerning this young child. 18 And all who heard were astonished at what the shepherds told them
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cnsk7iXFCtY
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ps. -
Then Phar′aoh removed his signet ring
from his own hand and put it on Joseph’s hand and clothed him with garments of fine linen and placed a necklace of gold around his neck.
After that Joseph
commanded his servants, the physicians, to embalm+ his father. So the physicians embalmed Israel, 3 and they took the full 40 days for him, for this is the full period for the embalming, and the Egyptians continued to shed tears for him 70 days.
And Joseph died at the age of 110,
and they had him embalmed,+ and he was put in a coffin in Egypt.
Ill sent/cover in other time more info about “paganism.”
Joseph (a man of God )in his epsisodes in Egypt...
