JFJ Forums

Note to everyone if you have a problem with what I said Pm me. let not hijack this thread turning it into a debate.

bassgirl you can have christmas without santa or reindeers .  or without gift giving or without christmas tree etc.... without baking cookies etc...... The very earlier origins of Christmas was just most a liturgy event with soem gift giving but nothing like we see today.

The christmas of today is different from the one over 1000+ years plus ago.

some change for the better some for the worse.

Thanks to everyone.  I have yet to tell my family.  But the conviction that I faced every year, like I was doing something wrong against G-d, was lifted the day I told him I would no longer participate in Christmas and Easter.  This year is going to be tough!  Its just me mum, dad, and me.  What's a lonely daughter to do?  I will tell them that I no longer want to take part in the holiday, but just this year, I will go to my parents house.  Perhaps next year they will have my sister's family and the grandkids to keep them occupied.

I'm not against spending time with family at all.  But just like I would never offer beer to my friend who is a former acoholic, I don't feel I could be comfortable decorating a tree or taking part in the many Christmas rituals.  I love my family and am trying to somehow make this work.  

Thanks again everyone for your kindness and advice.

There's nothing wrong with celebrating Christmas, just don't leave Jesus out! A great time to witness for Him!

bassgirl everyone has their convictions to deal with some think christmas  trees  are pagan some do not etc... you will find who argue against christmas and you find some that defend it Like me for example on this site.
.

I was reading in the OT one day and praying and I read a verse of scripture regarding Gd telling the Israelites not to follow the customs of the pagans and it mentioned nailing the bottom of trees or something to that effect. I wish I could find it again. From that day forward I have used NATIVITY SCENES FOR MY CHRISTMAS GIFTS. Just an idea. Gd bless you, whatever you do.

President Obama made an announcement that the White House tree's will be called; Holiday tree's, as not to offend Muslim Tradition! Does that eat your goat or what? I believe even though the time is not right, and Christmas was a brutal day in European history to the point it was banned , does not take from it the reformed Christmas our forefathers established in the U.S. ; making it a day of celebration to Jesus's birth, and Good Will to men! One day , we will not have that right! Enjoy it while you can!

so it not being called Christmas tree due to it will offend Muslims? I wonder how islam would like for us to be on their backs and telling them to change their holidays due it might offend others.

Just an update for anyone interested:

I wanted to tell my family in person, particularly my parents, but my grandmother died and I had to wait till things settled down.  My mother was talking to me on the phone and began talking about me coming to decorate the tree and I finally had to just tell her.  She was very understanding and was impressed with the extent of research I had done.  Of course, this was years in the making so for sure I would have had some information and good reasons for my decision.

My parents both know of my decision.  But other than that it is left up to when the subject comes up, I will tell.  Most likely there may or may not be a noticeable difference with me this year as I did decided to go to my family's christmas celebration only to be with them.  My siblings don't know yet but if they ask what's up, I'll tell them.

I look forward to seeing my family.

What about those whom the Catholic church suppressed?  They made it against the law for the gentile believers to celebrate Jewish holy days, though they had been doing it since even before the messiah came!  For over 300yrs after Yeshua left, the Gentiles celebrated along side the Jews.  But not long after Constantine became a "believer" (I give him the benefit of the doubt, though I do question is conversion), the anti-jewish roman citizens wanted Yeshua, but not Judaism!  So they combined their pagan beliefs with the Messiah.  Winter Solstice became known as Christ-Mass, and the celebration of Ishtar turned into Easter, which has nothing to do with the Messiah considering he rose on saturday night and not sunday morning.

So I say, we HAD the right to celebrate with our Jewish brothers and sisters until those who were anti-jewish politically and socially, banned all gentiles from celebrating with them.  We were forced to ingage in idolatry.  Most gentiles should've put up a bigger fight, but to their defense they were out numbered.  But I choose to not be a part of the pagan celebrations.  And as the quoted comment suggested, I will reserve my right to celebrate Passover and refuse to celebrate Winter Solstice.

As far as mulisms go, I don't care what they or any one thinks of me.  I only care what G-d thinks of me.  I give love to all and respect all as G-d loves and respects me.  But I believe what I believe and not even satan can make me change.  

Hope7 it is Jeremiah chapter 10....