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Does this make sence to you? It doesn't to me, and it makes me mad. Christmas is supposed to be a holiday that celebrates Christ- so how do so many people who aren't even Christian celebrate it?! I had some friends who aren't Christian, and they asked me what I wanted for Christmas. One of them told me that Christmas was a national holiday, and nobody really celebrates it for religion anymore. Another one got reeeallly mad when I asked her why she celebrated it. Is the point of this hliday to these people getting stuff?! How lame! What do yout think?

Terrorists have killed 3000 Americans since 1990.....Abortionists have killed 4000 Americans since yesturday.


God gave us 86,400 seconds a day. Have you taken one to say 'thank you'?

I agree :)

The CHIRST in Christmas has long been forgotten and, most likely, never known by most non-believers (atheists, agnostics, etc). I use to have the same feeling for those who celebrated holidays yet understood not why they were celebrating it. It fits to say that they did know the true Holiday Spirit but believed they knew the Holiday Spirit. (sound familiar? hint: the Holy Spirit) It reminds me of that Jack in the Box commercial with those reindeer antler hat's. The people say, "Good holiday day spirit". But what do antlers have to do with CHRISTmas? This is a holiday spirit in Santa Claus and his reindeers and not Christ Jesus.

These people celebrate Christmas for gifts, trees, and cool lights. Christmas is just another national secular holiday. This is just the way of the world. People need an excuse to have school breaks, work breaks, and a need to celebrate. I believe we very well could have holidays celebrating each disciple of Christ and all the prophets in the OT and still, the world would forget its origin and celebrate it just to celebrate.

I think it's always been both secular and religious for a very long time.  Of course, the original intention was to celebrate the birth of our Savior.  All of us who are "in Christ" could dispense with the extraneous and just send one another "birthday cards" in remembrance.  Wanna start it?
Even though they complain,I really don't think many people, Christian or other, want any changes.

the thing is to me store and everything have made it a day of getting gifts so people will spend alot of money in their stores.Maybe to them this is a time that they so they love each other and show it by getting them gifts.the thing is I don't really know,but that's my guess

I'm an atheist, do you want me to reply to that? (the OP) :)

yes, Kalthzar, please do. And- what? You're Athiest? Isn't this a Christian website? What's "the OP"?

I think the original intent was to get the pagans to quit celebrating their pagan winter solstice.  :)  

I think "the" original intent was to celebrate the birth of Christ with the hope of winning pagans to Christ.  I'd have to do some research on this and I don't have the time right now.


 

Yes i am an atheist, there are rules to what people can say (on this forum), to say the least it limits me more than others but yes we do exist  ;)

and the OP is the Opening post....i think ;D

Your main problem is that is was originally a religious holiday? (as some others have mentioned, it was pagan in origin, then t'was modified a bit)

And that non-Christians shouldn't worship it for this reason?

I would blame the Companies and Media who hype the holiday up.  I remember seeing a discussion similar to this, where a person said that basically The Christmas holiday used to be just celebrated by Chrisitans, and it wasn't such a big deal for everyone else. So i would expect if you looked back in the newspapers, go back about 30 years, and and keep going back in 10 year steps. See how much Christmas is reported in the papers.


other than that, i would say one of your non-christian friends is correct, it isn't really celebrated for the religious reasons much. Sure there is a lot of good things that come out of it. But you don't see papers or the TV reporting on the Christian message. Instead they portray the commercial aspect of our 'new Christmas', they're in it for the money.

I don't think that the television and media folks have a clue about how many Christians celebrate Christmas. They are more in tune about how the world, not Christians, celebrate Christmas.

For many Christians, Christmas simply means bigger and longer worship services, special church and family gatherings to eat together, give thanks, and share the love of Jesus. For many Christians, Christmas really is a time for joy, thanksgiving, and sharing happiness in Jesus. Our fun always involves the Bible, singing worship songs, prayer, and things the world does not understand or appreciate. We've already been given the biggest and most precious GIFT in existence, JESUS CHRIST! The best personal gifts we give each other is Christian fellowship. The material gifts we give each other are usually small and insignificant. However, the children don't think so. :D

There are a few television shows that come fairly close to describing what many Christians do or try to do every day - share the love of JESUS with others. However, they may be more motivated and try harder at Christmas. After all, this is a time that we celebrate the Birth of Jesus. There are a lot of special things that families and churches do during this time of the year that the world would not view as fun, but we do.

Many folks don't think that it is possible for Christians to laugh and have fun. That would be another television stereotype, and it simply isn't true. Christians simply have fun in different ways than the world. Christians don't need alcohol and other substances to get happy and have fun. Maybe that's why the world thinks that Christians are dull, boring, never have any fun, and never laugh. WELL, I've got a NEWS FLASH! - Our clean fun is MORE FUN - and we can legally drive when we leave the party.

Love In Christ,
Tom

Titus 2:11-14  For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

AMEN Tom

There will come a point when, we will leave the party sooner. ;D  Then those unlucky, to believe in Christ. :'(

Revelation 3:10 “Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.”

Resting with God.
Bob

My father (who was not Christian) loved to give gifts at Christmas.  He really enjoyed that for some reason.  I'll never really know the "full" reason behind it but I have some guesses.  The rest of my family isn't as big on it.  This year we still got each other something but it's only a gift or two and it's not about spending money.  The point though is that I got into an argument  with my father and his girlfriend about not teaching my son about santa claus.  Their argument was that's what christmas was all about to which I had to correct them and say it was about celebrating the birth of Christ even if it is the wrong time of year.

They didn't like that at all and it gets wierd for me when other people ask my son if he's ready for santa claus.  I never make mention of SC in my house and so my son looks at them like "who?".

Next year though I am going to suggest that instead of getting gifts for each other that we gove to some charity or something in  their names.  Actually doing the christian thing and being charitable and even fullfilling the supposed message of "giving" to others.

Unfortunately though we have bought into the marketing of Christmas so much that our economy now depends on christmas sales to make out the year.

Saved_4Ever,

My family does give gifts at Christmas, but I doubt the commercial giants depend on us much. Many of our gifts are homemade, food that we enjoy together, family pictures, things that we need, or small things that are personal. What something costs is not important. My grandsons may make me something, and I will treasure that more than any expensive gift, simply because it was made by their own little hands.

I give thanks that many people do volunteer work and give gifts to the Salvation Army, Hospice, Goodwill, children's shelters, homes for battered women, nursing homes, homes for the handicapped, hospitals, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, soup kitchens, evangelism outreach programs, missionaries all over the world, your local church, food banks, shelters for the homeless, the Gideons, and a host of other worthy labors for the Lord.

I think that it is essential for all children to know there are many people less fortunate, in need, hungry, without homes, and without God. If you give them a gift, tell them where all of our gifts come from - GOD! If you give your children a gift, teach them also how and why they should give to others. If you ever mention the word "gift", talk about the most precious GIFT, Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour. Most of our children have already received this GIFT. If not, helping them understand and accept that GIFT should be the heaviest burden on the hearts of their parents. The same would be true of other family members and friends. This is the biggest and most precious GIFT, and it's already been paid for by the Blood of JESUS on the CROSS.

The things of the LORD are always the best gifts for Christians to give. Maybe it's a Bible, a Christian book, gospel music, and other gifts that keep on giving. Maybe it's nothing but a hug and saying "I love you."

Love In Christ,
Tom

Ephesians 1:3  Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:

The commecial ginats may not count on your family or some others but overall they count on the marketed version of christmas for 4th quarter sales which are usually higher than any other quater.  It makes a big difference in the financial year as a whole.

Amen :)

Saved_4Ever,

Brother, I know that you are completely correct. In fact, I would imagine that many people's jobs depend on what may be sold for Christmas.

Love In Christ,
Tom

Psalms 118:24  This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.

Does this make sence to you? It doesn't to me, and it makes me mad. Christmas is supposed to be a holiday that celebrates Christ- so how do so many people who aren't even Christian celebrate it?! I had some friends who aren't Christian, and they asked me what I wanted for Christmas. One of them told me that Christmas was a national holiday, and nobody really celebrates it for religion anymore. Another one got reeeallly mad when I asked her why she celebrated it. Is the point of this hliday to these people getting stuff?! How lame! What do yout think?

Doing exactly what you are doing - asking, and probing.

It's easy for any memory to become diluted and adulterated with any number of variations.

For this reason Christmas can still stand as an opportunity.  To remind and share, no matter how insiginifcant, or subtle.

Especially, the very title has our Savior's name in it!  And it's a National Holiday!

    ;D

     8)

AMEN SYMPHONY!

For me, Christmas is a time of many opportunities to think about many things. I think that the biggest is thinking about why I don't give thanks more often, why I don't feel and share the love I should every day, why I don't try harder to share JESUS with others every day, why I don't give more to the needy and less fortunate more often and in greater amounts, and many other issues that don't receive the proper attention every day.

Here's a big one:

Matthew 25:42  For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink:
Matthew 25:43  I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not.
Matthew 25:44  Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?
Matthew 25:45  Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me.

What we don't do for suffering humanity is what we don't do for JESUS.

Love In Christ,
Tom

Psalms 100:3  Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.

"What we don't do for suffering humanity is what we don't do for JESUS."

Please don't criticise atheists.
I celebrate because to me it means a time where you can enjoy everything, enjoy being with your family. The whole story of Jesus is very heartwarming, but not everyone believes in that alone.
I admit, I like Christmas because of the presents, food, time off etc.

Why don't you believe in Jesus?
I'll bet you haven't studied Christianity to see if it's True have you? Think of what you have to lose if you are wrong, and there is a God, and His name is Jesus?

 Let me give you a scenario...

 You are in command of a small group of soldiers...let's say, ten of them.
 You have gone into enemy territory to rescue them, and having done that, you must now get them to the safety of your base camp.

 You have been on the run for a week and as you make your way through thick forest, you begin to think you may run out of water. You continue guiding your soldiers through the forest when you come to a fork in the trail in front of you. Your map shows a water source running through the trail on the right, and you prepare to take it. Just then, a friendly soldier appears out of some thick brush.

 He tells you there were enemy forces on the right trail only two days ago, but he's not sure if they're still there. Your map doesn't show any water running through the trail on the left, but there still could be water there - in fact, one of your men believes there is a huge fresh water source off that trail, because he's positive that was the trail he was taken on by the enemy. One of the other men was not so sure that they had been taken on that trail, and yet the soldier says he's positive.

 So which road do you take Hurting?

 The trail on the right has what you "think" you need (water), but there may be enemy soldiers there. That would be certain death for you and your soldiers.

 The other trail has no enemies, but it may not have what you "think" you need. However, one of your own men says he's positive there is a huge fresh water source there...is he delirious? could he be right? the other soldier says he doesn't believe there's water there at all, but if you listen to him, you'll get what you "think" you need, but you may die getting it.

 Which trail do you take?

 You are in fact at a real fork in the road my friend.
On one side Jesus waits for you. He says He will clean you of every sin you've ever committed, no matter how awful or perverse that may or may not be. He says He will give you a new body - one that won't wrinkle up and die over time, one that won't know pain, sadness, or illness.
All you have to do is take His trail - ask Him to come into your life...it's that simple - it doesn't cost you anything at all.

On the other trail, you find what you "think" you need, or want. On the journey down that trail, you will have fun, you may gain personal wealth, maybe even at someone else’s expense. You will find sex and drink and drugs, and as long as no one gets hurt, it's all good...you know it's ok because the voice in your head, which comes from the end of that trail keeps telling you it's all good - there is no God - keep doing it your way - Only at the end of that trail you will come face to face with the one who's voice you heard...you thought it was your own voice - your own thoughts - but it wasn't - the voice was the voice of a liar - his name is satan, and he is real - he wants to drag as many of God's loved children down in flames with him as he can - he is a master deceiver - a master of disguise - he appears not to be real at times, not even to exist - at other times he appears as a friend - and at other times he appears to be an angel - at the end of his trail you will find only sadness and death.

You are on that trail as we speak my friend. The good news is that you still have time to get off and take the other trail.
Think of what you have to lose if you are wrong.

 Hey, if I'm wrong, and God is not real (He is real) then at the very least, I have been as good of a person as I could have.

But, if you are wrong, and there is a God (there is) then you have lost everything. You're destination is set, and there's no way to get out once you're there.

Why take that chance?
 Please consider these things my friend...

If you need proof that Jesus is real, you can find it here...
www.fifthday.2ya.com  (http://www.fifthday.2ya.com)

 Bronzesnake

One question. Is this a Christian Based website? If so, then I cannot read it.

 Then why are you here?

Bronzesnake

Hurting,

 ???

Christians Unite - Of course this is a Christian based web site. Jesus Christ is the core and cornerstone here, always has been, and always will be.

ADMIN, the moderators, and many sweet Christians who use the forum all have something in common:  We love JESUS CHRIST and have JESUS in our hearts. JESUS CHRIST is the center and LORD over our lives.

If it isn't blatantly obvious this is a Christian based web site, we have much work to do. But, it is blatantly obvious that this is a Christian based web site and forum. We are not ashamed of the Gospel of the Grace of God, the GOOD NEWS, HIS WORD, and the things of the LORD. SO, it is boldly proclaimed on every page of the site and the forum. In fact, Christians Unite serves many thousands of other Christian based web sites with devotions, Scriptures, sermons, and other Christian material so that they can also serve JESUS CHRIST, our Lord and Saviour.

Our ADMIN here serves tirelessly in distributing the things of the LORD. ADMIN has provided Christians Unite Forums as yet another way of sharing the things of our precious Lord and Saviour, JESUS CHRIST.

Hurting, I hope and pray that you meet JESUS here and ask HIM to come into your heart as the LORD over your life. JESUS will fill your hurting and empty places, and you will be changed forever.

Love In Christ,
Tom

Psalms 105:3  Glory ye in his holy name: let the heart of them rejoice that seek the LORD.