prayer warriors (following Jesus Christ, everyone welcome)

[Chicken Girl1]

[41] Every year his parents went to Jerusalem for the Feast of the Passover. [42] When he was twelve years old, they went up to the Feast, according to the custom. [43] After the Feast was over, while his parents were returning home, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but they were unaware of it. [44] Thinking he was in their company, they traveled on for a day. Then they began looking for him among their relatives and friends. [45] When they did not find him, they went back to Jerusalem to look for him. [46] After three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions.

Luke 2:41-46

I was reading my bible and can't imagine how the blessed virgin Mary and Joseph felt during this passage. Imagine losing Jesus!

 

[shortgrass]

We were always taught that "Santa" was St. Nicholas, who was a real person. My parents let us believe that with Gods help St. Nicholas can do anything, they never directly told us that he really did do it. We took it for granted. When we got older we all kinda just knew that it is more a tradition that we kept not a belief in the secular "Santa" the jolly old elf who gave toys to kids. I have friends who disagree and say its lying to their children to let them believe in Santa but we believe in St. Nicholas who dedicated his life to serve God. Here is an article on Christmas (one of the many I've read): http://taylormarshall.com/2012/12/yes-christ-was-really-born-on-december.html

Is St Nicholas in the Bible? Then I'm sorry, I don't follow St Nicholas, I follow Christ.

Do a mager scene, some shepherds or something, why confuse masses of children with false beliefs of fancy trees and saints? Why not just give them a gift?

That's what I call a "tradition of men"... I'll find a break in here somewhere and divulge further...

Actually it wasn't pagan granted I don't remember if they believed in Christ ( took college course) if my fevered brain remembers correctly it was a way to break up the darkness of winter and give people something to look forward to instead of being depressed. However Santa storied creep me out. The one from when the Dutch where under Spain's control is to creepy.I avoid Santa for the most part my three year likes him I know the truth about and him and don't.

Ok then, its a tree, that we would have bowed down and worshipped a "St Nicholas", in order to get gifts?

I recall that it actually started with Nimrod, back in the days of Babel...


Either way, sounds pagan to me


So DH is in the camp of ," its an idol." My mom thinks its just a tree. I think it's just a tree with pagan roots that csn posdibly decieve as an idol and doesn't belong in the Church. Three different POVs from immediate family. It can and will split the Church.

 

[Chicken Girl1]

Is St Nicholas in the Bible? Then I'm sorry, I don't follow St Nicholas, I follow Christ.

Do a mager scene, some shepherds or something, why confuse masses of children with false beliefs of fancy trees and saints? Why not just give them a gift?

That's what I call a "tradition of men"... I'll find a break in here somewhere and divulge further...

Nope, St. Nicholas is not in the bible because he came after Christ. I didn't say we followed St. Nicholas, he is great man who followed Jesus Christ, becoming a priest (later on Bishop) during the early persecution in Rome. It is believed that St. Nicholas once gave some gold coins to man (in secret) to pay for his daughters, that is where the a lot the Santa bringing gifts things started. We like to learn about his life to take advice on how to lead a holy life and follow Christ. If you take advice or listen to your pastor are you following him and not Jesus Christ?

 

[Jesusfreak101]

If you put anything first it can be an idol. I think it's nice to remind ourselves what comes first. I personally like having a Christmas tree simply because it's fun to decorate as a family we made all the ornaments this past year I think this year we will decorate it with our blessing

 

[Jesusfreak101]

There are alot of different stories about saint NIC. That's the problem for me. There one where he came to a inn and stayed the night in the morning the inn keep was serving him breakfast and he found out that the meat was take from three young boys and the inn keep I killed them and had their remains in barrels. Supposably snait Nick stop stopped the bad guy and healed the boys.

 

[shortgrass]

Nope, St. Nicholas is not in the bible because he came after Christ. I didn't say we followed St. Nicholas, he is great man who followed Jesus Christ, becoming a priest (later on Bishop) during the early persecution in Rome. It is believed that St. Nicholas once gave some gold coins to man (in secret) to pay for his daughters, that is where the a lot the Santa bringing gifts things started. We like to learn about his life to take advice on how to lead a holy life and follow Christ. If you take advice or listen to your pastor are you following him and not Jesus Christ?

Well, my pastor probably wouldn't encourage me to follow anyone but Christ, and if he did, I would not be listening to that pastor anymore



But anyway, this is the verse I think if when these secondary doctrine issues crop up....Romans 14:5-9


5 One person considers one day more sacred than another; another considers every day alike. Each of them should be fully convinced in their own mind. 6 Whoever regards one day as special does so to the Lord. Whoever eats meat does so to the Lord, for they give thanks to God; and whoever abstains does so to the Lord and gives thanks to God. 7 For none of us lives for ourselves alone, and none of us dies for ourselves alone. 8 If we live, we live for the Lord; and if we die, we die for the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord. 9 For this very reason, Christ died and returned to life so that he might be the Lord of both the dead and the living.


I'm not here to dispute birth dates and decorations, but to get to heaven. I was just curious if the holiday hooplah brings more to the church and edifies the body of Christ, or does it distract from the true purpose and meaning if our faith?


The tree doesn't bother me, its just a tree. But it offends my DH, so I go without as not to offend. My mother decorates and does the whole shebang. I go eat dinner with her as to not offend. Am I ever offended? Yes, no, maybe lol... But I'm more concerned with keeping the peace and just giving thanks to God for another day, holiday or not.

 

[Chicken Girl1]

Well, my pastor probably wouldn't encourage me to follow anyone but Christ, and if he did, I would not be listening to that pastor anymore

But anyway, this is the verse I think if when these secondary doctrine issues crop up....Romans 14:5-9


5 One person considers one day more sacred than another; another considers every day alike. Each of them should be fully convinced in their own mind. 6 Whoever regards one day as special does so to the Lord. Whoever eats meat does so to the Lord, for they give thanks to God; and whoever abstains does so to the Lord and gives thanks to God. 7 For none of us lives for ourselves alone, and none of us dies for ourselves alone. 8 If we live, we live for the Lord; and if we die, we die for the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord. 9 For this very reason, Christ died and returned to life so that he might be the Lord of both the dead and the living.


I'm not here to dispute birth dates and decorations, but to get to heaven. I was just curious if the holiday hooplah brings more to the church and edifies the body of Christ, or does it distract from the true purpose and meaning if our faith?


The tree doesn't bother me, its just a tree. But it offends my DH, so I go without as not to offend. My mother decorates and does the whole shebang. I go eat dinner with her as to not offend. Am I ever offended? Yes, no, maybe lol... But I'm more concerned with keeping the peace and just giving thanks to God for another day, holiday or not.

Again, I hope you don't think I'm following St. Nicholas or anyone other than Jesus Christ. I agree that Christmas Trees, Santa (or St. Nicholas), presents, and decorations can distract us, depending how far you take it. I could live without a Christmas tree and decorations on Christmas as long as I got to go to Mass and hear/read the passage of Christ's birth and receive Jesus Christ in the blessed sacrament, knowing he was born to save me. But I don't think having one is wrong or bad, I understand others rather not, and I'm understand trying to keep the peace and making everyone happy. Yup, my life's goal is Jesus Christ, God the Father, the Holy Spirit, and Heaven.

 

[shortgrass]

Again, I hope you don't think I'm following St. Nicholas or anyone other than Jesus Christ. I agree that Christmas Trees, Santa (or St. Nicholas), presents,  and decorations can distract us, depending how far you take it. I could live without a Christmas tree and decorations on Christmas as long as I got to go to Mass and hear/read the passage of Christ's birth and receive Jesus Christ in the blessed sacrament, knowing he was born to save me. But I don't think having one is wrong or bad, I understand others rather not, and I'm understand trying to keep the peace and making everyone happy. Yup, my life's goal is Jesus Christ, God the Father, the Holy Spirit,  and Heaven.

Cool I was just making sure ha-ha we listen to Paul throughout a good portion of the scriptures, but we definitely don't worship Paul, either


I'm too easily confused, so I just keep it simple, but sometimes what we DO know can hurt us. Most don't even think twice about the trappings of worldy things because they're blatantly in front of us, so we need help to see the truth through all the glittering sparkles sometimes.

I don't know, I'm just babbling, don't mind me lol

If you put anything first it can be an idol. I think it's nice to remind ourselves what comes first. I personally like having a Christmas tree simply because it's fun to decorate as a family we made all the ornaments this past year I think this year we will decorate it with our blessing

I go through this "thing" every Christmas it seems.. I grew up with it, and so did my kids for the first part of their lives. Since I got remarried, things have changed. I missed the decorations and the cheer and the carols and stuff, but I'm still not sure about it...



But, I did go get some lights and decorate the bedroom with them ha-ha; the baby thinks they're just the best thing ever. Hubby doesn't mind the lights, so I can be cheery in there without offending him, it works for me

 

[ocap]

does anyone want to clarify what seems to be a confusing teaching?




James 1:13 NASB
Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, and He Himself does not tempt anyone.



Matthew 4:1-3 New American Standard Bible (NASB)


4:1 Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2 And after He had fasted forty days and forty nights, He then became hungry. 3 And the tempter came and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.”



Matthew 6:13 NASB
‘And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

 

[ShrekDawg]

I think it depends how you go about it.

These days even non religious and secular people celebrate Christmas and it's just about Santa, the presents, the cheer, etc., which I somewhat have a problem with.

I think as long as you make sure it stays about Christ and the kids know it's his birthday and not just a day for presents and cookies then I see no issue with a little cheer and fun.