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Why Some Christians Don't Celebrate Christmas
United Church of God, an International Association ^ | Jerold Aust

Posted on 12/10/2013 5:12:18 PM PST by narses

Many feel that Christmas marks Christ's birthday and that it honors Him. After all, can 2 billion professing Christians be wrong? At the same time, some few Christians don't observe Christmas, believing that Jesus didn't sanction it and that it dishonors Him. Who is right—and why?

More at the link.....

(Excerpt) Read more at ucg.org ...


TOPICS: General Discusssion; History; Other Christian
KEYWORDS:
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To: UriÂ’el-2012

“Your ancestors ate the manna in the desert, but they died;
this is the bread that comes down from heaven so that one may eat it and not die.

I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world.”
The Jews quarreled among themselves, saying, “How can this man give us (his) flesh to eat?”

Jesus said to them, “Amen, amen, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you do not have life within you.
Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him on the last day.

For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink

Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him.
Just as the living Father sent me and I have life because of the Father, so also the one who feeds on me will have life because of me.

This is the bread that came down from heaven. Unlike your ancestors who ate and still died, whoever eats this bread will live forever.”

These things he said while teaching in the synagogue in Capernaum
Then many of his disciples who were listening said, “This saying is hard; who can accept it?”

Since Jesus knew that his disciples were murmuring about this, he said to them, “Does this shock you?

What if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before?
It is the spirit that gives life, while the flesh is of no avail. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and life.

But there are some of you who do not believe.” Jesus knew from the beginning the ones who would not believe and the one who would betray him.
And he said, “For this reason I have told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by my Father.”

As a result of this, many (of) his disciples returned to their former way of life and no longer accompanied him

Jesus then said to the Twelve, “Do you also want to leave?”

Simon Peter answered him, “Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.

We have come to believe and are convinced that you are the Holy One of God.”
Jesus answered them, “Did I not choose you twelve? Yet is not one of you a devil?”

He was referring to Judas, son of Simon the Iscariot; it was he who would betray him, one of the Twelve.” [John 6: 49-71]


21 posted on 12/10/2013 6:04:36 PM PST by narses (... unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you do not have life within you.)
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To: Alex Murphy
400,000 independent Catholic denominations can't be wrong!

there are "0" Catholic "denominations"...Catholics are THE Christian church...the term Denominations came about to give the 20,000 or so Protestant groups a name. Lutherans, Metho9dists, Baptists are all "denominations of the group which fell away from true Christianity......after about 1,600 years...

22 posted on 12/10/2013 6:05:47 PM PST by terycarl (common sense rules overall)
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To: Gamecock

I don’t believe that at all.

post and thread if it’s true so it can be fixed.


23 posted on 12/10/2013 6:07:56 PM PST by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
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To: narses

Most Reformed Protestants (e.g., Congregationalists, Presbyterians) did not recognize Christmas until relatively recently. Where I live, it wasn’t a holiday until the 1860s.


24 posted on 12/10/2013 6:08:29 PM PST by kaehurowing
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To: RegulatorCountry

They are there. You just don’t know it.


25 posted on 12/10/2013 6:08:33 PM PST by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
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To: narses
“Your ancestors ate the manna in the desert, but they died; this is the bread that comes down from heaven so that one may eat it and not die. I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world.” The Jews quarreled among themselves, saying, “How can this man give us (his) flesh to eat?” Jesus said to them, “Amen, amen, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you do not have life within you. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him on the last day. For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him. Just as the living Father sent me and I have life because of the Father, so also the one who feeds on me will have life because of me. This is the bread that came down from heaven. Unlike your ancestors who ate and still died, whoever eats this bread will live forever.” These things he said while teaching in the synagogue in Capernaum Then many of his disciples who were listening said, “This saying is hard; who can accept it?” Since Jesus knew that his disciples were murmuring about this, he said to them, “Does this shock you? What if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before? It is the spirit that gives life, while the flesh is of no avail. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and life. But there are some of you who do not believe.” Jesus knew from the beginning the ones who would not believe and the one who would betray him. And he said, “For this reason I have told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by my Father.” As a result of this, many (of) his disciples returned to their former way of life and no longer accompanied him Jesus then said to the Twelve, “Do you also want to leave?” Simon Peter answered him, “Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and are convinced that you are the Holy One of God.” Jesus answered them, “Did I not choose you twelve? Yet is not one of you a devil?” He was referring to Judas, son of Simon the Iscariot; it was he who would betray him, one of the Twelve.” [John 6: 49-71]

A complete "non sequitur".
shalom b'SHEM Yah'shua HaMashiach
26 posted on 12/10/2013 6:08:49 PM PST by Uri’el-2012 (Psalm 119:174 I long for Your salvation, YHvH, Your teaching is my delight.)
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To: smvoice

Throughout all those Catholic Churches you will have charismatic individuals.


27 posted on 12/10/2013 6:09:04 PM PST by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
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To: Salvation; Gamecock
I don’t believe that at all. post and thread if it’s true so it can be fixed.

If it's the truth, why would it need to be "fixed"? Must be a Catholic thing.

28 posted on 12/10/2013 6:10:08 PM PST by Alex Murphy ("the defacto Leader of the FR Calvinist Protestant Brigades")
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To: Salvation

They’re hidden? Why?


29 posted on 12/10/2013 6:10:12 PM PST by RegulatorCountry
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To: RegulatorCountry

Ask them, not me.


30 posted on 12/10/2013 6:10:43 PM PST by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
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To: Alex Murphy

Where is the thread and post. Provide the answer, please.


31 posted on 12/10/2013 6:11:48 PM PST by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
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To: RegulatorCountry
Where do the FR sedevacantists, Lefevbrists, SSPX and radical traditionalists who denounce Vatican II fit in there?

they don't.....if you are a member of let's say the Elks, or the Moose, or the Eagles lodge and you renounce their leadership, challenge their rules and regulations and make up your own way of being a member.......you are no longer a member, you are a revolutionary and belong to a completely separate organization......and don't call it the Elks, nor the Moose, nor the Eagles.....it isn't!

32 posted on 12/10/2013 6:13:09 PM PST by terycarl (common sense rules overall)
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To: Salvation; terycarl; Gamecock
Where is the thread and post. Provide the answer, please.

Ask terycarl where he read that there are "20,000 or so Protestant groups". It'll probably lead you to the same source.

33 posted on 12/10/2013 6:14:39 PM PST by Alex Murphy ("the defacto Leader of the FR Calvinist Protestant Brigades")
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To: kaehurowing

My paternal grandparents were Primitive Baptists, descended from originally Presbyterian families. They didn’t do anything for Christmas other than go to church on Christmas Day, although they softened a little when grandchildren came along and would give them each a modest present.


34 posted on 12/10/2013 6:15:43 PM PST by RegulatorCountry
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To: terycarl

So, the next time one of your guys denounces Vatican II, we’ll know they’re not Catholic then, right?


35 posted on 12/10/2013 6:17:19 PM PST by RegulatorCountry
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To: Nifster

I feel the same. There’s nothing mystical about certain days, and it’s not offensive to honor the Son of God on the 25th, rather than his actual birthday, though I have been knocking the idea around of doing something special around Yom Kippur for the true birth. I think the Armenians have their Christmas on a different day

I wish we had less of a consumerism orgy and more Christ in today’s Christmas. The ultimate gift is the gift of redemption given by the Lord in His Son.


36 posted on 12/10/2013 6:18:30 PM PST by Viennacon
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To: narses
>> “Your ancestors ate the manna in the desert, but they died; this is the bread that comes down from heaven so that one may eat it and not die.<<

That must be some large party at Christmas since all of your Catholic ancestors throughout the centuries are still living here on earth.

37 posted on 12/10/2013 6:18:54 PM PST by CynicalBear (For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ)
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To: CynicalBear

38 posted on 12/10/2013 6:30:39 PM PST by narses (... unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you do not have life within you.)
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To: narses

Once upon a time ... I use to love all the Holidays.
Then something changed within me.
Halloween was the first to go.
Then Easter went too.
Thanksgiving came and went.
Birthdays flew out soon after.
All it left was Christmas, my favorite time of the year, but that soon changed too.
Many reasons why, besides the pagan connections, and the misinformation handed down to us.

The way I look at it now ... everyday is Christmas, because we should be giving of ourselves everyday to one another.
Everyday is Thanksgiving, for we should be thankful for all that we’ve been given, and to share it with others too.
Everyday is a birthday, because I woke up again from my rest, and I can work on renewing my mind and my spirit once again.
Everyday is also Fathers and Mothers Day, because I cherish the ones who brought me up, all the time.

Halloween ... well, I’ve never really understood what was so hallow or holy about ghouls, goblins, witches, ghosts and spiders, as I tricked and treated along my merry way.

Easter ... wow ... if I only knew then, what I know now.
I prefer to honor the Passover during that season because of the Lamb that was slain is our Passover, and not some pink bunnies, little yellow chicks, jelly beans, and those colored eggs peeps keep rolling around town.

What I just shared might be offensive to some, but I’m not here to do as the world does. I refuse to conform to this world, or to the ways of any denomination, or church in this world.

I just want to look up and say, did I do good today Father, and please be patient with me, for there is much more that I need to work on, and I look forward to the return of the Good Shepherd, for some in this flock have surely lost their way.


39 posted on 12/10/2013 6:31:39 PM PST by A child of Yah (I once was lost, but now I'm found, twas grace that set me free ... thank you LORD)
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To: narses

ROFLOL!! But I thought you said they wouldn’t die. You do take that passage as literal right?


40 posted on 12/10/2013 6:38:07 PM PST by CynicalBear (For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ)
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