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The part where Jesus directs his disciples to memoralize his birthday and lace it pagan customs.

I can't wait to hear about it!

Jesus directed his disciples to memorialize his sacrificial death. In the fourth century the apostate church tried to 'Christianize' the pagan Roman Saturnalia buy making a birthday for Jesus concurrently.

"Also, he took a loaf, gave thanks, broke it, and gave it to them, saying: “This means my body which is to be given in YOUR behalf. Keep doing this in remembrance of me.” 20 Also, the cup in the same way after they had the evening meal, he saying: “This cup means the new covenant by virtue of my blood, which is to be poured out in YOUR behalf.....
28 “However, YOU are the ones that have stuck with me in my trials; 29 and I make a covenant with YOU, just as my Father has made a covenant with me, for a kingdom, 30 that YOU may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and sit on thrones to judge the twelve tribes of Israel." Lk22:19

Interesting perhaps, but not relevant to what you said you were going to write about: "The part where Jesus directs his disciples to memoralize his birthday and lace it pagan customs."

You see, that's not in my Bible; perhaps its in yours.

"God is a spirit, and those worshipping him must worship with spirit and TRUTH "-John 4:24- so, obviously TRUTH is involved if we are to accept Gods love and have him accept our worship of him. So, when we teach our children to believe in Santa Clause - is that TRUTH? And when they find out mom and dad lied to them, that there is no such thing as "Santa", what basis do they have to believe mom and dad when they tell them there is a God? is that a lie too?

Did you want to change the subject? I was hoping you'd answer my question before you did. Here it is again:

Why is this so important to you? 99.99% of everything we do didn't originate with Jesus. So why pick on one thing?

Why do you pick on exposing a demonic mockery of Jesus ransom sacrifice?
"But sanctify the Christ as Lord in YOUR hearts, always ready to make a defense before everyone that demands of YOU a reason for the hope in YOU, but doing so together with a mild temper and deep respect.
16 Hold a good conscience, so that in the particular in which YOU are spoken against they may get ashamed who are speaking slightingly of YOUR good conduct in connection with Christ." 1Pe3:15

So, since OP has signed off, perhaps you DGN will actually answer my questions: Why is this so important to you? 99.99% of everything we do didn't originate with Jesus. So why pick on one thing?

If not, it's ok. I understand.

Read my answer just above your question.

Ok, it's obvious you're avoiding answering me directly. Perhaps another day your heart will be more open to having a conversation.

Have a good evening.

To answer your question, could it be that 99.99% of everything we do DOESNT originate with Christ be a MAJOR factor in the conditions we see on earth and rather than observing the ONE thing Christ commanded of us, to commemorate the night he died for us, rather, everyone celebrates holidays based on lies which have nothing to do with HIM.....yes 99.99 percent of what we do does NOT originate with Christ

Here it is directly;
Why do you pick on exposing a demonic mockery of Jesus ransom sacrifice?
"But sanctify the Christ as Lord in YOUR hearts, always ready to make a defense before everyone that demands of YOU a reason for the hope in YOU, but doing so together with a mild temper and deep respect.
16 Hold a good conscience, so that in the particular in which YOU are spoken against they may get ashamed who are speaking slightingly of YOUR good conduct in connection with Christ." 1Pe3:15

Thank you for answering, even if it was a question and not an answer.

So why are you imputing all ^^THIS^^ to me who you don't even know?

My reply stands. Have a nice evening.

there are many things from which i might have derived good ,by which i have not profited, christmas among the rest....

but i am sure i have always thought of Christmas-time. when it comes around, as a good and charitable time....

when men and women, of one consent, open their shut up hearts, and see other people as fellow passengers to the grave- and not as members of a different race, on different journeys.

and though it has never put a scrap of gold or silver in my pocket, i say god bless it !

- paraphrased from a speech by Scrooges nephew in A Christmas Carol!-Charles Dickens-

that's what i would say.

QUOTE;
"when men and women, of one consent, open their shut up hearts, and see other people as fellow passengers to the grave- and not as members of a different race, on different journeys."
That's an objective and commendable perspective, it's what Jesus set as example for us all to achieve. Jehovah's international spiritual nation is displaying this around the world, resolving political/religious/racial rivalries over who's better than the other and becoming 'fitly united in one mind' (1Cor1:10) Everyone's invited;
" After these things I saw, and, look! a great crowd, which no man was able to number, out of all nations and tribes and peoples and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, dressed in white robes; and there were palm branches in their hands. 10 And they keep on crying with a loud voice, saying: “Salvation [we owe] to our God, who is seated on the throne, and to the Lamb.”
... “These are the ones that come out of the great tribulation, and they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. 15 That is why they are before the throne of God; and they are rendering him sacred service day and night in his temple; and the One seated on the throne will spread his tent over them. 16 They will hunger no more nor thirst anymore, neither will the sun beat down upon them nor any scorching heat, 17 because the Lamb, who is in the midst of the throne, will shepherd them, and will guide them to fountains of waters of life. And God will wipe out every tear from their eyes." Rv7:9

He's already given the greatest possible present, the opportunity to live forever and make global Garden of Eden;
"“For God loved the world so much that he gave his only-begotten Son, in order that everyone exercising faith in him might not be destroyed but have everlasting life. 17 For God sent forth his Son into the world, not for him to judge the world, but for the world to be saved through him. 18 He that exercises faith in him is not to be judged. He that does not exercise faith has been judged already, because he has not exercised faith in the name of the only-begotten Son of God. 19 Now this is the basis for judgment, that the light has come into the world but men have loved the darkness rather than the light, for their works were wicked. 20 For he that practices vile things hates the light and does not come to the light, in order that his works may not be reproved. 21 But he that does what is true comes to the light, in order that his works may be made manifest as having been worked in harmony with God.” Jo3:16
care to give him a present in return?

we can show our appreciation for the memory of what he did by observing the one thing he commanded us to observe, the The Memorial of Christ's Death. "...and, accepting a cup, he gave thanks and said: "Take this and pass it from one to the other among yourselves....Also, he took a loaf, gave thanks, broke it, and gave it to them, saying: " This means my body which is to be given in your behalf. KEEP DOING THIS IN REMEMBRANCE OF ME".- Luke 22:17-20

That's an interesting reason that you don't celebrate Christmas. people are looking for a meaning in life and find that Holidays leave them feeling empty and devoid of answers. The night Jesus died for us, on the other hand, provides us with much hope and can give our life real meaning, and a future of everlasting life on a paradise earth. "For God loved the world so much that he gave his only-begotten Son, in order that everyone exercising faith in him might not be destroyed but have everlasting life".

Why did Jesus say they "might"... isn't faith good enough for salvation?

Well commendations FOR the most mature reply here so far. Think of Jesus ransom opportunity for us this way;
"Do not be misled, my beloved brothers. 17 Every good gift and every perfect present is from above, for it comes down from the Father of the [CELESTIAL] lights, and with him there is not a variation of the turning of the shadow. 18 Because he willed it, he brought us forth by the word of truth, for us to be certain firstfruits of his creatures." Ja1:22

Last Edited by DGN on 12/26/2012 07:40 PM

yes, so few say thank you- that's very unselfish of you! in what ways do you think we might say " thank you" back to him?

Well for one trivial example....
"When the wine ran short the mother of Jesus said to him: “They have no wine.” 4 But Jesus said to her: “What have I to do with you, woman? My hour has not yet come.” 5 His mother said to those ministering: “Whatever he tells YOU, do.” 6 As it was, there were six stone water jars sitting there as required by the purification rules of the Jews, each able to hold two or three liquid measures. 7 Jesus said to them: “Fill the water jars with water.” And they filled them to the brim. 8 And he said to them: “Draw some out now and take it to the director of the feast.” So they took it. 9 When, now, the director of the feast tasted the water that had been turned into wine but did not know what its source was, although those ministering who had drawn out the water knew, the director of the feast called the bridegroom 10 and said to him: “Every other man puts out the fine wine first, and when people are intoxicated, the inferior. You have reserved the fine wine until now.” 11 Jesus performed this in Ca′na of Gal′i·lee as [the] beginning of his signs, and he made his glory manifest; and his disciples put their faith in him." Jo2:3

what kind of wine????????

Royal Red I would think.

the same might be asked of Japan, who are mostly Shinto- just how HAS Christmas become so important to ones who do and do not even confess belief in Christ?

Ever thing here made in Japan. $$$

"SON OF GOD CELLARS" only produces ROYAL RED wine- duh

no, you are right, he wouldn't actually be in our living rooms, but as he looks down from Heaven and watches the activities of man, he looks for one's, who, are seeking to : " worship the Father with spirit and truth"_ John 4:24-

So... is this what Jesus miraculous wine prefigured?

" And Jehovah of armies will certainly make for all the peoples, in this mountain, a banquet of well-oiled dishes, a banquet of [wine kept on] the dregs, of well-oiled dishes filled with marrow, of [wine kept on] the dregs, filtered. 7 And in this mountain he will certainly swallow up the face of the envelopment that is enveloping over all the peoples, and the woven work that is interwoven upon all the nations. 8 He will actually swallow up death forever, and the Sovereign Lord Jehovah will certainly wipe the tears from all faces. And the reproach of his people he will take away from all the earth, for Jehovah himself has spoken [it]." Isa25:6