Christmas as the general public knows it, didn't start till after the 1900's
and lets look at the symbols of christmas, take Santa Claus, the red of his
suit comes from trademark used in a commericial for Coca Cola, nothing to do
with Christs blood, the figure of Santa came from the same commericial. the
tree came from the wicca's in worshiping nature (pagen) same with the Wreaths
and Mistletoe, nothing to do with Christ. So as time went by the Church
decided we (the general christian) need a day to celebrate his Birth Voila,
the 25th of Dec.
Sure the Bible says shepards in the fields, that says around spring, not the
winter months, but like I said Todays Christian understands it's the intent,
not so much the symbology
"Donald L McDaniel" wrote:
> On Mon, 24 Dec 2007 14:47:01 -0800, sgopus
> <sgopus@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:
>
> >Take your cynical attidtude elsewhere, can you prove the date of Christs
> >birth? NO!
> >so what is one day over another we could have chosen May 19th.
> >Todays Mature Christian say it's not the date it's the intent.
> >So what if Christmas has pagen foundations, ie the tree, if the intent is to
> >celebrate the Birth of Christ it works.
> >
> >Yes companies make money off Christmas, it's the world, so I say don't be
> >cynical, get saved and be a mature Christian, be happy, the kingdom is at
> >hand.
> >
> >Continue to Celebrate the Birth of Christ and be giving in spirit.
>
> Perhaps you could be giving in spirit yourself, friend.
>
> Also realize that Christmas ("Christ's Day", a very early Christian
> celebration) does NOT have "pagen (sic) foundations", as you claim,
> and as is popularly believed. In fact, His birth has been celebrated
> by the Church since her very beginning, although the central
> celebration of the Church has always been the Eucharistic Meal, of
> course.
>
> Nevertheless, I understand your desire to put His Death in the
> forefront. It comes pretty "naturally" to one who is a lover of
> Christ.
>
> By the way, a "mature Christian" would not even be involving himself
> in this controversy.
>
> What do the Apostles teach us? "Love covers a multitude of sins".
>
> >
> >"none" wrote:
> >
> >> You've got that scripture wrong franktee! It has been punctuated
> >> incorrectly, thus people typically MISunderstand it! And CHRISTMAS is
> >> not (read NOT) the time of Christ's birth, it the time of making money
> >> for greedy merchants!
> >>
> >> Remember Mat 10:34 & Luke 12:51
>
> Don't be so dogmatic so young, friend. The fact is, there is no
> "punctuation" (as we know it) in Koine Greek (the language in which
> the New Testament was written). It is a completely contextual
> language, strongly inflected. There are breathing marks (which are a
> kind of punctuation) in Koine Greek, but again, they are not
> punctuation as we would know it.
>
> Don't forget that the Bible was not written in English, and so does
> not use English punctuation rules. It was mostly written in ancient
> Hebrew, Aramaic, and Koine Greek. ANY punctuation you see in our
> modern English Bibles was INSERTED THERE by the translators, according
> to the context as they understood it.
>
> They appear to have done a relatively good job of correctly reading
> the context. This is because the translators were reading in the
> original Biblical languages (English is NOT one of them), and had a
> good grasp of both the ancient languages and the languages into which
> they were translating the words we now read.
>
> >> ___
> >> "franktee" <franktee@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> >> news:74650E5D-036B-4AB5-9CD3-67CD1D27CA92@microsoft.com...
> >> >
> >> > Peace on Earth.
> >> > Good will toward men.
> >> > Merry Christmas
>
> To which I also add my own prayer for peace on the Earth to men of
> good will, as well as my prayer for peace on Earth toward all men.
>
> Christians wish for the best, even for their enemies.
> What does the Master say? "Love your enemy when he does not deserve
> it, and you will be known as the children of God" (my own
> understanding of His teaching.)
>
> But think about this for awhile:
> IF God's good will toward men were ONLY toward "men of good will",
> ONLY "men of good will" would be able to be saved. But God's grace is
> extended toward ALL men, good and evil alike.
>
> As the Patriarchs tell us, "God despises no one, nor does He tell
> lies." Do not despise the evil man, since even your Creator doesn't.
> We are to be like Him, not the Pharisees, who trumpeted their goodness
> before all men, but perverted the Law for their own ends.
>
> I assure you, God's standards of acceptance are much lower than ours,
> since He judges a man by his heart, while we judge him by his outward
> appearance.
>
>
> Donald L.McDaniel
> Please reply to original thread and newsgroup.
> ================================================
>