Quote :

"can you be a christian and NOT celebrate christmas?"

Yes, in fact historically there have been many. Most well known were the Puritans in America in 18th and 19th centuries. They would make a point of working on Dec. 25th, and in some places even making it an official 'non-holiday' (that is, you get in trouble if you take it as a holiday).

Their position is certainly the minority now, but there are many small Reformed/Presbyterian denominations where ignoring Christmas is quite common. It derives from a belief that the only day that should be set apart from others is the Lord's Day or Sabbath, and that the only holidays that should be recognized are the ones the Bible gives (which is none).

And to some, it is just another way to stick a middle finger up toward Rome, showing that they don't follow its church calendar (these folks would also not celebrate lent/easter).

[Edited on December 30, 2008 at 4:39 PM. Reason : a]

12/30/2008 4:35:31 PM

Quote :

"Setting aside the fact that I can no longer fit God into the world I observe on a daily basis . . . You would not worship God by getting together with a generally homogeneous crowd for an hour on Sunday morning, dressing up, singing comfortable songs, and feeling good about your "personal relationship with your savior". When you really worship God is when you go out into the uncomfortable world and, in the words of St. Francis of Assisi, "Preach the Gospel at all times. When necessary, use words." It may just be me, but when I see a "Greg Laurie" bumper sticker on a Lexus, or my mom tells me that she and my dad are thinking about moving into a "gated Christian community," I can't help but think that American Christians are completely missing the point by confusing Western-style capitalism and democracy with the teachings of a Palestinian Jew who spent most of his time with the rejects of society."

12/30/2008 4:37:22 PM

this thread has ran way past it's course.

stop judging people because they use the word or label or terminology. start judging people by their heart, their character, and their actions. that's all you need to determine who's a Christian, and who throws around the term loosely because they just like to think there's a God.

if you think church is an hour a week sitting in a building, you don't understand the relationship between God and man and the community that surrounds it.

people that do not know the true meaning of church should not come in here dogging on it.

12/31/2008 2:16:38 AM

try to make your post more cryptic

12/31/2008 3:21:17 AM

Quote :

"stop judging people because they use the word or label or terminology. start judging people by their heart, their character, and their actions. that's all you need to determine who's a Christian, and who throws around the term loosely because they just like to think there's a God."

honestly, you think this is possible for a message board where most people do not know each other and/or have never met or even seen other users?

[Edited on December 31, 2008 at 8:05 AM. Reason : --]

12/31/2008 8:04:36 AM

Quote :

"people that do not know the true meaning of church should not come in here dogging on it."

I'd wager that almost all the people who go to church do not know the true meaning of a church.

12/31/2008 8:38:17 AM

Quote :

"I'd wager that almost all the people who go to church do not know the true meaning of a church."

I see what you are saying and agree somewhat but almost all the people? I think that is a bit steep.

12/31/2008 8:40:36 AM