Tue-18-Dec-2007 - Not Your Average Christmas : AKA Why We Don't Participate
Number one, this is something I perfer to discuss in July. Or maybe even June. There is always much less hostility. Second, this starts off with a bit of history, then some thoughts. If you know all of the history (which is in red & green) go ahead and skip to the blue part. 
Once upon a time, in a land far, far away from most of us, there lived the Roman people. Now the Romans enjoyed December greatly, for they celebrated the festival of Saturnalias and also Sol Invictus.
At some point, December 25th became associated with the births of several prominent gods and goddesses, such as Ishtar, Sol Invictus and Mithras.
The earliest known celebration of Christ’s birth is recorded in AD 221, and the first denounciation of such a celebration is recorded in AD 245.
Christmas was promoted in the Christian East as part of the revival of Catholicism in 379 AD, and by the middle ages (around 1377 AD) the celebration of “Christ’s birth” involved drunkenness, promiscuity, gambling — and in England there was a special Christmas ale.
No one was giving gifts at this point among family and friends, unless it was for New Year’s.
During the Reformation, many leaders condemned the practice of celebrating Christmas, and the Roman Catholic Church responded by promoting it in an even more religious form. By the time the Puritians landed in American, there was such wide-spread dissaproval of the holiday that the celebration of it was outlawed in Bostan from 1659-1681.
The American Revolution also served to make Christmas even less popular, for it was seen as “English”. British writers, growing concerned that the celebration was going to die out, began to write about it, reinventing it as a time of family togetherness, “compassion and goodwill” in literature such a Charles Dicken’s A Christmas Carol.
The 1820’s saw a revival of this celebration in America, although by 1850 Harriet Beecher Stowe had a character who complained that the “true meaning” as being lost in a “shopping spree”.
Christmas became a Federal Holiday in the United Sates in 1870.
Now, it seems to me that a long time ago, somebody wanted a reason to celebrate when everyone else was celebrating, and decided to celebrate the mass of Christ’s birth as December 25th. So, now we have non-Catholics doing their thing, and Catholics doing their own nifty little celebration side-by-side, and Christians like the Walensians tucked away not even aware that the birth of Christ is being celebrated! Then along came Father Christmas, and St. Nicolas, and then Santa, guys we can all “agree” about, and the gift-giving. Even after Lutherans broke away from Rome, they carried the celebration, but not the mass, with them. The Puritans tried to do away with it altogether, due the connections to popery, drunkeness, and revelry.
Today, it seems as if people who know God and people who don’t know Him at all are all celebrating the same way, doing the same exact things!
And yet we’re upset that the secular world doesn’t get the “reason for the season”??? Why would someone who does not acknowledge the Lord Jesus Christ as their risen Savior want to connect their winter holiday with His birth? Why would they make Himt a focal point of their celebration? Wait, did the world steal our holiday or did we try to incoporate our ideas into the latter? Do we know at this point?
Why the Christmas frenzy? Why don’t we band together to give out Thanksgiving turkeys and cranberry sauce to the poor with the same fervor of toys? A box of chocolates in ever mailbox in Feb? When someone doesn’t celebrate the 4th of July with fireworks, why don’t we instantly assume they aren’t patriotic?
If you eliminate the way that the World celebrates (Santa/tree/presents/lights), you aren’t left with very much. Maybe half of a nativity scene (if you want to be accurate and lose the wisemen) and a few songs of praise that can actually be sung all year around.
To be frank, I don’t understand why everyone gets so offended when we admit we don’t celebrate this holiday. How does it really honor God to take part in the most consumer-driven buying frenzy of the year? I can’t find where decorating a tree praises God, but I can find where He warns against it (Jer. 10:2-4). The longer I’m outside this holiday, the harder it gets to see where we, personally, can use it to honor God in participating.
Now, that isn’t to say that you can’t celebrate Christmas with honorable intentions. What I'm trying to do here is defend our family for not celebrating this holiday - all of ya'll that do don't need justification, of course! I'm just trying to make a clear case for honoring God through not doing the cultural norm.
There are many people who are working hard to make Christ the center of their celebration this December, and that is as it should be. However, to skip festivites completely as the the Puritans did requires some thought, conviction, and a bit of an explaination.
Romans 5:5-6
“One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind. [6] He that regardeth the day, regardeth it unto the Lord; and he that regardeth not the day, to the Lord he doth not regard it. He that eateth, eateth to the Lord, for he giveth God thanks; and he that eateth not, to the Lord he eateth not, and giveth God thanks.”
A few more thoughts by Charles Spurgeon on Christmas can be found HERE & HERE
Take a look at Jeremiah 10:2-4 HERE
Thank you for reading, and I hope no one was too greatly offended. May you have a wonderful holiday with your family no matter how you celebrate or not, with the Lord Jesus Christ at the center!
~Ashley~
Comments
Tue-18-Dec-2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by homesteadinthemaking
I am not offended at all and actually have thought on this a lot, as of late. Especially the going broke part of it all just to make sure I have bought everyone a gift. and for what? Anyway, the only thing is if we go this route our family will probably have us committed.LOL
Blessings,
Trixi
Tue-18-Dec-2007 - I'm not offended at all!
Posted by Anonymous
I commend you for following your heart in this. Our family does celebrate the holiday, and we are Christians, but we know that it is not a true holy day. "Christmas" is man's idea, even though the birth of Christ was/is real, it didn't happen on this date, nor did God tell us to have a holy day for it. I'd much rather read a post like yours, than one cutting others down for doing things a certain way at Christmas in order to build themselves up. I see your point totally. To us, yes we celebrate Christ's birth to an extent at this time, but also know it wasn't mandated by God to do so. What we really celebrate in our hearts is His sacrifice on the cross for our sins.
Tue-18-Dec-2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by Anonymous
Ashley,
I have read your blog post here in depth and I can understand why a Christian (which I am) would not want to regard one day over another in Christ's remeberance. We should live all days of the year with Christ as our center.
The comments about heathens and Christian's alike celbrating the same holiday in the same way doesn't bother me at all. Basically I have heard this argument in modest dress and many other things as well. It sounds like (in my opinion) that you are saying that we as Christians are conforming to the world's idea of a celebration such as Christmas. If a non-Christian sees us celbrating Christmas for the birth of Christ, hears us singing spiritual Christmas music and is moved to become a child of God, then what is the harm?? What is the harm in celebrating a day especially for Christ when you do the same on your birthday or your children's. Can't those verses about the day of celebration be taken farther to say do not celebrate anyone's birth or anniversary, etc in this manner.
I am a Christian and I grew up celebrating Christmas in a very God-like, Christian manner. I never thought it was a day I get to drink eggnog adn get presents, but I knew it was a day to remember Christ as our saviour and the gifts were to remember the greatest gift that Christ gave us, his Son! So my family celebrates the season, but not as others perhaps.
I am not offended that you don't celebrate the holiday. If that is your decision and you are following your heart fine. What offends me is that you tell me what I am doing by celebrating is wrong because you read a story about the Roman's and British and because your interpretation of the Bible says you shouldn't. It offends me that YOU are the one making a big deal about how I AM CELEBRATING Christmas and not simply saying, due to religious beliefs and such we don't celebrate in the same way you do. By you going to great length telling me why you are right in this manner and I am wrong, tells me that you in fact did mean to offend people by writing this blog.
I shall pray for you and the others who have commented about Christmas celebrations this holiday season. I love Christ and I will love him on Christmas day too.
Wed-19-Dec-2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by Anonymous
The thing to remember is, we can't have Easter without having Christmas. I think its very important to remember Christ's birth and His resurection. What you choose to do with your family is your business. Its between you and God. However, to look down on others for choosing to remember His birth and in a few more months, His resurection, is wrong. I didn't see anyone condeming you in your post or even the comments! What we choose to celebrate is between us and God. Thanks for sharing your convictions, but maybe next time, do so in a more kind manner!
Wed-19-Dec-2007 - <i>Untitled Comment</i>
Posted by gokings13
Pssssst.
To the anonymous poster above me? Um, easter is just as pagan as christmas.........Everyone wants to "feel" something....so they put on these elaborate performances at church, spend TONS of God's money on 'material decorations' to gin up some sort of 'feeling'. Why?
Jesus Alone, should move us......
Ashley, your post here is beautiful. Well said, full of God's Words, and your heart.
I agree, June and July is the best time to address this.
If you read in Genesis 18 Abraham pleads for Sodom.
Jonah was sent to Nineveh to warn them of their sin.
The list goes on and on of the men of God warning others of sin. Yes, we should put out the information, show people their sin......
And when, like the Sodomites, they choose to ignore Truth, and continue in their sin.......it is between they, and God on Judgement Day.
All you can do is what you have done!! You can lead a donkey to water, but you just can't make him drink!
You children are SO blessed.
They don't have to be "untrained" and "retrained" after being brainwashed by satan, uh santa. (he he) My kids are teens, so for me it is easier to reason with them.....
I thank you for the references. Maybe there is a way to have these put on my side bar?? So that they can be clicked on any time of year!!
Thanks again! Have a beautiful day!!
Laura
Edited by gokings13 on Wednesday, December 19, 2007 at 07:05
Wed-19-Dec-2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by Anonymous
I am not offended but I do think you could have worded this in a different way. I don't think God frowns upon me because I recognize more on one day His presence in my life that any other, so these are obviously your convictions and not mine. I don't think the Bible gave us permission or not to celebrate our own children't birthdays or even our own anniversaries and obviously the greeting card companies and party planners are having a good old time making money from these times of years as well. I love my family on all days of the year, but I celebrate their birthdays!!! Isn't this holding one day above the other's in one's life?? Is this wrong as well??
To me, it is not going against God's word. Perhaps a heathen started the holiday, and perhaps the non-Christians celebrate it without feeling for what the day (to me) stands for, but I don't think you are right and I am wrong in this. Neither do I think I am right and you are wrong. You obviously have studied this and thought about it and have decided to follow your own convictions, and I commend you for that.
Our family does not do the Santa thing and we get frowned upon by many including my husband's whole family about this. We don't push our feelings off on others, and as the children grow up they are told not to ever destroy someone else's magical dream of Santa. It is up to their parents to deal with that. But I want my family to know that I bought their presents because I love them and because we are remembering a great present gave us in Jesus. I am a true, Jesus is the Reason for the Season type of gal. We have a celebration with cake and desserts to celebrate Christ's birth and we tell them the story of Christ's birth as written in the Bible.
My question to you is, do you celebrate any birthdays in your family?
My next question is does your family celebrate Halloween in any way?? Do your children trick or treat and do you decorate your home, etc??? This is the holiday that upsets me more than others. It is a holiday from the past about evil spirits and the devil. Devil worshippers and witches celebrate this holiday as their own and society as time has went on has turned this into a little kiddie holiday to get candy adn dress in costumes, but in anchient days it was a day when the evilest of Spirits and people who worshipped them would haunt the communities. That jack-o-latern came about because they used to carry skulls with a candle in it to light their way.
Anything in the whole world can be used for good or bad can't it??? I choose to make my life and use it for good.
Thanks for sharing. I still think it could have been said in a less judgmental way towards us who do celebrate it.
May God Bless you this holiday season. (whether you celebrate it or not)
Wed-19-Dec-2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by oldfashionedgirl
THIS IS WONDERFUL!!! Thank you so much for being willing to share your heart on this subject!! My mom has really been changing how we celebrate christmas... and I really admire you for not celebrating it!! Not that we don't praise God for the gift of HIS SON... but just that we would not be like the world!! I just wish that people wouldn't get so incredibly offended when we say that we don't exchange gifts or do santa!! My grandma was trying her hardest to convince my 3 yr old brother that santa was real... we were getting a little frustrated with her!! Thank you so much again for your wonderful example of being different from the world!! You are amazing!! May God Bless you!!!
Blessings,
Alex
p.s. I was just wondering... I wanted to read your love story that you have linked on the side of your blog, but the link doesn't work... just wondering if something was wrong with my computer!!
Wed-19-Dec-2007 - awesome post!
Posted by blessedmomof10
Ashley ~
Oh what a wonderful post!! You have said so much of what I have felt thru the years........ years back we did a homeschool study on the history of Christmas........ wow...... it is very *pagan* in it's roots.... no doubt about it, as well as much of the traditions of the season, the tree, yule log, etc.
I was not offended at all by your post........ your thoughts need to be heard..... you speak the truth... these are the traditions and history of this holiday..... no one should be offended........for it is the truth.....
You are right -- for hundreds of years Christmas was not celebrated in America -- our very deeply spiritual Pilgrim roots did not wish to bring the traditions of England to America....... they wished for something different... then when the the Irish, English and Catholic immigrants began arriving to America, they did bring with them the practices of Chrsistmas....
Your thoughts are in line with my thoughts on Halloween as well and why we don't celebrate Halloween.. because of it's history.......
I respect your thoughts.....
We have chosen to celebrate Christmas -- but my children know that this is not the birth of Christ..... we have no actual records of Christ's birth available..... The Catholic Church chose Dec. 24th to replace the pagan holiday of soltice........
We try very hard to focus on Christ in our home this time of year....... we do not do santa or exchange gifts with family or give gifts to children........ we try to focus on service.... to be the eyes and hands and heart of Jesus.... I avoid the stores like the plague! It is crazy!
My extended family has had a very hard time with us not wanting to do Christmas in the "american" way...... we choose to focus on the Lord.... this Christmas day will be spent at the Veteran's home and Retirement Center....... singing hyms to our Lord!
I do believe Christians can bring Glory to God at this time of year -- but they must be very careful in their choices .... much of what we think brings glory to God really is nothing more than customs created by man.......
Great post, ashley!
~ gloria ~
Wed-19-Dec-2007 - Let everyone's heart steer them in the spirit....
Posted by Joanne
I respect anyone's decision to or not celebrate Christmas. We celebrate Christmas as a remembrance of Christ's birth and also participate in some of our society's customs during this season. There are references in the Bible that concern sensivity to customs, but one must be concerned in whether or not it glorifies the Lord.
I do feel that I need to comment on the Jeremiah verse reference as a warning against decorating trees. Some people may interprete it as such, but I agree with the interpretation that it means taking trees, carving them into idols and covering them with gold and such and worshipping them.
We have a Christmas tree, and I can honestly say, it glorifies the Lord. Hanging upon it is a wonderful menagerie of reminders of the precious gifts he has given us...family, nature, creation...color, smells.....
We don't worship or idolize our "tree" or anything else that we have or participate in during the season that is considered "created" by our culture.
Joanne
Sat-22-Dec-2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by tami lewis
excellent post! i struggle with this subject becuz of family and i still don't know how to handle the holiday! i am trying to keep Christ the center tho and we don't do most of what others do. we do have a tree tho.
www.xanga.com/a_godly_homemaker
Wed-2-Jan-2008 - Hi Ashley
Posted by Pattisea
Hope all is well with you and children! Wow..you guys are multiplying rapidly :)
On the Holidays: very informative post, I thought.
I will say that we never kid ourselves or others by trying to convince anyone that we have a tree, gifts, etc in the name of Christ. Just like many other festive occasions (Birthdays, Father's day..), we do it because we think it is fun.
Jesus should be celebrated EVERY day...in fact, I don't see how we can avoid it. I am reminded regularly of what He's done and I can never escape the knowledge of how badly I need a savior.
Thanks for a thought-provoking post. Hope the New Year is blessed!
Patti (sea)
Entry
91 of 412
Last Page | Next Page