Home Forums Miscellaneous Topics Christ at the Campfire Commercial Christmas

How did it happen, and when, who is responsible?
When I was a kid in the 40's and 50s the commercial obligations were already in progress, but if I am remembering correctly most of the spending was done for the kids. In those days it was considered bad taste for stores to start the hype until after we at least were done with thanksgiving.
Maybe I am just in a mood this morning, but to think Jesus came that we have life in abundance. I wonder if He intended the celebration of His birth into the world to be obscured by peoples worries of going into debt over obligations to have gifts all around, that for the most part is merchandise that the people would not have bought for themselves?

I don't think He ever intended any humanly aspect of Him to be celebrated, be it birth, or death, things he wore, or the cross he hung on, etc. People just like stuff and the more we can exalt stuff the happier we seem to be.

I think He wanted us to understand His message and be reminded of what He came to share with us. It was and is revolutionary and contrary to human attributes of pride, greed, malice, and so on. To conform to Him is to deny self. Hard to do that when we worry about what kind of paper to wrap stuff in that will mean little days after it's opened.

The older I get the more disdain I have for "the day" which most certainly was not Dec 25th anyway.

When you really think about it, it is more like a will opposite of His cooked up the the whole deal, even Santa.
For most kids the Santa theme is their first experience of being lied to by their trusted parents.

When I first became an Orthodox Christian, the Antiochian Archdiocese that my mission belonged used the Julian calander which placed Christmas in January.

What was nice about it was that it seperated the secular Christmas with Santa Claus and the celebration of Christ's birth. It made it very easy for my children to see the difference. We opened presents on the 25th of December and celebrated Christ's birth in January.

The Church that I belong to now belongs to the Orthodox Church in America Archdiocese.
It was formed by the children of Russian immigrants. We celebrate Christmas on the Gregorian Calendar like everyone else on December 25th. Easter on the Julian calendar (same week as Passover, usually).

When do you celebrate the Fourth of July? <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Same time as everybody else, brother...fireworks and all!!! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

I don't care who commercialized Christmas -- couldn't care less if I tried. What I would like to know is who "Christianized" the thing, because it most definitely wasn't the Lord.

He said we are to shew the Lord's death till he come, and the way we are to shew his death is in the ordinance of the Lord's Supper or communion, if you would prefer.

I think, if you wanted to take the time to study it out, and I have. you could narrow the birth of Jesus Christ down to 8 days in the seventh Jewish month, which roughly corresponds to September/October. It would have been connected to the Jewish feast of Tabernacles. Certainly not in December. The whole thing has pagan origins right down to the Yule Log, the Wassail Bowl, and most of the caroles.

We are told not to remember his birth, but to "Love his Appearing." Yessir, ladies and gentlemen, coming soon in the air near you . . . . His Majesty, the King of kings and Lord of lords, the Pure Prince of Peace, the Lord Jesus Christ, the virgin born, spotless Son of God.

Are ya ready?

This is my personal opinion, so don't slam me, but I think the commercialization of Christmas is an abomination portrayed too long in this country.

I have no problem with celebrating Christ's birthday, decorative lights, and gifts.

I have a major problem with retail merchandisers, Christmas trees, etc. When I hear Silent Night in Wal-Mart I want to throw up.

I wasn't always like this and I am not meaning to offend anyone. I say Christmas belongs to Christ, no matter when he was born which probably was not December 25th. MV out!

EVEN SO COME LORD JESUS [color:"red"] [/color]

Welcome to the Campfire, MontanaVet!

I hear ya on the Christmas thing. Way outta hand and not Biblical at all. I do it for the kids....not wanting them to be left out but now that they can understand a bit more, things may change at our house. I also like it for the fellowship with the kin. But that's about the best part.

Is the Vet as in veteran or veternarian? Or both? Either way, welcome!

A woman was Christmas shopping with her two children. After many hours of
walking down row after row of toys and after hours of hearing both her
children asking for everything they saw on those many shelves, she finally
made it to the store elevator with her two children in hand.


She was feeling what so many of us feel during the holiday season time of
the year, getting that perfect gift for every single person on our shopping
list, overwhelming pressure to go to every party, every housewarming, taste
all the holiday food and treats, making sure we don't forget anyone on our
card list, and the pressure of making sure we respond to everyone who sent
Us a card.


Finally the elevator doors opened revealing a crowd in the elevator. She pushed
her way in and dragged her two kids and all her bags of stuff in with her.


As the doors closed she couldn't take it anymore and blurted out,

"Whoever started this whole Christmas thing

should be found, strung up, and shot."

From the back of the car, a quiet calm voice responded,

"Don't worry, we've already crucified Him."

The rest of the trip down was so quiet you could
Have heard a pin drop.

Don't forget this year to keep the One who started this whole Christmas
Thing in your every thought, deed, purchase, and word.

If we all would, just think how much better this world would be.

Jesus is the reason for the season

Wise men still seek Him

Het shootist, ya oughta chech this guys study out if you get a chance..... http://www.bethlehemstar.net/ ....
I've seen his presentation and it's pretty phenominal ..... he uses scripture and the ability to go back and produce (with todays tecnology) any constalations (day and night) from any point on earth to determine the date of Christ birth being very close to the date we celabrate....and he also visits the dates around the crucifixion as well ...he doesn't charge either. He only excepts donations after the presentation..... any way, I thought you and others might like it. Some very thought provoking stuff.....
Blessings to all.....

I have a history channel DVD that discusses Christmas. I haven't seen it in a while but do remember one thing they said is that shepards didn't always guard their flocks by night, as they were doing when the Angels appeared to them. The DVD said they only did so in the Spring when the lambs dropped. That was one of several reasons Spring was postulated. Sounded plausible, but then, I'm not a shepard! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

I think it is a two-part deal :

Christians should bemoan the commercilization of the birth of Jesus .

On the other hand , the "spirit of Christmas " is a real deal .All the charities get more donations , most folks are a little nicer than usual , and that's certainly Christ-like .

If the present day observance does nothing to promote the First Great Commandment , it does push the Second .

It's true that Christmas on Dec 25 started as a pagan celebration. The early church adopted the date to give Christians a way to celebrate without participating in pagan rituals. However, there is no pagan celebration that God isn't capable of turning to His own use. It's true that Satan is continually trying to turn Christmas back to paganism and he's been largely successful in this country. That doesn't mean that we can't celebrate Christmas in a Christian manner and let God direct our celebration.

Christmas is what YOU make it, Christian or pagan. Choose.

Dick