Church of God Int'l: Anti-Christmas

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Nicea325

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Yesterday morning I was flipping through the religious channels availavble through Direct TV and I came across an Afircan-American man discussing Christmas on channel 373 called the Word. Nonetheless,this man (not sure if he is a pastor) stated the Christmas tradition is pagan and against God’s will and commandments. This man stated he had proof by quoting Deuteronomy 12:29-31 (NKJV):

*When the LORD your God cuts off from before you the nations which you go to dispossess, and you displace them and dwell in their land, 30 take heed to yourself that you are not ensnared to follow them, after they are destroyed from before you, and that you do not inquire after their gods, saying, ‘How did these nations serve their gods? I also will do likewise.’ 31 You shall not worship the LORD your God in that way; for every abomination to the LORD which He hates they have done to their gods; for they burn even their sons and daughters in the fire to their gods. *

First of all,the above has nothing to do with Christmas or any holiday tradition;moreover, the above verses refers to pagan rites and their gods.Likewise,he quotes Matthew 15:1-9 (NKJV):

Again,the above has to do with the tradition of the scribes and Pharisees and being concerned with external ceremonial washings and dietary regulations,not Christmas or other Christian traditions.

Where do these people get this bizarre interpretations?
 
Its anti-Catholics way of trying to tell people, “the Catholic Church is wrong, come join our church/community instead”. The only way for them to validate they are right is to prove that any or all Catholic practices are wrong. There are entire faiths founded on the principle that the Catholic Church is wrong, therefore they are right.
 
ConstantineTG said:
Its anti-Catholics way of trying to tell people, “the Catholic Church is wrong, come join our church/community instead”. The only way for them to validate they are right is to prove that any or all Catholic practices are wrong. There are entire faiths founded on the principle that the Catholic Church is wrong, therefore they are right.
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Indeed.However,it is not a matter of right or wrong,but the Fullness of TRUTH. Those type of communities ought to listen to themselves a lot closer. They sound so foolish at times.More important,they believe they only follow the Bible,yet at the same time have their un-biblical traditions like founding your own church and the bogus doctrine of the Bible-only no where taught or mentioned by God.
 
Nicea325 said:
Indeed.However,it is not a matter of right or wrong,but the Fullness of TRUTH. Those type of communities ought to listen to themselves a lot closer. They sound so foolish at times.More important,they believe they only follow the Bible,yet at the same time have their un-biblical traditions like founding your own church and the bogus doctrine of the Bible-only no where taught or mentioned by God.
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Whatever they are doing is working for them. They have convinced a lot of people to leave the Catholic Church and join them instead. Its our fault too, we need to provide better catechisis so that people are not easily tricked by cheap gimmicks as this one.
 
ConstantineTG said:
Whatever they are doing is working for them. They have convinced a lot of people to leave the Catholic Church and join them instead. Its our fault too, we need to provide better catechisis so that people are not easily tricked by cheap gimmicks as this one.
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Yes the CC is also to blame for not providing better catechesis.However,those who leave are also are accountable for not taking the time to understanding their faith,church and their God. Many of those communities do go after the ignorant and weak minded,hence not easy to convince them to leave the CC
 
ucg.org/

They explain their theology about pagan based Catholicism:

Holidays or Holy Days: Does It Matter Which Days We Observe?
Why Some Christians Don’t Celebrate Christmas
The Top 10 Reasons Why I Don’t Celebrate Christmas
What’s Behind the Magnetic Pull of the Christmas Season?
Was Christ Born on Christmas Day?
Christmas: The Curious Origins of a Popular Holiday
 
Barbkw said:
ucg.org/

They explain their theology about pagan based Catholicism:

Holidays or Holy Days: Does It Matter Which Days We Observe?
Why Some Christians Don’t Celebrate Christmas
The Top 10 Reasons Why I Don’t Celebrate Christmas
What’s Behind the Magnetic Pull of the Christmas Season?
Was Christ Born on Christmas Day?
Christmas: The Curious Origins of a Popular Holiday
Click to expand...
This bunch remind me of the Jehovah Witnesses with their belief traditions are pagan,yet they have many of their own. Go figure?
 
Nicea325 said:
Yesterday morning I was flipping through the religious channels availavble through Direct TV and I came across an Afircan-American man discussing Christmas on channel 373 called the Word. Nonetheless,this man (not sure if he is a pastor) stated the Christmas tradition is pagan and against God’s will and commandments. This man stated he had proof by quoting Deuteronomy 12:29-31 (NKJV):

When the LORD your God cuts off from before you the nations which you go to dispossess, and you displace them and dwell in their land, 30 take heed to yourself that you are not ensnared to follow them, after they are destroyed from before you, and that you do not inquire after their gods, saying, ‘How did these nations serve their gods? I also will do likewise.’ 31 You shall not worship the LORD your God in that way; for every abomination to the LORD which He hates they have done to their gods; for they burn even their sons and daughters in the fire to their gods.

First of all,the above has nothing to do with Christmas or any holiday tradition;moreover, the above verses refers to pagan rites and their gods.Likewise,he quotes Matthew 15:1-9 (NKJV):

Again,the above has to do with the tradition of the scribes and Pharisees and being concerned with external ceremonial washings and dietary regulations,not Christmas or other Christian traditions.

Where do these people get this bizarre interpretations?
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then i will be happy to drink his eggnog, and open his presents if he doesnt want them. 😛
 
Is it true that the church adopted Dec 25 as Christmas to overtake a pagan holiday? What proof is there for this? I am only interrested in the historically of this question. I have no problem with “pagan origins” because our worship is Jesus, not the pagan deity.
 
From what I remember in History class many years ago, it was explained that the Catholic Church used a lot of dates for the benefit of former pagans coming home to the Church. Making the transition easier, biggest example was the use of Halloween coinciding with All Saints Day on Nov. 1. Please correct me if I’m wrong.

Z
 
As a convert ot Catholicism, I have to say that most of these churches simply expound on this theme to gain adherents from cradle Catholics who are poorly catechized. If we, as Catholics, fail to pick up and use the SWORD of the WORD (Eph. 6:17), the enemy will pick up PART OF IT and try to use it against us!

They pick and choose verses, rather than understanding the FULNESS of the faith. What I found myself doing, as a seeker, was picking up the SWORD of the WORD to expose their false teachings. Eventually, this process lead me right into the arms of Holy Mother Church. Then I discovered the writings of the Church fathers, and I simply HAD to become a Catholic!!!

The SWORD to use in regard to themes like Christmas can be found in Romans 14. Specifically verses 4 to 6. Here St. Paul tells us VERY CLEARLY:

"Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? It is before his own master that he stands or falls. And he will be upheld, for the Master is able to make him stand.
One man esteems one day as better than another, while another man esteems all days alike. Let every one be fully convinced in his own mind. He who observes the day, observes it in honor of the Lord. He also who eats, eats in honor of the Lord, since he gives thanks to God; while he who abstains, abstains in honor of the Lord and gives thanks to God." -Romans 14:4-6 (RSVCE)

Therefore, celebrating the coming of the Lord into the world with charity, gift-giving, joy and merriment is NOT wrong simply because the date happens to be December 25. 🙂
 
AngloCatholic1 said:
As a convert ot Catholicism, I have to say that most of these churches simply expound on this theme to gain adherents from cradle Catholics who are poorly catechized. If we, as Catholics, fail to pick up and use the SWORD of the WORD (Eph. 6:17), the enemy will pick up PART OF IT and try to use it against us!

They pick and choose verses, rather than understanding the FULNESS of the faith. What I found myself doing, as a seeker, was picking up the SWORD of the WORD to expose their false teachings. Eventually, this process lead me right into the arms of Holy Mother Church. Then I discovered the writings of the Church fathers, and I simply HAD to become a Catholic!!!

The SWORD to use in regard to themes like Christmas can be found in Romans 14. Specifically verses 4 to 6. Here St. Paul tells us VERY CLEARLY:

"Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? It is before his own master that he stands or falls. And he will be upheld, for the Master is able to make him stand.
One man esteems one day as better than another, while another man esteems all days alike. Let every one be fully convinced in his own mind. He who observes the day, observes it in honor of the Lord. He also who eats, eats in honor of the Lord, since he gives thanks to God; while he who abstains, abstains in honor of the Lord and gives thanks to God." -Romans 14:4-6 (RSVCE)

Therefore, celebrating the coming of the Lord into the world with charity, gift-giving, joy and merriment is NOT wrong simply because the date happens to be December 25. 🙂
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I agree with you 100%…amen brother!
 
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