holidays.

[xmydreamsfadex]

how great God is. tonight, He gave me the opportunity to share my faith with my grandma who “only believes what God has said in the torah”. most things we agree on such as; Jesus dying for our sins, the trinity, etc… but she has a problem with the Church (surprise, surprise) because she A) thinks that constantine started the Chruch and B) thinks the Church has man made traditions such as “christian-izing” pagan holidays. that is where i got stuck because i didn’t know how to answer her. why did the Church change the sabbath? why did they “christian-ize” pagan holidays. i couldn’t respond “because the Church has authority and that is that.” she needs a real thought out answer which i couldn’t think of none. so any help would be greatly appreciated.
and if you would care to see what my grandma believes in: torahtown.com/
people who think you have to become jews to become christians.

 

[Maranatha]

I don’t understand the argument that postulates “the Catholic Church Christianized pagan holidays and therefore is not the Church started by Jesus Christ.” This argument just does not make any sense to me.

In discussions that I’ve had with people who use the arguments you reported, they are usually using those arguments to misdirect from some real underlying problem. It usually turns out that their real problem concerns some moral teaching like abortion, contraception, divorce, etc.

Vivat Jesus

 

[Rawb]

Where is the proof of this? People claim it all the time, and in general seem to have acceped it without any real thought.

Christian holidays line up with pagan ones time-wise. This is because A) pagan holidays were at times that are naturally conducive to having a holiday and B) because pagan converts still wanted to celebrate holidays at those times. The Church gave them Christian ones.

For example Christmas. The middle of winter can be harsh. In agricultural societies food is scarce, there is little light, sickness is more common, and, back before they knew about it, people were suffering from Seasonal depression. The pagans had a holiday at this time (several as a matter of fact).

When those pagans became Christians, what were they supposed to do? Be overcome with the dreary cold winters? The Church gave them Christmas, a joyous celebration to liven up the winter. The pagans celebrated it with what they had to decorate (surprise! The same things they had had to decorate for their pagan holidays) and with some of the same foods. Were they celebrating those pagan holidays? I didn’t know pagan holidays could center on Christ. So then St. Boniface gives us the Christmas Tree as a victory over pagan ‘gods’, but this is still a pagan holiday?

 

[Trishie]

Dear Friend,

Best wishes for you in your opportunity to share your faith with your Grandma.

I’ve included a few scriptures indicating that the Christian Church was instituted by Jesus Christ who made His disciples His first priests.
I’ve not replied as yet to your other question. Need to prepare dinner for my husband soon so if no one gets to answer that I’ll try at a later time

Warm regards, Trishie

If Jesus Christ’s Church hadn’t already been estabished, what on earth would Paul have been speaking of when he wrote of himself as a servant of the Church around 60 A.D.!

“I became a servant of the Church when God made me responsible for delivering God’s message to you, the message which was a mystery hidden for generations…The mystery is Christ amongst you, your hope of glory…this is the wisdom in which we thoroughly instruct everyone, to make them all perfect in Christ.” [Colossians 1:25-28]

Read Mark 3: 17 to see Jesus appoint those who were to lead His Church “And so he appointed the twelve; Simon to who he gave the name Peter …” which is further explained in Matthew 16, verses 17: 20 Jesus asked the apostles who they thought he is. Simon replied, You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."

"Jesus replied, “Simon Son of Johah, you are a happy man! Because it was not flesh and blood that revealed this to you but my Father in heaven. So now I say to you:You are Peter and on this rock I will build my Church. And the gates of the underworld can never hold out against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven: whatever you bind on earth shall be considered bound in heaven; whatrever you loose on earth shall
be considered loosed in heaven.”

You know of course that peter means rock or stone.

Read Luke 22:17-20, instutution of the Eucharist

Before His ascention after His resurrection, Jesus commissioned His disciples, His first priests, saying, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go, therefore, make disciples of all the nations; baptise them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teach them to observe all the commands I gave you. And know that I am with you always; yes, even to the end of time.” [Matthew 28:11-15]

“Be on guard for yourselves and for the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers.” [Acts 20:29]

“Be shepherds of the flock of God that is entrusted to you: watch over it, not simply as a duty, but gladly, because God wants it…Never be a dictator over any group that is put in your charge, but be an example the whole flock can follow. When the chief shepherd appears, you will be given a crown of unfading glory.” [1Peter 5:2-4]

“You must keep to what you have been taught and know to be true. All Scripture is inspired by God and can profitably be used for teaching, for refuting error, for guiding people’s lives and teaching them to be holy. This is how one who is dedicated to God becomes fully equipped and ready for any good work.” [2Timothy 3:14, 16-17]

 

[bpbasilphx]

Christianizing pagan holidays?

That’s generally the kind of thing said by people who know nothing about Church history.

However, isn’t the whole purpose of Christianity to take that which was originally aliented from God (such as ourselves) and transform it and use it for His glory?

Those who do not understand this do not understand the Gospel.