The Pilgrim
Coram Deo
Bill
unworthy1
brother MichaelI work part time at a Wal-mart store in my area. This works out well for me as I take classes during the week. Sales are consistently down {when compared to last year’s sales} at this particular store, due to the depressed area in which I live {rural mid-Illinois}, as well as the economic downturn.
As everyone knows, today was black Friday. I have never participated in this madness in my life, so this morning was a whole new eye-opening experience for me. I saw, firsthand, what Christmas really is about in America, a ‘Christian’ nation {I use that term very loosely}.
Continue reading here…
Very true and what a sad commentary to us!
I work in a similar job and have seen the feeding frenzy.
Many people are just rude to the staff and each other, very sad. But it’s a great time for the Christians to let your light shine in this darkness. To show the love of God shed abroad in our hearts.
http://signsofthelastdays.com/archives/a-play-depicting-jesus-as-a-gay-man-performed-at-a-packed-church-in-california. Another article on the blasphemy of the end times.
An Uncomfortable Christmas Card for Unbelievers Comfortable at Christmas
A disgusting reality of what people are at their core. Selfish, greedy, and sinful.
I agree with you papapatriot.
This is definatley a time to shine like the light we are called to be amongst a wicked and perverse generation.
Let that salt do it’s work too!
How are we called to “let our lights shine”?
Our lights should shine bright each day with the love of God, shed abroad in our hearts.
This time of year is more “spiritual” than that. Meaning that there is definitely a “spirit” about things.
The world will be the world. Always.
But true Christians cannot mix the holy with the profane. Most traditions are borrowed from paganism.
“From such turn away”
Berean Gal – “Most traditions are borrowed from paganism.” Amen and amen! I detest Christmas as it’s done. Don’t see anywhere in Scripture where we are even given an example of Christmas being celebrated, much less instruction to do so. And I know not one bit of American Christmas, including the date, that was not taken from pagans and integrated into Christian faith by the apostate Roman Church.
“From such turn away”
Manfred~~ thank you, thank you, thank you!
FINALLY, someone who is willing to say it.
We are not commanded or even exhorted in Scripture to celebrate or even acknowledge (beyond that Jesus was born of a virgin~to DIE for His elect) his birth.
If you research it, just use a secular encyclopedia, the reasons it was brought into the church are appauling at best!
Berean Gal and Manfred – What you write is true and I’m well encouraged to read your words. For those interested, I have done a paper on the day which you can find here. I encourage all to read it as the history of the day is absolutely fascinating. I know for many it is a treasured day, but the truth behind all the glitters is less than gold.
Peace in our risen Lord and Saviour! bro Michael
brother Michael,
I’ve just read your paper – well done, my dear brother in the risen Lord Jesus.
I have come to see the Roman Church as a reverse “Borg colony” – being assimilated by the cultural religions where ever it finds them. Baptizing, as you say, pagan practices so weak minded folks will think them Christian.
Even if one looks at what people do – buying mostly useless stuff to give one another with the full expectation of getting as well. How does have ANYTHING to do with celebrating Christ? I’ve been trying to convince my wife and kids to give money to the Bible League instead of buying me gifts. Somethnig along those lines at least puts the giving where it ought to be.
Let the name and person of Jesus be praised and lifted up for all to see and know. For in Him and from Him come all grace. Let His people rejoice in His finished work and the promise of life eternal with our Savior.
Good analogy Manfred & thanks for your kind words. I was just speaking to a woman who has taken trips to Haiti who testified that Rome’s syncretism is alive and well where Catholicism is largely married to witchcraft and voodoo (i.e. santeria). Nice marriage, eh? This she of course does wherever she finds herself as Rome really does not care what you believe/practice as long as you are under her umbrella.
I agree w/ the use of money. Like any of us need any more stuff in this country. If not the Bible league, might I suggest a godly orphanage as there are so many children in dire straights throughout the world.
Many Blessings to you -
What freedom and victory there is when you completely remove your foot from it! Trying to keep one foot on one side and another on the other side is very difficult. The holy and profane are so intricately woven that it is hard to separate them!
God made people and God made “stuff.” He made people for loving and stuff for using. When we start loving stuff, we end up using people.
The women of my church had a bible study this morning with Cindy Currin, wife of Don Currin, who is the director of Heartcry’s eastern missionary division. {You can visit their website at http://www.doncurrinministries.org – or http://www.hcmissions.org}
The subject was contentment, being content with what God has given us. When we desire more than what we’ve been given, we are sinning against God. We fall into greed, selfishness, and discontentment when this happens. What a blessing this morning’s lesson was; our world is driven by materialism. We must have ‘stuff’ in order to be satisfied, and yet, the wealthy are among the most depressed. The witnessing of the madness of a lost world groping, clawing and scratching for ‘stuff’ is heartbreaking.
May we learn as Paul did, “Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.” Phil. 4:11
Let us praise God and rejoice always in the Lord.
Lyn
Lyn, Ministry Addict, and Berean Gal,
All very good points to be sure. It is important that we do not fall for the entrapments of the world. Very easy to do and sadly, the flesh enjoys it far too much. We must learn to die to self daily as did the apostle Paul. As we do, we will learn what it truly means to be able to rejoice always in all things to the glory of God.
I spent 5 years with Wal~Mart way back in the day. I worked 2 openings on black friday. I have seen grown men almost cry because they could not get a 12″ television. I have seen the city police work croud control inside the store. I have seen shopping carts go flying when the doors were opened. People figthing over Furbies and Barbies. It is really sickening actually. The time I spent at that store makes me question the sanity of humanity as a whole.
I am not planning on telling my child there is a Santa Claus. I don’t want him to think that I might be telling him a lie whenever I tell him something.
If only there would be more readings of the birth of Christ such as in Charlie Brown Christmas.
shane,
Amen! Would that I had been in Christ when my kids were small and mature enough to resist the “fun” of pagan rituals.
And Amen and thanks be to God for “Charlie Brown Christmas” – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DKk9rv2hUfA&feature=player_embedded
Berean Gal – “Most traditions are borrowed from paganism.”
But have you not seen Rick Warrens new book? God created Christmas to fulfill your three greatest needs!
Oh wow, did not realize Warren had a new book out on Christmas! Must go to local “Christian” bookstore and buy as a present. I know somebody who needs a new doorstop!!! :-) LOL
By the way, is that the one with the title of “The Purpose Driven Christmas Giving”??
< / sarcasm)
Considering the truth behind most (all?) the so-called “Christmas” practices, and considering the very name of this holiday represents the sacrilege of the Roman Catholic Church (Christ’s Mass), I’ve had enough of both – the seasonal stuff and the allegedly Christian name. Why not tell people “Seasons Greetings”? That’s more truthful. The Grinch can ave it – it has noting to do with Christ.
Manfred,
You bring up some of the same points that we have been considering in our own home. It is definitely not Christian and the very name does bring to mind the cannibalistic practices of the RCC.
To be fair, on the other hand, I do want to be careful that our own attitudes towards those who choose to remember the birth of Christ does not reflect a spirit of unChristlikeness. Paul said one esteems a day above another, etc. Personally, I believe that Jesus Christ was born in late September to early October and then died in March/April timeframe. Regardless though, it is more important to believe He did come the first time and that He came to die for His elect and one day He will return for those who have placed their faith in Him alone by grace for their eternal salvation.
The Desert Pastor
DP,
Amen, my brother. We must proclaim Christ crucified – not baby Jesus – for the spiritually dead folks walking around, knowing the Lord commands us to do so, as He will redeem those He has chosen by the foolishness of the cross – not the remembrance of His glorious birth.
DP
The name of the book is “The Purpose of Christmas”. Maybe I should have opened it up to see what my three greatest needs are, they may be legit needs that I need to know about. My wife and I were agast at the myriad of books in the store promising predictable miracles, a man-made kingdom, riches, peace, ect. Bell, Miller, Meyer, Osteen, and many others of that ilk were abundant and obviously placed to be seen.
Note: I do not always note my sarcasm, I hope that it is obvious that I am making fun of the book.
Amen DP! It isn’t necessarily important that Christ came as an infant, the importance lies in WHY he came…to die. People get the warm fuzzies over baby Jesus, but they need to hear about the Christ who is coming in judgment, the need to repent and believe in the Gospel is the center of what we should be fixated on and boldly proclaiming. This not just on ‘religious holidays’, but every day.