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Post by mystic on Oct 31, 2020 6:23:02 GMT -8
I am trying to find scriptures which addresses Xmas tree and decorations e.t.c and anything associated with Xmas.
Every Xmas in the kitchen area I setup a tree for my Autistic son with a lighted Angel on top and put a few decorations around the room. I do this because it makes him happy and it serves as a distraction from his autism issues. Since God requires mercy and not sacrifice I am thinking this might be ok but looking dapper into it now.
I inquired of this on a Christian forum for Autistic Parents and first reply I got was this:
but last night I had looked at a documentary on this on youtube which showed scriptures relating to Pagan origins of xmas trees, decorations e.t.c. Will try to find it and report back.
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Post by alon on Oct 31, 2020 7:15:01 GMT -8
I am trying to find scriptures which addresses Xmas tree and decorations e.t.c and anything associated with Xmas. Every Xmas in the kitchen area I setup a tree for my Autistic son with a lighted Angel on top and put a few decorations around the room. I do this because it makes him happy and it serves as a distraction from his autism issues. Since God requires mercy and not sacrifice I am thinking this might be ok but looking dapper into it now. I inquired of this on a Christian forum for Autistic Parents and first reply I got was this: but last night I had looked at a documentary on this on youtube which showed scriptures relating to Pagan origins of xmas trees, decorations e.t.c. Will try to find it and report back. You have a special case with your autistic son. So my answer has to be on the one hand harsh and against it, but on the other hand tempered by compassion.
You already know about the pagan aspects of Christmas, so I won't go into that part. Let's discuss instead this Christian idea that it is ok to worship with pagan practices as long as in our hearts we worship Jesus. We are told not to mix our worship of God with pagan customs:Deuteronomy 12:30-32 (ESV) take care that you be not ensnared to follow them, after they have been destroyed before you, and that you do not inquire about their gods, saying, ‘How did these nations serve their gods?—that I also may do the same.’ You shall not worship the Lord your God in that way, for every abominable thing that the Lord hates they have done for their gods, for they even burn their sons and their daughters in the fire to their gods. “Everything that I command you, you shall be careful to do. You shall not add to it or take from it.
Remember Nadab and Abihu? They were killed for bringing "unauthorized fire" before the Lord (Lev 10:1-3). 2 Corinthians 6:14-17 (ESV) Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? What accord has Christ with Belial? Or what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever? What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; as God said, “I will make my dwelling among them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Therefore go out from their midst, and be separate from them, says the Lord, and touch no unclean thing; then I will welcome you,Being unequally yoked does not necessarily mean just marriage. It can mean combining two forms of worship. And the way this reads it speaks more of worship than anything else. Yeshua also said it very plainly: Mark 7:6-9 (ESV) And he said to them, “Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written, “‘This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me; in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’ You leave the commandment of God and hold to the tradition of men.” And he said to them, “You have a fine way of rejecting the commandment of God in order to establish your tradition!
There is no commandment to remember, let alone celebrate the birth of Yeshua. If we want to do a lot of scriptural algebra we can place his birth at about Sukkot, so in a way we do celebrate it. But His birth then is celebrated by Messianics more for the miracle of its timing than an actual birthday. We tend to follow the Jewish custom of not celebrating birthdays while remembering the anniversary of a persons death with a yitzkor celebration. And lo and behold, Yeshua Himself told us:Luke 22:19 (ESV) And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”
God gave us His moedim, His appointed times. And through the Jewish people He also gave us some traditions to keep. Christmas replaces several of these. And mixing Christmas and the moedim clearly pollutes our worship. So my answer has to be that we are clearly told and shown that we should not celebrate Christmas nor mix those customs with our own celebrations of His appointed times.
Now in your case you must consider what it might do to your son mentally and psychologically not to celebrate Christmas with friends, or not to have a tree. All I can do is give advice based on my absolute ignorance of his needs. Ain't that just a grand way to start ... ?
My advice is try to introduce him to the celebrations you do as commanded by HaShem. They may reach him in ways that will surprise you. After all, they are God's times and ways. Try to ease him into the moedim and out of Christmas. However if you think it will drive him away not having it, then keep the tree and whatever you must. That's all the (free, and worth every penny) advice I'll give here. I am way out of my wheelhouse concerning autism.
Dan C
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Post by mystic on Oct 31, 2020 7:57:07 GMT -8
You have a special case with your autistic son. So my answer has to be on the one hand harsh and against it, but on the other hand tempered by compassion.
Now in your case you must consider what it might do to your son mentally and psychologically not to celebrate Christmas with friends, or not to have a tree. All I can do is give advice based on absolute ignorance of his needs. Ain't that just a grand way to start ... ?
My advice is try to introduce him to the celebrations you do as commanded by HaShem. They may reach him in ways that will surprise you. After all, they are God's times and ways. Try to ease him into the moedim and out of Christmas. However if you think it will drive him away not having it, then keep the tree and whatever you must. That's all the (free, and worth every penny) advice I'll give here. I am way out of my wheelhouse concerning autism.
Dan C That in bold is my predicament! You are on schedule putting my thoughts into words in a better way [thanks!] I try not to celebrate it myself with anyone around me but sometimes it is impossible when they are here. i try to Keep my thoughts on Christ as best as I can. For Mike, yes it is a very tricky subject because he is 21 now and is an intelligent person but still has the mind of a child in some ways. This is the video which in my opinion a great video detailing everything about Xmas and Scriptures: www.youtube.com/watch?v=YEDXBmMv5zE
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Post by mystic on Nov 2, 2020 4:06:39 GMT -8
If you did look at that that video Dan, the guy uses the word "Yashua" stating it is the Hebrew name, is that accurate and if yes then why do most people say "Yeshua"? Are we permitted to interchange the vowel?
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Post by alon on Nov 2, 2020 14:56:07 GMT -8
If you did look at that that video Dan, the guy uses the word "Yashua" stating it is the Hebrew name, is that accurate and if yes then why do most people say "Yeshua"? Are we permitted to interchange the vowel? Yes, I heard that. I have to be careful here: From the forum rules- 9. Please note that it is not permitted on this forum to attempt to spell out the sacred personal name of Adonai or teach people "Sacred Name" theology. 10. Also, the Hebrew name of the Messiah should be spelled "Yeshua" or the possible variant of "Yehoshua". Any "Sacred Name" variations that find no authenticity in the scriptures or in history should not be used. Although we should ideally use the name "Yeshua"...the use of the name "Jesus" is permissable.The pronunciation is not so much the issue in this case as the possible reasoning. Most Sacred Names theology says it is "Yashua" based solely on their assumption that the name of HaMoshiach must contain the name "Yah." I don't know if that's why he says it that way, but it sounds like he may have had some SN influence. I didn't see enough in that video to redact the link. But it did raise a caution flag.
So if we were talking in person, would I scream at you "It's Yeshau!" No. However here it is spelled with an "e", "Yeshua." The reason as stated in the rules is to keep out any Sacred Names influences. Jesus is also acceptable, though not the preferred name. But that is what most of the English speaking world knows Him as, and it may be the only name those new to MJ are comfortable with.
Dan
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Post by mystic on Nov 3, 2020 5:00:24 GMT -8
Well in that case, I don't know if/how to respond with a followup question here, should I try on another forum to pursue this?
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Post by alon on Nov 3, 2020 5:30:43 GMT -8
You can ask, I just can't teach you how to pronounce the Names of God. This again is to prevent the endless Sacred Names infighting that infects some forums. Also it prevents SN silliness and a LOT of false doctrine.
Why do most say "Yeshua?" Because that is historically accurate and in line with proper Hebrew pronunciation. As I already said, many in HR and SN say "Yashua" because they assume the name must contain a reference to "Yah." However there is nothing to support this idea outside their own minds. They have however infected many in MJ with this idea, or at least convinced them it's the proper way to say the name.
I can't guarantee the veracity of another forum, but there are many out there who will go to great lengths to explain how they think the Names of God should be said. It's a rabbit hole I've went down a few times, and I don't recommend it. It's a waste of time and gets confusing if you take any of it seriously.
If you do go, all I ask is that you don't bring any of it back here. This forum tries to keep to facts and sound doctrine.
Thanks, Dan C
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Post by mosheli on Nov 3, 2020 22:29:19 GMT -8
I've done some research and I can't see any pagan origins of the Christmas tree or Christmas lights.
The Christmas tree comes from "Saint" Boniface who made it a symbol of eternal life (being ever green) and with it pointing to heaven (and it also is implied to be a remembrance of him saving a child from a pagan sacrifice?) (Although his fir tree replaced the pagan oak, it doesn't seem to be a mixture or representation of the same thing.) Some people have quoted an OT scripture somewhere that says about decking a tree? But this is not actually an historical origin of the christmas tree.
Christmas tree lights come from Martin Luther who made them symbolise Bethlehem's starry sky. They also tie it to the Jewish festival of lights.
But the (birth) date December 25 does have 3 pagan origins of Prehistoric winter solstice, Roman Saturnalia and Mithra's brithday. Though the Hanukkah or Rededication is sometimes about that date. Some might think the death or resurrection of the sun could symbolise Jesus' death and resurrection like some ancients similarly saw it. They are right that the week days names' and months' names have pagan origins, and yet people in the Western world can't really stop using them. There is a scripture somewhere that says they will change days and seasons in the end times?
Some other christmas practices do also have whole or partly/mixed-in pagan origins, but some don't but have "christian" or no-specific-religious origins.
As to celebrating Jesus birth and/or birthdays I don't see any wrong in it even though there is no scriptural command for it. There is a scripture that says don't let anyone judge you for days etc? Though Paul(?) said "curse the day of my birth". In a way Jesus was "born" at his resurrection, and certainly this is a more important rememberance.
I'd agree that following pagan practices and mixing them with Messianic or Judaeo-Christian is not good biblically. But most christians and people don't know of any pagan origins to some christmas things and they don't follow it in their heart or in the spirit of the law, they usually celebrate it as a christian tradition and "reason for the season". Some christians are offened by the use of "xmas" and say that using "xmas" is "taking the Christ out of Christmas". Not sure about whether Christmas "replaces" the observances of the Scriptures?
Living in and surrounded by and immersed in a world that collectively practises many things it is not easy to go against the flow and do our own practises if we are by ourselves. These biblical things are necessarily social/communal not just (hyper)individualistic. Things are somewhat forced on us and we can't easily do different. (A non-religious example is trying to refuse to follow daylight savings. Even the "sunday sabbath" and sunday church going it not easy to do own practice in the West.)
On the other hand I have found that I got used to living without doing easter and christmas etc, and even the feeling of being alone at christmas is not major anymore (though I do always miss having a family), and it seems just an artficial human practice tradition. But it is nice experience with family and one couldn't imagie living without it when you are used to it.
I think we always should think/pray/seek what Jesus would say/do (not copy/imitate but being One with him).
Christmas is only 1 day or a few weeks, what about the rest of the 365/366 days or 52 weeks of the year for your son?
I have sometimes been diagnosed as being on the autism or aspergers spectrum myself. I believe that Yeshua/Jesus / [God] can help either fix it (if there is anything "wrong" with it) or can include and fulfill autistics (if there is nothing wrong with it). Though so far I haven't yet been able to find why [God] semingly hasn't been answering my prayers for helping me. I've sometimes heard it said that people "grow out of" autism when adults? You and your son are lucky to have each other, I don't really have anyone except God until he answers prayers. The most important thing before everything else is always seeking faith in [God] and Yeshua/Jesus.
I may post a couple of thoughts and questions on the "sacred name" of [God] in the relevant thread. There is no major problem with the name of Jesus/Yehoshua/Yeshua since we at least have some agreement that we are allowed to say/write his name, and it is only the different spellings that are a little bit of an issue. I think the new Yashua versions are adding confusion because people don't know the new different names, it is better to stick to just the commonly known versions. Some anit-christian Jews claim that even Yeshua is not a correct true biblical Jewish name (of Jesus). The name is also Joshua and Jeshua in the OT in some English translations. I'm abit wary/unsure of the Yashua group(s) for some reasons, though it is possible that they may be genuine believers. When I pray I say both "Yeshua/Jesus" so it is sure who I'm praying to or in the name of. God knows all languages and so all nations versions of his names.
I'm not necessarily a strict messianic just a messianic-friendly or messianic-inclined (Judaeo-)christian at the least, so they are just my thoughts and I want to learn/know too.
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Post by alon on Nov 4, 2020 10:59:36 GMT -8
I've done some research and I can't see any pagan origins of the Christmas tree or Christmas lights. The Christmas tree comes from "Saint" Boniface who made it a symbol of eternal life (being ever green) and with it pointing to heaven (and it also is implied to be a remembrance of him saving a child from a pagan sacrifice?) (Although his fir tree replaced the pagan oak, it doesn't seem to be a mixture or representation of the same thing.) Some people have quoted an OT scripture somewhere that says about decking a tree? But this is not actually an historical origin of the christmas tree. Christmas tree lights come from Martin Luther who made them symbolise Bethlehem's starry sky. They also tie it to the Jewish festival of lights. But the (birth) date December 25 does have 3 pagan origins of Prehistoric winter solstice, Roman Saturnalia and Mithra's brithday. Though the Hanukkah or Rededication is sometimes about that date. Some might think the death or resurrection of the sun could symbolise Jesus' death and resurrection like some ancients similarly saw it. They are right that the week days names' and months' names have pagan origins, and yet people in the Western world can't really stop using them. There is a scripture somewhere that says they will change days and seasons in the end times? Some other christmas practices do also have whole or partly/mixed-in pagan origins, but some don't but have "christian" or no-specific-religious origins. As to celebrating Jesus birth and/or birthdays I don't see any wrong in it even though there is no scriptural command for it. There is a scripture that says don't let anyone judge you for days etc? Though Paul(?) said "curse the day of my birth". In a way Jesus was "born" at his resurrection, and certainly this is a more important rememberance. I'd agree that following pagan practices and mixing them with Messianic or Judaeo-Christian is not good biblically. But most christians and people don't know of any pagan origins to some christmas things and they don't follow it in their heart or in the spirit of the law, they usually celebrate it as a christian tradition and "reason for the season". Some christians are offened by the use of "xmas" and say that using "xmas" is "taking the Christ out of Christmas". Not sure about whether Christmas "replaces" the observances of the Scriptures? Living in and surrounded by and immersed in a world that collectively practises many things it is not easy to go against the flow and do our own practises if we are by ourselves. These biblical things are necessarily social/communal not just (hyper)individualistic. Things are somewhat forced on us and we can't easily do different. (A non-religious example is trying to refuse to follow daylight savings. Even the "sunday sabbath" and sunday church going it not easy to do own practice in the West.) On the other hand I have found that I got used to living without doing easter and christmas etc, and even the feeling of being alone at christmas is not major anymore (though I do always miss having a family), and it seems just an artficial human practice tradition. But it is nice experience with family and one couldn't imagie living without it when you are used to it. I think we always should think/pray/seek what Jesus would say/do (not copy/imitate but being One with him). Christmas is only 1 day or a few weeks, what about the rest of the 365/366 days or 52 weeks of the year for your son? I have sometimes been diagnosed as being on the autism or aspergers spectrum myself. I believe that Yeshua/Jesus / [God] can help either fix it (if there is anything "wrong" with it) or can include and fulfill autistics (if there is nothing wrong with it). Though so far I haven't yet been able to find why [God] semingly hasn't been answering my prayers for helping me. I've sometimes heard it said that people "grow out of" autism when adults? You and your son are lucky to have each other, I don't really have anyone except God until he answers prayers. The most important thing before everything else is always seeking faith in [God] and Yeshua/Jesus. I may post a couple of thoughts and questions on the "sacred name" of [God] in the relevant thread. There is no major problem with the name of Jesus/Yehoshua/Yeshua since we at least have some agreement that we are allowed to say/write his name, and it is only the different spellings that are a little bit of an issue. I think the new Yashua versions are adding confusion because people don't know the new different names, it is better to stick to just the commonly known versions. Some anit-christian Jews claim that even Yeshua is not a correct true biblical Jewish name (of Jesus). The name is also Joshua and Jeshua in the OT in some English translations. I'm abit wary/unsure of the Yashua group(s) for some reasons, though it is possible that they may be genuine believers. When I pray I say both "Yeshua/Jesus" so it is sure who I'm praying to or in the name of. God knows all languages and so all nations versions of his names. I'm not necessarily a strict messianic just a messianic-friendly or messianic-inclined (Judaeo-)christian at the least, so they are just my thoughts and I want to learn/know too. Pagan origins of Christmas tree and lights- this site says pretty much what I’ve heard on this topic:www.zmescience.com/science/history-science/origin-christmas-tree-pagan/Here is a summary of the salient points: Long before Christianity, people in the Northern Hemisphere used evergreen plants to decorate their homes, particularly the doors, to celebrate the Winter Solstice. This time of the year is seen as the return in strength of the sun god who had been weakened during winter. The evergreen plants were a reminder that the god would glow again.
The solstice was celebrated by the Egyptians who filled their homes with green palm rushes in honor of the god Ra, who wore the sun as a crown. Celts decorated Druid temples with evergreen boughs to signify everlasting life. Vikings thought evergreens were the plants of Balder, the god of light and peace.
Ancient Romans marked the Winter Solstice with a feast called Saturnalia thrown in honor of Saturn, the god of agriculture, and decorated their homes and temples with evergreen boughs. Saturnalia was the most important Roman celebration; a week-long lawless celebration held between 17 and 25 December in which no one could be prosecuted for injuring or killing people, raping, theft, or almost any crime. But Saturnalia could also be a time for kindness, as many Romans practiced merrymaking and exchange of presents. In the early days of Christianity, the birth of Jesus was set at the last day of Saturnalia by the first Christian Romans.
While a lot of ancient cultures used evergreens around Christmas time, historical records suggest that the Christmas tree tradition was started in the 16th century by Germans who decorated fir trees inside their homes. In some Christian cults, Adam and Eve were considered saints, and people celebrated them during Christmas Eve. Saint Boniface and Martin Luther’s redefining them makes these no less pagan in their origins.
Celebrating the birth of Yeshua- if we are going to celebrate the birth of HaMoshiach Yeshua it is far better to do so on the days God set aside. Excerpted from “When Was Jesus Born?” By Dr. David R. Reagan: According to Luke 1:24-26, Mary conceived Jesus in the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy with John the Baptist. This means Jesus was born 15 months after the angel Gabriel appeared to Elizabeth’s husband, Zacharias, and informed him that his wife would bear a child. According to Luke 1:5, Zacharias was a priest of the division of Abijah. Luke 1:8 says that Gabriel appeared to Zacharias while he was serving as a priest in the Temple.
We know from the Talmud and other sources that the division of Abijah served as priests during the second half of the fourth month of the Jewish religious calendar — which would have put it in late June (the Jewish religious calendar begins in March with Passover). Fifteen months later would place the birth of Jesus in the seventh month of the Jewish calendar. That would be either late September or early October. His conception, not His birth, would have occurred in December of the previous year.
The seventh month of the Jewish calendar is the month of the Feast of Tabernacles. John 1:14, speaking of Jesus as the Word, says: “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth.” The word “dwelt” that is used here is the Greek word “skenoo” which literally means “to tabernacle!”
So, when God came to earth to tabernacle among men He timed His arrival with the Feast of Tabernacles, the most joyous of all the Jewish feasts. It is, in fact, their feast of thanksgiving. The total meaning of that feast will not be fulfilled until the Lord returns again to tabernacle among Men for a thousand years while He reigns over the earth from Mt. Zion in Jerusalem. christinprophecy.org/articles/when-was-jesus-born/There’s a lot of other good information there. But consider this as well: Maccabees II, 10:1-8, “The Maccabee and his companions, with God leading them, recovered the Temple and the city. They demolished the altars that the foreigners built near the marketplace as well as the sacred precincts. They cleansed the Temple and made another altar. Then they struck flints to make fire and they offered up sacrifices after a lapse of two years and they prepared incense, lamps and sacred loaves. … On the anniversary of the Temple’s defilement by foreigners, on that very day, the sanctuary was purified on the twenty-fifth of the month which is Kislev. And they kept the eight days with gladness, as in the Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot) remembering that not long before they had held the Feast of Tabernacles when they wandered in the mountains and dens like beasts. Therefore they bore branches and fair boughs and palms also and sang psalms unto Him that had given them good success in cleansing His place. A measure was passed by the public assembly that the entire Jewish people should observe these days every year.”This was the first Chanukhah, celebrated because they were unable to celebrate the holiday of Sukkot on time that year due to the war. This explains why the holiday was eight days, why they carried palm branches (lulav), offered sacrifices and sang Hallel. Chanukhah is a delayed Sukkot. So Yeshua was likely conceived on a delayed Chanukkah and born on Chanukkah 9 months later. He was in effect conceived and born on the same annual feast! I’d say that is far more worth celebrating than a day borrowed from pagan worship. Christians unaware- that so many are ignorant doesn’t make it right. We know, so for us it is rebellion to celebrate Christmas. And growing up Southern Baptist, I heard much of this. But we still celebrated Christmas! Go figure. Christmas replacing the feasts- In almost all of Christianity, the holidays of Christmas, Easter and Halloween are observed, and none of the so called “Jewish feasts” are kept or even acknowledged. Each year on or before Shavuot, which Christians call Pentecost, I used to make sure I went to a Pentecostal church I’d ask people if they knew what holy day was imminent. I always got the most puzzled looks. They all knew of Pentecost, of course. It is one of the most important events in the Bible for them. But no one had any clue as to when it was. The feasts of the Lord have been completely erased from their consciousness. onversely, many people start the countdown to Christmas on Dec. 26th! Going against the flow- God called His people to do just that! All Israel as to be a living witness to their God. I’m doing a course with the Israel Bible Center on the geography of Israel. Compared to most of the Fertile Crescent Israel has few resources, poor lines of communication and difficult terrain which restricts commerce. Mesopotamia to the north and Egypt to the south have huge riverine communities, great lines of communication and commerce and a wealth of excess food and other products. They can afford to maintain large standing armies and mobilize them quickly. They can also therefore extend their influence and conquer nations. Israel can do little more than fed its own population and raise armies locally to react to invasion or raids.
Israel has always depended entirely on God for its continued existence, and exerts no power or influence on the world around it. They are however a sort of choke-point for all the major trade routes in the ancient Mediterranean world. The entire world passed through Israel. They were meant not to be a powerful influence, but rather an influence by example. People were to look at Israel, their conduct and care for each other, and say “What God do you serve!?”
That is what we are called to do, to be as well. Do you serve Sol Invictus, the unconquerable sun god of Rome? Or do you keep the feasts of the Living God of Israel? WWJD- What would Jesus do? He was a Torah keeping Jew. He did, and would have continued to keep the Feasts of the Lord. Just as His disciples and apostles and all synagogues of the Notsarim did, as well as many Christian churches right up to the early years of the settlement of the Americas and our country. Not being fully Messianic- that's more than ok. We welcome anyone interested in Messianism and our interpretation of scriptural truths. That you bothered to look into this at all shows you have a desire for the truth, and that we love to see! So please, feel free to ask questions or make observations. We learn from discussion here.Dan C
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Post by mosheli on Nov 5, 2020 0:16:43 GMT -8
Thanks Alon, there are some good things there I didn't know.
For myself I am finding I just can not seem to ever find how to have faith (with works) without wavering and have answers to prayers from God. But this is going bit off topic so won't say more here, except that it is related to "going against the flow" being so hard when all alone swamped and forced by the surrounding world (thought christmas hasn't been a problem for me). It seems so hard to have to keep festivals/holydays and sabbaths etc when Im suffering such hell all the time and God seems to never be going to answer or to take forever to answer.
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Post by alon on Nov 5, 2020 4:14:06 GMT -8
Thanks Alon, there are some good things there I didn't know. For myself I am finding I just can not seem to ever find how to have faith (with works) without wavering and have answers to prayers from God. But this is going bit off topic so won't say more here, except that it is related to "going against the flow" being so hard when all alone swamped and forced by the surrounding world (thought christmas hasn't been a problem for me). It seems so hard to have to keep festivals/holydays and sabbaths etc when Im suffering such hell all the time and God seems to never be going to answer or to take forever to answer. That's all just a part of the human condition! Most who've come here in the few years I've been a member have experienced the same things you describe. We all waver, and by far most of us not having a synagogue near or in many cases not even another Messianic close by find we are always swimming upstream, going against the flow of modern culture and religion. We keep the festivals the best we can by ourselves. And we fail at times, at other times often. But the bottom line is we either believe God or we don't. We either trust Him or we don't. And we either want to please Him or, well, you get the picture. So when we fail, we repent, ask forgiveness, and trust His word He does forgive, and then move forward in our walk with Him. As the popular saying goes, "The struggle is the glory!"Romans 8:18 (NASB) For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us. So hang in there. We are none of us as alone as it seems.Dan C
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Post by mystic on Nov 5, 2020 4:18:59 GMT -8
Good to see you posting Moshelli. My take on this guys is yes, Christians don't want to have anything to do with anything which is considered Jewish and they pick and choose whatever they want from the which they feel applies to them, which is hardly anything at all. So they won't celebrate the Holy feasts but would gladly celebrate Xmas and Easter. My take on Xmas is I try to look at the good things, generally people tend to be more generous and happy during that time which they should be doing all year long but.... I try to keep Christ at the forefront of everything, there are a few people who focus on Christ more during the holiday season than any other time which again....
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