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Re: Should Christians celebrate Mithra - the birth of the sun god?
[Re: dedication]
#159462
12/21/13 02:37 PM
12/21/13 02:37 PM
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Dedication, thank you for expressing the matter in a balanced and loving way.
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Re: Should Christians celebrate Mithra - the birth of the sun god?
[Re: dedication]
#159526
12/23/13 03:38 PM
12/23/13 03:38 PM
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A satanic holiday??? -- Halloween -- that's when death, violence and spirits are celebrated, an unholy holiday for sure. So what if we our churches were to make a big celebration of halloween and say it's not the witches and stuff we're remembering but merely acknowledging that God sends His spirit to those on the earth, not focusing on the pagan ideas, but keeping our focus on Christ, etc., etc. Would you be comfortable with such a holiday celebration, no matter how it was whitewashed, realizing the origin behind it?
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Re: Should Christians celebrate Mithra - the birth of the sun god?
[Re: kland]
#159557
12/24/13 06:13 AM
12/24/13 06:13 AM
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There is a huge difference between Christmas and Halloween.
The Christian world and even many non-Christians do focus on Christ and His first advent during the Christmas season.
Though santa tries to choke that out, it is there none the less.
Halloween on the other hand, has nothing in it that is Christian.
But yes, even on Halloween, we should find an alternative to focus on -- like the Great Controversy Theme, the State of the Dead, how sin causes violence and death, and how Christ brings peace and life.
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Re: Should Christians celebrate Mithra - the birth of the sun god?
[Re: dedication]
#159568
12/24/13 02:17 PM
12/24/13 02:17 PM
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There is a huge difference between Christmas and Halloween.
The Christian world and even many non-Christians do focus on Christ and His first advent during the Christmas season.
Though santa tries to choke that out, it is there none the less.
Halloween on the other hand, has nothing in it that is Christian.
But yes, even on Halloween, we should find an alternative to focus on -- like the Great Controversy Theme, the State of the Dead, how sin causes violence and death, and how Christ brings peace and life. But what if we whitewash it with something nice? Would that make it ok? "In the ninth century, Pope Gregory IV said that it (Allhallows day) must be kept by all Christians. Church discipline would be enforced on those who refused." "Christ's mass, performed on December 25, must be attended by the faithful, under penalty of mortal sin for not doing so." Is there a huge difference?
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Re: Should Christians celebrate Mithra - the birth of the sun god?
[Re: kland]
#159582
12/24/13 07:33 PM
12/24/13 07:33 PM
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There is absolutely nothing wrong with focusing on Christ's birth and incarnation in a special way during the month of December.
We do NOT go to mass, or believe the date itself is holy, nor do we seek the pope's blessing in attending some service.
I believe it is far more EVIL to call heavenly things "pagan" than it is to celebrate Christ's birth in the month of December.
Satan has counterfeited EVERY aspect of Christ's mission and ministry. And all those counterfeits were in place BEFORE Christ's first advent.
Yes, shun the pagan issues, but don't shun Christ, His birth and the most awesome truth that God became man in order to save us. Don't condemn people who make this season a special time to focus on these precious truths.
If we refuse to honor Christ because Satan has counterfeits, than we are in all essence denying Christ.
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Re: Should Christians celebrate Mithra - the birth of the sun god?
[Re: dedication]
#159584
12/24/13 08:54 PM
12/24/13 08:54 PM
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Satan has counterfeited EVERY aspect of Christ's mission and ministry. And all those counterfeits were in place BEFORE Christ's first advent.
Well said, well said. And Christ's first advent had nothing to do with the birth of the sun god. Until after it was Vaticanized. Interesting how you suggest we should not take seriously certain versions of the scripture because the Vatican had hold of them, but yet at the same time, when the Vatican promoted the Christianization of a pagan holiday, you say embrace fully!
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Re: Should Christians celebrate Mithra - the birth of the sun god?
[Re: kland]
#159585
12/24/13 09:04 PM
12/24/13 09:04 PM
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Winter Solstice
December 21st was the winter solstice, the shortest day of the year, after which the days become longer, the rebirth of the sun. It's also celebrated by some as the rebirth of the sun god. The 21st was technically the solstice. Since this is when the sun reaches it's furthermost point south, it happens the same time throughout the northern hemisphere. And only varies a day, depending upon when the technical time crosses midnight.
During the ancient times, they did not observe the increasing day length at the technical point. This rebirth of the sun wasn't observed, and celebrated, until about 4 days later....
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Re: Should Christians celebrate Mithra - the birth of the sun god?
[Re: kland]
#159598
12/25/13 06:55 AM
12/25/13 06:55 AM
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Interesting how you suggest we should not take seriously certain versions of the scripture because the Vatican had hold of them, but yet at the same time, when the Vatican promoted the Christianization of a pagan holiday, you say embrace fully!
Again you mix apples with grapefruits. The Bible is God's Word to us, and we want the true word. It's not the fact that the Vatican "had hold of them", but what happened to the manuscripts. It wasn't the Catholic Church that "gave us the true scriptures". Nor do I "embrace the pagan" or the "mass" of Christmas. Catholism didn't give us the true picture of the incarnation of Christ either. I see the Christmas Season as a time to focus on Christ's birth, and for some family togetherness. After all it's a time when we all get PAID time off work and can get together -- which we will do next week. I'll be cleaning and cooking tomorrow in preparation.
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Re: Should Christians celebrate Mithra - the birth of the sun god?
[Re: kland]
#159600
12/25/13 07:11 AM
12/25/13 07:11 AM
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Winter Solstice
December 21st was the winter solstice, the shortest day of the year, after which the days become longer, the rebirth of the sun. It's also celebrated by some as the rebirth of the sun god. The 21st was technically the solstice. Since this is when the sun reaches it's furthermost point south, it happens the same time throughout the northern hemisphere. And only varies a day, depending upon when the technical time crosses midnight.
I'm fully aware of that. And what a relief for us who live in a land where right now the sun goes down in the middle of the afternoon and doesn't come up again until after we've gone to work the next morning, to know the days will be getting longer again. I've often thought on this that Christ came to earth at the darkest hour of earth's history, to bring hope. To bring assurance that the eternal day is coming. " The earth was dark through misapprehension of God. That the gloomy shadows might be lightened, that the world might be brought back to God, Satan's deceptive power was to be broken....Upon the world's dark night the Sun of Righteousness must rise, "with healing in His wings." Malachi 4:2. {DA 22.1}
The Child of Bethlehem, the meek and lowly Saviour, is God "manifest in the flesh." 1 Timothy 3:16. And to us He says: "I AM the Good Shepherd." "I AM the living Bread." "I AM the Way, the Truth, and the Life." "All power is given
unto Me in heaven and in earth." John 10:11; 6:51; 14:6; Matthew 28:18. I AM the assurance of every promise. I AM; be not afraid. "God with us" is the surety of our deliverance from sin, the assurance of our power to obey the law of heaven. {DA 24.3}
Here, where the Son of God tabernacled in humanity; where the King of glory lived and suffered and died,--here, when He shall make all things new, the tabernacle of God shall be with men, "and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself shall be with them, and be their God." And through endless ages as the redeemed walk in the light of the Lord, they will praise Him for His unspeakable Gift,--
Immanuel, "God with us." {DA 26.3}
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