tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6836835.post3547433271081996300..comments2023-08-16T07:20:09.921-05:00Comments on Kineti L'Tziyon קנאתי לציון: What Messianics think of ChristmasJudah Gabriel Himangohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10277699587853707632noreply@blogger.comBlogger35125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6836835.post-3657037152882258222011-12-30T17:01:38.052-06:002011-12-30T17:01:38.052-06:00I think I'm going to convert the
1.Quija Board...I think I'm going to convert the<br />1.Quija Board into a "prayer board"<br /><br />2.Buddha into "Baby Jesus" in a Nativity Scene<br /><br />3.Swastika-Into a sign representing the power of The Holy Spirit.<br /><br />4.The Rebel Flag into a sign of rebellion against The Evil One.<br /><br />and you guys better not judge my rituals cause it's not a big deal to HaShem.(Pun Intended).Sidney W.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6836835.post-8100847498448112572011-12-17T22:01:50.370-06:002011-12-17T22:01:50.370-06:00Judah,
My house is in the exact same condition. I...Judah, <br />My house is in the exact same condition. I could not compromise with dressing up the tree for Dec'25 and for people to call it a Chanukah Bush??!! Even more appalling. That's an insult to the Light of The World to graft in paganism.<br />FFOZ posted a Facebook article where they deleted any serious opposition about The Kosher Christmas Tree. Those dudes have souled-out and went from Pharisees to Sadducees to straight Herodians. Sad to see they're now pushing to get their TV show(Televangelist?!) on air by insulting their first supporters for deeper pockets :((Sidney Wnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6836835.post-73774913778545997002011-12-15T13:57:13.263-06:002011-12-15T13:57:13.263-06:00>> it is safe to say there is no one Jewish ...>> <i>it is safe to say there is no one Jewish consensus about how to react to "the tree".</i><br /><br />So what? Really, so what? There was no single Jewish consensus during great evils like Antiochus, either. Consensus doesn't mean squat. So let's not muddy the waters of righteousness by throwing in a consensus factor.<br /><br />>> <i>Elisha didn't tell Naaman that he was going to fry in hell without an electric fan if he entered the pagan Temple with the king of Syria. </i><br /><br />I ignored that argument because it's a terrible guide for today. Yes, a prophet of Israel excused a pagan leader of bowing to his nation's idol. <br /><br />It's a terrible guide for today because Messiah's disciples are not pagans, nor are they compelled to bow to idols. On the contrary, as followers of the God of Israel, we're compelled to follow the Maccabee example. Namaan may not have had a choice; we do.<br /><br />>> <i>Frankly, the only people who are suffering in this circumstance right now is you and probably your wife (assuming she knows how you feel about "the tree"). I don't know what you're going to do about it except choose to stay miserable</i><br /><br />I'm neither suffering nor miserable. I made a compromise with my wife, as I stated in the post, and I think we're both OK with the compromise.<br /><br />The point of this post was to show the variety of views on the Christmas issue within the Messianic world. As for the tree, I spoke about the tree in the last few comments only because you wanted to understand why I believed it was a type of idol. I've articulated that view, and will leave it at that.Judah Gabriel Himangohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10277699587853707632noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6836835.post-33798252051692458232011-12-15T13:41:40.894-06:002011-12-15T13:41:40.894-06:00You found one Jewish example of a person who choos...You found one Jewish example of a person who chooses to view the Christmas tree as a symbol of persecution and I found one Jewish example of a person who chooses to tolerate it, although she's still pretty uncomfortable, for the sake of peace in the family. Each person represents lots and lots of Jews so it it safe to say there is no one Jewish consensus about how to react to "the tree". <br /><br />You also chose to ignore my example of Elisha and Naaman. Elisha didn't tell Naaman that he was going to fry in hell without an electric fan if he entered the pagan Temple with the king of Syria. He just said, "Go in peace." Or do you believe the prophet screwed up in this situation?<br /><br />Frankly, the only people who are suffering in this circumstance right now is you and probably your wife (assuming she knows how you feel about "the tree"). I don't know what you're going to do about it except choose to stay miserable and focus on one problem (the one you have with the Christmas tree) in a world that has lots and lots of much bigger problems.<br /><br />You can't dismantle Christmas as a secular celebration in western culture and you're agonizing about having a Christmas tree in your home. Since you apparently can't change any of that, have you thought about changing something you have control over? I don't know if any of this applies to you, but you could take your family and donate some food to your local foodbank (and I'm sorry if they'll give the food to people who might actually eat is on Christmas). You can donate used clothes to a homeless shelter. You could focus on performing some other mitzvah that would benefit people less fortunate than you are. In other words, you can concentrate on doing good rather than obsessing about one lousy Christmas tree.<br /><br />Life isn't perfect. Neither are you and neither am I. Paul had a thorn in his side and you have a Christmas tree in your living room. The grace of Yeshua will have to suffice in both situations.Jameshttp://mymorningmeditations.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6836835.post-79305556735781472212011-12-15T12:47:02.052-06:002011-12-15T12:47:02.052-06:00A menorah is a replica of an element in God's ...A menorah is a replica of an element in God's temple on earth, and a picture of an element in God's Temple in Heaven.<br /><br />I don't decorate it with silver and gold, I don't hang memories on it, and I don't sing around it or to it or about it. You're trying to stretch the correlation.<br /><br />You've found a modern Jewish woman who is OK with Christmas. Mostly. And because of that, you feel OK about it yourself. Likewise, I can find hundreds of Jews who object to the tree. Example: New York Times best-selling Jewish author Anita Diamant wrote, <i>"When [a Jew] looks at a Christmas tree, he or she may be seeing two thousand years of virulent persecution by Christians against Jews."</i><br /><br />What's more, the Biblical and righteous story of Hanukkah is all about refusing to give into the ways of the nations: refusing to eat unclean foods, refusing to bring in idols, refusing to give up on God's Torah.<br /><br />Putting up a Christmas tree is waving a white flag: "Oh, we give up! These harmless little traditions, even if backed in false-god practices, are OK for us."<br /><br />I read Maccabees last night. It made me ashamed of the western culture and my tolerance thereof.<br /><br />I mean, people in Israel were butchered if they didn't accept the traditions, culture, practices, and religion of the nations. Antiochus freakin' butchered the men and women, then hung the children, in their homes, by their necks. That we're so easily taken into gentile practices with certain false-god backgrounds, completely unrelated to God and Messiah -- what does that say about us today?<br /><br />I don't buy the white-flag argument that it just doesn't matter.Judah Gabriel Himangohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10277699587853707632noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6836835.post-44398865603042571462011-12-15T12:01:22.456-06:002011-12-15T12:01:22.456-06:00So assuming you celebrate Chanukah, is the menorah...So assuming you celebrate Chanukah, is the menorah an idol? OK, it's not as significant an object as a Christmas tree, but it is a tradition (as opposed to building a Sukkah which a mitzvah) and for eight nights, you light candles on it, sing around it, play dreidel near it, and eat latkes by it's light.<br /><br />The only reason a Christmas tree seems like an idol and a Chanukah menorah doesn't is because the scope of Christmas is much larger (extending far outside the Christian world in to secular existence) and because a tree is usually a lot bigger physically.<br /><br />Really Judah, if Julie Wiener, who probably has more significant reasons to be uneasy about Christmas trees than you, do can lobby against "Christmasphobia", then perhaps you also can set aside your difficulties with "the tree" as well. <br /><br />Remember when the Syrian General Naaman was healed of leprosy by Elisha the Prophet in <b>2 Kings 5</b>? If having a Christmas tree in your home is that difficult and you have it there only to please your wife, consider the words of <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Kings%205:18-19&version=NIV" rel="nofollow">verses 18-19</a>. Elisha was more gracious to Naaman than you are being to yourself.Jameshttp://mymorningmeditations.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6836835.post-76723000394745414212011-12-14T22:00:27.991-06:002011-12-14T22:00:27.991-06:00Ok. The tree is an idol to me because it's mad...Ok. The tree is an idol to me because it's made the centerpiece of the house, gifts are opened under it, nativity scenes of Messiah's birth are placed under it, the family gathers around it, decorates it with silver and gold and lights, hangs memories on it, even sings songs to it/about it.<br /><br />That's a form of worship.<br /><br />All that, when it has zero to do with Messiah's birth; rather it has links to nordic fake-god religious rites. Canaanite fake-god rites are outlawed in the Torah, regardless of their seeming harmlessness. I apply that today, and consider the tree such a practice.Judah Gabriel Himangohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10277699587853707632noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6836835.post-36861020925707550092011-12-14T16:47:25.442-06:002011-12-14T16:47:25.442-06:00OK,OK, I want to be fair. Tell me why.
Oh, and I ...OK,OK, I want to be fair. Tell me why.<br /><br />Oh, and I find religious Jews (non-Messianic) are really not "idol-phobic". They don't have Christmas trees because they're used to worship Jesus, not because they think the trees are idols. They *do* consider it idol-worship for a man to be worshiped as God, but that's another blog post.Jameshttp://mymorningmeditations.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6836835.post-85730559406554772822011-12-14T16:42:17.590-06:002011-12-14T16:42:17.590-06:00>> Our main job, besides spreading the Word,...>> <i>Our main job, besides spreading the Word, is to avoid falling into idolatry </i><br /><br />Precisely. And if a Christmas tree is a form of an idol, then it's idolatry. If not, then it's not idolatry.<br /><br />The question shifts back to the original crux: is a tree an idol? You don't believe so, others (including many religious Jews) think otherwise. It's a big debate that we won't solve here.<br /><br />As for me, the tree is a form of an idol. I can tell you why I believe that, if you want to understand. Otherwise, continue to discard my opinions as internet trash. ;-)Judah Gabriel Himangohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10277699587853707632noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6836835.post-68174005034560550592011-12-14T16:30:40.475-06:002011-12-14T16:30:40.475-06:00Many Hindus and Buddhists love god(s) and visit th...<i>Many Hindus and Buddhists love god(s) and visit the sick, feed the hungry, comfort the widow. If they do that *and* have a decorative statue, should we condemn them?</i><br /><br />We might disagree with their practice and, from the Bible, we know their idols do not honor God, but God will judge, not us. Our main job, besides spreading the Word, is to avoid falling into idolatry and we can do that without beating up other people. Also, I'm not convinced the tree is an idol. Does your wife worship and bow to it? No. It's a decoration with religious significance but doesn't mean she thinks it's God. Do you ever wear a Star of David? Is it an idol or a decoration with religious significance?<br /><br />As far as Hindus are concerned, there's one guy who's my hero. This video I found on Facebook is just amazing:<br /><br />http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=1378237514624<br /><br />He isn't a Christian (or Messianic) but he lives a more Christ-like life than most believers I know.<br /><br /><i>Point is, dealing with the Christmas tree issue is something folks in the Messianic world (which mixes Jewish and Christian elements) as well as mixed Jewish/Christian couples will have to deal with. You and your wife have chosen to deal with it by discarding Christmas. I'm not so lucky! :-D</i><br /><br />Did you read the Julie Wiener quote I posted above? You're not alone. The "discussions" I've been involved with over the past week have done more to increase my tolerance of Christmas than the last decade of Messianic worship.<br /><br />A Christmas tree doesn't have to be a disaster. Think of the other things you tolerate in your marriage for the sake of peace (and I know you posted a smiley face at the end of your comment, but I'm on a roll). Think of how much your wife tolerates from you for the same reasons. God tempers justice with mercy otherwise no one could survive. Why don't we do the same?Jameshttp://mymorningmeditations.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6836835.post-60604892828170818982011-12-14T16:11:56.545-06:002011-12-14T16:11:56.545-06:00many Christians in churches who love God too and w...<i>many Christians in churches who love God too and who live out that love by visiting the sick, feeding the hungry, and comforting the widow. If they do that *and* have a Christmas tree, should we condemn them?</i><br /><br />Many Hindus and Buddhists love god(s) and visit the sick, feed the hungry, comfort the widow. If they do that *and* have a decorative statue, should we condemn them?<br /><br />Point is, dealing with the Christmas tree issue is something folks in the Messianic world (which mixes Jewish and Christian elements) as well as mixed Jewish/Christian couples will have to deal with. You and your wife have chosen to deal with it by discarding Christmas. I'm not so lucky! :-DJudah Gabriel Himangohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10277699587853707632noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6836835.post-63040726242792263252011-12-14T15:57:13.688-06:002011-12-14T15:57:13.688-06:00Same goes for Christianity, or most any other reli...<i>Same goes for Christianity, or most any other religion. So many apathetic, yet a new convert (say, Aviad Cohen) is zealous and outspoken. Many such converts overly-so.</i><br /><br />Well, yes and no. I might have agreed with you ten years ago, but now I see the One Law movement as a "Judaized" version of conservative Christianity. More often than not, people bring the religious attitudes they already had into OL/MJ and "dress them up" in a kippah and tallit rather than allow themselves to change their thoughts, feelings, and spirits by adopting a new religious and spiritual outlook (which any actual convert will tell you can take many years). <br /><br />I'm not saying that "Anonymous" or anyone else has to change their convictions. They probably shouldn't if they really believe they are following the path God set out before them. I only ask that we not take the Christmas tree and use it like a big ugly club to beat up Christians who choose to express their love for Jesus and his love for other people by celebrating Christmas. Many people may believe that some form of Messianic Judaism is the right way to love God, but there are also many Christians in churches who love God too and who live out that love by visiting the sick, feeding the hungry, and comforting the widow. If they do that *and* have a Christmas tree, should we condemn them?<br /><br />By the way, I do notice your balanced and even attitude in representing the other opinion and appreciate it, Judah. However, being a notorious blabbermouth, one blog comment isn't going to be enough to contain my response. So I submit my "extra meditation" for today: <a href="http://mymorningmeditations.com/2011/12/14/out-of-balance/" rel="nofollow">Out of Balance</a>.<br /><br />Oh, and if Derek commented, I can't see it here. Spam filter?Jameshttp://mymorningmeditations.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6836835.post-73641401207110929982011-12-14T15:12:33.656-06:002011-12-14T15:12:33.656-06:00Case in point, Derek Leman.
(I love you, Derek! :...Case in point, Derek Leman.<br /><br />(I love you, Derek! :-))Judah Gabriel Himangohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10277699587853707632noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6836835.post-71402433970436289282011-12-14T15:10:21.197-06:002011-12-14T15:10:21.197-06:00>> I've noticed that the Gentile members...>> <i>I've noticed that the Gentile members of Messianic "Judaism" seem to be more rigid about the whole Christmas thing than Jewish people.</i><br /><br />This is a broader human condition. Converts to Judaism tend to be more zealous (overly so?) than many 'natives', shall we say, who have often grown apathetic over the years.<br /><br />(A rabbi commented on this some time ago, I forget his name now...)<br /><br />Same goes for Christianity, or most any other religion. So many apathetic, yet a new convert (say, Aviad Cohen) is zealous and outspoken. Many such converts overly-so.<br /><br />So it is with gentile Messianics who, in a sense, have converted away from Christianity and towards a Torah-observant lifestyle.<br /><br />It's not limited to religion. In tech, I see people who "cross over" to different camps -- say, .NET tech stack to the Ruby world -- and become Ruby zealots, more zealous than the natives.<br /><br />I wonder if the psychology world has a term for this.Judah Gabriel Himangohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10277699587853707632noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6836835.post-33996339335974860852011-12-14T14:47:23.795-06:002011-12-14T14:47:23.795-06:00I've noticed that the Gentile members of Messi...I've noticed that the Gentile members of Messianic "Judaism" seem to be more rigid about the whole Christmas thing than Jewish people. I quote from Julie Wiener's column <a href="http://www.thejewishweek.com/blogs/julie_wieners_mix/its_not_my_least_unfavorite_time_year" rel="nofollow">In the Mix</a> published at "The Jewish Week website:<br /><br /><i>"A few years ago, the sight of my offspring engaging in tree trimming might have made me squeamish, but this year, while we don’t (and won’t) have our own tree, I’m on a bit of a crusade, so to speak, against Christmasphobia. By which I mean the attitude many Jews (even some intermarried ones) have that Christmas and all its trappings must be avoided at all costs lest we assimilate into nothingness — and that we must be offended when clueless but well intentioned Christians wish us a merry Christmas or offer us gifts wrapped in red and green.<br />Like intermarriage itself, the presence or absence of a Christmas tree in one’s home is often used as a shorthand pulse check of Jewish identity — and both are rather flawed, simplistic measurement devices.<br />The fact is that many interfaith families, and in-married families with Christian relatives, do live full Jewish lives yet also partake in Christmas celebrations."</i><br /><br />Although there are many things about my former congregation I miss, primarily the people, I don't miss the overarching philosophy of the One Law movement to be uncompromisingly inflexible and harsh to those who are different from them, "Anonymous". I never taught that. My congregation never embraced that. But the larger association with that kind of thinking was one of the factors that finally sent me in a different direction.Jameshttp://mymorningmeditations.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6836835.post-43751660088326360852011-12-14T14:32:58.572-06:002011-12-14T14:32:58.572-06:00I am all for whoever wants to observe Christmas to...I am all for whoever wants to observe Christmas to celebrate the birth of Messiah. I don't care.<br /><br />On the other hand, Jews don't observe birthdays (in a religious way) - we only observe passing aways instead, to keep the memory alive.<br /><br />"Celebrating our own birthdays is also a kind of idolatry. This should not be a part of a true Messianic's life."<br /><br />That's pure BS.Gene Shlomovichhttp://dailyminyan.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6836835.post-516561567127251542011-12-14T12:08:04.482-06:002011-12-14T12:08:04.482-06:00To anonymous...you hit the nail on the head.To anonymous...you hit the nail on the head.WildOlivehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00388045632541332799noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6836835.post-72356038869157623002011-12-14T12:05:54.311-06:002011-12-14T12:05:54.311-06:00In Linda Bedwell's story about leaving "p...In Linda Bedwell's story about leaving "paganmas" behind, she uses a birthday reference. If we as Messianics, truly following Yeshua, are not informed to observe His birthday (we know was NOT in December anyways, but whenever it was for sure..we were not informed in Torah to celebrate it.), then why would we celebrate our own birthdays? If we are not called to celebrate the most important birth there ever was, why would we celbrate our own? Isn't that saying, in a sense, that we believe we are more important than Yeshua? Celebrating our own birthdays is also a kind of idolatry. This should not be a part of a true Messianic's life. Though that story is a good metaphor, it is discounted by the birthday reference.WildOlivehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00388045632541332799noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6836835.post-48170652057143037772011-12-13T09:42:07.173-06:002011-12-13T09:42:07.173-06:00Those who think that spiritual adultery (syncretis...Those who think that spiritual adultery (syncretism with pagan religions) is OK or even pleasing to God because God knows their heart that they truly are worshipping Him and not the false gods from which the traditions and practices of Sunday, Christmas, Easter, eating pork and shellfish, etc originate ought to try (or at least envision) this scenario:<br /><br />They could modernize their marriage (or significant relationship) by getting a hooker or gigolo to join in for a threesome -- and when the spouse (or significant other) reacts with shock, outrage, and jealous anger, they may soothe the situation by explaining that they won't be thinking of the other person, the only person in their mind will be their spouse (or significant other), so the fidelity of their trust and relationship will be maintained.<br /><br />Then everything will be as OK in their relationship... as the theology of mainline Christianity is to God.<br /><br />1 Kings 11:4<br />Jeremiah 10:2a<br />John 15:22<br />Romans 1:20<br />Ephesians 5:23<br />1 Thessalonians 5:22Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6836835.post-56105997078567615692011-12-12T11:40:00.164-06:002011-12-12T11:40:00.164-06:00I ran across a Chanukah/Christmas article written ...I ran across a Chanukah/Christmas article written by Julie Weiner for her <a href="http://www.thejewishweek.com/blogs/julie_wieners_mix/its_not_my_least_unfavorite_time_year" rel="nofollow">In the Mix</a> column at "The Jewish Week" which I found illuminating. The Messianic community likes to think that it has the most "ownership" of this "struggle" but I think it would add some perspective if the community could take a look at the interfaith families that are outside the Messianic (and particularly the One Law) framework and see how they deal with this issue. OL Messianics have a tendency to <a href="http://mymorningmeditations.com/2011/12/11/christmas-trees-and-panic-attacks/" rel="nofollow">panic</a> whenever Christmas is brought up rather than seeing these holidays within the larger context of varied religious traditions and allowing for those traditions. <br /><br />A large part of Messianic Judaism doesn't do the "Judaism" part very well, especially in its ability to allow for variability within observance and worship.Jameshttp://mymorningmeditations.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6836835.post-45494327496117810722011-12-12T10:32:47.662-06:002011-12-12T10:32:47.662-06:00Thank you for the reply James. This subject is so...Thank you for the reply James. This subject is so fraught with perils! I think one of the things I really like about Messianic Congregations is the variety of views on subjects such as this. Of course, the main thing I like is the deep, heart felt, closeness one experiences in worship. Much deeper than just singing a few songs and keeping track of the time. I think my wife and I will always have a connection with our Christian background and Christmas will always be a part of our lives, but our home will always be with our Messianic family and with Israel. Shaalu Shalom Yerushalayim .Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6836835.post-18135329776920670032011-12-11T16:25:25.091-06:002011-12-11T16:25:25.091-06:00What is wrong with celebrating Jesus's?
Dear ...<i>What is wrong with celebrating Jesus's?</i><br /><br />Dear Anonymous,<br /><br />From my point of view, nothing. But as you probably figured out if you read all of Judah's blog, a lot of people have real issues with Christmas. I'm a little surprised that some of them haven't tried to answer your question from one perspective or another by now (some of them can be very intense), but maybe the issue is all "talked out".<br /><br />We all make decisions about what we think we need and want to do to express our faith. Some people have a very positive emotional and spiritual connection to Christmas and if "that's the way you roll", that's terrific. Others find their spiritual expression in different events such as Sukkot, Passover, and Shavuot. The matter can be hotly debated this way and that, but as I said, we all make decisions. God will sort them out in the end.Jameshttp://mymorningmeditations.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6836835.post-37679387958607539012011-12-10T22:16:30.827-06:002011-12-10T22:16:30.827-06:00My wife and I are new to the messianic movement. ...My wife and I are new to the messianic movement. In many ways I see messianic's rebuilding the wall that separates Jew and Gentile. (note present tense) Messianic's celebrate non-commanded feasts. Birthdays have been celebrated by many cultures for many years. What is wrong with celebrating Jesus's?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6836835.post-36436567547329660722011-12-09T14:32:23.526-06:002011-12-09T14:32:23.526-06:00That reminds me, I've been meaning to write a ...That reminds me, I've been meaning to write a blog applying the concept of "the Torah is not in Heaven" (see <b>Deuteronomy 30:12</b> for source) to the broader context of believers. Probably sometime Monday or Tuesday.Jameshttp://mymorningmeditations.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6836835.post-69856920151784141692011-12-09T13:49:17.265-06:002011-12-09T13:49:17.265-06:00It's not about what I think or you think as mu...It's not about what I think or you think as mush as it is about what YHWH's word says and what Yeshua did. Yeshua is the Living Word, it is in His Way we want to follow:<br /><br />YHWH's Feasts:<br />Feast/ Commanded/ Did Yeshua<br />Passover Yes Yes<br />Unleavened B. Yes Yes<br />First Fruits Yes Yes<br />Shavuot Yes Yes<br />Yom Teruah Yes Assumed <br />Yom Kippur Yes Yes<br />Sukkot Yes Yes<br /><br />Jewish Feasts:<br />Purim No ??<br />Hanukah No Yes<br /><br />Christian Feasts:<br />Lent No No<br />Easter No No<br />Pentecost Yes Yes<br />Halloween No No<br />Christmas No No<br /><br />So that is what Yeshua did. <br /><br />So what does His word say anything about this subject od Chrsitmas or anything asscociated with it's practice?<br />Jer 10:1-7 Hear the word which Yahweh speaks to you, house of Israel!<br />2Thus says Yahweh, "Don't learn the way of the nations, and don't be dismayed at the signs of the sky; for the nations are dismayed at them.<br /><br />3For the customs of the peoples are vanity; for one cuts a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman with the axe.<br /><br />4They deck it with silver and with gold; they fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it not move.<br /><br />5They are like a palm tree, of turned work, and don't speak: they must be carried, because they can't go. Don't be afraid of them; for they can't do evil, neither is it in them to do good."<br /><br />6There is none like you, Yahweh; you are great, and your name is great in might.<br /><br />7Who should not fear you, King of the nations? For it appertains to you; because among all the wise men of the nations, and in all their royal estate, there is none like you.<br /><br />So cutting a tree to decorate and fixing it so it won't move is vanity according to His Word.<br /><br />This is not mentioning Santa Claus or St. Nicholas, Misteltoe, Elves and other cultural infusions.<br /><br />The questions is not what I think, or you think, what only matters what does YHWH command. Would YHWH condone Christmas as is, in our culture today?<br /><br />C.F.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com