This is not Christmas

[Trisha]

The gifts to the baby Jesus were not given to him until he was a toddler. The wisemen came to the house where he was staying. So we don't have that excuse.
I don't think the shepherds had gifts to give.
St. Nicholas gave to kids who had nothing not kids who had every little gadget and toy going.

This gift giving doesn't have any significance to the birth of Christ at all or to St. Nicholas either.
Im talking about running around trying to find a gift for people or for our family members who don't need a gift anyway. Its crazy. It makes sense to give a gift any time of year as a way of showing you love someone,,,but this extravagant amount of gifts given in the name of Christmas is nuts.


Whoever said to run around and buy up alot of gifts to give to family and friends who don't even need and sometimes don't want the stuff anyway on a certain day we are supposed to think of as the birth of Christ.


It doesn't make any sense to equate this gift giving with his birth. It has nothing to do with it.


Jesus never said to celebrate his birth this way, he wants us to treat the poor well EVERY day and that is all I can see in the bible for giving to others.

I wish Christmas would only be about Jesus if people want to celebrate his birth, and get together with other believers praising God for his gift to us. The way we give back to God, and this not for salvation, is to give the good news to those who don't know him and give to the poor who actually NEED our gifts.

I am getting sick of the gift giving to people who need nothing. Give to the poor in spirit and to those who have REAL NEEDS. Christmas Day is just another day if you don't praise God for his gift to the world.

So this is my rant, and I had to put it somewhere. If you don't agree thats alright. I just can't see that buying stuff for people who really don't care about the stuff the day after is connected with being happy Christ was born to save us.

 

[Rev T.S.Perkins]

I do agree with you to a point...my family give gifts to each other as a reminder of the free Gift of Christ
we try to do hand made stuff . But always put God first....Rev

 

[Trisha]

I know people won't all take my position. This is just my opinion of it.
It doesn't really remind us of what God gave to us. As far as what I can see its a separate issue because how many are really thinking of that when they are tearing open a present.
Maybe they are supposed to, but honestly kids don't, and I don't think adults do either. From what I can see.

 

[revbrad]

I agree....Christmas has become about "stuff"

We should celebrate the gift of Christ all year

He is the gift we should give....freely you have recieved, freely give

 

[Rev T.S.Perkins]

I'm just sharing this may e be a little clears on my side of it....
my family doesn't have a lot of money so we don't play the stuff game
how ever when my kids open a present and say praise God for something special or nneeded we stress how God pprovides and knows our needs plus we try to open our table to allin need ...so this may be the same old story of swating. spiritual flys ...it is what you make it
if you find ways to share Christ in it what's the different from creative witnessing to Share Christ at any opretunity . Know God will use any thing I give Him to use if I'm willing to share the miricale gift and the blessings he gives us ...imagine that a secular tool to teach the word ..I find that quite novel ...In love Rev

 

[revbrad]

You are blessed Rev that your children are that way.

It is great if you can use this to share Christ. I agree, my motto is "by any means available"

But, I do believe that to most people (even many christians) Christmas has become about stuff.

We should all be as you are and look for opportunities to serve and share Christ through service.

I did not mean to say that it was about stuff for all, sorry if I offended.

I guess my frustration with a lot of what I see and hear (even in christian circles) came through

Maybe it's time christians get out there and put Christ back in Christmas

 

[Rev T.S.Perkins]

In the stories post I've got one about Santa (In Gods arms )
pls read it and you will see Christ I promise .we as Christians need to quit playing the name it and blame it game and should seek every opretunity to place Christ back in the world and stop running for cover evey time we face something outside our perfect little box we keep Christ in . Our advesary walks around roaring as a lion making noise to scare us .. We should be roaring louder with evey tool we can find to make noise with....Again in His Love ...Rev. And no offense taken we are all Famliy you know

 

[revbrad]

I read the story and was touched

And AMEN to your post

 

[Rev T.S.Perkins]

You're right RB Christmas is about stuff .so we label it as taboo and stay away instead of Roaring as the lion of Judah that a savior is born unto man for the forgiveness of sin.... Dear Lord will we ever wake up and declare you Lord of ALL..! Rev

 

[revbrad]

It's time to sound the trumpet, and Lift up Christ!