plappville: Yestarday was my first meeting held with my new church women. They stated out thier yearly programmes and it appears that "CHRISTMAS" was in the list.
So the speaker told each of us to participate in all activites in order for the success of the Christmas programme.

I called on thier attention that i do not celebrate Christmas so i cannot help them with the Christmas programme, but for other programmes i will.
They asked why, i asked them to show me where the word "CELEBRATION OF CHRIST BIRTHDAY" is in the bible, This made them felt real cold!! none could present it.

The speaker spoke up. Its true there is no place in the bible, i myself have never noticed this, it has been part of the church doctrine and there is nothing wrong in celebrating Jesus birthday, she said. One old woman suported me and said, though she has been in the church for years but she has never participated in the xmas celebration.
Because, its a day not for the Christians, but for pagans are well. She said she didn't see anything in Christmas that has a significant of Christ. But that she had prefares not to disclose it to them.

To cup it short, i told them i am not against them, but i wouldn't in anyway participate with them? sorry don end. faces were no longer smilling

I was surprise that Todays sermon was directing to me, The pastor started qouting from (phillipians 2:1-5)
1 Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.

5 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:

He said, he advises us to be united, we should make others feel we know the bible more than them, we shouldn't try to change things that are already installed or come to stay.

He said if we do not accept the church doctrine we are breaking the above verse, and this means we are not humble like Christ.
He continues that we shouldnt think for ourselve but for the church in general. That its thesame spirit on the day of convertion, so none should try to prove He/she is more knowledged than the others.

He said alot of things, i believed his wife had discussed this with him, which is not right. I didn't want to find myself eating my vomit, going back to what i have put a stop to.
I was never against thier programm, I felt not letting them know will make me an hypocrite, but in fact, they reason me wrongly.
I see Christmas as a pagan thing, due to its origin and for the fact that Its not biblical, why then should i agree with this just to feel among.

Does this verse really correspond to my pastors interpretation as par my action? or is it an obligation to accept a doctrine you know so well is not biblical even if its pointing at Christ? Your kind responds will be appreciated thank you.

frosbel:

My dear , you did the right thing.

For the first time in many years, my wife agreed that there will be no Christmas tree and the associated nonsense this Year. She now sees as many of us do that the source of all this confusion is the catholic pagan church which also brought us the trinity, immaculate conception of mary and so on and so forth.

If you think Christmas is bad, try mentioning Trinity, they will kick you out immediately , lol.

frosbel:

My dear , you did the right thing.

For the first time in many years, my wife agreed that there will be no Christmas tree and the associated nonsense this Year. She now sees as many of us do that the source of all this confusion is the catholic pagan church which also brought us the trinity, immaculate conception of mary and so on and so forth.

If you think Christmas is bad, try mentioning Trinity, they will kick you out immediately , lol.

k2039:


Ahh,I used to think frosbel was my age mate,I never knew you were married.

frosbel:

Your age mate ke

k2039:


Ahh,I used to think frosbel was my age mate,I never knew you were married.

ijawkid:

you can now see that u both aint co-equal.....lol

ijawkid:

you can now see that u both aint co-equal.....lol

Rich4god: Sometimes, i cant help but laugh...

k2039:
Op you did the right thing,your pastor just cant handle the truth.
This is the greatest problem we have in christianity,that a pastor believes something doesnt mean he is right,the hate being challenge.
@frosbel,I guess infallibility should also be a doctrine for pentecostals tooo,pastors are always right.
The bible said it search the truth for yourself,hold on to the truth.
If your pastor cant defend his doctrine and he wants to enforce it on you.

Op you are a superstar a whole sunday sermon was dedicated to you(just wondering what if you were not in church today,the sermon would probably have had a part 2)

Joagbaje: @ OP,
If you dont belive in the celebration, you are entitled to your opinion, but the wrong thing you did was the open confrontation of the church structure. Thats why your gOod intention was seen as rebellion.

You would rather have met the pastor privately for clarification if there need be. There are many things we do that may not be in the bible. But that doesnt mean they are bad. Fathers day , mothers day and many other things. If you are part of an assembly , its either you submit to the structure there or you keep to yourself. But going open to confront a structure. Insted of talking to the leadership was not a mature thing

Joagbaje: I get your point. I was just trying to analyse the pastors response. He didnt answer the question you put across. He addressed an attitude. The open challenge was the attitude he was correcting. He didnt mention either you were right or wrong because that wasnt the issue. He was looking at an attitude. But i believe if you had asked him privately , or during a question and answer session .as in some churches it would have been answered properly

Joagbaje: I get your point. I was just trying to analyse the pastors response. He didnt answer the question you put across. He addressed an attitude. The open challenge was the attitude he was correcting. He didnt mention either you were right or wrong because that wasnt the issue. He was looking at an attitude. But i believe if you had asked him privately , or during a question and answer session .as in some churches it would have been answered properly

musKeeto:

I pity your church members. Criticism should be done in secrecy not public? Who da 4k r u?

If Paul could blast Peter in public, isn't that an example to follow?

Shouldn't the pastor be open to criticism? Shouldn't a pastor be mature enough to handle so called hotheads?

plappville:

My broda, why na?

frosbel: The Pastor should know better as a mature believer, if a sister refuses to celebrate what we know is a PAGAN holiday he should be sensitive enough to accommodate her needs.

Zikkyy:

What makes Christmas a pagan holiday? I think what is important is the intentions of the man celebrating and not the day of the celebration. It's a pagan holiday only if you want it to be one.

Rich4god:
Plz, do you celebrate your birthday... Plz be sincere.

Image123: @op, your pastor did the right thing, and Jo is right. like i quoted on your sabbath thread, one man esteems a day than the other. It's not a big issue or matter of salvation or acceptance before God. mesef don't observe Christmas or Sabbath, but i have no qualms with any who does. infact, Christmas rice and card dey waste for house. i recall teaching some kids some lovely christmas carols recently too.

italo: @ Plappville, since you are so bent on doing only the things found in the Bible and rejecting anything not found in the Bible, you should stop confronting men on nairaland on doctrinal matters. Nairaland is public. You should rather go quietly and ask you husband in the house.

Zikkyy:

What makes Christmas a pagan holiday? I think what is important is the intentions of the man celebrating and not the day of the celebration. It's a pagan holiday only if you want it to be one.

frosbel: The Pastor should know better as a mature believer, if a sister refuses to celebrate what we know is a PAGAN holiday he should be sensitive enough to accommodate her needs.

plappville:

Did i confront you? are you hurt in anyway that i rejected the Catholic paganism holiday? My husband a christian, so He wouldn't help in matters like this.

plappville:

You cannot change its origin bro....!!!