Islam thinks Catholic is Christian, so they behead Catholic church goers in their own countries. Modern Christendom can hardly figure out what Christianity is, how can we expect non-believers to be able to discern what is Christian and what is not.
The unsaved world is working to eliminate all vestiges of what they think are the Christian symbols, when in fact, God never told us to have those symbols in the first place.
When we walk by faith with Christ living in us no symbol could add to that in any way. Perhaps the need for symbols is a lack of faith, the desire to see and touch something diminishes faith. The stronger we are in the Lord, the less we need any artifact to make us feel spiritual.
If we were to take a close look at the way the apostles conducted themselves, the things they spoke about and what they were committed to, I am quite sure we would not find any of the modern celebrations in their lives, nor do we see symbols and artifacts to remind us of God.
When I am at lunch with my husband, there is no need to look at a picture of him, he is right there. Is it not true that Christ lives in us, the symbols detract from attention to the real God that lives in us, while focusing on the artifact instead.
If we want to go back to the beginning of the first century church to learn the simple unadulterated gospel, we would have to be willing to clean off all the dross of modern holidays, symbols and rituals to focus entirely on Christ in us.
Man made traditions may not destroy the believer but they are a distraction for sure. When is the last time we saw churches filled up and overflowing for a prayer meeting the way we see the masses on Christmas or Easter morning. The prayer meetings and the Lord's supper, the celebration that Christ commanded us to observe are neglected while the "feel good, slap happy" holidays are embarrassed with a fervor that rivals the ball games.
When we are raised with something in our lives for all of our life, it becomes so much a part of us that a sense of foreboding and abandonment comes over us when we decide to no longer indulge, somewhat like a drug addict or alcoholic. There is a sense of withdrawal, a lingering loneliness that must be overcome through prayer and Scripture reading.
I don't tell anyone to stop celebrating their holidays, because they must pray and decide for themselves what God wants of them. All I want to do is get people to ponder why they do it, where it came from and ask the Lord if He is pleased with it. while being willing to discard what He says does not honor Him.
All of us have issues with something, the holidays are even more difficult because the entire culture indulges, we might be left out, neglected and ignored if we do not participate. Non-participation in cultural holidays can get very lonely. Those who don't understand will mock, demean and reject those who have chosen not to partake, perhaps even gossip about us because we decide to walk a different path than everyone else.
One thing is for sure, when we choose to follow Christ, counter to our culture there will be a price to pay, usually involves the loss of relationships.
May we walk the path God has for us no matter who will dislike it, who will criticize it or who will punish us for our decision.
Deuteronomy 5:33 "You shall walk in all the way that the Lord your God has commanded you, that you may live, and that it may go well with you, and that you may live long in the land that you shall possess."
Psalm 119:105 "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path."
Micah 6:8 "He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?"
James 4:8 "Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. "
Colossians 2:6 "Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him,"
Psalm 37:3-4 "Trust in the Lord, and do good; dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness. 4 Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart."
When we delight ourselves in the Lord, our desires will line up with His desires and we will be content with whatever is God's will. We do not see in the Word of God anything that says God will give you what YOU want. He promises to give us our desires when they line up with His desires. Hallelujah!!!!
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