Ginevra Posted July 2, 2009 Share Posted July 2, 2009 Are you also very...um...detail-oriented about erradicating other things that do not square with your Christian beliefs? Do you decorate traditionally for Christmas, Easter, Halloween? Do you say, "God Bless You!" when someone sneezes? Is C.S. Lewis okay but J.K. Rowling not? Or do you strive to eliminate all pagan referrences threading through our culture? (Which are many.) Not a flame-throwing post, btw, just curious. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Desert Rat Posted July 2, 2009 Share Posted July 2, 2009 I'm interested too. What lines are drawn, where? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redheadeddaughter Posted July 2, 2009 Share Posted July 2, 2009 .... for both sides. Personally the best argument(analysis) I've heard concluded that everything created is intended to glorify God. That includes the seasons, pine trees, pumpkins... even, I think, good storytelling. My sister-in-law is very strict about NOT celebrating Halloween and NOT ever mentioning Santa Clause to her children. It is her family and I fully respect that, and try to keep that in mind when I'm shopping for gift wrap for my nephews and nieces presents! I think there is a difference between the Harry Potter series and, for instance, the Golden Compass. I feel like there are some ideas I don't want to expose my children to until I've built a foundation... established principles... for them to think them through. So I might have an age restriction on the Golden Compass for instance. But the perspective of the author IS important to me. I truly believe there is no neutrality. So it helps to know where they are coming from as I'm choosing good books to read with my kids. We have gone trick or treating the last 3 years. I have to say that it just isn't that fun for everyone. Between the Hugh Heffner & Co. getup down the street and the scary guy with his arms cut off, it's just not that entertaining for my little ones. It just seems to bring out some strange birds in our normally family friendly neighborhood. So I think this year we'll do the church "Reformation Day" festival so the kids get to dress up and have treats - but in a more sheltered environment. I have NO problem sheltering my children at this age - they are SO young still. But I LOVE Christmas. I love Easter and Easter eggs and bunnies. (Even understanding the pagan background here) We spend alot of time before the holidays "preparing" hearts to understand the reason we celebrate. I feel it's very much like the Jubillees in the Old Testament. We were created to work... and then rest. Celebrate friends and good harvests and comisserate when the times are hard. Like this year. It's good for the soul, I think. I'll leave the theology to others - I'd love to read about it though! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bess Posted July 2, 2009 Share Posted July 2, 2009 (edited) . Edited July 2, 2009 by Bess Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stripe Posted July 2, 2009 Share Posted July 2, 2009 I think the names of the planets, days of the week, and months of the year should be renamed in English, personally. (Think of how Pluto feels, named after the god of the underworld. How dreary. And not even a real planet any more.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pamela H in Texas Posted July 2, 2009 Share Posted July 2, 2009 (edited) Are you also very...um...detail-oriented about erradicating other things that do not square with your Christian beliefs? Do you decorate traditionally for Christmas, Easter, Halloween? Do you say, "God Bless You!" when someone sneezes? Is C.S. Lewis okay but J.K. Rowling not? Or do you strive to eliminate all pagan referrences threading through our culture? (Which are many.) Though I think it takes being careful, I don't find doing these things difficult. We do not celebrate Christmas, Easter, or Halloween at all. We don't say "God Bless You." If I sneeze, I try to quickly say "excuse me" which keeps most people from saying "God Bless You". We don't do C.S. Lewis or J.K. Rowling. We try to keep free from all false religion, pagan or otherwise. We do discuss those topics as necessary. We also "live and let live" for the most part though we still have the commission to share the good news. We may share points here and there, but usually try to meet other people on common ground instead of pointing out differences. I believe every person in the world is to be given the opportunity to choose to serve God, but that each has the responsibility and the RIGHT to make his or her own choice. In th end, GOD makes the decision. BTW, all this is because the scripture says that I will demonstrate my love for my God by my actions. That makes perfect sense to me. Of course, I trust Him to do it His way. Of course I love him enough to obey. Edited July 2, 2009 by 2J5M9K Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Virginia Dawn Posted July 2, 2009 Share Posted July 2, 2009 Most things I don't agree with still don't offend me unless it is obvious that they are meant to be offensive, IYKWIM. However, I have personally avoided people or situations or figures of speech because I felt uncomfortable. I think that is different than taking offense. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hillfarm Posted July 2, 2009 Share Posted July 2, 2009 I actually have a t-shirt that says, "It takes more than luck!", but it is referring to 4-H and the clover emblem of that organization:). As I mentioned in the other post, I am not offended by that phrase, but we rarely use it. As an evangelical Christian, I have spent a goodly amount of time praying about where our family should be regarding the various holiday observances. I was convicted that WE should raise dd to understand that there is a Santa Christmas and a Jesus Christmas. And although we don't have any images of Santa around (other than a small plaster scene of him, bowed down and praying at the foot of a cross on a mantle hung with stockings), I have told dd that as long as it was clear that she understood what was in keeping with our religious beliefs, I didn't mind her occasionally joining in with the other kids about Rudolph, Santa, etc. We do put up a Christmas tree, however I place our nativity set underneath its branches and all of the ornaments are stars or angels, representing the skies over Bethlehem where Christ was born. We don't put the Baby Jesus figurine in the manger. That is wrapped in a small box and is the only present actually placed under our tree. The rest of dd's gifts are placed on a coffee table in an adjacent room. She has always voluntarily chosen to stop and unwrap the gift of Jesus before diving in to her own pile. We also bake a birthday cake for our traditional Christmas brunch for family. While there are probably non-Christian influences present, such as the evergreen tree, I strive to make it as symbolic and meaningful as possible. We also hang a series of Jesse Tree ornaments on a green ribbon in dd's room during this holiday (represents the Biblical lineage of Jesus). We definitely try to avoid the greed, excess, and commercialism that have become standard during this holiday. Easter is hard for me. We don't do the bunnies, chicks, or eggs. IMO, it should be one of the most important and profound Christian holidays of the year. Again, I try to focus on symbolism and meaning as much as possible. I use lambs and spring flowers for the bulk of my decor, and also have a rustic cross that we drape in different colored silks to remind us of the different events of the days leading up to the crucifiction of Christ and His resurrection. We attend Good Friday and Easter services. But I'm still not quite satisfied with our observance of this most holy of days. I will continue to "tweek" our observance until I get it right for us. We don't observe Halloween at all. Dh and I feel led by God to stay completely away from this one, no alternatives on the same night or with the jack-o-lantern theme. It is not about the dress-up, our hs group has a costume party in May where we love to go as our favorite literature characters. For me, it is about the fact that there is nothing of God associated with that occasion and much of what is we find against our religion. We live in a rural area and have no trick-or-treaters. I will admit that I am not above hitting the after event candy sales pretty hard, though:D. And dd has purchased some costumes on sale afterward and uses them for plays and such (angel wings, fireman helmets, cowboy hats, etc.) We do observe the national holidays such as Memorial Day, 4th of July, Labor Day, etc. I was raised living next door to my Irish great grandmother, so I can occasionally hear the old superstitions ringing in my ears, but I say a quick prayer and get on with my life. I suppose there may be some things that are so deeply ingrained and so distant from their non-Christian origins that I don't recognise them. I trust that God will make me aware of them if they are offensive to Him, and I will discontinue them immediately. In general, I try to keep in mind that the word holiday comes from the phrase holy day, and if it is a day that is holy to my religion, then I try my best to keep it as holy as possible. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jill- OK Posted July 2, 2009 Share Posted July 2, 2009 (edited) Are you also very...um...detail-oriented about erradicating other things that do not square with your Christian beliefs? ...I don't use that phrase, because I don't believe in "luck". As far as other things "squaring" with my Christian beliefs...it's much like anything else; I think there are strict, Biblical matters, and things that I just don't feel right about, due to my understanding and what I feel is intimated in the spirit of Scripture, if that makes sense. I decorate for Christmas...but we don't put up a tree. We don't celebrate Halloween, but we do celebrate Easter (lilies and lambs instead of bunnies and eggs). I'm more okay with J.R.R. Tolkien than I am C.S. Lewis, and I don't encourage my kids to read Harry Potter. ::Shrug:: Some of the things I feel icky about have a rational explanation, others don't, really. I believe in going with your gut when there's not a hard and fast "rule", so, that's what I do. Some stuff simply feels wrong, where other stuff doesn't. (And some stuff is clearly forbidden, in plain ol' black and white, lol.) Edited July 2, 2009 by Jill, OK Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tree House Academy Posted July 2, 2009 Share Posted July 2, 2009 I am sorry, but I find this thread amusing. The whole concept of being OFFENDED by someone saying "bless you" when you sneeze or "good luck" when you are Christian and don't believe in luck is just..errr...silly. I mean, I am Christian, I don't believe in luck, and I am not sure I can be blessed by God just because a stranger offered them when I sneezed. However, these things have become so commonplace and such social norms that, really, WHO thinks up this stuff? It is like a little group has formed for the sole purpose of searching out random stuff in which they can find offense to some degree. Think happy thoughts, people. LOL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Melissa in CA Posted July 2, 2009 Share Posted July 2, 2009 I am sorry, but I find this thread amusing. The whole concept of being OFFENDED by someone saying "bless you" when you sneeze or "good luck" when you are Christian and don't believe in luck is just..errr...silly. I mean, I am Christian, I don't believe in luck, and I am not sure I can be blessed by God just because a stranger offered them when I sneezed. However, these things have become so commonplace and such social norms that, really, WHO thinks up this stuff? It is like a little group has formed for the sole purpose of searching out random stuff in which they can find offense to some degree. Think happy thoughts, people. LOL :lol::iagree: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OnTheBrink Posted July 2, 2009 Share Posted July 2, 2009 I am glad that God views a person's heart. I don't believe in luck, but say Good Luck every now and then, I offer a blessing to those who sneeze, I put up a Christmas tree and I carve Jack-o-lanterns because these things are enjoyable and are activities me and dd do together. The intent is family time and relationship building, not worshiping nature or practicing pagan beliefs (not bashing, just saying those practices aren't part of our faith--nature worship, etc. I mean.) I think that having a heart with the intent to wish good toward someone trumps the fact that the phrase used stems from some long-ago held superstition. I seriously doubt that anyone who wishes someone good luck is truly trying to promote any sort of anti-God agenda. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ginevra Posted July 2, 2009 Author Share Posted July 2, 2009 Very interesting responses. I wish I had time to speak to them all, but I have things to do this morning. :) I'm glad to see that at least you (general you meaning people who don't agree with "good luck") are consistent. For the most part, anyway. FWIW, I banned The Golden Compass, because I read Philip Pullman's own website and he does hold anti-Christian (anti-spiritual, actually) beliefs. I do think all books teach, even if the author doesn't intend it that way. Okay, I could say more, but duty calls. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marylou Posted July 2, 2009 Share Posted July 2, 2009 I am sorry, but I find this thread amusing. The whole concept of being OFFENDED by someone saying "bless you" when you sneeze or "good luck" when you are Christian and don't believe in luck is just..errr...silly. I mean, I am Christian, I don't believe in luck, and I am not sure I can be blessed by God just because a stranger offered them when I sneezed. However, these things have become so commonplace and such social norms that, really, WHO thinks up this stuff? It is like a little group has formed for the sole purpose of searching out random stuff in which they can find offense to some degree. Think happy thoughts, people. LOL I'm already happy--thanks! I think if you would re-read this thread and also the other thread on luck you would see the majority of posters said that when someone else talks about luck it DOESN'T OFFEND them! They just choose to not use the words in their everyday vocabulary. Why is that silly? I don't think that is being fair or sticking with the topic. And we don't have to "think up this stuff" it is in our everyday lives. Every single thing that happens to or by us we have to give it thought so that we can live a life pleasing to the Lord. Col. 3:17 That is different than saying "everythig offends me and I'm gonna make a stink about it". Don't you think about what you and others say every waking moment? How is that different? BTW I don't say "God bless you" to others when they sneeze, but if someone says it to me, I will often reply "thank you, He does". It really makes them think about the subject & predicate of the sentence they just uttered! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EKS Posted July 2, 2009 Share Posted July 2, 2009 I am sorry, but I find this thread amusing. The whole concept of being OFFENDED by someone saying "bless you" when you sneeze or "good luck" when you are Christian and don't believe in luck is just..errr...silly. I mean, I am Christian, I don't believe in luck, and I am not sure I can be blessed by God just because a stranger offered them when I sneezed. However, these things have become so commonplace and such social norms that, really, WHO thinks up this stuff? It is like a little group has formed for the sole purpose of searching out random stuff in which they can find offense to some degree. Think happy thoughts, people. LOL I totally agree with this. I can understand not saying these things yourself but to actually be *offended* when all someone else is doing is expressing well wishes is totally ridiculous. Aren't there more important things in life to worry about? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SquirrellyMama Posted July 2, 2009 Share Posted July 2, 2009 I am sorry, but I find this thread amusing. The whole concept of being OFFENDED by someone saying "bless you" when you sneeze or "good luck" when you are Christian and don't believe in luck is just..errr...silly. I mean, I am Christian, I don't believe in luck, and I am not sure I can be blessed by God just because a stranger offered them when I sneezed. However, these things have become so commonplace and such social norms that, really, WHO thinks up this stuff? It is like a little group has formed for the sole purpose of searching out random stuff in which they can find offense to some degree. Think happy thoughts, people. LOL I'm not offended by these phrases but I try not to use them because I don't feel right when I do. I am offended when people use the Lord's name in vain (Oh my ...) and that is very common place. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dirtroad Posted July 2, 2009 Share Posted July 2, 2009 I am sorry, but I find this thread amusing. The whole concept of being OFFENDED by someone saying "bless you" when you sneeze or "good luck" when you are Christian and don't believe in luck is just..errr...silly. I mean, I am Christian, I don't believe in luck, and I am not sure I can be blessed by God just because a stranger offered them when I sneezed. However, these things have become so commonplace and such social norms that, really, WHO thinks up this stuff? It is like a little group has formed for the sole purpose of searching out random stuff in which they can find offense to some degree. Think happy thoughts, people. LOL I think there are many customs and behaviors in a society that can be considered the Norm. However, often as a person grows in their faith or understanding of scripture, their views of this cultural norm change. Also, at times, when you discover the TRUE history of some holiday custom or phrase, a person may decide to change their participation. Many avoid the Easter bunny stuff b/c of the fertility ritual connections from the past. They have new knowledge of it and can't now just say it is "cute"... perhaps they feel with this new knowledge they are supportive of the old pagan rituals. Why should they continue? Many don't like "God Bless You" b/c it is based upon old superstitions of evil spirits being released (instead of dirt & pollen). So, they do not want to continue to tread in that behavior. Not sure about offensive as much as they are making decisions to avoid it & not continue to same behaviors. Everyone has reasons. I think it is funny that Happy Holidays is considered okay (even though recent roots are due to anti-Christian movements & desire to eliminate Merry Christmas)... but for someone to not want to say "Good Luck" b/c it takes more than luck & God is in control, they are NUTS. what is the difference? Both groups are working to avoid something that conflicts with their beliefs.... funny thing is... one group is trying very hard to force it... the other just tries to practice it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PiCO Posted July 2, 2009 Share Posted July 2, 2009 I think it is funny that Happy Holidays is considered okay (even though recent roots are due to anti-Christian movements & desire to eliminate Merry Christmas)... I think people who say Happy Holidays instead of Merry Christmas are trying to be more inclusive. Most people celebrate a holiday near the winter solstice, but not all of those people celebrate Christmas. Most of the people I know who say Happy Holidays are liberal Christians or Jews trying to be nice. Personally, I usually default to Merry Christmas even though I'm an atheist. I'm not sure why anti-Christians would want everyone saying Happy Holidays... after all, holidays are "holy days." but for someone to not want to say "Good Luck" b/c it takes more than luck & God is in control, they are NUTS. what is the difference? Both groups are working to avoid something that conflicts with their beliefs.... funny thing is... one group is trying very hard to force it... the other just tries to practice it. I don't understand what you're saying here. Sounds like you're saying people who avoid saying "Good Luck" are nuts, but the rest of your paragraph doesn't go with that. For the record, I'm not a big fan of luck myself. I think hard work has more to do with success or lack thereof than luck does. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KingM Posted July 2, 2009 Share Posted July 2, 2009 For the record, I'm not a big fan of luck myself. I think hard work has more to do with success or lack thereof than luck does. If by luck, you mean accident or happenstance, then I would disagree. It's pure happenstance that I was born with relatively good genes to a middle class family in a wealthy country. Of course I've had to work hard to get where I am, but this is just one component of one's success or failure in life. There are hundreds of millions, even billions of people who will never have the opportunities I have in life simply due to accident of birth. I was struck by this again when I was in Mexico in April and saw physically deformed, filthy and underfed people begging for a few coins outside of the churches. I would say, "There but for the grace of God go I," except that I can't accept that, either, because it would posit a cruel and capricious God, who rewards some and punishes others without reason. So I chalk it up to good fortune on my part and feel sorrow and guilt for those who suffer a crueler fate due to, well, bad luck. The thing about luck, though, is that one isn't really lucky or unlucky. I don't think you can be born under a lucky star, or anything like that. Randomness hits everyone at all times. I could be taken out by a drunk driver tonight, for example. So much for all the good fortune in my life if that were to happen. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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