I find it disturbing, the amount of people who ignorantly call Christmas a "pagan holiday".
Here's the biblical truth. In Corinthians 1:8-13, God says this:
8 Now as touching things offered unto idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth.
2 And if any man think that he knoweth any thing, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know.
3 But if any man love God, the same is known of him.
4 As concerning therefore the eating of those things that are offered in sacrifice unto idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is none other God but one.
5 For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or in earth, (as there be gods many, and lords many,)
6 But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.
7 Howbeit there is not in every man that knowledge: for some with conscience of the idol unto this hour eat it as a thing offered unto an idol; and their conscience being weak is defiled.
8 But meat commendeth us not to God: for neither, if we eat, are we the better; neither, if we eat not, are we the worse.
9 But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to them that are weak.
10 For if any man see thee which hast knowledge sit at meat in the idol's temple, shall not the conscience of him which is weak be emboldened to eat those things which are offered to idols;
11 And through thy knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died?
12 But when ye sin so against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, ye sin against Christ.
13 Wherefore, if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend.
Above, we see Paul addressing people scolding others because they eat meat sacrificed to idols. This is the exact same argument as scolding people for celebrating holidays that are supposedly pagan. It's as close as an analogy as you'll ever find. In both cases, you have someone wagging their finger at someone else for partaking in something that is supposedly dedicated to paganism.
To summarize, Paul is saying this:
There are no pagan gods. They're not real. "We know an idol is nothing". There are no other gods, only one God.
Paul then says feel free to chow down on that food sacrificed to idols, because we know idols aren't real and there are no pagan gods. It's ok, go ahead and do it.
But there's one caveat.
There are people who are completely ignorant of God's word. They don't realize pagan gods aren't real. They don't realize that meat sacrificed to idols is meaningless. When they see you eating the meat that is supposedly sacrificed to idols, it can be a stumbling block for them.
That's the only circumstance where you can't eat it.
Now bringing back the analogy to holidays such as Christmas or Easter, there are people who know God's word and there are fools who believe pagan gods are real. There are people who can take any holiday and make it a holiday in which God is exalted, and there are fools who scold anyone who would consider celebrating it.
And the ridiculous part is that Christians already revere Christmas and Easter, not as being pagan, but as being Christ-centered. If the analogy were 1 to 1 equal, December 25 and Easter could be openly advertised as pagan holidays and its still ok to celebrate them -- but instead they are already widely seen as being Christ-centered holidays. This makes the disparaging of these holidays extra ridiculous.
God says you can eat meat sacrificed to idols as long as you're giving Him the glory (and not surrounded by weak-minded fools who are ignorant of the bible). Certainly, you can also celebrate holidays that are widely seen as a celebration of God and Jesus.
One last thing -- to those who just can't wait to type in the comment section how much you hate celebrating Christmas, it's also American culture. Right now there are groups dedicated to stripping America of all culture. You don't like Christmas, and neither does the blue-haired TDS Karens. Ask yourself why your goals are so seamlessly aligning with the far left.
Whoa wait are we deciding which apostle knew the voice of God? No offense but I trust Paul’s interpretation of Gods word WAY more than yours or mine or anyone else who didn’t meet Jesus.
when, exactly, did Paul meet Jesus?
Acts 9. Paul's Road to Damascus conversion followed later by Paul's instruction by Christ.
Paul's further commentary:
Galatians 1:12-16 For I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ. 13 For you have heard of my former life in Judaism, how zI persecuted the church of God violently and tried to destroy it. 14 And I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my own age among my people, so extremely zealous was I for the traditions of my fathers. 15 But when he who had set me apart before I was born,1 and who called me by his grace, 16 was pleased to reveal his Son to me, in order that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult with anyone;....
but a human wrote that and there's no scientific proof that happened, that means its FAAAAAKE!!!!1!11!11
sarcasm signals not included so you guys thought this was an actual sentiment.
Paul was merely God's scribe, as God intended for him and all other Biblical scribes to be.
If your god is science, your god is very small indeed, because even your 3.5 lbs. of grey mater can't comprehend the vastness and intricacy of all the Creation. Tony Fauci had the arrogance to say, "I am the science." Maybe you worship him.
God actually wrote the 10 commandments with his own finger (Exodus 31:18) and one suspects that in your rebellion you'd challenge that too.
You didn't meet Him, therefore nothing you say is true. Get crushed by your own boulder.
I never claimed that my words were Gods. That was Paul.
also the trinity and holy ghost kind of invalidates your theory but that's another subject altogether
I would never recommend my online words go in the Bible 😆 🤣
Well you and Paul share THAT at least. He never imagined his words would become scripture he was just living and building as he went. It was those that came generations later who determined what became the bible.
Seriously? LoL. When did Paul meet Jesus? Was probably the most dramatic meeting in the Bible. Saul to Paul.
the shapeshifting origin story lmao
good one
if that's the case then I met Jesus too since it's after his death
So why are you in this thread? Just to be argumentative? You don’t believe in God, or apparently Jesus either, so why are you even in here? Just to attack those who do? Interesting. If none of this pertains to you, shouldn’t you be on your way? Or maybe a mod can escort you out?
On the road to Damascus.
😆 🤣
ok after Jesus died he revealed himself to a Jewish hater instead of his legions of followers
muh doctrine
History—do you know it at all?
Paul is vital to the spread of Christianity. Yes, he was Saul—a Pharisee. And like all the apostles, he was Jewish. You’re right about one thing: he was a hater. He despised the followers of Christ. He hunted them. He murdered converts to the very faith he would later give his entire life to—and die for.
Amazing, isn’t it, what an encounter with Christ can do?
That encounter didn’t make his life easier. It forced him to take refuge with the very people he had been trying to destroy. And they—far more than you or I—had reason to fear and hate him. These were their friends. Their families. They had every reason to believe Saul was lying, that he meant to betray them all. They likely had to restrain themselves from killing him outright.
And yet—he proved himself.
Not only that, he became the instrument through which the gospel moved from Jew to Gentile. Remove Paul, and you remove the lynchpin between Jewish and non-Jewish believers. Without him, the message of Christ remains confined—accessible only through Messianic Judaism, rather than offered to all.
Paul is also one of the few figures whose life intersects with firm Roman historical records. He is not myth. He is not legend. He is anchored in history.
So tell me—when you dismiss Paul, what exactly is your hope? That the earliest disciples were fools? That they were deceived? That you, centuries removed, know better than those who lived it, questioned him, feared him, and—reluctantly at first—accepted him?
Who are you to presume greater wisdom than they?
That is not discernment. That is hubris.