| Author | Message | ||
| Freedom55 Registered user Username: Freedom55 Post Number: 27 Registered: 3-2008 |
I came across this news item this morning and it points out yet another inconsistency in the Adventist church. A ‘HOPPY DAY’ IN ANGWIN Sunday, April 19, 2009 Three-year-old Emma Tirado is delighted by the basket full of colored eggs the Easter bunny left for her to find during an Easter egg hunt on the Chan Shun lawn in Angwin. Held by the Angwin Seventh-day Adventist Church, the Saturday event was one of two community-wide Easter egg hunts in the St. Helena area. The St. Helena Soroptimists conducted their annual hunt a week earlier. So, on the one hand, you have the General Conference basically telling churches not to celebrate the resurrection on Easter like the Sunday-keeping churches, and yet here is a church participating in an Easter egg hunt. Note what the BRI says about it: "Although the resurrection of Jesus is a historical event of huge importance, we have no biblical precedent for making it a special day of celebration. That came in later centuries of Christian history. For this reason Seventh-day Adventists have never given the attention to Easter that other churches do." So it's ok to hunt for chocolate bunnies, but just don't get carried away and celebrate the resurrection on Sunday morning because you might send the "wrong" message. Oh, Please, give me a break. You know, that's one of the things I remember growing up in the Adventist Church is that no special significance was ever given to Easter. Here you have the greatest event in the Christian faith and SDA's for the most part ignore it. I think they worship the 3 angels more than Christ. | ||
| Philharris Registered user Username: Philharris Post Number: 1520 Registered: 5-2007  |
Freedom55, My my! I lived at Angwin for several years and went to grade school (1st, 4th & 5th) there and I am quite certain we never had an Easter egg hunt or did anything to celebrate this day. Things certainly have changed...sort of. For the few who might not know, this is where the Pacific Union College is located. My Adventist grandparents who are buried in the St Helena Cemetery are rolling over in their graves.  Fearless Phil | ||
| Scarred4life Registered user Username: Scarred4life Post Number: 26 Registered: 1-2009 |
A little bit hypocritical to say the least. I personally do not believe in celebrating Easter or Xmas either but understand the whole concept behind it. Easter is based on pagan origins and this is why Easter weekend changes every year instead of a set day like xmas. The bible doesn't say to celebrate either and we do not know the exact dates anyway, as far as I am concerned I celebrate the death/resurrection of Jesus Christ 365 days a year. | ||
| Philharris Registered user Username: Philharris Post Number: 1524 Registered: 5-2007 |
Scarred4life, Yes, it do be hypocritical, but at least it is consistent. In the third grade (the year 1950) we were living in Lakeport California and I was going to the Westlake Adventist School. The local Catholic Church had an Easter egg hunt down the street from our home, which we were encouraged to attend. Much of my classmates were there and it confused me greatly. If it was so bad why was it ok to be there? Since I was a already a practicing sinner I didn't mind going and getting the eggs to eat. We were very poor at the time and any food was better than going hungry. But, why were the others there? Back when I was three years old, I remember Christmas held at my grandparents home which was located about two or three hundred yards up the road from the St Helena Sanitarium. My Uncle Harry played the part of Santa Claus. If Christmas celebrations were so bad why was it ok to do what we were doing literally with sight of Elmshaven? I often wonder about the contradictions of such things, even when I was at such a young age. I have always thought that our theology and practice should be of the same fabric. I didn't have answers back then but I have always asked the questions. Fearless Phil | ||
| Jeremy Registered user Username: Jeremy Post Number: 2707 Registered: 10-2004  |
Freedom55, see this thread in the Members Only section: http://www.formeradventist.com/cgi-bin/discus/board-auth.cgi?lm=1239757588&file=/4529/8598.html Phil, have you seen this?: http://www.truthorfables.com/EGW_Santa.htm Jeremy | ||
| Grace_alone Registered user Username: Grace_alone Post Number: 1430 Registered: 6-2006  |
Scarred, do you celebrate anything? Just wondering. Also, do you believe that people who do celebrate Christmas or Easter (as holy days) are pagan, or heathen? Again, just wondering.  Leigh Anne | ||
| Animal Registered user Username: Animal Post Number: 418 Registered: 7-2008  |
I think we need a special day on the calendar for animals and how they are a blessing to the world. ANIMALS ROCK !!!! | ||
| Philharris Registered user Username: Philharris Post Number: 1527 Registered: 5-2007 |
Animal take heart, This year, May 9th is "Be Kind To Animals" day. It is suggested that you not put hot sauce on your steak that day. I don't know why the ban since Hooch loves hot sauce. Fearless Phil | ||
| Indy4now Registered user Username: Indy4now Post Number: 471 Registered: 2-2008 |
I also grew up with not celebrating Christ's resurrection in fear that we might be paying homage to the pope. Instead, we had Easter egg hunts! Something interesting I just realized this year from Sondra. Passover is a huge feast still celebrated... but what about the First Fruits feast? This feast was always to be celebrated 3 days after Passover (the day after the sabbath). In 1Cor. 15:20 Paul teaches us that Christ is the First fruit of those who sleep. Sondra told me that this feast nearly always falls on the same Sunday Christian's celebrate Christ's resurrection. So are Jews who celebrate the First Fruit Feast in danger of following pagan traditions because this day falls on a Sunday? Why are we in danger of celebrating pagan traditions when this feast, celebrated on a Sunday, was fulfilled by Christ when He resurrected on a Sunday? I look forward to Christ's resurrection day every year now. We had our own family communion at home and then read the story of Christ's resurrection. I rest and have peace everyday because of the assurance of my salvation... but I enjoy having a separate day where we celebrate His resurrection. ~vivian p.s. I do know that the bunny and eggs are pagan traditions. In my questions above, I was strictly asking about celebrating on a Sunday. This was the main reason I didn't celebrate Christ's resurrection on Sunday... because Sunday was/is a pagan worship day according to my parents. | ||
| Scarred4life Registered user Username: Scarred4life Post Number: 27 Registered: 1-2009 |
Leigh Anne.. No I do not think that anyone who keeps Easter or Xmas is pagan. Even though I was raised an SDA we always did the typical Easter/Xmas celebrations, I have changed my mind since leaving Adventism. I still go to Easter service at church on Sunday, I still have Xmas with family but as a family get together not as a gift exchanging day. I don't look down on anyone who keeps Easter/Xmas, just my personal views on the matter for me. | ||
| Grace_alone Registered user Username: Grace_alone Post Number: 1432 Registered: 6-2006 |
Thanks Scarred. (gosh I wish there was a happier name to call you!) I know people who feel the way you do, but never being SDA, it's hard for me to relate. Just trying to understand. The whole issue with worrying about pagan traditions puzzle me. (Didn't pagans actually worship and pray to the idols we're talking about?) If a person is afraid of being associated with these traditions, they need to consider, there are many things in our culture that had earlier, less desirable histories. The Star Spangled Banner, for instance started out as a drinking song in taverns. Does that mean when we sing it now we're glorifying liquor consumption? Not at all! Christmas began when the early Christians wanted to turn around a pagan festival to glorify Christ. So why is that wrong? (I'm not asking you, Scarred - just a rhetorical question). I will never understand Jehovah's Witnesses who will certainly celebrate their birthdays but absolutely discourage celebrating Jesus' birth or resurrection. In other words, they'll glorify themselves, but not our Lord and Savior. Okay. I guess some SDA's do that as well. One of my SDA relatives used to send out anti-Christmas emails every December. He'd argue to the death why it was sinful to celebrate Christmas. He was so self righteous about it! Yet, at the same time he was cheating on his wife. So according to him, it's okay to commit adultery but absolutely no remembering the birth of Christ! I don't think that anyone should be discouraged (or afraid of) glorifying Christ at any time, ever. Just my opinion though. Leigh Anne | ||
| Spudw Registered user Username: Spudw Post Number: 105 Registered: 8-2008  |
Dear Animal, There is a special day on the calender for animals. They are called turkeys, the day is known as Thanksgiving, and I can assure you that many blessings are said. By any chance, do you have feathers? How do you feel about being surrounded by candied yams and cranberries? No real reason for asking, just hungry for information. (Message edited by spudw on April 20, 2009) | ||
| River Registered user Username: River Post Number: 4620 Registered: 9-2006  |
Quote: just hungry for information. You better watch out animal, I think Spud is drooling. Bwaha! River | ||
| River Registered user Username: River Post Number: 4621 Registered: 9-2006 |
Come to think of it, I'm a little hungry for information too, please share animal! Burp! River | ||
| Grace_alone Registered user Username: Grace_alone Post Number: 1434 Registered: 6-2006 |
HAHA!! Spud will be there too Animal! Usually in mashed form. | ||
| Spudw Registered user Username: Spudw Post Number: 106 Registered: 8-2008 |
If we all end up on the menu, you'll be saying grace alone. (Message edited by spudw on April 20, 2009) | ||
| Jeremy Registered user Username: Jeremy Post Number: 2709 Registered: 10-2004 |
Good one, Spud! Jeremy | ||
| Bb Registered user Username: Bb Post Number: 399 Registered: 7-2004 |
Leigh Anne, I used to know a couple of JW's and the ones that I knew were adamantly against birthdays also. They celebrated only anniversaries because they said that a birthday glorified the person, but an anniversary was shared so it wasn't a selfish thing. But every other holiday was off limits because of the pagan roots. They even said that the Bible only mentions birthdays in relation to evil people like Herod. But, like adventists, they allow for wiggle room in some areas. Such as Thanksgiving is up to the individual's conscience, whatever that means. I think it means don't turn down a good meal, but of course you wouldn't want to glorify the USA if you don't vote or salute the flag!! We had an employee (JW) at our office who wouldn't come to the company Christmas party, but it made my mother in law a little irritated that she didn't mind accepting her bonus check. So my mother in law would personally go up to her and hand it to her and say "This is a CHRISTMAS present" I always felt so sad for the children who couldn't participate in holidays. I believe just like you do, that the Christians took the pagan holidays and turned them around to glorify God, and it is a blessing. It is such a familiar feeling to me when I watch the JW's deliberately step back from mainstream Christianity. I can almost guarantee what is going through their minds is....I have the truth, and I am different, and I am following my faith, and therefore I will be in heaven. That's how JW's and SDA's think. If they are different, they are special, and know the truth. | ||
| Bb Registered user Username: Bb Post Number: 400 Registered: 7-2004 |
Oh, Spud, I just got it! Funny funny | ||
| Grace_alone Registered user Username: Grace_alone Post Number: 1435 Registered: 6-2006 |
Barb, I just remembered, and you're right, most JW's do not celebrate birthdays. I knew one who did, but they were a backslider, I'm sure! The other question I have to the pagan issue, even if it was a pagan holiday before, does that make it pagan today? If you glorify God and make it a holy day is it still pagan? In recent years I've turned the Santa Claus story around back to it's roots. St. Nicholas was a passionate Christian who spread the gospel and was a champion for children and the poor. I've researched the story and am teaching my kids more about St. Nic and his story every Christmas. The secular community may think they're getting away around the religiousness of Christmas, but little do they know!! Haha Leigh Anne Hey Spud, did you ever finish telling us how your class went over in the member's section?? | ||
| Colleentinker Registered user Username: Colleentinker Post Number: 9717 Registered: 12-2003  |
Great one, Spud! Colleen | ||
| Animal Registered user Username: Animal Post Number: 419 Registered: 7-2008 |
Dear Lord.... Please forgiv my friends here for they no not whst they do Amen .....Animal | ||
| Animal Registered user Username: Animal Post Number: 420 Registered: 7-2008 |
Spud..... I Hate cranberries....Pumpkin pie, now THAT is a match !!!! |
