Are New Year’s celebrations objectionable for Christians?

[JediJohnnie]

The real question I asked has been ignored: Why has the Watchtower backtracked it's stance on the Worship of Jesus Christ? If this is the only "True" faith,then why have they changed their beliefs from what was established over a hundred years ago? If something is true regarding God,it doesn't change,does it? But as I posted before,here's where the Watchtower was from the late 1880's to the 1940's

“…to worship Christ in any form cannot be wrong” (1880, p. 83).
“…although we are nowhere instructed to make petitions to him, it evidently could not be improper to do so; for such a course is nowhere prohibited, and the disciples worshiped him” (1892, p. 1410).
“Yes, we believe our Lord Jesus while on earth was really worshiped, and properly so” (1898, p. 2331).
“…whosoever should worship Him must also worship and bow down to Jehovah’s Chief One in that capital organization, namely, Christ Jesus…” (1945, p. 313).

For more than half of a century, Jehovah’s Witnesses taught that it was acceptable to worship Jesus. Now, however, they claim it is unscriptural. Such inconsistency regarding the nature of Christ (which is no small matter!) reveals to the honest truth seeker that the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society is an advocate of false doctrine.

[hitch0403]

Their Memorial??LOL!!!It just so happenes to be a command that Jesus gave!!!

I dont care if the pagan god started a zillion yrs ago......

2 Consider what occurred near Mount Sinai when the Israelites asked Aaron to make them a god. Aaron acquiesced and made a golden calf but implied that it represented Jehovah. “There is a festival to Jehovah tomorrow,” he said. Was Jehovah indifferent to this fusion of true religion with false? No. He had about 3,000 idolaters put to death. (Exodus 32:1-6, 10, 28) The lesson? If we want to keep ourselves in God’s love, we must “touch nothing unclean” and jealously guard the truth against any form of corruption.—Isaiah 52:11; Ezekiel 44:23; Galatians 5:9.

[hitch0403]

The Bible clearly indicates, however, that our worship—in the sense of religious reverence and devotion—must be addressed solely to God. Moses described him as “a God exacting exclusive devotion.” And the Bible exhorts us to “worship the One who made the heaven and the earth and sea and fountains of waters.”—Deuteronomy 4:24; Revelation 14:7.
Jesus certainly occupies a pivotal role in true worship, one worthy of honor and respect. (2 Corinthians 1:20, 21; 1 Timothy 2:5) He is the only way through which we are able to approach Jehovah God. (John 14:6) Accordingly, true Christians do well to direct their worship only to Jehovah God, the Almighty.

[JediJohnnie]

The Bible clearly indicates, however, that our worship—in the sense of religious reverence and devotion—must be addressed solely to God. Moses described him as “a God exacting exclusive devotion.” And the Bible exhorts us to “worship the One who made the heaven and the earth and sea and fountains of waters.”—Deuteronomy 4:24; Revelation 14:7.
Jesus certainly occupies a pivotal role in true worship, one worthy of honor and respect. (2 Corinthians 1:20, 21; 1 Timothy 2:5) He is the only way through which we are able to approach Jehovah God. (John 14:6) Accordingly, true Christians do well to direct their worship only to Jehovah God, the Almighty.

But Jesus excepted worship from His followers.The Apostle Paul also said  “Therefore God also has highly exalted Him [Jesus] and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Philippians 2:9-11) So Paul says that every knee should bow in worship to Jesus and that this glorifies the Father. Why then did the JW's "change their minds" on the subject of worshiping Jesus? It is biblical and honors God.

[hitch0403]

JJ as my post prior to this one supports bible as saying Jehovah is one to be worshipped.Even Jesus supports saying that throughout bible.He never rivals himself to being God.Always giving his father that title.

But i realize you arent asking that.You are asking why Watchtower started out worshipping Jesus till 1954 too and changed.I am researching and before i feel i can answer that correctly i wanna bring up some stuff just on my own.

First off...we see many of Gods servants in bible and their imperfections.
Is it a question of our faith too?
God does reveal and has for later times truth and understanding.

I know you are gonna come back and say why would God play this game.Is human imperfection allowed here?Not evrything is so clear in bible.Thomas was a doubter.Peter was a denier.

Plus it seems JWs are more under the microscope than other sect.When catholics change their doctrines no one seemed to care and just accepted it.

Are JWs under scope cos many look ofr imperfections in hope they find them???In this world i would think so.Rememeber Satan is an angel of light and deceptive and wicked spirt.He doesnt want truth out about true God.

I will research this but lets use bible as our crutch.

Jesus said,"I have made your name known as the only TRUE God and the one u sent forth Jesus Christ.

Thats good enuff for me!!

[hitch0403]

When Jesus says if you have seen me you have also seen the father.Consider...Jesus being Gods begotten son....directly created by HIM....for billions of yrs together.

Just as a son today here on earth can be jst like his father in many ways and mannerisms...thats what the scripture means.

Was Russell right with what he was doing and it took that long to correct it?Question of faith why God allowed it to stay that long?

Again i think if we let Jesus answer that question from bible he tells us who TRUE God is and why!!!

Rev 4:11 answers it well to why Jehovah is God!!

I think that fact that i said in previous post that many look to scrutinize Watchtower is because they just might be on the side of Satan.

[JediJohnnie]

Their Memorial??LOL!!!It just so happenes to be a command that Jesus gave!!!

I dont care if the pagan god started a zillion yrs ago......

2 Consider what occurred near Mount Sinai when the Israelites asked Aaron to make them a god. Aaron acquiesced and made a golden calf but implied that it represented Jehovah. “There is a festival to Jehovah tomorrow,” he said. Was Jehovah indifferent to this fusion of true religion with false? No. He had about 3,000 idolaters put to death. (Exodus 32:1-6, 10, 28) The lesson? If we want to keep ourselves in God’s love, we must “touch nothing unclean” and jealously guard the truth against any form of corruption.—Isaiah 52:11; Ezekiel 44:23; Galatians 5:9.

The people forced Aaron to "Make gods of gold to lead them back to Egypt". Aaron may have tried to put a "happy face" on the situation by proclaiming a festival to the Lord,but the people weren't worshiping God.They said the idols were the gods that brought them out of Egypt. No one celebrating Xmas,New Year,etc are worshiping heathen gods.If you find some,show the proof!

Any of the holidays the watchtower seem to reject are not in this same case. Christians are not walking into a satanic black mass and asking for a seat at the table so they can celebrate Jesus.And if one did,it hardly discredits the intention of thousands of people over thousands of years.

It's sort of like saying your mother's birthday is the same day as Adolph Hitler.But you better not celebrate your mother's birthday and do honor by her,because one of the most evil men who ever lived was born that day and he and his friends likely celebrated that day! So to celebrate your mother's birthday is tantamount to celebrating Adolph Hitler who lived and died in another country decades before your mother was even born! It's ludicrous!

[hitch0403]

See we are back to sq 1.The bible doesnt support the holidays.

I have said many times there isnt anything wrong thanking God and Jesus for coming to earth......you gonna stop there???

Remember HE was killed!!!

And dont gimme this crap if he wasnt born here he wouldnt have died.DUMB!!Suppose he came and decided NOT to follow thru on what God wanted!!Would u still praise his birth??

[hitch0403]

A fireman goes to rescue a child in a burning building.He gets to the room and has time to rescue them and get out.

HE doesnt!!

Praise him cos at least he got to the room?

Now if he couldnt follow thru with the rescue cause flames and smoke prevented him...thats different....but i said he had time to and get out safelly.

Jesus died and balnced scales of justice for mankind and vindicated his father name and proved Satan a liar.His death meant much more than just being born.

[JaniceSW]

Balance in all things are key.  We are all individuals who will interpret in our own way.  I believe in a Holy Spirit that might look and feel differently than your interpretation.
If you know history, you know that many wars were fought so that one will worship and believe as another does.  I wonder how the Supreme Being feels about this?!
Live with empathy, love, and doing right by others and I believe you will be all right.  Those qualities automatically defeat evil and wrong. Whether you call God Buddha or Mohammed, does it matter as long as you live with decency and some kind of faith and principles!?!?!?

[hitch0403]

Janice...i am sorry...if you support bible God doesnt feel that way.Jehovah will NOT share his glory as TRUE God with pagan gods.....that simple.....

So if you feel that way i guess you dont support bible....and it would be kinda silly to only support some of it.

[heypeg]

I don't think New Year's celebrations have anything to do with religion.

[stbernard1973]

Well, hitchywitchy...

HMMMM you refuse to talk sense with me yet you say continue?

When I invited you to continue, I wasn't personally inviting you to further discussion with me.  I was inviting you to continue making an imbecile out of yourself.  As expected, you're knocking it out of the ballpark with that.

So i spew out hatred but im a comedian?Hear any good jokes lately?

I sure have!  Everything you've said has been a good joke!   

I take it StBernie you promote freedom of religeon?Whay gives man the right to say how God wants to be served?Its like the piece of clay saying to the potterer,"form me another way"

You bet I do promote freedom of religion.  There is no ONE right religion.  Any religion that claims it is the ONLY religion and ONLY way to salvation is petty, pathetic and full of followers encouraged to avoid independent thought.  That sort of belief borders on cultish.  Heaven will not be full of just Jehovah's Witnesses.  It won't be full of just Catholics or Baptists.  ALL believers worthy of heaven will be there regardless of what they call themselves.  I firmly believe in the right of anyone to believe as they wish.  I may not agree with their beliefs and I may not respect them but I will defend the right of anyone to believe as they so choose.  As Janice correctly stated, the name doesn't matter.  The faith someone has, how they believe, how they act and how they treat others means more.  Use "Mohammed", "Great Spirit", "God" or even "the big man in the sky"; it's all the same.

You know why I promote freedom of religion?  It is because I fully understand what the words "tolerance", "kindness", "love", "compassion" and "understanding" mean.  It is because I fully understand and respect this:  And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise.  It is because I read, I think and I feel.  I don't do what someone else tells me I should without question.

You seem perfectly comfortable telling everyone how god wants to be served.  What gives you the right to do that?  Contradicting yourself a little bit there, aren't you?

BTW i am not sure if you define hell as a firery place of torment?That is a bunch of BS that much of christendom teaches.Do you honestly think a God of love would punish his creation that way...tsk tsk...

Yeah, God would.  Just ask the 2.8+ million people he slaughtered in the bible (with scholarly estimates as high as 20-25 million) what God would do.  A good number of those killed were burned to death and some for extremely frivolous reasons.  Those 2.8 million people include the 10 (and only 10) people killed by the "Adversary" in the bible.  Those killings were the result of a bet with God to test Job.  Regardless of who you believe the "Adversary" to be, Satan or a polytheistic holdover deity from another time, those deaths were sanctioned by God so they go on HIS total.  So, yeah, God would burn you in hellfire for eternity and probably enjoy it.

I guess in your view hell is going to be full of puppies, kittens and bunnies and everyone who goes there is going to be allergic?  That's a lot nicer of a treatment than skating on the lake of fire, isn't it?

It's awfully funny that you claim your god is one of love yet all you seem to have for anyone who isn't a watchtower follower is hatred.  You are right and every other religion is full of heathen sinners that are damned for eternity.  You can't have it both ways.  You can't preach tolerance and love in one breath and then spit out hatred and intolerance in another.  There's a special place for two faced people like that.   

And you say i am a bigot?I used to be a catholic once till God helped me see the truth.Again you dont have to agree with the Watchtowers views...they are backed up with logic and u can reference them if you know how to use bible <i doubt it>.

Thanx for the chat

You most definitely are quite the bigot.  You thrive on intolerance and sit in judgement of your fellow man.  You can claim your WT views have all the logic you want but that simply is not the case.  It is a religion created by man and based on the beliefs of men.  They have their own translation of the Bible and a governing body of elders who really get off on thinking they have the true and definite answers to everything.  No, I do not agree with the WT views and I do not respect them.  But you have every right to.  I do pity you, however, for so freely handing over your right to think for yourself.  That's sad.

And by the way, take an English class.  Learn how to spell.  Learn some proper usage.  Until you can adequately and properly speak (or type) you simply hold no credibility whatsoever and come off as illiterate and incoherent.

[JaniceSW]

It still goes on---as this part of the forum has proved.  Pity!  The whole point of God and religion, I thought, was love, faith, and tolerance.  But where religion is concerned, it does not seem to be.  Funny!  I wonder what God, wherever and whatever he/she is, thinks of all who think their way is the ONLY right way!!!  Freedom of religion means the Bible and faith and the concept of God is open to interpretation. 

I say to everyone...Believe as you need, hopefully in something...but above all, be a GOOD person, who cares about others, treats others as you would be treated, doing right, having empathy, and TOLERANCE...spiritually, religiously, and in regard to all men/women in spite of skin color, ethnicity, etc.  Perhaps there would be much less strife if we all didn't want to insist that we are right and you better do it and believe it MY way!

[hitch0403]

<------------------Throwing StBernie an oxygen mask!!!