Stringer/Bunch Debate on Christmas

 
 
 Proposition: 
 It is sinful for the Christian to celebrate the holiday known as 
 Christmas, even if they attach no religious significance to it.
 
 Affirmed: Jason E. Stringer
 Denied:   Larry Bunch
 
 Larry's 3rd Negative
 
 Proposition: It is sinful for the Christian to celebrate the 
 holiday known as Christmas, even if they attach no religious 
 significance to it.
 
 Affirmed: Jason E. Stringer
 Denied: Larry A. Bunch
 
 Jason Wrote: 
 Since you accepted the definition at first, and then recanted 
 your acceptance, but provided us with no better definition, the 
 definition stands.
 
 Larry Writes: 
 Definition of Xmas: A national holiday. Our proposition states, 
 ".even if they (Christians observing Xmas, lab) attach no 
 religious significance to it."
 
 Larry wrote: 
 One brother wrote me, "...a court case came down last year 
 ...
 
 Jason Wrote: 
 Regardless of what courts have ruled, a majority of people in 
 this country still view this holiday with religious significance, 
 furthermore, they see the displays that people put up as being 
 religious in nature.  With no explanation what are people 
 supposed to think when they see such displays at your home?
 
 Larry Writes: 
 If folks think Santa Clause and Frosty the Snowman are religious 
 symbols, I really feel sorry for them! If bright lights and 
 evergreen trees represent religious observances, then every store 
 in every town is worshipping during this national holiday!
 
 Jason Wrote: 
 Suppose you were driving down the road . . . need to go to the 
 liquor store to use the phone. . . that was purely accidental!
 
 Larry Writes: 
 The example I gave wasn't something accidental. It is a sin to 
 forsake the assemblies but if you come upon a bad accident on the 
 way to worship and stop to assist folks and miss the services, 
 have you sinned? Buying popcorn on the beer aisle of WalMart is 
 not accidental but neither is it sinful. Putting up Frosty the 
 snowman in the front yard is neither accidental nor sinful.
 
 Jason Wrote: 
 When you display the SYMBOLS the world uses to commemorate the 
 birth of Christ, KNOWINGLY, you are without excuse.
 
 Larry Writes: 
 Jason, I do NOT use SYMBOLS the world uses to commemorate the 
 birth of Christ! I do not put up 3 wise men, camels, donkeys, 
 representations of Mary and Joseph and a babe in a manger. I do 
 not put up a star or an angel representation. Nothing I put up 
 has anything to do with religion.
 
 Jason Wrote: 
 Herein lies the rub!  Does Christ wish for His birth to be 
 celebrated? Show me a scripture, please, where He does.  Command, 
 example, inference, I'll take any of the three.  You give 
 approval to what they do by what you do.  How do they know, 
 Larry, that you're not going along with them?>
 
 Larry Writes: 
 My observing a national holiday does not give approval to the way 
 other folks observe the same holiday. I do not observe it as the 
 birth of Christ, I do not give approval to that practice by 
 others, and to say that I do so by putting up bright lights, an 
 evergreen tree, exchanging presents, and having an emblem of a 
 jolly old elf is unjust. How do I know the Pentecostals do not 
 think I am one of them when they see me with my wife and she is 
 wearing a dress to the ankles, no makeup and no (excessive) 
 jewelry? That doesn't make it wrong for my wife to dress in this 
 manner! Nor for me to be seen with her!
 
 Jason Wrote: 
 No, Larry, here's the limit, it's not arbitrary:  Romans 15:2: . 
 . . How, pray tell, does the celebration of this holiday, 
 national or religious, edify your neighbor?  How does it set the 
 right example?
 
 Larry Writes: 
 This gets back to the fact that we cannot do everything that all 
 folks are in agreement with. Length of hair, dresses, wearing of 
 jewelry, and many other things will find disagreement and even 
 disdain from some quarters. To observe Dec.25th as a national 
 holiday does no ill to my neighbor. I will agree, however, it 
 does not edify him either, but neither does celebrating July 4th!
 
 Jason Wrote: 
 It is self-serving, and men-pleasing to do what many do at this 
 Holiday season.
 
 Larry Writes: 
 I suppose the same could be said about all holidays! That, 
 however, does not make it wrong and sinful. When you say "do what 
 many do" I 'm sure you have in mind observing Dec.25 as a 
 religious holiday. That, however, is not what I do! If observing 
 a national holiday on Dec.25 is self serving and men pleasing, 
 then observing July 4th reflects the same attitude!
 
 Jason Wrote: 
 What would be wrong with a piano in the auditorium to play a 
 single note to pitch a song? You don't object to pitch-pipes, do 
 you?  Same thing!
 
 Larry Writes: 
 No, a piano is not the same thing as a pitch-pipe. Would you like 
 to debate that subject? (I'll not do it here, in this debate!)
 
 Jason Wrote: 
 Compare Romans 14 with I Cor. 8 and 10.  . . .  Hope it's clear 
 now.
 
 Larry Writes: 
 Clear as mud! :>)   Argument answered already in above comments 
 concerning "symbols" of religious significance.
 
 Jason Wrote: 
 You leave the impression of APPROVAL.
 
 Larry Writes: 
 (sigh) Jason, if I put up a sign in the front of my house 
 stating: "Dec.25 has no religious significance" would that 
 placate you? Maybe a sign in front of Frosty: "NO RELIGIOUS 
 SIGNIFICANCE"! Must we always put up a sign denying what others 
 might think about what we are doing? Pin a sign on my wife's long 
 dress: "I am not a Pentecostal."  Put a tag on my wedding ring: 
 "This is not to be thought of as excessive jewelry." (I don't 
 think so!)
 
 Jason Wrote: 
 What's wrong with July 4?  What's wrong with Thanksgiving? Two 
 holidays that have no religious significance to anyone?>
 
 Larry writes: 
 No religious connotations? THANKSgiving? Nothing religious about 
 that? July 4th was not given as an example of anything religious, 
 but as a symbol of rebellion against the government! Folks see 
 you celebrating July 4th and think you are a rebel, not in 
 subjection to the government (Rom.13)!
 
 Brotherly, Larry