It is that time again... Santa is Dead...

[PuritanCovenanter]

I have been absent for a while for medical reasons. I will be more active again soon. But for now...
I usually post this every year around this time. Enjoy.



Click link below... SANTA IS DEAD

https://rpcnacovenanter.wordpress.com/2014/12/21/santa-is-dead/

 

[BG]

Here is what Calvin has to say about Christmas
https://www.buzzfeed.com/ariannarebolini/christmas-lessons-from-calvin-and-hobbes

BTW I could not look at your article it took me to a junk\spam site.

 

[NaphtaliPress]

Here is what John Calvin said about it.
"But even granting it is appropriate to term Calvin’s practice ‘a sober use of the liturgical year’ and ‘good’ as such, one should allow Calvin himself to exhibit what sort of preaching that would entail. As long as there was danger of abuse and superstition, he would guard against that and be sure to exhort the people plainly. For instance, soon after the pretended holy days had been abolished, Calvin was surprised by a larger audience than usual on a weekday that fell on December 25, 1550/51. He remarked in the sermon already cited,

Now, I see here today more people that I am accustomed to having at the sermon. Why is that? It is Christmas day. And who told you this? You poor beasts. That is a fitting euphemism for all of you who have come here today to honor Noel. Did you think you would be honoring God? Consider what sort of obedience to God your coming displays. In your mind, you are celebrating a holiday for God, or turning today into one but so much for that. In truth, as you have often been admonished, it is good to set aside one day out of the year in which we are reminded of all the good that has occurred because of Christ’s birth in the world, and in which we hear the story of his birth retold, which will be done Sunday. But if you think that Jesus Christ was born today, you are as crazed as wild beasts. For when you elevate one day alone for the purpose of worshipping God, you have just turned it into an idol. True, you insist that you have done so for the honor of God, but it is more for the honor of the devil.

Let us consider what our Lord has to say on the matter. Was it not Saul’s intention to worship God when he spared Agag, the king of the Amalekites, along with the best spoils and cattle? He says as much: ‘I want to worship God.’ Saul’s tongue was full of devotion and good intention. But what was the response he received? ‘You soothsayer! You heretic! You apostate! You claim to be honoring God, but God rejects you and disavows all that you have done.’ Consequently, the same is true of our actions. For no day is superior to another. It matters not whether we recall our Lord’s nativity on a Wednesday, Thursday, or some other day. But when we insist on establishing a service of worship based on our whim, we blaspheme God, and create an idol, though we have done it all in the name of God.73 And when you worship God in the idleness of a holiday spirit, that is a heavy sin to bear, and one which attracts others about it, until we reach the height of iniquity. Therefore, let us pay attention to what Micah is saying here, that God must not only strip away things that are bad in themselves, but must also eliminate anything that might foster superstition. Once we have understood that, we will no longer find it strange that Noel is not being observed today, but that on Sunday we will celebrate the Lord’s Supper and recite the story of the nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ. But all those who barely know Jesus Christ, or that we must be subject to him, and that God removes all those impediments that prevent us from coming to him, these folk, I say, will at best grit their teeth. They came here in anticipation of celebrating a wrong intention, but will leave with it wholly unfulfilled.74

73. “In the creation of a festival, an idol, the product of human fantasy, was forged in the name of God.” Leith, 214.
74. Farley, Sermons on the Book of Micah, 302–304."
​

Cited from, "In Translatiōne: John Calvin’s Letters to the Ministers of Montbéliard (1543–1544): The Genevan Reformer’s Advice and Views of the Liturgical Calendar," The Confessional Presbyterian 13 (2017): 209-210. http://www.cpjournal.com/store/

 

[NaphtaliPress]

N.B. I’m fine if you want to use Calvin to justify preaching on the subject of Christ's birth the Lord’s Day nearest December 25th, if your city state has outlawed the pretended holy days of the old church calendar and if you acknowledge and preach against the rampant superstition and abuse of xmas as Calvin did.

 

[OPC'n]

I love xmas! I'm a sucker for lights which makes xmas my fav holiday! I love xmas trees! I have a ton of ornaments my mother has bought me for years and years! I love old timey xmas movies like "the Christmas Carol" and music like "let it snow". Of course, i love all the food. I love snuggling down to a nice fire watching it snow outside (if i don't have to work that day). But the best part is being with my family!

 

[Jack K]

I usually post this every year around this time.

And more than once, I've responded by telling how we taught our kids that St. Nicholas, also called Santa Claus, was a man who lived centuries ago and became known for his kindness. So when my daughter was about four years old and a shop clerk asked her what Santa Claus was bringing her for Christmas, my daughter responded (in the hearing of several other children), "That's silly! Santa Claus is dead."

 

[Gforce9]

Here is the real story concerning Santa's death:

Several years ago, Randy and a few friends went Elk hunting just outside Bozeman, Montana. For two days, they tracked a herd of elk across mountain pass and peak. On the third morning, very early before dawn, Randy saw a risky opportunity; an uphill shot that most won't take. Randy uncovered the scope on his Browning A-Bolt in .300 WSM, lined up a 190 yd shot.........

The day before, Santa had received his sleigh from the detail shop with a fresh coat of Meguire's wax and scented fuzzy dice. The real upgrade, however, was the low after-burning, high fiber Chex mix baked in Elijah Craig bourbon for the boys, Dasher, Dancer, Prancer,... Santa was taking a pre-holiday check ride to test the new feed. As he was crossing the Rockies at low altitude on that fateful morning.....

Randy took a breath in and started to exhale as he squeezed the trigger. The loud muzzle crack broke the silence of the morning, but the elk didn't go down. "What happened?" he thought. He raised his rifle again to his shoulder to look through the scope and, to his horror, saw Santa keeled over in his sleigh, in the low sky, just above where the elk was standing. Then it hit him...when he dropped his rifle the evening before, he didn't re-sight the gun. His action had just taken out the Christmas guy.

North Pole spokespeople deny the incident ever happened, but this is what happened to Santa........

 

[Ray]

One thing to keep in prayer this month Brothers is that the LORD convicts and Sanctifys our Reformed Elders about popish holidays and the Violation of God’s Regulative Principle. Just thought I throw this out there. I pray every week about this.

 

[ZackF]

We’ve raised our daughter Santa-less but have trained her that it isn’t her place to de-Santa other children’s (like her cousins) lives. It isn’t that hard.

 

[BG]

Who is N B ?

N.B. I’m fine if you want to use Calvin to justify preaching on the subject of Christ's birth the Lord’s Day nearest December 25th, if your city state has outlawed the pretended holy days of the old church calendar and if you acknowledge and preach against the rampant superstition and abuse of xmas as Calvin did.

 

[NaphtaliPress]

N.B. is short for nota bene (like i.e., e.g. etc.). It means to notice, note; it's used to highlight a qualification, distinction etc.

 

[BG]

Got it. Thanks for the clarification.