Comments on: Backwards Christians http://www.ragamuffinsoul.com/2008/03/backwards-christians/ Carlos Whittaker's Weblog Fri, 10 Feb 2012 02:23:02 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.3 By: Dolores Cadena http://www.ragamuffinsoul.com/2008/03/backwards-christians/#comment-182227 Dolores Cadena Wed, 19 Mar 2008 02:52:50 +0000 http://www.ragamuffinsoul.com/?p=4702#comment-182227 Hi Rick, Yes, we always had Good Friday off when I was in school. I graduated in '82 - I think alot depends on where you are from. I did an unofficial survey in the Chicago area and most schools are closed, even the public ones. Out in the suburbs is where I found some schools open, which caused me to question why... Dolores Hi Rick,

Yes, we always had Good Friday off when I was in school. I graduated in ’82 – I think alot depends on where you are from. I did an unofficial survey in the Chicago area and most schools are closed, even the public ones. Out in the suburbs is where I found some schools open, which caused me to question why…

Dolores

]]> By: Avril http://www.ragamuffinsoul.com/2008/03/backwards-christians/#comment-182026 Avril Tue, 18 Mar 2008 14:57:53 +0000 http://www.ragamuffinsoul.com/?p=4702#comment-182026 Christmas is safe. It's easier for people to celebrate a cute little baby in a manger than it is to think about a man suffering and dying on a cross. I always find it interesting that unbelievers don't mind singing Christmas carols that talk about Jesus but any other time during the year it's unheard of. And I think Christians and the church sometimes feed into that way of thinking that Christmas is just more popular, more fun, more safe. My old churches did recognize and celebrate the days leading up to Easter (Lent). I remember we used to have a big ceremony for Palm Sunday where we would wave palms in the air and sing songs in celebration of Jesus. I just don't see churches doing that anymore. I think it's one of those things where we've become so focused on going against tradition that we've forgotten some of those practices that help us remember and observe why we're Christians in the first place. Maybe we've thrown some babies out with the bathwater. Christmas is safe. It’s easier for people to celebrate a cute little baby in a manger than it is to think about a man suffering and dying on a cross. I always find it interesting that unbelievers don’t mind singing Christmas carols that talk about Jesus but any other time during the year it’s unheard of. And I think Christians and the church sometimes feed into that way of thinking that Christmas is just more popular, more fun, more safe.

My old churches did recognize and celebrate the days leading up to Easter (Lent). I remember we used to have a big ceremony for Palm Sunday where we would wave palms in the air and sing songs in celebration of Jesus. I just don’t see churches doing that anymore. I think it’s one of those things where we’ve become so focused on going against tradition that we’ve forgotten some of those practices that help us remember and observe why we’re Christians in the first place. Maybe we’ve thrown some babies out with the bathwater.

]]> By: DG http://www.ragamuffinsoul.com/2008/03/backwards-christians/#comment-181831 DG Tue, 18 Mar 2008 00:04:20 +0000 http://www.ragamuffinsoul.com/?p=4702#comment-181831 Funny, I was thinking this today. My Ma-in-law came over and said she didn't care if we got together for Easter, since it isn't as big a deal as Christmas. And I was all, "WWWWHHHHAAAA?????" Because, after all, isn't his death and resurrection the real deal? I mean, the reason Christians exist? CHRIST? CHRISTIANS? Get it? OMG. I nearly fainted. Funny, I was thinking this today. My Ma-in-law came over and said she didn’t care if we got together for Easter, since it isn’t as big a deal as Christmas. And I was all, “WWWWHHHHAAAA?????” Because, after all, isn’t his death and resurrection the real deal? I mean, the reason Christians exist? CHRIST? CHRISTIANS? Get it?
OMG. I nearly fainted.

]]> By: Shanda http://www.ragamuffinsoul.com/2008/03/backwards-christians/#comment-181820 Shanda Mon, 17 Mar 2008 23:00:57 +0000 http://www.ragamuffinsoul.com/?p=4702#comment-181820 Our (public) school gets away with taking Good Friday off by calling it a 'bad weather' day. But as long as I can remember we've never had Good Friday off just because it was Good Friday. I thought this was interesting and basically states what I would have said in a much more eloquent, thought-out way. http://watersofmormon.org/archive/2007/12/20/holiday-smackdown-christmas-vs-easter.aspx Our (public) school gets away with taking Good Friday off by calling it a ‘bad weather’ day. But as long as I can remember we’ve never had Good Friday off just because it was Good Friday.

I thought this was interesting and basically states what I would have said in a much more eloquent, thought-out way.
http://watersofmormon.org/archive/2007/12/20/holiday-smackdown-christmas-vs-easter.aspx

]]> By: Texas in Africa http://www.ragamuffinsoul.com/2008/03/backwards-christians/#comment-181763 Texas in Africa Mon, 17 Mar 2008 18:56:58 +0000 http://www.ragamuffinsoul.com/?p=4702#comment-181763 Um, my church DOES celebrate Easter - through the season of preparation that is Lent - for six weeks. No, it's not a time for parties, but we have special retreats and sermons and other opportunities to reflect in-depth on Christ's sacrifice. For Holy Week, we have services every day at noon. I think it's more a question of cultural priorities than anything. Um, my church DOES celebrate Easter – through the season of preparation that is Lent – for six weeks. No, it’s not a time for parties, but we have special retreats and sermons and other opportunities to reflect in-depth on Christ’s sacrifice. For Holy Week, we have services every day at noon. I think it’s more a question of cultural priorities than anything.

]]> By: John Ireland http://www.ragamuffinsoul.com/2008/03/backwards-christians/#comment-181726 John Ireland Mon, 17 Mar 2008 16:39:41 +0000 http://www.ragamuffinsoul.com/?p=4702#comment-181726 no denying that something truly is amiss! my guess is more folks genuinely are celebrating the risen Christ at Easter than are celebrating the Incarnation at Christmas (though many still miss the main thing). the sad truth is that culture has overwhelmed what ought to be a sweet, simple time of celebrating the birth of Jesus. i got no problem with gift-giving/receiving, but i fear it hides for many people the purity of the season. even as a Christ follower, i need to regularly ask the Lord to keep me focused during the Christmas season. no denying that something truly is amiss!

my guess is more folks genuinely are celebrating the risen Christ at Easter than are celebrating the Incarnation at Christmas (though many still miss the main thing). the sad truth is that culture has overwhelmed what ought to be a sweet, simple time of celebrating the birth of Jesus.

i got no problem with gift-giving/receiving, but i fear it hides for many people the purity of the season. even as a Christ follower, i need to regularly ask the Lord to keep me focused during the Christmas season.

]]> By: Brad Ruggles http://www.ragamuffinsoul.com/2008/03/backwards-christians/#comment-181706 Brad Ruggles Mon, 17 Mar 2008 15:27:45 +0000 http://www.ragamuffinsoul.com/?p=4702#comment-181706 Yup, that's a good point that I've thought about before. This is really a great season to talk about why we celebrate our faith as Christians and what it's all about. <blockquote><I>"Easter says you can put truth in a grave, but it won't stay there"</I> ~ Clarence W. Hall</blockquote> <B>Brad Ruggles</B> www.bradruggles.com Yup, that’s a good point that I’ve thought about before. This is really a great season to talk about why we celebrate our faith as Christians and what it’s all about.

“Easter says you can put truth in a grave, but it won’t stay there” ~ Clarence W. Hall

Brad Ruggles
http://www.bradruggles.com

]]> By: alexsandra http://www.ragamuffinsoul.com/2008/03/backwards-christians/#comment-181701 alexsandra Mon, 17 Mar 2008 15:00:19 +0000 http://www.ragamuffinsoul.com/?p=4702#comment-181701 In the last few years this has bothered me also...but I can only change my own "celebration", not the culture or other Christians around me. So in my own way, in my own life I'm trying to make Easter the highlight of my year (with private devotion and church events). Christmas is still very important, special and sacred. But as we enter into Holy Week I am preparing to celebrate that which is central to all that I love and believe on Easter. Jesus is Risen!! (and all the schools and stores are closed here on Good Friday) In the last few years this has bothered me also…but I can only change my own “celebration”, not the culture or other Christians around me. So in my own way, in my own life I’m trying to make Easter the highlight of my year (with private devotion and church events). Christmas is still very important, special and sacred. But as we enter into Holy Week I am preparing to celebrate that which is central to all that I love and believe on Easter.
Jesus is Risen!!
(and all the schools and stores are closed here on Good Friday)

]]> By: mandy http://www.ragamuffinsoul.com/2008/03/backwards-christians/#comment-181698 mandy Mon, 17 Mar 2008 14:55:10 +0000 http://www.ragamuffinsoul.com/?p=4702#comment-181698 i was thinking about this during church yesterday (shhh... don't tell my pastor) - i had the same thought. easter = death defeated. sin defeated. HALLELUJAH!!! then, i thought we should REALLY celebrate Pentecost - that's when Christ's Spirit came to live INSIDE man. that's just AMAZING. we have Him here. now. NOW. i was thinking about this during church yesterday (shhh… don’t tell my pastor) – i had the same thought.

easter = death defeated. sin defeated. HALLELUJAH!!!

then, i thought we should REALLY celebrate Pentecost – that’s when Christ’s Spirit came to live INSIDE man. that’s just AMAZING. we have Him here. now. NOW.

]]> By: Rick http://www.ragamuffinsoul.com/2008/03/backwards-christians/#comment-181691 Rick Mon, 17 Mar 2008 13:51:07 +0000 http://www.ragamuffinsoul.com/?p=4702#comment-181691 @Dolores: Did public schools ever take Good Friday off? Not that I can remember, not back in the 70's anyway. @Dolores: Did public schools ever take Good Friday off? Not that I can remember, not back in the 70′s anyway.

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