Disqus - Latest Comments for smpitts77

Re: 7 Reasons to Not Tattoo You

smpitts77 — Tue, 07 Jun 2016 16:14:56 -0000

"I'm reformed, therefore I must have a beard, not drink Bud Light and I must smoke a cigar to show that I'm different from my other 'status quo' individuals." "There are one or two facets of Anglican theology that I don't 'agree with,' therefore I will start my own 'liturgical' denomination to show how we are different....without bishops! So there!"

Re: 7 Reasons to Not Tattoo You

smpitts77 — Tue, 07 Jun 2016 15:07:47 -0000

"I'm reformed, therefore I must have a beard, not drink Bud Light and I must smoke a cigar to show that I'm different from my other 'status quo' evangelical individuals." "There are one or two facets of Anglican theology that I don't 'agree with,' therefore I will start my own 'liturgical' denomination to show how we are different....without bishops! So there!" I think 6/7 (except #1...which this passage has many other prohibitions that many are quilts of) apply to both of these.

Re: What do typical Halloweeners celebrate this time of year?

smpitts77 — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 21:34:23 -0000

This also is a great article by James Jordan.
http://www.biblicalhorizons...

Re: What do typical Halloweeners celebrate this time of year?

smpitts77 — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 17:10:14 -0000

The beauty of the universality of our faith that the other world religions do not have is that Christianity redeems not only a people but also their culture. There is a story from 601 AD when Augustine (of Canterbury..not THE Augustine) of Canterbury wrote to Pope Gregory (a very good and godly man by the way) asking for advice about what to do with these early converts from British paganism. He wanted to know what do with all their customs. Should they be abolished b/c they were once pagan and should Roman or Continental customs take their place? Gregory, very wisely wrote the letter below. Essentially, he told Augustine that Christ redeems a people including their culture. He exhorted Augustine to not remove ANYTHING that is essentially British for that is who they are. Rather Christianity redeems their culture. Here is his letter:

"To his most beloved son, the Abbot Mellitus; Gregory, the servant of the servants of God. We have been much concerned, since the departure of our congregation that is with you, because we have received no account of the success of your journey. When, therefore, Almighty God shall bring you to the most reverend Bishop Augustine, our brother, tell him what I have, upon mature deliberation on the affair of the English, determined upon, viz., that the temples of the idols in that nation ought not to be destroyed; but let the idols that are in them be destroyed; let holy water be made and sprinkled in the said temples, let altars be erected, and relics placed. For if those temples are well built, it is requisite that they be converted from the worship of devils to the service of the true God; that the nation, seeing that their temples are not destroyed, may remove error from their hearts, and knowing and adoring the true God, may the more familiarly resort to the places to which they have been accustomed. And because they have been used to slaughter many oxen in the sacrifices to devils, some solemnity must be exchanged for them on this account, as that on the day of the dedication, or the nativities of the holy martyrs, whose relics are there deposited, they may build themselves huts of the boughs of trees, about those churches which have been turned to that use from temples, and celebrate the solemnity with religious feasting, and no more offer beasts to the Devil, but kill cattle to the praise of God in their eating, and return thanks to the Giver of all things for their sustenance; to the end that, whilst some gratifications are outwardly permitted them, they may the more easily consent to the inward consolations of the grace of God. For there is no doubt that it is impossible to efface everything at once from their obdurate minds; because he who endeavours to ascend to the highest place, rises by degrees or steps, and not by leaps. Thus the Lord made Himself known to the people of Israel in Egypt; and yet He allowed them the use of the sacrifices which they were wont to offer to the Devil, in his own worship; so as to command them in his sacrifice to kill beasts, to the end that, changing their hearts, they might lay aside one part of the sacrifice, whilst they retained another; that whilst they offered the same beasts which they were wont to offer, they should offer them to God, and not to idols; and thus they would no longer be the same sacrifices. This it behooves your affection to communicate to our aforesaid brother, that he, being there present, may consider how he is to order all things. God preserve you in safety, most beloved son".

The best example in our culture is indeed Christmas. Many, if not most, of the current traditions we do is rooted in Christianized pagan traditions.

I have kind of been thinking through the whole "counter cultural thing." We are living in Babylon. We are here and we have built our tents. Let's show our culture the "Christian" way to celebrate a fun evening. One that glorifies God by having good fun and eating candy to the Glory of God.

Re: What do typical Halloweeners celebrate this time of year?

smpitts77 — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 08:17:48 -0000

http://www.credenda.org/iss...

Re: What do typical Halloweeners celebrate this time of year?

smpitts77 — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 15:15:46 -0000

This is a funny time of year. Churches have "Harvest Parties," "Fall Celebrations," and the ever so sanctified, "Reformation Day Party." Churches as their young people to come dressed up like their favorite Bible character or historical figure. The kids come, bob for apples, have the costume contest, and of course GET CANDY!!! I kind of feel like this is an insult to our kids intellegence. It's a Halloween Party...doesn't take a genius to see that the only difference is the name.

One of the great things about Christianity is that it seeks to redeem all of creation, including ancient pagan holidays...ie Christmas (there I said it) and the day that we now celebrate Easter. Remember, Halloween is simply "All Saints Day," the Day that the Church used to "redeem" the pagan "All Hallow's Eve." Is Halloween celebrated in a non glorifing way today...surely....but so is our modern way of celebrating Christmas. The idea that we teach out children that there is another omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent being in the universe other than the great "I am" is simply wicked (Santa Claus).

So with that being said...trick or treat....we will enjoy our candy this Halloween. It is one of our favorite holidays in our household.