What's The Difference?

Celebration: Hanukkah also known as the Festival of Lights.

Significance: A Jewish holiday commemorating the rededication of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem.
Religious Practice: Jewish

Representation: The Menorah

Celebration: Ramadan

Significance: Islamic month of fasting, to teach the Muslim patience, modesty and spirituality.
Religious Practice: Muslim

Representation: The waxing crescent moon.

Celebration: Kwanzaa

Significance: A celebration held in the United States honoring African heritage and culture.
Religious Practice: Cultural, not religious.

Representation: A kinara

Celebration: christmas, also known as holiday.

Significance: A worldwide celebration that revolves around fantasy and focuses on an imaginary magical man that leaves presents under the christmas tree. The purpose is giving and receiving presents, to participate in the "magic of christmas", and to believe in Santa Claus and receive the "spirit of christmas".
Religious Practice: Cultural, secular, not religious, celebrated by people of many religions.

Representation: Santa Claus

Celebration: Christmas, a Holy Day.

Significance: A Christian celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ, the Savior. The focus is the True gift and Wonder of God's love, salvation to all who believe in Jesus Christ, and the promise of the Holy Spirit.
Religious Practice: Christian, Followers of Christ.

Representation: Nativity or Manger scene representing the biblical account of the birth of Jesus Christ.

Much is said about keeping Christ in CHRISTmas but the fact of the matter is, we have been allowing and assisting in removing Christ from CHRISTmas for years by blending our CHRISTmas Holy Day with cultural, secular christmas holiday. Do you see the similarities of the last two celebrations above? They are separate celebrations but they have become so well blended that the differences are barely even noticed, and the push to finalize it is overwhelming now. Our culture (this world) doesn't celebrate Christmas the Holy Day, they celebrate christmas the holiday. When we blend with the culture, we are conforming.

   “...I will live in them and walk among them. I will be their God, and they will be my people.  Therefore, come out from among unbelievers, and separate yourselves from them, says the Lord. Don’t touch their filthy things, and I will welcome you." 2 Corinthians 6:16-17

Whether on not we believe there is anything wrong with the cultural, secular "representation" of the celebration is irrelevant. The fact is, it does not represent the Birth of Jesus Christ, it does represent the cultural view of the christmas celebration. It is not our Light.

How will anyone know that you look favorably on me—on me and on your people—if you don’t go with us? For your presence among us sets your people and me apart from all other people on the earth. Exodus 33:16 (emphasis mine)

So set yourselves apart to be holy, for I am the Lord your God. Leviticus 20:7

You must be holy because I, the Lord, am holy. I have set you apart from all other people to be my very own. Leviticus 20:26

You have been set apart as holy to the Lord your God, and he has chosen you from all the nations of the earth to be his own special treasure. Deuteronomy 14:2

"A girl needs to be so lost in God, that the guy is going to have to seek HIM to find her!" ...Maya Angelou

Do Not Be Conformed

What do you think of our culture? Are you happy with the messages embraced in our culture? Do you like what your children are being taught in this culture? Does our culture reflect Biblical values? Do you want to change the culture?

My answer. I want change the culture. I'm sick of secular culture views being crammed down my throat and into the minds of my grand-girls. It didn't used to be that way in this nation. There was a time when moral and biblical values reigned. So how did it change so drastically? That secular minority stood up and fought for what they believed in. Or maybe I should say they fought against what they didn't believe in. The point is, they didn't conform to a moral culture they didn't want, instead they changed it.

In Romans 12:2 Jesus tells us...

"And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God."

Jesus tells us that we are not to conform to this world. Let's look at the definition and synonyms of conform.

1. to act in accordance or harmony; comply.
2. to act in accord with the prevailing standards, attitudes, practices, etc., of society or a group.
3. to be or become similar in form, nature, or character.
4. to be in harmony or accord.

Synonyms: yield, agree, consent, correspond, agree, tally, adapt, adjust, accommodate.

Let's see if we can gain a fresh perspective on this. I have substituted the word conform with some of the synonyms and definitions.
do not act in harmony with this world.
do not comply with this world.
do not be similar in form to this world.
do not yield to this world.
do not adapt to this world.
do not adjust to this world.
do not accomodate this world.

Now lets consider what is meant by "this world". It's easy to think of "this world" in the big things, the things that are blatantly and obviously against the Word of God, but we need to be especially sensitive to the subtle things of the world that may not have the appearance of sin or evil but can distract us. These are the things that the enemy will use most effectively to keep us conformed to "this world". These are the things that will keep us from making progress in our efforts to forward the Kingdom and will cause us to lose ground. It's been happening under our noses for years and is the reason our nation is in the sad state it is in. Thoughts that something really isn't too bad, or that bad, or it's only, or it's just a little, or not a big deal, are just some of the warnings that we might be conforming, yielding, adjusting, and accommodating. We need to ask God for His perspective. Our lives are transformed as Jesus gives us a new mind, His mind, the mind of Christ. It isn't the same mind we had before we said we would follow Him. In order for that to happen we must give Him full reign over all our thoughts and take on His perspective in everything. We do this in willing active cooperation with Him on a continuous basis.

While you and I benefit from this transformation, it is not for me or for you, but it is to prove that the Will Of God is Good, Acceptable, and Perfect. It is to display the good, acceptable, and perfect will of God to other believers so that they will be encouraged, and it is to show the world of nonbelievers that God's will is good, acceptable, and perfect. It is to Glorify God!

We have learned that change begins with the individual so it makes sense that we begin changing the culture by doing what this scripture says and refusing to yield, agree with, adapt to, and accommodate the standards, attitudes, and practices of this world. Not just the obvious but the subtle as well.

I am praying and asking God to show me those areas where I have unknowingly conformed to this world. I hope you will continue on this journey with me.




"A girl needs to be so lost in God, that the guy is going to have to seek HIM to find her!" ...Maya Angelou