(WEEKLY TEACHING) Steven Anderson: Wolves in Costume p9

[creationliberty]

[Chris]

I found your comments around family gatherings interesting.  You asked something about why people need holidays for an excuse to gather. 

I was talking to my wife over the weekend about how it is strange that family members that aren't "living right" are welcomed around holidays.  For example, I had a family member that was heavily addicted to opioids that had no interest in being around family, and the family had no interest being around her.  In the name of Christmas, they invited her to the dinner.  As a result, her kids saw her in a comatose state.  Not only are people accepting of a tradition that is sinful, they accept sinful behavior that they  normally would not.

[Zoologistkid]

Chris, I would have to say that if they didn't invite her they would have been seen as uncaring and cruel people. "How dare you not invite her? It's Christmas!" I can imagine that being an excuse.

[creationliberty]

You said it right: "In the name of Christmas." If they were to meet with this woman "in the name of Christ" instead, then it would be as an intervention, to help her get clean of her sin and believe on the name of the Son of God for her aid, but good understanding and discernment is always put aside in the name of tradition.