I think it is a matter of the application of the scripture.....I would not have thought to apply it to Christmas trees whereas Jimmie Lu does.
Exactly ... I was just posting the location of the scripture because someone had said they'd have to find it. My own beliefs against Christmas have little to do with that scripture. Kathe
I guess I'll jump in here. I have read that Scripture passage many times in my regular Bible reading and I had heard the "no Christmas tree" reaction to the passage. Once again, I've read it and I agree with Brooke, the passage speaks of making idols. Just to be on the safe side, I checked with DH, and he said the same thing. So we will continue to decorate our tree. I do make a point of skipping Santa Claus altogether. We don't preach against him, just pretty much ignore him! We decorate our tree with things that remind us of our Savior, the true Reason for the season. (And yes, I know Jesus wasn't born on Dec. 25th! We have celebrated Christmas without a tree before, and it was just as special without the tree. I just don't see the connection between idols and a decorative tree, which no one I know has never bowed the knee to. If we were to take out everything out of modern life that has pagan roots, we'd have to give up our calendar! For starters, the months are named after Roman gods! I don't want to offend anyone by this post. Neither am I offended if someone has a differing opinion or conviction. Blessings,
What do you have against Christmas, Kathe? I can't stand all the decorations, songs, etc., because after my dad died my mom got involved with an alchoholic. Each holiday started with booze the night before, all that day and the next. Even Labor Day. Even songs like' Rudolph'... make me hear the arguing and smell the whiskey. I'm so thankful my mom is saved now. Even she says she's glad toi be out from under that garbage.
I would no sooner halt the tradition of a Christmas tree as I would the singing of hymns about the Word becoming flesh and dwelling among us. The tree has rich symbolism in my home for so many wonderful things to do with Christ that it would be silly to omit it just for the sake of satisfying a curiosity. Just as I use the calendar even though it carries the names of pagan gods, and just as I take communion that others have perverted into a ritual of a work of their own other than grace, and just as I use a TV for educational purposes where others use it as a mode of illicit entertainment, I use a Christmas tree to symbolize something beautiful and ever-living--as well as rugged and blood-stained--when others use the tree to create diverse idols and worship nature. Once again, I appreciate others' convictions about it and respect their dedication to honoring those convictions. I also realize that my reasoning above might not jive with all things, like we do not in any way, shape, or form celebrate or observe Halloween because of its meaning (which is alive and well today). I must plead the fact that people have convictions about different things and if they ignore them and partake in what they believe to be sin, then it is sin for them.
Oh my... Go to work for a couple days and come back and see the conversation in a twist that now involves the Christmas tree (I'm not even sure that I want to touch that one). On one of our wipe boards at work, one of my co-workers wrote "X" sleeps until Christmas and asked that the message not be erased (save Christmas from nurse grinch, etc...). Well, it was erased and great offense was taken by the one who wrote the original message (and a couple others). I wrote on the board yesterday and I'll make my comment here too - not looking for contraversy but to explain my viewpoint of it all. Christmas time is the time of year we celebrate Jesus' birth. We gather together with family enjoying each other's comapny. Christmas time isn't supposed to be a challenge to see who go into debt trying to make purchases that really can't be afforded - what matters most (to me anyway) is the condition of your heart. The year that my husband had the (life altering) accident (2002) was the absolute best Christmas I can remember having. Presents wrapped under the tree weren't a priority for any of us - we were so thankful to be able to share Christmas together as a whole family celebrating the only reason why Tracy lived through the accident at all - JESUS. We do decorate a tree - not because we want to idolize it - we decorate it with things that represent Jesus' birth - the stable, Mary, Joseph, The Three Wise Men and at the top of it we alternate from year to year - one year we have an Angel (representing the Angel who told Mary she would give birth to a son) and the Star (leading the Three Wise Men to the stable where Jesus was born). We used to put any old thing on it, but now we deliberately use things that represent Jesus - as a lesson for our boys and as a witness to others who come into our home who don't share the same viewpoint as we do (silent witnessing). Christmas isn't about debt - it's about giving something that no amount of money could purchase - LOVE, TIME, ACCEPTANCE. In years past, before we really appreciate the reason for Christmas, we went all out and the tree was covered with presents that we exchanged (or that "Santa" would bring). This year will be different for us... Jesus was given three gifts when He was born (gold, frankencense and myrh) and we will implement the same thing here. No more Santa in our home. Three gifts each...that's it, that's all (I can't control what others give to the boys but as for my husband and I that's what our plan is). To give more than that defeats the whole purpose of Christmas - why go in debt - the season isn't even about US - it's about Jesus! To continue the Santa thing would be lying to our children (and two of them don't believe in him anymore anyway). They've all made a personal commitment with Jesus and so instead of worshipping some thing that isn't real, the focus is being turned to where it needs to be - on Jesus. Sorry for the rambling...NO OFFENSE meant to anyone please. We all have different ideas of what is right and what is wrong. We are all driven by different things and our motives in doing something may be different from others. I guess I'm naive...Kathe, I never thought of the symbol under your name as being anything other than a peace offering (but then I didn't know the history of it either). I like being naive - it keeps me out of trouble sometimes... Sorry ladies, again NO OFFENSE meant to anyone at all, God bless, Brenda
Brenda ... It IS a peace offering. In a time when people are convinced through propaganda that war is the answer, I want to be recognized as a peace lover. It has a deeper meaning for me, though, as I've explained in that I KNOW peace won't come by man's means. In the meantime, I can still hope that others will join me in recognizing that. Beyond that, it's also a reminder of a kinder, gentler time when people had a much different world view and sang about things some would call naive today. We could all use more 'peace and love' and a lot less violence and hatred. Kathe
Really? I did it last night. When you sign in, beside the "profile" icon, you don't see anything saying "You have 1 new message?"
LOl this is a funny thread!. You crack me up with w.i.n.k.s. I was trying to figure this out myself then you put the D and like that Canadian lady no the wiser lol and I am a Christian 'fundamentilist' I don't think we use that word over here and by the sound of it maybe I don't want to know. lol. Jo from Australia
I just recently got my little girl a similar book from the library, but this one is from Dorling- Kindersly(sp?) No offensive stuff this time. I'll stay away from Dollar Tree looking books.
