Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree

[Guest Biblicist]

I prefer the more honest approach. I have my "heathen tree" up and decked out with ornaments and beautiful lights because I like it, but I'm not gonna try and whitewash the bible in the process or rewrite ancient history. I'll celebrate the holiday as a secular holiday, a human holiday, just for having fun.

If you are not convinced in your heart that putting up a tree, or celebrating the birth of the Saviour, is acceptable in God's sight, it is a SIN. (Ropmans 14:13-23)

[Hypathia]

I prefer the more honest approach. I have my "heathen tree" up and decked out with ornaments and beautiful lights because I like it, but I'm not gonna try and whitewash the bible in the process or rewrite ancient history. I'll celebrate the holiday as a secular holiday, a human holiday, just for having fun.

If you are not convinced in your heart that putting up a tree, or celebrating the birth of the Saviour, is acceptable in God's sight, it is a SIN. (Ropmans 14:13-23)

I don't celebrate the birth of Jesus at this holiday season. It wasn't his birthday. I just eat, open presents and enjoy some quality family time....no sin in those things.

The bible doesn't "not" say to celebrate Christ's mass? Of course it doesn't, the bible doesn't say "not" to do a lot of things and it certainly doesn't touch on christ's mass because the catholics hadn't come up with that label yet.

[Vickilynn]

I don't celebrate the birth of Jesus at this holiday season.

Shalom Hypathia,

That's your choice. But, it's a personal choice, not a Scriptural mandate.

It wasn't his birthday.

No, He most likely was born during the Feast of Tabernacles, in the Fall. However, according to the Scriptural timeline, He was CONCEIVED during the Feast of Dedication (in the Winter), so we are celebrating the INCARNATION of G-d the Son, the Messiah as a human. That is a reason to rejoice!!

The Angels rejoiced at His birth, and so should we! Whenever we celebrate it.

I just eat, open presents and enjoy some quality family time....no sin in those things.

Again, that's your personal choice. I personally find it sad that you think removing Messiah from Christmas is a good thing and one to be proud of, but again, your choice. I personally choose this approach is more Scriptural:

1 Corinthians 10:

31 So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

The bible doesn't "not" say to celebrate Christ's mass? Of course it doesn't, the bible doesn't say "not" to do a lot of things and it certainly doesn't touch on christ's mass because the catholics hadn't come up with that label yet.

LOL! We're celebrating the Messiah, not any man-made tradition. Have you not read Luke 2? There was some heavy-duty rejoicing going on!!

[Axxman]

Hypathia you are wrong on so many levels its not even funny. The Christmas tree tradition was begun, most likely, by Martin Luther in the 1500's. Its not some ancient pagan ritual and you'd have to stretch pretty far to make Martin Luther a follower of pagan rituals. Martin Luther dressed up a tree on Christmas eve to try and recreate the evening sky on the eve of Christs birth. Thats why there is a big STAR on top traditionally. Some people use an angel because they also appeared in the sky that night.

The early Christians (who started the tradition of celebrating Christ's birth) were mercilessly persecuted by pagans...now you'd have us believe they started following their traditions? It makes no sense. I'd suggest a little bit of history background (besides wikipedia) before calling people stupid or gullible. The ONLY thing Christmas has in common with Saturalia is that they occur in the same week. Most of these traditions didn't even begin in the same part of the world...let alone for the same reason.

[David of Derby]

Hypathia you are wrong on so many levels its not even funny. The Christmas tree tradition was begun, most likely, by Martin Luther in the 1500's. Its not some ancient pagan ritual and you'd have to stretch pretty far to make Martin Luther a follower of pagan rituals. Martin Luther dressed up a tree on Christmas eve to try and recreate the evening sky on the eve of Christs birth. Thats why there is a big STAR on top traditionally. Some people use an angel because they also appeared in the sky that night.

The early Christians (who started the tradition of celebrating Christ's birth) were mercilessly persecuted by pagans...now you'd have us believe they started following their traditions? It makes no sense. I'd suggest a little bit of history background (besides wikipedia) before calling people stupid or gullible. The ONLY thing Christmas has in common with Saturalia is that they occur in the same week. Most of these traditions didn't even begin in the same part of the world...let alone for the same reason.

The Christmas tree custom descends from a medieval German play that depicted the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil in the Garden of Eden as a fir tree. Being Germans I suppose it's what they knew. It has nothing to do with Martin Luther.

[Hypathia]

I suggest you do a little research Axxman and please use some non-evangelical source. The Catholic church banned the celebration in the very early days because of it's pagan connections......only to put the stamp of approval on it later when they couldn't manage to squash it. The Puritans also tried to ban it for the same "pagan" reasons.

The Winter Solstice and the worship of "sun gods" in many cultures (Saturn, Mithras who was Sol Invictus and Helios) was the real reason for the season.

You can celebrate it anyway you want to these days but to try and claim it as an original christian holiday just isn't true; the roots are totally pagan. But, not to fret, once Christians got control they murdered a whole lot more pagans and other christians than was done to them. Doesn't that just give us all the "warm fuzzies".

[Vickilynn]

I suggest you do a little research Axxman and please use some non-evangelical source. The Catholic church banned the celebration in the very early days because of it's pagan connections......only to put the stamp of approval on it later when they couldn't manage to squash it. The Puritans also tried to ban it for the same "pagan" reasons.

Shalom Hypathia,

ummm, please get your history correct. Messiah's incarnation trumps anything pagan. Think about it!

The Winter Solstice and the worship of "sun gods" in many cultures (Saturn, Mithras who was Sol Invictus and Helios) was the real reason for the season.

Nope, JESUS is the reason for the season. Just because man perverted it, doesn't maean the celebration of Messiah is wrong. People throw the word "pagan" around like they know what they mean! Ain't nobody worshiping no pagans at my house during Christmas.

You can celebrate it anyway you want to these days but to try and claim it as an original christian holiday just isn't true; the roots are totally pagan.

Nope, the ROOTS are found in Luke 2. Totally Scriptural. And, again, I find it sad that you feel the need to remove Jesus from the celebration and make it "secular": and to you that is better than rejoicing at Messiah's birth. Totally backwards to me, but again, it's your choice.

[Guest Biblicist]

If you really want to remove pagan traditions from your life...You must remove the days of the week as well.

LINK

Sunday

The name comes from the Latin dies solis, meaning "sun's day": the name of a pagan Roman holiday.

Monday

The name comes from the Anglo-Saxon monandaeg, "the moon's day". This second day was sacred to the goddess of the moon.

Tuesday

This day was named after the Norse god Tyr. The Romans named this day after their war-god Mars: dies Martis.

Wednesday

The day named to honor Wodan (Odin).

The Romans called it dies Mercurii, after their god Mercury.

Thursday

The day named after the Norse god Thor. In the Norse languages this day is called Torsdag.

The Romans named this day dies Jovis ("Jove's Day"), after Jove or Jupiter, their most important god.

Friday

The day in honor of the Norse goddess Frigg.

In Old High German this day was called frigedag.

To the Romans this day was sacred to the goddess Venus, and was known as dies veneris.

Saturday

This day was called dies Saturni, "Saturn's Day", by the ancient Romans in honor of Saturn. In Anglo-Saxon: sater daeg.

Yet, the word of God tells us, "This is the day that the LORD has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it". It's not what we call it, or what the world calls it, it's what we do with it that counts. Everything should be about God.

[Guest Biblicist]

Celebration of Christ's birth, as recorded in Scriputre.

Elizabeth and her unborn baby celebrate!

Luke 1:39 At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, 40 where she entered Zechariah's home and greeted Elizabeth. 41 When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. 42 In a loud voice she exclaimed: "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! 43 But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44 As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. 45 Blessed is she who has believed that what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished!"

Angels Celebrate!

Luke 2:8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger." 13Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

14"Glory to God in the highest,

and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."

Shepherds Celebrate!

Luke 2:15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about." 16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

Simeon and Anna Celebrate!

Luke 2:28 Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying:

29 "Sovereign Lord, as you have promised,

you now dismiss your servant in peace.

30 For my eyes have seen your salvation,

31 which you have prepared in the sight of all people,

32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles

and for glory to your people Israel."

Luke 2:36 There was also a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old; she had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage,38 Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.

The Wise Men Celebrate!

Matthew 2:11 And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense and myrrh.

When we celebrate the birth of our Lord and Saviour, we are in the BEST of company.

[Vickilynn]

If you really want to remove pagan traditions from your life...You must remove the days of the week as well.

LINK

Sunday

The name comes from the Latin dies solis, meaning "sun's day": the name of a pagan Roman holiday.

Monday

The name comes from the Anglo-Saxon monandaeg, "the moon's day". This second day was sacred to the goddess of the moon.

Tuesday

This day was named after the Norse god Tyr. The Romans named this day after their war-god Mars: dies Martis.

Wednesday

The day named to honor Wodan (Odin).

The Romans called it dies Mercurii, after their god Mercury.

Thursday

The day named after the Norse god Thor. In the Norse languages this day is called Torsdag.

The Romans named this day dies Jovis ("Jove's Day"), after Jove or Jupiter, their most important god.

Friday

The day in honor of the Norse goddess Frigg.

In Old High German this day was called frigedag.

To the Romans this day was sacred to the goddess Venus, and was known as dies veneris.

Saturday

This day was called dies Saturni, "Saturn's Day", by the ancient Romans in honor of Saturn. In Anglo-Saxon: sater daeg.

Yet, the word of God tells us, "This is the day that the LORD has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it". It's not what we call it, or what the world calls it, it's what we do with it that counts. Everything should be about God.

Shalom Bib,

Excellent points!!!