We love our Christmas trees, don't we? I just read an article that told me that Christmas trees aren't Christian. Now, of course not. They haven't come to a saving relationship with Christ. Okay, I know, that's not what it meant. What they said was that the actual origin of Christmas trees was in pagan tree uses. I love how so many "helpful" folk aren't being helpful.
In truth the story that was originally told on the origin of Christmas trees was around an 8th century monk named Saint Boniface. He was a missionary to Germania (among other places). The story is told of him interrupting a human sacrifice under a "sacred oak" by chopping the tree down to demonstrate it wasn't sacred. The massive oak fell onto a small fir sapling ... which bent, then sprang back up, essentially unharmed. Boniface used it as "the Christ tree" to show how Christ was more powerful than the "sacred oak." And Christmas trees had their origin. Legend has it that Martin Luther (1483-1546) was coming home one night and saw the stars shining through trees. He hurried home and put candles on a tree to show his family the beauty of God's creation. The first indoor decorated tree made the scene in 1605 in Strasbourg, decorated with roses, apples, wafers, and other treats.
There are likely lots of questionable "traditions" we hold around Christmas, Halloween, and such. My point is not that all our traditions are good ones. I simply want to point out that Christmas, as it represents Christ, will be a target of His enemies, and certainly not all Christmas traditions are pagan in origin. I'd venture to say that most aren't ... even though our skeptical world would like to tell you they are. Similar to what Paul wrote, "But examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good" (1 Thess 5:21).
16 comments:
I often just shake my head when people claim this trapping or that tradition isn't originally Christian. Who said it was? These are things that have developed over time, typically as aids in pointing the right way and eventually just became tradition without meaning. If you took away Christmas trees and Easter eggs, you don't remove the actual purpose of those holidays.
I could be wrong, but is what's important the meaning we assign to those symbols? Can't you argue that a Christmas could be a symbol that points to Jesus? I think David is right, Christianity has reclaimed or appropriated symbols and used them to point to Jesus. If a Frasier Fir points to the glory of YHWH when it's growing in a forest, why can't it be used to point to Jesus in my living room? It seems like it's up to us as believers to put our focus on Jesus and to do so in the context of these holidays.
Yes (both David and Craig), using symbols to remind us of God's truth are fine. No, they don't define the truth. I knew a guy who argued that Jeremiah 10:1-5 said we shouldn't have Christmas trees. Please, people.
If you are fashioning your Christmas tree into an idol to bow before, then that guy is accurate in applying Jeremiah 10.
As I commented at your post for 12/06/24, I consider participation in Christmas a matter of Christian liberty (Rom. 14:5-6, 23). In general, I see a whole gamut among observants of this holiday--from those enjoying the festive aspects with little regard beyond having fun and creating happy memories, to those who have considered the origins or background of the various traditions and are comfortable with those practices being a part of their Christian faith, to those who have deliberated further still and concluded that certain traditions are too contrived, pagan, or trivial (as in the case of Christmas trees, among others) to be appropriate religious expression for them. Not only do I know people in all three camps, of course, but I myself have moved through the three phases in the past several decades.
The important point for me now personally is whether a particular practice honors Christ--regardless of its origin or the creators’ possible good intentions. Is this activity a proper Spirit-led, scripture-inspired response to the coming of the Savior in the flesh? When I consider Christ’s claim to my devotion every day of the year as His follower, I am convicted that whatever God-honoring and Christ-centered things I might do as part of the Christmas holiday, I should be doing all year long.
I agree that we should be doing these things year round, the fact that God instituted holidays indicates we need special days to help us refocus.
Good point, David. As God instituted memorials -- monuments of stone, a tabernacle then a temple, feasts, etc. -- with His people to constantly remind them of His goodness, we, too, should appreciate the opportunities to be reminded ... even if the world around us just ... doesn't ... get it.
David, I am at a loss. What “holidays” did God institute for us Christians? Or did you mean the Jewish feasts and observances (but not the “pagan” ones like Hanukkah)?
Personally, Stan, I have not been led to observe those Jewish feasts. Have you? The only memorial--instituting the New Covenant--I see in the New Testament is ordained in Luke 22:19 and confirmed for church practice in 1 Cor. 11:23-26 (“do this in remembrance of Me”). I am mindful of John 14:25-26: “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, He will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.” If I am meditating on God’s Word on a regular basis and being filled with the Holy Spirit for the renewal of my mind, I then find I don’t need outside reminders of the Gospel so much--it is a constant reality in my life. Perhaps that’s just me.
Wow! I totally failed to get my point across. It was not "We should follow Jewish laws and traditions." It was "God has demonstrated the value of "memory tricks," of doing things that call us back to His truth and His works.
Apparently, I misconstrued, as it seemed to me that you were concurring with David’s “God instituted holidays” assertion, when perhaps you were instead helpfully clarifying it. (The first part of his comment was actually my “good point.”)
I concur. I'm unaware of any YHWH instituted holidays for Christians. I agree that there are some of the Jewish holidays that could be celebrated by Christians (Passover being the obvious), but can't recall even a command to celebrate Jesus' resurrection as a specific holiday. Hanukka might be considered more of a secular holiday, but pagan doesn't seem an apt description.
I wasn't saying that we need to abide by the Jewish feast days, but simply that holidays are something that God seems to think were good things to do for us to focus in on particular portions of His Providence. Not all of us have the freedom to not get distracted by every day life.
Craig, just to make clear: “pagan” was David’s term for Hanukkah (at Stan’s post for 12/6/24), rather than mine (thus my use of quotation marks there). Also, I believe you are correct that there is no biblical mandate (or precedent) for, say, the “Easter” or “Christmas” holidays (or any others). As I understand it, the only observance instituted in the New Testament is for “the Lord’s Supper” (as I commented below), which was presumed to have occurred each time the believers assembled on “the first day of the week” (Acts 20:7), but the frequency for that observance is not stipulated either.
Honestly, I would be amazed if anyone finds that the holidays help with distractions and focus, considering all the busyness and extra activities and chores they usually bring. (Personally, these days, I am so grateful for a break from all that.) But if you find that those special observances (either Jewish or Christian) help you see God’s goodness and inspire greater love for the Savior, then by all means, exercise your Christian liberty and celebrate away! :). May the holidays bring you peace and great joy in the Lord, David.
Lorna, I was responding to David's use of the term, which you referenced. I stand by my thought that secular would be a better term than pagan.
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