THE CHRISTMAS TREE

Today I bring the topic of the Christmas Tree since last year I received some comments on a posting on Facebook about my home getting ready to celebrate the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ criticizing me for having a pagan symbol in my home and imploring me to read Jeremiah 10:3-4.

With all due respect the first thing I have to say is that when we quote a biblical verse, we should cite it in the context in which it was written and complete.  That text I will quote below:

Jeremiah 10:1-5 (NKJV)

Idols and the True God

“Hear the word which the Lord speaks to you, O house of Israel.  Thus, says the Lord: “Do not learn the way of the Gentiles; Do not be dismayed at the signs of heaven, For the Gentiles are dismayed at them. For the customs of the peoples are [a]futile; For one cuts a tree from the forest, The work of the hands of the workman, with the ax. They decorate it with silver and gold; They fasten it with nails and hammers So that it will not topple. They are upright, like a palm tree, and they cannot speak; They must be carried, because they cannot go by themselves. Do not be afraid of them, for they cannot do evil, nor can they do any good.”

In this context, Jeremiah is referring to a form of Idolatry practiced at the time in the Judean community which wanted to predict their future (as many would like to know today) and to discern "the signs of in the heavens" worshiping those Idols and creating their likeness with the wood but cut from the forest.  Very clearly the Prophet refers here to the images chiseled and adorned in wood or clay.

I have seen a pastor criticize having a Christmas Tree in the house and the habit of exchanging gifts as pagan customs, and during the study, before that same service his wife initiated a collection for the pastor’s Christmas gift (hypocritical is it not) then the pastor is preaching his great criticism about the Christmas Tree in the houses without mentioning the three Christmas Trees behind him in the pulpit, the pulpit!

In my humble opinion we should practice what Paul teaches us in Romans 14:1 to 15:13 as today as in the early church, Christians often disagree with each other and create problems for each other. In Romans 14:1 — 15:13, Paul addresses this issue. First, it deals with differences of opinion regarding rules on food and days (14:1-12). Then he asks Christians not to stumble among themselves (14:13-23). He then tells them to focus on pleasing the other person instead of themselves (15:1-6). And finally, he makes it clear that the Gospel is for Jews and Gentiles alike (15:7-13).

For this Paul is more concerned about the way we deal with differences than the fact that we have differences. Christ does not oblige us to agree on every subject, what He does do is call on us to love each other. In chapters 14-15, Paul provides guidance on the actions that love Christians should take, even when they disagree.

Paul does not mention Jews or Gentiles until the end of this section. Having done it before would have further polarized the Jewish and Gentile Christians he was writing to, and his goal was and still is to bring us all together instead of driving us apart even more.

In this 21st century, the issues that divide Christians are different from those of the first century, but divided we are and every day more. The guide Paul gave Roman Christians would serve us very well today if we pay attention. Paul calls us to welcome those with whom we have differences (v. 1) — not to stop each other in contempt or to judge each other (VV. 4, 10). He calls us to recognize our essential connection as brothers and sisters in Christ (VV. 10 FF.) — to recognize that each of us is responsible to God (V 12) — and to trust in God because He does his perfect work.

Given the Great Gap Existing In the church today, particularly on topics such as the celebrating of Christmas, it is very difficult to do what Paul calls us to do. It is very difficult not to believe that our position is correct and the other is wrong, terribly wrong. It is very difficult not to judge other Christians and to hold them in contempt. It is very difficult to welcome Christians who don't think, praise or act different than us as Christian brothers and sisters, and accept the possibility that God will welcome them as well. It's very hard to love them. It's very difficult not to demonize those on the other side.

For my part, I celebrate with my tree the blessings that the Lord gives me, as the opportunity after so many blows to be alive and enjoy the people who He has placed in my life, I give grace for that special person He sent me to complete my life, my children, family and friends, and those around me, I prefer to go out and smell the sheep and be able to bring those derailed to salvation.  That is what to me that Christmas Tree symbolizes, the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ in this human flesh as a man, a man who gave us the greatest of gifts, dying on that cross to pay for our sins and give us eternal salvation , that is the greatest gift we can have in this and every Christmas, as for the rest of us let’s pray for those who do not know Him.

David Barberis

U Be The Change

Waxahachie, TX

I wish you all a Very Merry Christmas and a prosperous new year.