CHRISTMAS TREE

[VictoryinJesus]

I remember years ago that passage being relayed to me by my husbands JW uncle. I was quite a young Christian at the time.......he gave me a lecture on all the reasons why they don’t celebrate Christmas.
I love have a tree up every year, love the lights.
Has it become an idol, hmmm not sure about that. How many of us couldn’t go through this festive time without one , so we may not be bowing down to it, but in our hearts it has taken a place of importance.
However that’s a debatable point.
Rita x

we used to put up a real tree many years ago. Now it is an artificial one with the lights built in. It goes into the basement afterwards, until the following year when it gets whatever ornaments made it through the previous year of the kids playing with them. More worried about the gifts under the tree being an idol than the tree. So much stress comes with buying if you are not able to afford it. So many children do not get any gifts and the idea ...tugs at your heart that they must not feel loved if they do not get gifts. Which produces this guilt even if some parents can’t afford it and stress out over it. I struggle with this too even as a Mimi...my husband would probably tell you how stressed I get over “we have to buy gifts.” Whether we can afford it or not, the grandchildren won’t feel loved unless there are presents. Sometimes I wish we could make our own and give them something simple without a price tag from the heart.

What is an idol seems up to an individual. It could be anything. (Imo) An idol could be a car; admiring its shine. polishing and buffing out every scratch and even sometimes giving your car a name. a tree could be an idol, but not always. My mother is ninety and forgets from day to day, sometimes within hours...repeating “did you see the little tree I put up”? I tell her “I saw it” and how pretty it is. She loves watching the lights change colors. At ninety she doesn’t go out much and that tree with its lights ...she mentions loving to watch the lights change colors every time I’m over there.

 

[Nancy]

what we call the Christmas tree has its origins from the fertility festivals of paganism. A straight evergreen representing the phallus decorated with balls and tinsel representing the testicles and sperm.
If you want detailed information I can recommend 'The Two Babylons' by Arthur Hislop.

Well, I am glad my tree is fat and fluffy. So, it is a pagan practice. Kind of like cremation. Christmas is just another day to me as is all the other holidays. We know He was born into this world and is the best gift anyone could ask for. So, we go broke buying stupid trinkets that most people will either toss in a closet or re-gift. Then, the next 6 months you are broke, cause you spent too much money on junk. Sorry to rain on anyone's parade but...Christmastime is something I just cannot wait to get over with. If you have kids, grandkids...that is different as it's fun to see them open gifts and get all excited but, other than that...meh. And, oh yeah! Merry Christmas!!! :) lol.

 

[BreadOfLife]

what we call the Christmas tree has its origins from the fertility festivals of paganism. A straight evergreen representing the phallus decorated with balls and tinsel representing the testicles and sperm.
If you want detailed information I can recommend 'The Two Babylons' by Arthur Hislop.

I wouldn't use that book to line my bird cage . . .

Maybe YOU shouold read Ralph Woodrow's book, "The Babylon Connection" - which completely debunks ALL of Hislop's manure and shoddy "historical" research. In short - Hislop simply made up most of what he wrote in his book - to the shock and dismay of his biggest former fan, Woodrow, who is an Evangelical minister.

As for the Christmas Tree - anybody who believes thi to be a present-day "pagan" symbol is just looking for controversy where there is NONE . . .

 

[BreadOfLife]

what about the star on top?

The Star represents the star that led the magi to Bethlehem.

 

[TLHKAJ]

Well, I am glad my tree is fat and fluffy. So, it is a pagan practice. Kind of like cremation. Christmas is just another day to me as is all the other holidays. We know He was born into this world and is the best gift anyone could ask for. So, we go broke buying stupid trinkets that most people will either toss in a closet or re-gift. Then, the next 6 months you are broke, cause you spent too much money on junk. Sorry to rain on anyone's parade but...Christmastime is something I just cannot wait to get over with. If you have kids, grandkids...that is different as it's fun to see them open gifts and get all excited but, other than that...meh. And, oh yeah! Merry Christmas!!! :) lol.

I hear you. What's hard is that children are so conditioned and used to getting presents at Christmastime. They're being trained up in a secular mindset that is rooted in selfish gain, competition with peers over who got what for Christmas, etc ...and they usually don't even appreciate it a month later. And like you said, the stress of trying to please everyone on your list ...trying to skip bills to buy gifts, or feel inadequate if you can't ...like it's some life or death issue that we don't get gifts or can't spend $2,000 on meaningless gifts...just not worth it. Most people don't put emphasis on Jesus's birth at Christmastime, which is evident in the after-season suicide rates.
If we want to celebrate His birth, we should remove all the secular and pagan aspects and just honestly, from the heart, celebrate HIM.
And since there is more opportunity to be a blessing at that time, with sales events, and time off work, it is a good time to do some volunteer work. Take a fraction of that money and find a homeless person (or a few homeless people) ....buy them some food, a jacket, or socks, a Bible. But don't get caught up with trying to live up to what the world expects or sees as important.

This is the day the Lord has made....every day is His! :)

Those are my thoughts, anyways. :)

 

[Truther]

Hello all and Merry CHRISTmas.
There is a few verses I read years back and it made me wonder. Maybe some of you can possibly explain what you think of this verse and it's meaning:

Jeremiah 10:1-5
"1 Hear the word that the LORD speaks to you, O house of Israel. 2 This is what the LORD says:

“Do not learn the ways of the nations

or be terrified by the signs in the heavens,

though the nations themselves are terrified by them.3 For the customs of the peoples are worthless;

they cut down a tree from the forest;

it is shaped with a chisel

by the hands of a craftsman.4 They adorn it with silver and gold

and fasten it with hammer and nails,

so that it will not totter.5 Like scarecrows in a cucumber patch,

their idols cannot speak.

They must be carried

because they cannot walk.

Do not fear them, for they can do no harm,

and neither can they do any good.”

Is this where the modern day "Christmas tree" came from? I hope not as I do love a nicely decorated tree!! Any takers?

I got saved and got rid of my Christmas tree, and haven't had one since!.....
....the grandkids were born.


LOL

 

[Addy]

I got saved and got rid of my Christmas tree, and haven't had one since!.....

Do you have any home made Christmas cookies you would like to share with someone.... like me maybe?

 

[Raccoon1010]

Hello all and Merry CHRISTmas.
There is a few verses I read years back and it made me wonder. Maybe some of you can possibly explain what you think of this verse and it's meaning:

Jeremiah 10:1-5
"1 Hear the word that the LORD speaks to you, O house of Israel. 2 This is what the LORD says:

“Do not learn the ways of the nations

or be terrified by the signs in the heavens,

though the nations themselves are terrified by them.3 For the customs of the peoples are worthless;

they cut down a tree from the forest;

it is shaped with a chisel

by the hands of a craftsman.4 They adorn it with silver and gold

and fasten it with hammer and nails,

so that it will not totter.5 Like scarecrows in a cucumber patch,

their idols cannot speak.

They must be carried

because they cannot walk.

Do not fear them, for they can do no harm,

and neither can they do any good.”

Is this where the modern day "Christmas tree" came from? I hope not as I do love a nicely decorated tree!! Any takers?

Those passages sound more like some sort of totem pole like thing than a Christmas tree since it was chiseled and nailed to something.

This isn't a Christmas hate thread is it? Wow!

 

[Truther]

Do you have any home made Christmas cookies you would like to share with someone.... like me maybe?

My wifey handles that task.:)

 

[Truther]

Well, I am glad my tree is fat and fluffy. So, it is a pagan practice. Kind of like cremation. Christmas is just another day to me as is all the other holidays. We know He was born into this world and is the best gift anyone could ask for. So, we go broke buying stupid trinkets that most people will either toss in a closet or re-gift. Then, the next 6 months you are broke, cause you spent too much money on junk. Sorry to rain on anyone's parade but...Christmastime is something I just cannot wait to get over with. If you have kids, grandkids...that is different as it's fun to see them open gifts and get all excited but, other than that...meh. And, oh yeah! Merry Christmas!!! :) lol.

Please don't sing to the tree, okay?(Oh, Christmas tree...).;)

 

[JohnDB]

Well, I am glad my tree is fat and fluffy. So, it is a pagan practice. Kind of like cremation. Christmas is just another day to me as is all the other holidays. We know He was born into this world and is the best gift anyone could ask for. So, we go broke buying stupid trinkets that most people will either toss in a closet or re-gift. Then, the next 6 months you are broke, cause you spent too much money on junk. Sorry to rain on anyone's parade but...Christmastime is something I just cannot wait to get over with. If you have kids, grandkids...that is different as it's fun to see them open gifts and get all excited but, other than that...meh. And, oh yeah! Merry Christmas!!! :) lol.

Well,
My household looks at Christmas as a license to get away with what we want to do all year long.
We save and plan all year long for Christmas. Surely you have heard of Christmas club savings accounts. Well I have one...my wife has hers. Then we have a third for joint ventures of family gifts and the cookies and candies we give to friends.

I've spent on good chocolate alone over $160...not including booze and other foodstuffs like chocolate chips, butter, sugar, flour and molasses. 10 Kilograms (22lbs) of fine Belgian chocolate is expensive. And I haven't even spoken about the white chocolate.

Then there's the hundreds we've spent on others for their presents.

Now I say license for a reason. Some of us are givers by nature...others are takers. Givers want to give all the time...but it can create funny looks from people and lead them to sin... unless you have a license to give. Then it curtails the sinning and funny looks.

YMMV

 

[Cooper]

Ours has an angel.

A nice touch. :)

 

[JohnDB]

Please don't sing to the tree, okay?(Oh, Christmas tree...).;)

Is it ok if I do it in german?

Oh tannenbaum oh tannenbaum...

 

[Truther]

Is it ok if I do it in german?

Oh tannenbaum oh tannenbaum...

Only Koine Greek please. Keep it original.

 

[JohnDB]

Only Koine Greek please. Keep it original.

ROFL...
The Messiah's Mass hadn't been developed until well after Constantine ruled Rome.

Up to that time it was a lot of hiding in the catacombs.

And the whole world had switched to Latin.

 

[Nancy]

Well,
My household looks at Christmas as a license to get away with what we want to do all year long.
We save and plan all year long for Christmas. Surely you have heard of Christmas club savings accounts. Well I have one...my wife has hers. Then we have a third for joint ventures of family gifts and the cookies and candies we give to friends.

I've spent on good chocolate alone over $160...not including booze and other foodstuffs like chocolate chips, butter, sugar, flour and molasses. 10 Kilograms (22lbs) of fine Belgian chocolate is expensive. And I haven't even spoken about the white chocolate.

Then there's the hundreds we've spent on others for their presents.

Now I say license for a reason. Some of us are givers by nature...others are takers. Givers want to give all the time...but it can create funny looks from people and lead them to sin... unless you have a license to give. Then it curtails the sinning and funny looks.

YMMV

Well that sounds like a plan! Lol. I LOVE to give but, not just on Christmas. If there is a need and I can help, I'm there. On the other hand, there is a need for me to be able to accept gifts without awkwardness. That is a lesson that has to be learned, to accept gifts graciously. And yeah, you are right..."funny looks"...I think there are many who see a giver as looking to either buy their friendship or looking for something else.

"but it can create funny looks from people and lead them to sin... unless you have a license to give. Then it curtails the sinning and funny looks."

How can this lead to sin? Not sure where you are going with this... :)

 

[Nancy]

I hear you. What's hard is that children are so conditioned and used to getting presents at Christmastime. They're being trained up in a secular mindset that is rooted in selfish gain, competition with peers over who got what for Christmas, etc ...and they usually don't even appreciate it a month later. And like you said, the stress of trying to please everyone on your list ...trying to skip bills to buy gifts, or feel inadequate if you can't ...like it's some life or death issue that we don't get gifts or can't spend $2,000 on meaningless gifts...just not worth it. Most people don't put emphasis on Jesus's birth at Christmastime, which is evident in the after-season suicide rates.
If we want to celebrate His birth, we should remove all the secular and pagan aspects and just honestly, from the heart, celebrate HIM.
And since there is more opportunity to be a blessing at that time, with sales events, and time off work, it is a good time to do some volunteer work. Take a fraction of that money and find a homeless person (or a few homeless people) ....buy them some food, a jacket, or socks, a Bible. But don't get caught up with trying to live up to what the world expects or sees as important.

This is the day the Lord has made....every day is His! :)

Those are my thoughts, anyways. :)

Amen sister, I'm with you. And, to be honest here...my reasons for not much caring for the holidays started the year my parents died in 1990, and my older sister died on Christmas night at 8PM 3 years later. Not sure that has all to do with it, it is a combination of all of the commercialism and expectations and stress involved. The only joy that seems real, to me anyhow, on Christmas is that Christ gave Himself as the ultimate gift, and if that is not enough then...I suppose one could just make China richer
Happy Birthday Jesus! :)
And, as I said before, it is fun to watch children so full of cheer on a Christmas morning...as long as they know the TRUE meaning...this year, there will be so many families that will not be getting together and, the fallout will be noticed down the road...

 

[Nancy]

Please don't sing to the tree, okay?(Oh, Christmas tree...).;)

Hahaha...Um...no, won't be doing that I only put decorations up, and the tree, this year because one of my nieces is living with me...NOT that she is hardly home!! She turned 24 today :)

 

[JohnDB]

Well that sounds like a plan! Lol. I LOVE to give but, not just on Christmas. If there is a need and I can help, I'm there. On the other hand, there is a need for me to be able to accept gifts without awkwardness. That is a lesson that has to be learned, to accept gifts graciously. And yeah, you are right..."funny looks"...I think there are many who see a giver as looking to either buy their friendship or looking for something else.

"but it can create funny looks from people and lead them to sin... unless you have a license to give. Then it curtails the sinning and funny looks."

How can this lead to sin? Not sure where you are going with this... :)

Some people like to abuse givers by always having a crisis of need. So it is prudent to hide giving.
Some people are just "junk/stuff" oriented.

Always gotta have the latest cell phone, latest vehicle, latest album, latest greatest whatever.

My cookies and candies are the best of the best. Equivalent to the highest end gourmet treats around.
We searched the internet to find equivalent cookies and candies.
It's around $75-$120 for the cookies and then a minimum of another $120 for the truffles we have given out. We gave a plate of cookies and a box of candies to everyone this year.

Others have been given extraordinary gifts of money to further goals that we see as good. (Thousands) We have a savings account for this too. It never seems to empty out no matter how hard we try. But we never consider it ours to begin with.
With it we fund adoptions, missionaries, buying sex slaves, aliens and whatever else that is good.

When the needs are real. And we have a personal relationship with whomever we are ready, willing, and able to act.

I do extensive investigation into those that receive God's money. Plenty of people have their hand out asking for donations. Most of those I consider "The Profits from God" and not worth a dime.

An example is those who fundraise money for the Mercy Ships. An organization that provides charitable healthcare including surgeries for low socio-economic areas in the world that have a port. They are quite vocal...but only 2% of everything they get actually goes to the charity.

However...
I, through my international missionary trips have met other missionaries that work full time in the mission field. This global pandemic has curtailed their usual fundraising tours so that they can do another year of service.
So I filled in the gap.

It's difficult to find good, effective places to donate. They don't come often.

 

[April_Rose]

Interesting. maybe. Could be. “they cut down a tree from the forest;
it is shaped with a chisel
by the hands of a craftsman.4 They adorn it with silver and gold”

“...with silver and gold” has this song stuck in my mind

Yeah, I never heard about this before but maybe it is talking about a Christmas tree. Btw, I used that song to hilariously troll (tease in this case) somebody with it on here awhile back.

Does anyone pray to a tree that is decorated?

No,.. but I sure like rocking around it.