Comments on: Christians and Christmas Trees

By: David Johnson

David Johnson — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 17:31:27 +0000

Praise God for John’s biblical and therefore balanced approach to the issue of Christmas trees. Peace and goodwell to all in this dicussion. The Scriptures say, “…for whatever is not of faith is sin.” (See Rom. 14:23b). Central to our relationship with Christ is our faith. Faith works by love (Gal. 5:6b). Our Head is perfect and is the object of our faith. “Body II” (as JM calls it) is imperfect (Rom. 7:14ff)and must continually be about killing sin (8:13) and excercise love towards one another in the process. One of the sins we need to kill is ignorance of God’s Word, will and ways. Christmas presents a challenge for some brethren, especially if they are not grounded in several Biblical principles. For exammple, a believer can easily get caught up in the draft of supposed piety and react in a way that is not necessarily spiritual. Neither Christmas trees or non-Christmas trees avails anything. But Christmas trees are fully entrenched in our culture and our reactions are inevitable given our sinfulness. What do the Scriptures teach about loving our brethren…well for one it teaches us that our faith is both objective and subjective. Objectively, we have the Word of God which never changes and offers us not the “I would rather…” principles, but, excercise our faith towards those matters in which the Scriptures are clear (e.g., pray, forgive, study the Word, help the poor, etc.) On those matters we must obey. Regarding doubtful matters, we need to excercise faith again, and be reminded that faith works by love (Gal. 5:6b). Divine love, wrought in the believer, never compromises truth or conscience, but always seeks conditions by which a brother’s holiness is improved, truth is imparted and love is demonstrated. We can do this whenever the issue of Christmas trees come up. Christmas trees are not fundamental to the believer’s holiness, truth or love. But, to be sure, some brethren see it as a sin and then you have other brethren who do not. Since this is inevitable given our culture, and since all true believers have faith, it never needs to be an issue to divide over, but rather an occasion in which faith works by love. Like all matters in life, the Christmas tree issue just needs to be handled by faith, which alone works by love, and in such a frame, results in guidance and energy from the Spirit which is always pure, peaceable, gentle, and (watch this), [is] easily entreated setting up the conditions in which brethren can experience mercy and good fruits towards each other, and that without partialty and without hypocricy (See James 3:17-18). That ain’t bad. In such a state, brethren will learn, focus on Christ’s Incarnation, even while sitting next to a Christmas tree. It won’t jump out at you and it won’t undermind your conscience, so long as you do what you do from faith. Its sin, whenever brethren make such doubtful matters “law” and impose such matters of conscience on other brethren causing division in the body. Ignorance prevails and pain increases. The test is not what “I would rather have…”, but what Christ wants of me (you) as I (you) consider your brother’s need. He may not need a Christmas tree, and you may not want him to have one, that isn’t even the issue – for Christmas trees or non-Christmas trees avails anything, but faith in Christ and our love of the brethren, nothwithstanding his or her position on a decorated evergreen. Buy the way, its interesting to me that God is a Person who decorates His house both naturally and artificially (e.g., in His creation, the OT Tabernacle, etc.). This tells me part of our image bearing as believers is properly one of beauty and order. So if not a Christmas tree here, to be sure a beautiful tree in eternity bearing 12 “bulbs” of fruit (see Rev. 22:2) – it seems our desire to decorate things comes from the image GOd stamped upon us for His glory. I confess that I have a tree…its pretty, its got lots of memories and reminders…and since I became a believer, its never distracted me from Christ. However I am sensitive to a brother’s objection of Christmas trees and so am willing to bear that burden to the extent of not having a tree if that is necessary. But is is equally that brother’s responsibility to receive me, but not to determine such reception on such doubtful matters as a Christmas tree. I think this is the balance that honors Christ.

V/r Dave Johnson
3 Jo. 3

By: William du Plooy

William du Plooy — Thu, 13 Dec 2007 14:09:34 +0000

As to the necessity of celebrating Christmas: I would gladly point to the fact that as a follower of Christ, He never once instituded a feast apart from the ordinances of Believer’s Baptism and the Communion at Passover.

Are we to add to that, perhaps so; perhaps not? We do certainy have no madae for it apart form the Romanist traditions of catholocism (Hence Saint Nicholas).

For me it is truly a matter in which I would rather honor the LORD and where I would focus all my attention on serving the Church and the lost as every other day.

I would rather NOT offend a brother who is convinced that saints worsjip may be idolotary and diminsihing the priesthood of all believers. Perhaps I am wrong, but as pointed out earlier, we are NOT to offend a believer, but regard a weaker brother higher than an unbeliever?

The answer (For me and my houshold) we celebrate the Humility of Christ at this time of year, we do not regard ANY saint in higher esteem than another (Including saint Nicholas – Santa) and we seek to sepak the Gospel to the lost rather than keep the traditions of our culture.

I would rather see us speakthe Gospel than offend anyone because we have accepted that which is NOT acceptable to them. The Christian life is one of humility, sacrifice and service.

I would rather have my brethren in fellowship than have a tree or santa in the building where we fellowship.

Perhaps I am wrong, perhaps we are all wrong.

What does the Scriptures teach us on loving our bretheren, that is I feel the more important qestion.
Equally I will not condemn anyone on issues where the Scripture is not specific, such is Christmas.

By: Joshua

Joshua — Thu, 13 Dec 2007 06:11:25 +0000

Can’t anyone just enjoy things nowadays? Heck, I’ll celebrate Kwanza if you give me a day off work, have people be nice and happy, and bring lots of good food. Christmas trees, Jesus, Santa, Rudolph, Frosty… – don’t really care. I love Christ, I choose to celebrate His birth, and I like eating a ham and giving my son a toy. Thanks for the article. Let’s just relax and enjoy things.

To those who freak out over it, in the words of Charlie Brown, “Good Greif!”

By: Dale

Dale — Thu, 13 Dec 2007 01:03:35 +0000

Great stuff. And very agreeable!
As a pastor I have a family of 4 in my church who every December till the end of january stop attending church because we have a tree up in the church and in our homes.
They sadly don’t see that their stand against christmas evry year causes more sorrow than it is a witness of separation from the world. What it does is seperate them from the rest of the church and the rest of their families. And I have to ask who gets the glory in their foolishness.

Later

By: William du Plooy

William du Plooy — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 13:39:10 +0000

Pat,

That is a very good principle.

We ought always to esteem our brethren higher than ourselves. More so than the unbeliever, if needs be.

Thank you for discussing this.

In Rememberance of Christ our God-Man.

By: Pat

Pat — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 20:24:41 +0000

Dear William, appreciate your stance and comments, to elaborate the people I have in mind in my comments are those who refuse to celebrate Christmas with CHRISTIANS or who refuse to say “Merry Christmas” to CHRISTIANS and look down on believers who do celebrate in this way with OTHER believers, that said I believe that when the unbelieving (who are ignorant of all the idolatrous issues associated with the Holiday) see this lack of unity or love within BELIEVING people it brings bewilderment and reproach on the faith. I would agree with your sensitivity to unbelievers who do not accept Christmas but NOT to the extent where we offend a brother. INSTANCE: if a holiday gathering is held at a believers house and many guests are unbelieving and offended by Christmas traditions there, I would side with those partaking of the activities – OR – simply I would much SOONER offend the unbeliever than my brother (the believer) I dont condemn those who have convictions in not observing these things IF THEY ALSO have no problem with those who do, (truly it is easy to become sanctimonious in our “purity” of not observing what others do) as a matter of fact I believe,most people who do not observe these things but also love those who do are in my estimation the ones who are great witnesses.

By: David R. McCrory

David R. McCrory — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 19:37:18 +0000

Good post. But like others have mentioned, a more fundamental issue has arisen concerning the legitmacy of observing Christmas at all (especially among the Reformed faith). Here is a good discussion of Christmas and the Christian;

http://reformedpuritan.wordpress.com/2007/12/03/a-reformed-christmas/

By: Pat Kruse

Pat Kruse — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 17:46:11 +0000

Thank you for this brief commentary on Christmas. It is helpful to revisit due to the various views people hold (as is true of any topic).

Is it lawful to do good on this occasion? Or should we avoid it where possible?

Mat 12:12 How much then is a man better than a sheep? Wherefore it is lawful to do well on the sabbath days.

Mat 12:10 And, behold, there was a man which had [his] hand withered. And they asked him, saying, Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath days? that they might accuse him.

And the reference alluded to in “Pat’s” comment:

Rom 14:6 He that regardeth the day, regardeth [it] unto the Lord; and he that regardeth not the day, to the Lord he doth not regard [it]. He that eateth, eateth to the Lord, for he giveth God thanks; and he that eateth not, to the Lord he eateth not, and giveth God thanks.

Daily reading of scripture, thinking deeply about what we read, and praying as this often reading of His Word moves us to do, should help us keep our focus for daily living on Christ.

Thank God for the Holy Bible, Holy Spirit, saving faith in Christ, God’s love, and fellow Christians in Christ!

Let’s go out to seek and save the lost! Matt 28:19-20

By: William du Plooy

William du Plooy — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 16:19:27 +0000

Dear Pat,

Romans 14:14-23
” I know and am convinced by the Lord Jesus that there is nothing unclean of itself; but to him who considers anything to be unclean, to him it is unclean. Yet if your brother is grieved because of your food, you are no longer walking in love. Do not destroy with your food the one for whom Christ died. Therefore do not let your good be spoken of as evil; for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. For he who serves Christ in these things is acceptable to God and approved by men. Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another. Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All things indeed are pure, but it is evil for the man who eats with offense. It is good neither to eat meat nor drink wine nor do anything by which your brother stumbles or is offended or is made weak. Do you have faith? Have it to yourself before God. Happy is he who does not condemn himself in what he approves. But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because he does not eat from faith; for whatever is not from faith is sin.”

Hence IF I do not feel free to celebrate the season, because unto me the “season” represents an idol and to my friends a stumbling block; I shall not be condemned.

This issue is a Romans 14 issue, it is not an ordinance of the Body of Christ, and CAN be an offense to a Hebrew or Islamic friend who requires the Gospel of grace.
I am not sure we should be eager to condemn those who do not wish to celebrate Christ’s humanity in outward traditions.
Equally you raise a fair point CHRISTmas is a time for testifying CHRIST’s humiliation for our sake.

Personally I grew up in a home where we abandoned the festivities when I was about 7 yrs old, we could not afford gifts and my parents sought to celebrate CHRIST every day. I do not associate with the world’s idea of CHRISTmas and will not tolerate santa in my home, as he is an idol to most people who are lost and an offence to the Sainthood of all believers (This being my personal view). Will I condemn anybody for having santa? No, that is their decision to follow what the Spirit makes them comfortable with, in accordance with Romans 14.

I prefer leaving the door open for my Hebrew and Islamic friends, and to witness the humility of Christ in coming to share in my humanity and in giving me His grace to overcome the world.

Let EVERY day be celebrated with the humility of Christ and may we cause NO offence to those who are not yet under the grace of Messiah.

May you be a great witness to our LORD this CHRISTmas, among your family and in your community.

By: Pat

Pat — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 13:51:39 +0000

Amen, some take it a step further and say we should not greet on Christmas, exchange presents, or celebrate the day but far from being sober-minded this thinking is surely taken as a reproach by the unbelieving. Making sure that we keep CHRIST in our CHRISTmas need not entail such a rigid and unwelcoming attitude. In fact celebrating the day to the hilt while proclaiming Christ to all is a graet testimony. but let no one be wise in their own conceits – we who celebrate should be on guard not to be gluttonous, unmindful of the destitute, argumentative with family, or materialistic and lazy BUT “He that regardeth the day, (make sure) regardeth it unto the Lord”