| Christian Apologetics A forum to discuss the systematic defense of the Christian belief system with other Christians. |
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View Poll Results: Do you believe the Christmas Tree is a form of Idolatry? | |
Yes.
|     | 13 | 16.88% | |
No.
|    | 64 | 83.12% |
 | | 
18th November 2008, 06:54 AM
| | | | the tree itself represents the cross on which our Savior died
the lights - He is the Light of the world
the evergreen needles - the eternal Life He gives us
the ornaments - the fruit of the good vine (believers)
__________________ I wasn't always this way I used to be the one with the halo But that disappeared when I had my first taste And fell from grace It left me In this place Well I'm starting to think Maybe you like it I tear you down I make you bleed Eternally Can't help myself From hurting you And it's hurting me I don't have wings So flying with me won't be easy Cause I'm not an angel |
18th November 2008, 07:27 AM
|  | Legend
      
 | | Join Date: 14th April 2006 Location: Obama: 53% deserve him ;)
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Reps: 6,688,658,930,375,081 (power: 0) | | Originally Posted by Wirraway  what, exactly, are you doing with that tree? all we do is hang stuff on it and put boxes underneath.
ya the presents need a covering
 |
18th November 2008, 11:23 AM
|  | charity crocheter
  
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Reps: 47,869,504,486,311 (power: 47,869,504,497) | | | I have a ceramic tree. One side shows Mary and Joseph on the way to Bethlehem. On Christmas Eve you turn it around to show the nativity and the wise men on their journey. It plays Silent Night" too.
Don't worship it tho'. It is just pretty to look at and recounts the story nicely.
__________________
"If you keep on biting and devouring each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other." Galations 5:15
"...a vice does not lose its nature, though it becomes ever so fashionable" -John Wesley
"To study too much in retreat can become an inexcusable indulgence. It behooves us to share what we have learned, to practice in administering to others what we have gathered from our experience with books" -the Brother Superior of the Glauxian Brothers of the Northern Kingdoms |
18th November 2008, 11:29 AM
| | Contributor
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Reps: 21,309,183,247 (power: 0) | | Originally Posted by Jessica Lauren I'm pretty sure Santa Claus isn't turning people away from Christ.
Instead of recognizing that it's Christ's birthday and realizing THAT'S why you're celebrating it. . . many people don't. Once you take him out of the picture. . . THAT is what turns people away from Christ. But Santa isn't doing that nor is having something fun like that for kids.
I don't see anything wrong with a Christmas tree. I'm not worshiping it. It just looks pretty and smells nice. And it's a fun family activity that can bring people closer.
for one thing I do believe santa turns ppl away from christ...let me explain why
when we are children we are taught of 2 magical men...one named jesus and one named santa...both are directly tied to christmas and yet one is an elaborate hoax while the other is truth...so what happens when the child finds out there parents were lying about santa? they start questioning the other man tied to christmas
its also NOT christs true birthday(and most aren't actually celebrating his birth anyways)
that said a christmas tree is about as far from idoltry as you can get...for one thing nobody is worshipping the tree...for 2 its a once a year thing...the tree goes up, gets decorated with presents put underneath and then come new years eve its already out the door starting its decomposition
if a christmas tree is idoltry you better get rid of any kind of decoration you may have around your house  |
18th November 2008, 11:41 AM
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Reps: 47,869,504,486,311 (power: 47,869,504,497) | | [quote=&Abel;49459448] for one thing I do believe santa turns ppl away from christ...let me explain why
when we are children we are taught of 2 magical men...one named jesus and one named santa...both are directly tied to christmas and yet one is an elaborate hoax while the other is truth...so what happens when the child finds out there parents were lying about santa? they start questioning the other man tied to christmas Doesn't that depend on exactly how these 2 "magical" men are presented? My children grew up knowing that Jesus is the son of God, the Lord of life and the source of our hope and salvation. Santa, on the other hand, embodies the spirit of generosity which helps us to show God's love to others. In our house Santa didn't put the presents under the tree - the people who love us are responsible for those. Santa was only allowed to fill the stockings. And while Santa might be a little "magical" Christ has never been portayed that way. He is real, He is reliable, He is Miraculous - but magic is just make believe. its also NOT christs true birthday(and most aren't actually celebrating his birth anyways) Which is more important - that we remember He came or that we get the date right?
__________________
"If you keep on biting and devouring each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other." Galations 5:15
"...a vice does not lose its nature, though it becomes ever so fashionable" -John Wesley
"To study too much in retreat can become an inexcusable indulgence. It behooves us to share what we have learned, to practice in administering to others what we have gathered from our experience with books" -the Brother Superior of the Glauxian Brothers of the Northern Kingdoms |
18th November 2008, 11:47 AM
| | Contributor
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Reps: 21,309,183,247 (power: 0) | | | I remember that he came for me everyday
I don't need one materialistic holiday to remind me
I can pinpoint the day that I started questioning my faith in christ and it was the day that I found out santa was not real
I actually got really angry with my mom for lying |
18th November 2008, 11:52 AM
| | charity crocheter
| | Join Date: 20th February 2004 Location: East Tenn.
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Reps: 47,869,504,486,311 (power: 47,869,504,497) | | Originally Posted by &Abel I remember that he came for me everyday
I don't need one materialistic holiday to remind me
I can pinpoint the day that I started questioning my faith in christ and it was the day that I found out santa was not real
I actually got really angry with my mom for lying See, I never went thru the whole - "Oh Mom and Dad lied about Santa so I can't believe this other stuff" bit. Maybe because Christ was always the more important one, not just on Christmas, but thru the year. Santa was a fun side light, something I was allowed to outgrow naturally. I never took it that I was "lied" to about Santa.
Maybe some people make a bigger deal out of Santa than my family ever has.
__________________
"If you keep on biting and devouring each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other." Galations 5:15
"...a vice does not lose its nature, though it becomes ever so fashionable" -John Wesley
"To study too much in retreat can become an inexcusable indulgence. It behooves us to share what we have learned, to practice in administering to others what we have gathered from our experience with books" -the Brother Superior of the Glauxian Brothers of the Northern Kingdoms |
18th November 2008, 12:02 PM
| | Contributor
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| | Join Date: 16th August 2008
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Reps: 21,309,183,247 (power: 0) | | | christ was something that was only mentioned on sundays in my house(like most other houses today)
I didn't even really understand why christ died and that my salvation depended on it |
18th November 2008, 03:30 PM
| | Regular Member
| | Join Date: 17th November 2008
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Reps: 1,726,403,466,190 (power: 1,726,403,468) | | | With respects to an early post by Jessica Lauren:
>>I'm pretty sure Santa Claus isn't turning people away from Christ.
I’m not pretty sure – I’m positive -- Santa Claus is anti-christ
>>Instead of recognizing that it's Christ's birthday . . . .
Jesus was not born on December 25th , the Roman Catholic Church doesn’t even believe that– While I’m at it, Santa Claus doesn’t exist either.
>>Once you take him out of the picture. . . THAT is what turns people away from Christ.
I know it must be difficult to hear things that go against your limited belief system, but here’s something else you are probably not aware of – there are 2 Jesus’ in the Bible.
One is a counterfeit. The counterfeit is so good that he turns people away from Christ.
>>And (the xmas tree is a) fun family activity that can bring people closer.
That is as an anti-christ statement as I’ve heard so far, but then again, I haven't caught up on all the posts.
With respects to an early post by LightSeaker:
Participating in a Christmas candlelight service, now that's something that touches my heart and affects me in ways that I'm not able to throw away so easly.
That thing touching your heart is sensual in nature.
I Corinthians 2:14 -- the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
natural, from the Greek word psuchikos – physical, sensual
receiveth is the Greek word dechomai. The word dech is the word ten, from which we get the word decade (ten years) and the word decalogue (ten words/ ten commandments). This word receiveth means to figuratively reach out willingly with the ten fingers and "accept" an offer that has been made. |
18th November 2008, 04:31 PM
| | Lunatic Intuitive Fringe Angels Team
  
| | Join Date: 1st September 2004 Location: England
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Reps: 239,739,413,609,998 (power: 0) | | Originally Posted by Eph4:26 I know it must be difficult to hear things that go against your limited belief system, but here’s something else you are probably not aware of – there are 2 Jesus’ in the Bible.
One is a counterfeit. The counterfeit is so good that he turns people away from Christ.  This has to count as most bizarre comment of the week. Which is some feat, given the competition.
Any chance of a reference? | | |
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