Christmas - Revision history

Dubbayou2: /* Our Christmas Tree */

2015-11-11T16:45:56Z

‎Our Christmas Tree

Dubbayou2: /* Decorations of odds and ends */

2015-11-11T16:41:53Z

‎Decorations of odds and ends

Dubbayou2: /* Evening and Morning */

2015-11-11T16:41:29Z

‎Evening and Morning

Dubbayou2: /* The darkness */

2015-11-11T16:38:17Z

‎The darkness

Dubbayou2: /* The darkness */

2015-11-11T16:35:31Z

‎The darkness

Dubbayou2: /* The darkness */

2015-11-11T16:15:57Z

‎The darkness

Dubbayou2: /* The darkness */

2015-11-11T16:15:01Z

‎The darkness

Dubbayou2 at 16:13, 11 November 2015

2015-11-11T16:13:18Z

Dubbayou2 at 17:15, 10 November 2015

2015-11-10T17:15:01Z

Dubbayou2 at 02:27, 10 November 2015

2015-11-10T02:27:01Z

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 Some say the Christmas tree is a pagan symbol. They point to various ancient pagan religions which decorated trees to celebrate their deities, including Greeks, Romans, and Germanic peoples.
-For some it is pagan because in their hearts they are pagan. They do not acknowledge that God alone is God, but may even live in such a manner... declaring that they are the measure of good and evil... that makes them a god unto themselves. No matter where they get their tree or do with it, it is a tree belonging to a pagan. But the pagan did not invent the tree, God did.
+For some it is pagan because in their hearts they are pagan. They do not acknowledge that God alone is God. Declaring that they are the measure of good and evil, they make themselves into gods. No matter where they get their tree or what they do with it, it is a tree belonging to a pagan. But the pagan did not invent the tree, God did.
-The first trees to represent Christ are found in the garden of Genesis. But rather than squabble over whose tree symbols are oldest... God looks upon the heart, and so it is what is in your heart that makes the difference.
+The first trees to represent Christ are found in the garden of Genesis. But rather than squabble over whose tree symbols are oldest, consider that God looks upon the heart. It is what is in your heart that makes the difference.
 :[[1Co 10:31]] ... whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.

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 :[[Ps 55:22]] Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.
-'''-The tree is put in the home-'''
+==The tree is put in the home===
 God wishes to dwell with men.

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 We celebrate in the evening and the morning because God is reconciled with man and man to God.
-'''-The waters-'''
+==The waters==
 Water is a symbol of the word of God. We place a bucket of water for the tree to remind us of Christ's baptism to fulfill all righteousness.
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 So we don't forget the picture, it was painted again at his death. Water and blood poured from his pierced side forming the waters below, and a sign placed by Pilate representing the declaration of the kings of the world “King of the Jews”. The water below and the word above. Many people place a sign at the top of the tree saying something like “Peace on earth”. But even if there is no sign, the water below reminds us of his baptism.
-'''-The tree-'''
+==The tree==
 The tree represents the cross. When we say the cross, we don't just mean the wooden tool of execution. We refer to it as a metaphor for all that happened at the cross.
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 :[[Col 1:20]] And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, [I say], whether [they be] things in earth, or things in heaven.
-'''-The evergreen tree-'''
+==The evergreen tree==
 We choose an evergreen tree which is cut at the root. It is cut at the root to indicate that Jesus, in the flesh, bore our sins in judgment.
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 The evergreen tree remains green though it has been cut off at the root. This represents the resurrection of Christ, and his everlasting life. His resurrection is real. Other religions use smoke to represent moving off to a spiritual existence. But Jesus rose from the dead with his physical body. The wood of the tree being of an earthly nature reminds us that Jesus has married the flesh in resurrection. This gives us great joy since in the flesh he has married the church. We are the bride of Christ, waiting his physical return.
-'''-Garlands-'''
+==Garlands==
 Garlands wrap and bind the tree just as Abraham bound Isaac as a symbol of Christ dying for us. The symbol is supposed to be that of thorns such as those that entrapped the ram which replaced Isaac. The thorns represent the cares of the world. The ram (as Christ) died because he cared for the world.
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 See other colors below for other representations.
-'''-Tinsel-'''
+==Tinsel==
 Tinsel represents grass, which is the same symbol as the bread of communion. Since we are the sheep (cattle of His pasture), we eat of Him and be full.
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 :[[Joh 12:27]] ¶ Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour.
-'''-Small lights-'''
+==Small lights==
 Jesus said that we are the light of the world. But we are only small lights in the firmament. We place the small lights in the tree to represent that we are the children of Abraham (stars).
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 :[[Joh 15:5]] I am the vine, ye [are] the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
-'''-Decorations of odds and ends-'''
+==Decorations of odds and ends==
 Sometimes our trees are covered with all kinds of things. Decorations made by loved ones, pictures, small toys. This is a reminder that Jesus is concerned with all the things we are concerned about. The good things and the bad are all important to him. He remembers with us the things we remember.
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 :[[Re 21:3]] And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God [is] with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, [and be] their God.
-'''-But he can't if we don't understand Holiness-'''
+==But he can't if we don't understand Holiness==
 :[[Ro 1.18]] For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.

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 In the sense that sinful men require grace, man can be said to be in the dark, and darkness is understood to be the grace of God which covers his sin. We should come to the light.
-'''-The Great Light-'''
+==The Great Light==
 Light represents God's Holiness. Holiness is expressed through law, judgment, condemnation, and separation. God's nature did not change when he said “Let there be Light” for the attributes of Holiness were hidden in His name, Elohim. The childish pun 'a lo khoom' means 'not dark'. The light was made manifest as soon as there was something created to be separate from.
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 The star on the top of the tree is the great light of holiness which came into the world. It is the first light at the dawn of creation, the light that guided shepherds and kings to his birth and shown forth from the tomb. This light reminds us that God is Holy. There is none like him.
-'''-Evening and Morning-'''
+==Evening and Morning==
-We celebrate Christmas on Christmas evening and Christmas morning. Evening and morning act as the mediator, or the buffer, between Light and Dark or Holiness and Grace. We can't understand holiness and grace if they are all mixed up. If a judge lets a criminal go free, we say there is no justice. If the parent doesn't care for the child who has hurt himself, because the child did something stupid and deserved it, then we say there is no grace.
+We celebrate Christmas on Christmas evening and Christmas morning. Evening and morning act as the mediator, or the buffer, between Light and Dark or Holiness and Grace. We can't understand holiness and grace if they are all mixed up. If a judge lets a criminal go free, we say there is no justice. If the judge doesn't let us go free when we have made a 'mistake', then we say that there is no mercy.
 God reveals himself two ways. The Holy Ghost represents the message that God is Holy, even though he is also later seen to be another Comforter. The Son represents the message that God is Love, though he lived the Holy life. God's representation of Himself as Holiness and Love is reconciled on the cross where the judgment of man is satisfied by the death of Christ, and his love extended by his forgiveness of us.

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 :[[Joh 5:14]] Afterward Jesus findeth him in the temple, and said unto him, Behold, thou art made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee.
 :[[Joh 8:11]] She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.
 In the sense that sinful men require grace, man can be said to be in the dark, and darkness is understood to be the grace of God which covers his sin. We should come to the light.

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 :[[Ps 22:3]] But thou [art] holy, [O thou] that inhabitest the praises of Israel.
-Darkness is properly understood to be Love. The Trinity of God lived in Love before creation. It is said that sinful man lives in darkness because God loves sinful men.
+Darkness, in the Bible, is properly understood to be Love. The Trinity of God lived in Love before creation. It is said that sinful man lives in darkness because God loves sinful men.
 :[[Joh 3:16]] For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

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 :[[Isa 9:2]] The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined.
-We don't often think of darkness when we decorate, but of the light. Darkness is a popular symbol for evil. But that is a mistake. God dwelled in darkness before creation. He did not dwell in evil... He is Holy!
+Darkness is a popular symbol for evil. But that is a not the way it is used in the Bible. God dwelled in darkness before creation. He did not dwell in evil... He is Holy!
 :[[Ps 22:3]] But thou [art] holy, [O thou] that inhabitest the praises of Israel.

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 :[[1Co 10:31]] ... whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.
 :[[Ps 9:1]] I will praise thee, O LORD, with my whole heart; I will shew forth all thy marvelous works.
 '''-The darkness-'''