O Christmas Tree…Oh No?

With the holiday season approaching, many businesses and individuals have already put up decorations. Among them are Christmas trees. A popular carol “O Christmas Tree” originated from Germany as “O Tannenbaum”, which translates as “O Fir Tree.” The original lyrics had nothing to do with Christmas. Nevertheless, I remember singing the German version a time or two while in grade school.

Like other holiday traditions, some Christians oppose the usage of Christmas trees. One of my Facebook friends made a judgmental comment that people putting up Christmas trees “are worshiping the devil and have a mental disease.” Before giving my life to Christ, I didn’t have a Christmas tree in my apartment because of the time and expense involved. Instead, I drove up to Mom and Dad’s house for the holidays and enjoyed looking at their decorations. Nowadays, I still don’t own a Christmas tree mainly due to my missionary lifestyle.

Once I heard evangelist Jesse Duplantis talk about the time he bought and gift-wrapped a Christmas present for Jesus (“Why not? It's His birthday!”). Jesse then placed the present underneath his Christmas tree. The spirit of God bugged Jesse to tell Him in advance what His present was! This story serves as a reminder the Lord is not as stuffy as we sometimes perceive Him to be. God wants us to have fun and enjoy life as long as He is numero uno (Matthew 6:33).

Why make a big fuss over Christmas trees? I’ve never seen anyone bow down and worship one. In fact, most trees are decorated with a star on top to symbolize the Star of Bethlehem. Rather than protesting traditions with supposedly pagan origins, how about promoting the Reason for the Season…the One who eventually died on a tree for us?

“So let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or sabbaths” - Colossians 2:16

Failure Isn’t Final

Originally I didn’t plan on watching last Sunday’s Super Bowl. I wasn’t fond of either team playing and had no interest in seeing Lady Gaga’s halftime show. But after practicing a sermon, I decided to walk over to a nearby church that previously hosted a Super Bowl party. The church itself was closed but some men living in the dormitories were preparing to watch the big game and I got to join them. The channel was changed during halftime to briefly watch the Harlem Globetrotters on ESPN2.

We ended up seeing a historic game. The New England Patriots came back from a 25-point deficit to beat the Atlanta Falcons in the first Super Bowl that went into overtime. The Patriots overcame two costly turnovers to win their fifth Vince Lombardi trophy. The game illustrated that failure isn’t final…or in the famous words of Yogi Berra, “It ain’t over till it’s over.”

The Bible has accounts of people who made major mistakes but God still used them to advance His kingdom. Moses killed an Egyptian in a premature attempt to free the children of Israel but later presented the Ten Commandments. Paul was also a murderer but still wrote a large portion of the New Testament. King David committed both adultery and murder yet we recite many of his Psalms today plus sing about how he danced before the Lord.

Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob were liars but today are considered fathers of our faith. Hosea’s wife Gomer was a prostitute but God used that marriage to illustrate His faithfulness to us. Peter denied Jesus three times but later preached the gospel on the Day of Pentecost that brought salvation to thousands. 

Noah got drunk. Jonah ran from God. Jeremiah was depressed and suicidal as well as Elijah. Martha was a worrywart. Feel a little better about yourself now?

Regardless if you messed up before or after becoming a Christian, hope is available as long as you’re quick to repent.

“being confident of this very thing, that he who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Jesus Christ:” - Philippians 1:6

Begotten, Not Forgotten

Numerous times when I witness to Muslims, they object to Jesus being called “the Son of God” because Allah (the Arabic word for God) supposedly had no sons. When I quoted John 3:16 to one Muslim in particular, this man got hung up on the word "begotten" thinking it only refers to the result of a sexual union.

The words “begot” and “begotten” are used numerous times in the Bible, usually in geneaology listings. But those words have other uses besides records of human offspring. Look at The Message Bible’s rendering of John 1:9-13…

“The Life-Light was the real thing: every person entering Life he brings into Light. He was in the world, the world was there through him, and yet the world didn't even notice. He came to his own people, but they didn't want him. But whoever did want him, who believed he was who he claimed and would do what he said, He made to be their true selves, their child-of-God selves. 
These are the God-begotten, not blood-begotten, not flesh-begotten, not sex-begotten.”

1 Peter 1:3 (NKJV) says, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.” The New Living Translation uses the term “born again” instead of begotten.

Spiritual children of mature Christians can also be “begotten” as referred to in 1 Corinthians 4:15-17…

15 For though you might have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet you do not have many fathers; for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel.

16 Therefore I urge you, imitate me.

17 For this reason I have sent Timothy to you, who is my beloved and faithful son in the Lord, who will remind you of my ways in Christ, as I teach everywhere in every church.

Paul also wrote in the tenth verse of Philemon, “I appeal to you for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten while in my chains.” Onesimus, a runaway slave, was a spiritual son or protégé of the Apostle.

As you celebrate Christmas this weekend, look for opportunities to remind people of the reason for the season. God desires everyone to be begotten, not forgotten.

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” - John 3:16

The Reason for the Season

Three years ago on the day after Christmas, I went to a grocery store with a friend of mine. The store was still running holiday advertisements on their loudspeaker. Not once did I hear the announcer mention the word “Christmas.”

When I was a kid, I often heard people say "Merry Christmas" to each other. Since then the world has gradually removed "Christ" from Christmas. In our politically correct society, Christmas trees are now often called “holiday trees.” School districts refer to Christmas vacation as “Winter Break.” They also prohibit religious songs from their music programs such as “Silent Night” in favor of ditties like “Frosty the Snowman.”

2,000 years ago, the apostles were commanded by authorities “...not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus.” (Acts 4:18) Today there are businesses requiring their employees to say "Happy Holidays" to customers instead of "Merry Christmas." Some city governments forbid Nativity scenes being on display but allow statues of Santa Claus.

Whose birthday are we celebrating anyway?

It's true that many of the traditions associated with Christmas have pagan origins. But rather than making a big fuss about that, how about coming up with new holiday traditions that glorify the Lord? One of my relatives insists on us singing "Happy Birthday" to Jesus before we open up presents. That's a clever way to keeping Christ in Christmas.

A recent Rasmussen Reports survey revealed that 69 percent of Americans still prefer the greeting "Merry Christmas" to "Happy Holidays.” Still when I encounter someone who says “Happy Holidays” to me, I respond with a big smile on my face and boldly reply, “Merry Christmas.” I encourage you to do the same. It’s one way to remind people of the reason for the season.

“Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” - Acts 4:12