Are we idol worshippers too?

[Malohaut]

Brothers and Sisters of our Lord Jesus Christ, I come to you with worry. I know how much you love the Lord our God. I know your desire is to love Him with your all. Israel, for a time, also loved God with a passion. They are His people, and He is their God. Now, thanks to the sacrifical grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, we too are God's people, and He is our God! But I feel we may be headed where Jerusalem was headed if we're not careful.

Jeremiah 2:5 "Thus says the Lord: 'What injustice have your fathers found in Me, that they have gone far from Me, have followed idols, and have become idolaters?"

Israel believed they were invincible because they had the temple of God in Jerusalem. As such, since they were protected by God, they felt it okay to worship foreign gods, prophesy by Baal, perform ritual sacrifices of children, and even worship "the queen of heaven."

What we have today is no different! "I follow Budda," says one. "Jesus Christ was a mushroom," says another. "I am God," says a voice in the desert. "I am a scientific miracle," says a voice in a lab. "I trust in the queen of heaven," declares many. But that's not the end of the idols! Who of you have ever had a Christmas tree? What about statues/posters/balloons of the easter bunny in your home? Has anyone ever dressed up for Halloween? Has anyone told their child that if they loyally give up their fallen tooth, a mystical creature will happily reward them with money? Pagan icons and idols have made their way into our homes and families in addition to corrupting our society and life. We have become spiritual adulterers without even knowing it, just like the Israelites in their wicked days!

Israel was God's chosen people, and they believed themselves safe. But because of their unfaithfulness, God punished them with death, plundering, and exile into foreign nations. We as Christians are also God's people. But we are not immune to God's wrath. Although we have a secured eternal heritage in Christ, we also receive punishment and correction from above.

We may think what we are doing is innocent, but we know from the bible that God is a jealous God. He is very slow to anger, but He does get angry. My advice to us all is to avoid anything that is related to pagan worship whether its having statues of Budda or avoid teaching about Santa Claus, whether its having a nativity scene in place of a tree, or a cross and tomb in place of the easter bunny.

What do you think? Am I taking this thought too far, or do you think that Satan has corrupted our society so much, that we accept what's abomonable in the eyes of God as something good and acceptable? After all, the people of Israel thought that Baal and Asheroth and prostitution and child sacrificing was good and morale and right to do. It almost reminds me of the state of our world today.

 

[Thaddius]

I struggled with this for years Mal. I recently have come to peace with it with a realization with the help of John MacArthur. This was copied from his Grace to You website: www.gty.org

Should Christians celebrate Christmas?

Scripture doesn't specifically command believers to celebrate Christmas—there are no prescribed "Holy Days" the church must observe. In fact, Christmas was not observed as a holiday until well after the biblical era. It wasn't until the mid-fifth century that Christmas received any official recognition.

We believe celebrating Christmas is not a question of right or wrong since Romans 14:5-6 provides us with the liberty to decide whether or not to observe special days:

One person esteems one day above another; another esteems every day alike. Let each be fully convinced in his own mind. He who observes the day, observes it to the Lord; and he who does not observe the day, to the Lord he does not observe it. He who eats, eats to the Lord, for he gives God thanks; and he who does not eat, to the Lord he does not eat, and gives God thanks (Rom. 14: 5-6).

According to these verses, a Christian can rightfully set aside any day—including Christmas—as a day for the Lord. We believe Christmas affords believers with a great opportunity to exalt Jesus Christ.

First, the Christmas season reminds us of the great truths of the Incarnation. Remembering important truths about Christ and the gospel is a prevalent New Testament theme (1 Corinthians 11:25; 2 Peter 1:12-15; 2 Thessalonians 2:5). Truth needs repetition because we so easily forget it. So we should celebrate Christmas to remember the birth of Christ and to marvel over the mystery of the Incarnation.

Christmas can also be a time for reverent worship. The shepherds glorified and praised God for the birth of Jesus the Messiah. They rejoiced when the angels proclaimed that in Bethlehem was born a Savior, Christ the Lord (Luke 2:11). The babe laid in the manger that day is our Savior, the "Lord of lords and King of kings" (Matthew 1:21; Revelation 17:14).

Finally, people tend to be more open to the gospel during the Christmas holidays. We should take advantage of that openness to witness to them of the saving grace of God through Jesus Christ. Christmas is chiefly about the promised Messiah who came to save His people from their sins (Matthew 1:21). The holiday provides us with a wonderful opportunity to share this truth.

Although our society has muddied the message of Christmas through consumerism, myths and empty traditions, we should not let these distract us from appreciating the real meaning of Christmas. Let us take advantage of this opportunity to remember Him, worship Him and faithfully witness of Him.

and

Should Christians have Christmas trees?

We see nothing wrong with the traditional Christmas tree. However, some have taught that it's wrong for anyone to have a Christmas tree in their home. But are their reasons valid? We don't think so. Let's look at the two most common objections people make against having a Christmas tree.

First, some object on the basis that Christmas trees have pagan origins. It is believed that Boniface, English missionary to Germany in the eighth century, instituted the first Christmas tree. He supposedly replaced sacrifices to the god Odin's sacred oak with a fir tree adorned in tribute to Christ. But certain other accounts claim that Martin Luther introduced the Christmas tree lighted with candles. Based on that information you could say the Christmas tree has a distinguished Christian pedigree.

However, even if a pagan background were clearly established, that wouldn't necessarily mean we could not enjoy the use of a Christmas tree. Perhaps the following analogy will help.

During World War II the American military used some remote South Pacific islands for temporary landing strips and supply depots. Prior to that time the indigenous tribal people had never seen modern technology up close. Large cargo planes swooped in filled with an array of material goods, and for the first time the islanders saw cigarette lighters (which they deemed to be miraculous), jeeps, refrigerators, radios, power tools, and many varieties of food.

When the war was over, the islanders concluded that the men who brought cargo were gods, so they began building shrines to the cargo gods. They hoped the cargo gods would return with more goods.

Most people do not even know about this religious superstition. Similarly, few know anything about the worship of trees. When a child pulls a large present out from under the Christmas tree and unwraps a large model cargo plane, no one views that object as an idol. Nor do we view the Christmas tree to be some kind of gift god.

We understand the difference between a toy and an idol just as clearly as we understand the difference between an idol and a Christmas tree. We see no valid reason to make any connection between Christmas trees and wooden idols or the worship of trees. Those who insist on making such associations should take note of the warnings in Scripture against judging one another in doubtful things (see Romans 14 & 1 Corinthians 10:23-33).

Another common objection is the claim that Christmas trees are prohibited in Scripture. Jeremiah 10 is commonly used to support this viewpoint. But a closer look at the passage will show that it has nothing to do with Christmas trees and everything to do with idol worship. Verse eight says, "A wooden idol is a worthless doctrine."

Idol worship was a clear violation of the Ten Commandments. Exodus 20:3-6 says,

You shall have no other gods before Me. You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; you shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me, but showing mercy to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments.

There is no connection between the worship of idols and the use of Christmas trees. We should not be anxious about baseless arguments against Christmas decorations. Rather, we should be focused on the Christ of Christmas and giving all diligence to remembering the real reason for the season.

There are no real "Christian" holidays setup by Christ. We were told only to remember His death and the signifigance of it. Everything else is just tradition handed down. Every day is a day of the Lord.

Cory