(long)
I know that the Christmas Tree may have pagan roots but I agree with the notion that Pagans can make anything their object of worship. Doesn't God call it idol worship?
From going to secular Rendezvous (not FCF) I found out that a lot of my distant freinds are Pagans. Many of them believe in the American Indian belief which says you must find a Spirit Guide which is often an animal. I debate this every year at a rendezvous I have been attending for about ten years, with a freind that is a Mohican Indian by heritage. When I was backslidden I almost fell for this religion but I could not deny Jesus Christ.
If the American Indians used animals as their idols is that to say the animals cannot be appreciated and used as an object lesson in Christian faith? I really admire the wolf and when I am in the North Woods on camping trips I like to listen to their songs. I also have studied them and admire their social habits. As predators I consider that to be part of the grand scheme of Gods creation. It is ugly but without predators we have found that the balance of nature is way off. I hate to see what the monitor lizard does to its pray but i wouldn't eliminate them because of it. I just don't want one in my living room.
I already have a wolf in my living room, it is a Golden Retriever. It is a pleasure to have him around. I often use him as an object lesson for the Ranger Boys as to how my dogs relationship with me is an illustration of how our faith should be with God.
In Germany the Christmas tree has been used for centuries known as Tonen Baum. Maybe one of our German brothers or sister could help me with this but doesn't the Tonen Baum have some significance toward Christ?
sorry for ramblin on.
Onward In Gods Service
Randall A. Hermanson
Commander OP#1
FCF 1998
Woodstock Il.
Edward Christiansen wrote:
All,The Christmas Tree, as we know it, derives from a Druidic ceremony
practiced at the winter solstice. A large pine tree was taken to
a relatively central or prominent location, and set on fire. All
fires besides this tree in the community were extinguished and all
the families took "new fire" from this tree home.Further, some folks I know have connections in the modern pagan
movement (Yuck) and they know a real life practicing Druid. This
man told them this history, and further told them that all the
Christians had ruined the symbolism by importing a mutated version
into their Christmas ceremony.Truth is stranger then fiction.
White Buffalo
PS I'm hoping for Vegemite under my tree this year ;-)
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