"I'd like to talk to you some about Christmas celebration" --David Miller
One of myriad web sites that expose Xmas for what it is. http://www.jayforrest.org/xtree.htm Oh Christmas Tree Jay N. Forrest "Making the word of God of no effect through your traditions which you have handed down. And many such things you do" (Mark 7:13). It is widely believed that Martin Luther started the custom of the Christmas tree in Germany. This is simply not true. Martin Luther did not invent the Christmas tree.[1] Nor was he the first one to put candles on a tree, as some believe. The most that can be said is that he was the first one to put lighted candles on what was referred to as the Christmas tree. This practice was latter replaced with electric lights, a much safer alternative. Tree Worship Actually the Christmas tree originated from the pagan worship of trees. Tree-worship was wide spread throughout all of ancient Europe. The oak-worshiping Druid priests are one of the more well-known examples. The ancient Germans were also among the tree-worshipers, sacred groves being quite common. In Upsala, Sweden, every tree was held to be divine. The Slavs also worshipped trees. There is also an abundance of evidence that numbers Greece and Italy among the tree-worshipers.[2] The sacred fig tree of Romulus was worshiped by the Romans. There was even a cornel-tree on the slopes of the Palatine Hill which was considered one of the most sacred objects in all of Rome.[3] Many pagans worshiped in groves. Within these groves was a sacred tree. Before this tree worshipers would gather for worship. The priest would then offer up his prayers. At the roots of this tree he would sacrifice victims. In some cultures a fowl and a goat were slaughtered to the tree.[4] Many believed that trees were dwelling places for spirits.[5] According to anthropologist Sir James Fraser, "the spirit is viewed as incorporated in the tree; it animates the tree and must suffer and die with it."[6] Some held that when a tree died, its spirit was released. It then became a demon which roamed about on errands of mischief and destruction.[7] Although Martin Luther may have been the first to put candle on the Christmas tree, he was not the first to put candles on a tree. The Circassians had an autumn celebration in which they brought a tree into the house. They did so with great ceremony and music. Sir Fraser says that, "It is covered with candles, and a cheese is fastened to its top. Round about it they eat, drink, and sing."[8] Decorated Trees The decorated tree can be traced throughout various different pagan festivals, but the may pole is perhaps the most famous. May Day was a pagan festival on May 1st. During this festival a tree was cut down and stripped of all its branches, usually only the very top was spared. It was then, "decked with flowers and eggs, which were painted yellow and red."[9] Many times they would cut down a fir or pine and "deck it with nosegays, garlands, and red ribbons."[10] Many trees were decorated with flowers and herbs. Strings were bound around it from top to bottom. Sometimes it would be painted with various colors.[11] In addition to the cloths and multi-colored ribbons, many times these trees had sausage, cakes, and eggs put upon it.[12] The evergreen cypress and pine were among the favorites for worship, they were thought to have more vitality than other trees.[13] The pine tree was especially sacred in the worship of Attis. According to one legend Attis unmanned himself under a pine-tree, and bled to death on the spot.[14] "After his death," notes Sir Fraser, "Attis is said to have been changed into a pine-tree."[15] A pine tree was also cut down and brought into the sanctuary of Cybele. There it was treated as a divine entity.[16] From this it should not be surprising to discover that, as the Dictionary of Faiths and Folklore explains, that though the Christmas tree "is by most persons supposed to be derived from Germany: such, however, is not the fact: the Christmas tree is from Egypt, and it origin dates from a period long anterior to the Christmas Era."[17] The Christmas tree, according to Hislop, was equally common in both pagan Rome and Egypt. In Egypt the tree that was used was the Palm tree. It symbolized the pagan messiah as Baal-Tamar. In Rome it was the fir that was used. It symbolized him as Baal-Berith. The mother of the sun god Adonis was said to have been mystically changed into a tree. While in that state she is said to have brought forth her divine son. Now if the mother was a tree, then the son must have been known as "the branch."[18] This is where the tradition came from of putting the Yule log into the fire on Christmas eve, and the appearance of the Christmas tree the next morning. The 25th of December was, as Hislop has proven, the birthday of Nimrod as the Unconquered sun. The yule log is symbolic of the dead stock of Nimrod who was cut down by his enemies. The appearance of the Christmas tree the next morning is symbolic of the reincarnation of Nimrod as Tammuz. Hence, the Christmas tree is the slain god come to life again.[19] On each anniversary of his birth, Nimrod's wife claimed, Nimrod would visit the evergreen tree and leave gifts upon it.[20] Biblical Principles Many have preached against the Christmas tree. Among them were the pilgrims and Puritans. The influential Oliver Cromwell preached against "decorated trees," calling them a heathen tradition.[21] In at least ten Biblical references, the GREEN tree is associated with idolatry and false worship (1 Kings 14:23; 2 Kings 16:4; 17:10; 2 Chronicles 28:4; Isaiah 57:5; Jeremiah 2:20; 3:6, 13; 17:2; Ezekiel 6:13). Since all trees are green at least part of the year, the special mention of "green" refers, no doubt, to trees that are evergreen.[22] That the Christmas tree is worshiped, even today, is clearly illustrated in the song, "Oh Christmas Tree." First notice that the song is being sung to an inanimate object: "Oh Christmas tree, Oh Christmas tree, How lovely are your branches!" Why personalize a tree and then sing to it? Also notice that this song proclaims the Christmas tree as the "tree most loved!" No Christian should sing such words of worship. The "tree most loved" among the saints is the one that the Romans hung the Lord of glory on, for on that tree salvation was accomplished. Like Paul, let us glory in the cross of Christ (Galatians 6:14). This tree was common in the days of Jeremiah, "For one cuts a tree from the forest, the work of the hands of the workman, with the ax. They decorate it with silver and gold" (Jeremiah 10:3-4). Our modern Christmas trees are decked with silver and gold, from the tinsel and ornaments, to the silver star on top. The prophet expressly warned Israel to forsake this heathen custom - the custom of decorating trees (Jeremiah 10:1-2). So the truth about the Christmas tree is that it is a pagan idol of Nimrod the rebel (Genesis 10:8-12). Every time you put up a Christmas tree you are putting up an idol and commemorating, honoring the memory of, the birth of the rebel. It is just as wrong for a Christian to have a Christmas tree as it is for him to have a Ouji board, a crystal ball, or a statue of Buddha. The Bible encourages us to get rid of all cult and occult things (Acts 19:19). Some demonologists believe that demons are attracted to houses by objects and literature that pertains to false religions, paganism, cults and the like. Books, idols, and other things related to Satan's kingdom have been said to attract demons. These pagan idols and god were, in the words of Erich Sauer, "no mere intellectual personifications of the powers of nature, or mere ideal pictures of a wandering nature-deifying fancy, but in their background they are somehow actually existing demonic spirit powers, who, along the line of occult inspiration, in national types of mythological dress. . . revealed themselves to the various people."[23] Whether or not we bow down and worship the tree or merely bring it into our homes is not the point. The point is that the Christmas tree is an idol. It doesn't matter whether or not you worship the idol, you still have an idol in your house. That is the issue. We should not "give place to the devil" (Ephesians 4:27). "But we don't worship the tree," you might object. That is not the point. You don't have a statue of Buddha in yout house; why? Because it is associated with a rival religion. The Christmas tree is associated with a rival religion as well - Paganism. This is a religion that is making a dramatic come back in this nation. We have shown that the Christmas tree was a custom in Egypt. Concerning the customs in Egypt God said, "you shall not do" (Leviticus 18:3). Putting up a Christmas tree, then, is something we should not do. What should we do then? God said, "Each of you, throw away the abominations which are before [your] eyes, and do not defile yourselves with the idols of Egypt" (Ezekiel 20:7). Notice it said to throw them out, not Christianize them; giving some pious platitudes about how it symbolizes the Christian spirit or that its lights symbolize Jesus as the light of the world. Do not be like rebellious Israel, who would not obey God, for "They did not all cast away the abominations which were before their yes, nor did they forsake the idols of Egypt" (Ezekiel 20:8). God's instructions are clear concerning the Christmas tree, which is an image of their god. "The graven images of their gods you shall burn with fire; you shall not desire the silver or gold that is on them, nor take it for yourself, lest you be ensnared by it; for it is an abomination to the Lord your God. Neither shall you bring an abomination into your house, lest you be ensnared by it; for it is an abomination to the Lord your God" (Deuteronomy 7:25-26 AMP). Of all the traditions at Christmas time, there are two customs which are the greatest offenders of the Christian spirit. They are Santa Claus and the Christmas tree. If we concentrated upon eliminating these two, Christmas would be much better for it. The Santa Claus lie and the Christmas tree idol are clear violators of Biblical principles. Conclusion Historians generally claim that Christianity conquered paganism and wiped it out of existence in the western world. At first glance that conclusion would seem to be justified. But if one looks closer, a different view arises. "Paganism survived," writes historian Will Durant, "in the form of ancient rites and customs condoned, or accepted and transformed, by an often indulgent Church. As intimate and trustful worship of saints replaced the cult of the pagan gods, and satisfied the congenial polytheism of simple or poetic minds. Statues of Isis and Horus were renamed Mary and Jesus; the Roman Lupercalia and the feast of the purification of Isis became the Feast of the Nativity; the Saturnalia were replaced by Christmas celebrations, the Floralia by Pentecost, an ancient festival of the dead by All Souls' Day, the resurrection of Attis by the resurrection of Christ. Pagan altars were rededicated to Christian heroes; incense, lights, flowers, processions, vestments, hymns, which had pleased the people in older cults were domesticated and cleansed in the ritual of the Church; and the harsh slaughter of a living victim was sublimated in the spiritual sacrifice of the Mass."[24] ---------- "Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer every man." (Colossians 4:6) http://www.InnGlory.org If you do not want to receive posts from this list, send an email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] and you will be unsubscribed. 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