The following article is written by a very good, longtime friend of mine. Scott Callas has been faithfully attending most Bible studies that I have conducted for more than 10 years. Scott has witnessed many of the transitions that I have gone through. It will become abundantly clear that this young man has discovered that truth is pre-eminent and living that truth is our greatest witness to the world. I have watched Scott go through the same process that many of us have experienced. I believe that he will be a major contributor to this move of YHVH in the last days, as Scott brings forth the truth of scripture in a very simple, straight forward way.
The Traditions of Christmasby: Scott CallasThis section of our study will cover a few of the modern traditions associated with Christmas. There are many to choose from, and many facets to each tradition, but we will cover the most familiar; the Christmas tree, and Santa Claus. I had originally thought to cover some other traditions, as well, but find these two to be the most wide spread and most suspect, but the least explored. Christmas and the traditions surrounding this celebration are an extremely sensitive subject to believers. In my writings, my goal is to show Scriptural truth and bring believers to a better place in their walk with Messiah Yahshua. As you can see, the history of Christmas is a challenge we as believers face. As we continue on to discuss the Christmas traditions, we will face even more challenge. May we continue on in hope of coming into a deeper understanding of Scripture and walk away with a greater commitment to please the God of the Bible. Again, as these studies were written to build upon each other, please read them in the order in which they are posted. The understanding from one section is needed to have full scope of the following section.
We will begin our discussion of traditions with probably the most sensitive of all the topics on our plate, the Christmas tree. In our time, this item has become the most used, most familiar, and universal symbol of the season called Christmas. The branches lit with lights, decked with ornaments and tinsel, some are made to look as if there is snow on the branches, each standing prominently in our homes, schools, and offices. There are the fake trees, the real ones from in front of the supermarket, and then for the more adventuresome, a trip to the hills to pick out your own. This all seems similar to picking a flower from the garden to decorate our home, but is it? Where did this custom come from? The tradition of the Christmas tree is not a new idea, as it seems to have sprung into existence in the early 1600's, in Germany. This tradition remained mostly in Germany until around the early 1900's, when German settlers came to America. The idea of decorating a tree remained an oddity until later in that century. President Franklin Pierce set up the first tree in the White House in 1856, and by the end of that century, the Christmas tree was well established in this country. There is a legend concerning Martin Luther. Reportedly, he was walking through the woods one night, and spotted an evergreen with the stars of the night shining through the branches. He was so taken by the scene; he went home to try and reproduce the sight, toting a small tree he had cut down. He replicated the twinkling stars with candles placed on the branches. Another legend of an English monk tells of a different source, though. Saint Boniface happened upon a group of pagans surrounding an oak tree, preparing to sacrifice a child. To prevent the sacrifice, Boniface flattens the oak in a single blow with his fist. In the place of the oak, sprang up a small evergreen, which he explained was the Tree of Life, which represented the life of Jesus. Today, there are different reasons given as to what the tree means, or symbolizes. Many say the tree simply points toward God, or the way in which we must relate to Him. Some say the evergreen tree is a symbol of life, and thus is an expression of the life found in Jesus. Non-religious folk will not have a reason for having a tree in their home other than it is something they have always done, or because everyone else has one. In many ancient cultures trees do symbolize life. The evergreen staying green over the winter months was seen as a continuation of life, and a defeat over death and winter. Other trees showed a renewing of life in the spring, when they came to leaf and fruit. Who were the cultures that found significance in trees? The Vikings of Northern Europe looked to the evergreen. The Druids of Western Europe chose the oak tree. The Egyptians found green date palms to be their choice. Romans also liked the pine or evergreen. All of these ancient cultures used these trees in the decoration and celebration of their traditions, each of them being a celebration of the winter solstice. None of these celebrations were directed at the one true God, YHVH, but to their god's of harvest or the sun. Let's see what the Scripture has to say about trees and decorating trees.
Deuteronomy 16:21-22
Deuteronomy 16:21 (NKJV)
Jeremiah 10:2-5 Now, am I accusing believers of being idolaters by having a Christmas tree in our homes? No, absolutely not! However, I believe I have pointed out a very close influence upon our traditions, or the traditions themselves as being idolatrous. We as believers have the responsibility to cleanse ourselves of things prohibited by YHVH. No believer would bow down and worship a Christmas tree as an idol. Just as no believer would bow to worship an image of Buddha or a golden calf. But how many of us would have either of those images in our home? Not many, I assure you. Why do we not have these images in our homes? Because the Word says not to!
Leviticus 19:4
Leviticus 26:1
Exodus 20:3-5 We as believers may not think that a decorated tree is an idol. I myself, in times past, have said the Christmas tree is a symbol of life, pointing toward God. I wonder how the ancient Romans, or Egyptians, or Druids would view the tree. I think they would recognize it as their own symbol of life. Where does YHVH say that life exists? It is in the blood of a creature.
Leviticus 17:13-14 One last note on idolatry: In Acts, at the Counsel of Jerusalem, the apostles and elders came together to discuss how Gentile initiates into faith in Messiah were to be brought into the community of believers. Remember, these Gentiles already had a relationship with Messiah (they were 'saved'), and the community of believers were predominately Hebrews (Torah observant, also). They were not loaded up with all the commandments, and all the traditions, then allowed in to the community of believers. They were given four distinct instructions, allowed into the community, then were taught the rest, every week, a little bit at a time. These instructions include rejecting things polluted by idols.
Acts 15:19-21 So having explored the root and growth of this tradition, what are we to do? If none of this makes sense, or is contrived: nothing. Continue on in our traditions, setting up a tree year after year. But if we see that YHVH does not want us to do such a thing, if we see from the Word that this tradition is at the very least 'polluted' by idols; and the at worst, is an idol itself; then I believe we should repent of sin and put away from us those things which YHVH detests.
II Corinthians 6:16
I John 5:21
Here is a colorful tradition. We all know the story of Santa, and how he travels the world over, leaving gifts for good little girls and boys. The real source of Santa most likely goes back to a saint named Nicholas of Myra, the patron saint of children. A feast day was celebrated for him on December 6, which was later changed to December 25. Legend says Nicholas gave dowry to each of three very poor maids, that they could be married. This grew into the belief of him giving gifts and sweets to children. I am not going to spend much time on Saint Nick. We all know enough about the Santa game, and how children come to a disappointing time when the mystery of Santa is debunked. It is this point that makes Santa a dangerous thing to believers. Children are brought up to trust and believe their parents. Parents who tell their children there is a magical character, which they cannot see, must believe in to be benefited by him, and who brings gifts to good little boys and girls, must at some point disappoint the child in telling them that all of this is just a story. Children who are told the story of Santa, can and do compare him with another One who they physically cannot see. This One, an omnipotent One, who must be believed in, and gives a gift of life, is Yahshua (Jesus). Children's trust in their parents can be, and is, weakened by exposing the fallacy of Santa Claus. How then is a child supposed to trust a parent who tells of Jesus, who they cannot see, and according to our traditions, shows up on the same Christmas day? One more question that arises is this: Why do we who are not Catholic, celebrate a Catholic saint? Our next section will wrap up this study on Christmas. Shalom! Scott Callas The next section: Conclusions on Christmas
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