Wreaths and Christmas trees

Wreaths were formed from evergreen branches in the shape of the sun representing that life cannot exist without sunlight. They were also worn as fertility symbols representing the continuous cycles of life, death, and rebirth. Holly berries were considered sacred to the sun-god.

Green trees were cut and decorated with food and offerings to Mithra. Christmas trees originated from Egypt long before the Christian era. Because they remain green, they symbolize immortality and fertility. The Egyptian priests taught that the evergreen tree sprang from the grave of their god Osiris, who after being killed by another god, came to life from the energy of the evergreen tree.



Look for one of these things in a church near you!

No, Mithra should NOT be celebrated.

Nor should we get into the santa, big party, and materialistic spirit that prevails at this time of year. The whole santa, selfish, materialist theme has no place in the home and church in which Christ is center.

But there is absolutely nothing wrong with having a special season when people are focusing on Christ's incarnation as He came to this earth, taking upon Himself humanity, coming to be our Savior,.
Nor is there anything wrong with loving fellowship with family and friends.

What I found is that some people get so INTO the pagan ideas that soon a person can't do anything without pagan ideas buzzing in their heads. It's a sad thing, especially when people won't even come to church in December because we sing songs like "Away in a Manager" or "Angels we have heard on high", and the Pastor preaches sermons centered around Christ's birth. And horrors -- the church sometimes has a special potluck supper with a few ever green decorations in the evening.

We've had people who sawed off the crosses from communion trays (because pagan's had crosses) They knocked down steeples from churches (they supposedly were about sun worship). They denounced little kids because they had rainbow stripes on their stockings (how could parents put such a pagan symbol on their kids?) We've had people denounce men wearing ties, claiming that was also a pagan symbol. They wanted the pulpit removed from the church, (because something in the shape reminded them of the papal "fish" hats). They even pulled down the curtains because they had a swirly design that supposedly came from some pagan background.

I'm sorry, but obviously the pagans had a lot of things we have today. They even had "virgin births" and baptisms, the death and resurrection of their gods. Should we denounce the resurrection of Christ because of that? No, of course not.

The big thing is to get away from paganism, not denounce every object, shape, or design that someone discovers was used somewhere in paganism.

Paul's principle when dealing with foods offered to idols, applies here -- if something makes you THINK you are worshipping other gods, then don't do it, but don't judge the freedom of people who see no connection with what they are doing, with pagan symbols.

For example -- a rainbow is Biblical -- a sign of the covenant no less (even though Paganism uses it as one of their symbols)

Trees are part of God's creation, no different bringing in some greenery in the snowy wintery weather, than bringing in bouquets of flowers in summer.

As for SUNDAY --
Indeed worship Jesus on Sunday, (and Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday) oh wait -- better get rid of those names as well, they also come from paganism.

However, the seventh day, (dare I call it Saturday) is the day God blessed for SPECIAL holy time.

Thus that day is the SABBATH and we acknowledge that God is our Creator, Savior, and Lord.

You make a good point. The Sabbath day, God blessed.
He didn't bless Sunday.
He didn't bless Mithra.

True, one could carry paganism to extremes. But should we as Adventists have anything to do with worshiping on Sunday? Should we as Adventists have anything to do with a day that is so anti-Christian, and specifically so anti-Adventist? The day which started the whole Sunday worshiping popularity! The day which started being responsible for the persecution, the Inquisition, and for the mark of the beast?

There is nothing any more Christian about Christmas than there is about Sunday. They are one and the same. The one came from the other. Can we take a satanic holiday, mask a nice "Christian" theme over the top of it and call it "holy"? Then how can we do the same for Mithra?

I see your position as extreme.

Don't you worship God on Sundays?
You wrote "should we as Adventist have anything to do with worshiping on Sunday?"
Are you suggesting you do not begin your day with prayer on Sundays (because the sun is rising about the same time and you may be worshipping the sun?) Don't you have worship on Sundays?
Aren't we suppose to worship God EVERY day?
Everyday we can say "This is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it".

That should not take away from the specialness and holiness of the 7th day Sabbath.

December 25 is NOT a "holy" day like the Sabbath, unless it happens to fall on the seventh day of the week, otherwise it is a common day when you can do secular activities.

True, we should not get involved with the pagan, worldly stuff that is commonly associated with the seasonal holiday --
The world is trying very hard to make it Christless -- to the point where they don't want to call it Christmas anymore.


But Christmas can be a most Christ centered event. It all depends upon the person. You can focus on Mithra, or you can focus on Christ.

I chose to focus on Christ.

"Santa" is a poorly disguised word for "Satan." This counterfeit "giver" is meant only to distract our attention from the Source of every true and perfect gift (see James 1).

In fact, the disguise for "jolly" ol' "Saint" Nicholas can be broken as easily as looking up "Old Nick" in a dictionary.

As for having a Christmas tree during the holidays, we have inspired counsel on that. Every church should have a Christmas tree to which the members may bring their gifts to Jesus--with those gifts being its adornment.



Blessings,

Green Cochoa.

I agree that treating Christmas as a pagan holiday is extreme. There is nothing pagan about it if it is treated properly. Our pioneers did so with gusto.

But that's what we are talking about. You knew that, didn't you? So why did you talk about all days are for worship?

What in your mind would be a most satanic holiday?

Do you view Ellen white as one of "our pioneers"? What did she say about Christmas? (Note: see what Green quoted) Is that how it is "celebrated" in our churches today? Or is what is in our churches today merely a celebration which demoralizes, a season of careless levity and amusement?

A right attitude at Christmas that focuses on Christ's incarnation (His birth and coming to this world to save us from sin) most certainly does NOT take away from Sabbath observance in the least.

You seem to think it's somehow evil to worship on other days than the Sabbath. There is nothing wrong with setting aside time, other than on the Sabbath to worship. We are to worship everyday --
Then on the Sabbath it's a special holy day of worship.
In fact Sabbath worship is much more meaningful if we've spent time in worship all week long.




A satanic holiday??? -- Halloween -- that's when death, violence and spirits are celebrated, an unholy holiday for sure.

I don't know what church you go to, and no doubt there are churches who are more into entertainment instead of worship are more worldly than usual during the Christmas season -- following the customs of the world.

However, the churches I've been part of generally have a musical program-- a cantata with songs and readings telling the story of Christ's birth and mission. This is usually an evening program. We find it's one time when a lot of non-Adventists come to our churches and they hear the story of Jesus.

On Sabbaths there is usually a sermon focused on some aspect of Christ's first coming.
During the season there is a heightened "giving" appeal, for ADRA, etc.

Prior to Christmas names are collected of people who could use a little cheer, and food baskets and possibly a toy or two if the family has children is delivered.

Yes, quite often there is a potluck dinner and fellowship, but I haven't seen a "demoralizing, careless levity" -- it's just fellowship where usually someone has volunteered to make the place look special. Often the musical program and potluck supper are combined and guests are invited.

Churches that have church schools usually have a Christmas concert by the kids a few weeks before Christmas. The last one I attended the school band played numerous pieces (quite tradition music by the way) which they had learned in their band class, and the kids had several poems and a short little play demonstrating the "true meaning" of Christmas. There was no demoralizing levity.

Any occasion can be turned into "demoralizing levity" or it can be an uplifting time that strengthens family and friendship ties, opens doors to witnessing, as well as being spiritually uplifting for the people involved -- it all depends on the people and their outlook.