The Tree vs. The Manger

 

A few years ago, I got into an argument with a Jewish coworker over Christmas Trees. For the record, I have nothing against Christmas Trees, as long as you don’t worship them. This argument was over what the tree represents. I see the tree as a festive decoration, rising in some cases to the level of art, and I love seeing the creativity that some people put into getting their Christmas Tree just right. But what I didn’t see back then was something symbolic of Christianity and it was this viewpoint that was the basis of the argument.

The argument started after I commented on a news article which described how a local high school rejected a request by students to set up a manger scene. The school allowed all religions (and non-religions) to set up holiday decorations representing their various points of view. A group of Christians wanted a manger scene but were told they could not have it because Christianity was already represented by the school’s Christmas Tree. In response the students asked if they could replace the tree and were told that this was not possible. I made a comment about the article, stating my belief that the tree was not a Christian symbol, to which my coworker informed me that I was wrong.

Well, I’ve done some research since that argument, and I see why my coworker disagreed with me. While the tree was originally used in pagan rituals, history shows that the church has embraced it with descriptions of how the tree and its decorations represent Jesus and the life He brings as well as the fact that He is light in the darkness. So, I will concede that there is a strong argument for the tree being a Christian symbol. However, I think that in arguing against this I missed the opportunity to point out to my coworker the most important issue at hand.

While one might argue that the Christmas Tree represents Christ, the manger scene, representing Jesus’ birth in very humble surroundings, does a better job of telling the real story. By choosing the tree over the manger, that high school chose a symbol with both Christian and secular meanings over what Christians truly believe, rejecting a true representation of what Christians celebrate on December 25^th (or January 6^th or 7^th for many Orthodox Christians). So even while understanding how the Christmas Tree might be a Christian symbol, the manger is the more important symbol, and I hope that one day it becomes what people think of first when they think of Christmas.

Why Bethlehem?

Matthew 2:1a

It has become an important part of the Christmas story: That Jesus was born in the city of Bethlehem, in the southern part of Israel which was called Judea. We learn about it in Christmas church plays and quite often during one of the Advent sermons during the season. We are told about how Joseph and his pregnant wife Mary had to travel from their home in Galilee because Caesar Augustus ordered a census of all the world, forcing everyone to go to the city of their family lineage. (Luke 2:1-5) But why Bethlehem, a city of little significance? What made this area so special that it was chosen by God to be the scene for the birth of His only begotten Son?

We know that God chose Bethlehem based on the words of the prophet Micah spoken around 700 years before Jesus’ birth:

“But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah,

Though you are little among the thousands of Judah,

Yet out of you shall come forth to Me

The One to be Ruler in Israel,

Whose goings forth are from of old,

From everlasting.”

Micah 5:2 (NKJV)

As a prophet, Micah was delivering a message that came directly from God, with the early chapters of the Book of Micah speaking of God’s judgment on Israel and Judah. By chapter 5, Micah describes the coming restoration of the people which includes the birth of, “The One to be Ruler in Israel,...”: One ordained to be the savior of us all. As a representative of God, Micah is letting us know that God chose Bethlehem long before Jesus’ birth, shining a spotlight of importance on the City of David.

Before moving on, let me acknowledge that in the Old Testament the City of David was Jerusalem, whereas in the New Testament it is Bethlehem. Jerusalem became the City of David after King David conquered it, taking it from the Jebusites as described in 2 Samuel 5:6-9. According to verse 5 of the same chapter, King David ruled over Israel and Judah with Jerusalem as his capital city for 33 of his 40 years as king. Bethlehem, located just south of Jerusalem (according to Britannica.com), was near the area where David was born and grew up. It was also near where David was anointed king (1 Samuel 16). As the city of his birth it is easy to see why Bethlehem might be called the City of David just like its cousin to the north.

According to a number of sources the word Bethlehem comes from Bet Lehem in the Hebrew language, which means “House of Bread.” The writers at Biblestudytools.com believe this is due to the climate of the area which helped it constantly have bountiful harvests. For Christians the name is an instant reminder of Jesus describing Himself as the bread of life in John 6:35. The “House of Bread” was also an area where the sacrificial lambs were raised for use in the temple in Jerusalem according to a number of sources. And here we are reminded that Jesus was the “Lamb of God” (John 1:29), set apart to be sacrificed for all of our sins. So there was quite a bit of significance to Bethlehem being the city of Jesus’ birth.

Why Bethlehem? By God’s divine authority and perfect will, the insignificant farming community became one of the most significant towns on earth. Its name and history would foreshadow the One who  came to save us all from our sins. Bethlehem: the City of David, the House of Bread and most important, the birthplace of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and that is why we talk about Bethlehem every year at Christmas.

Jesus Before His Advent

I recently read an article in Christianity Today describing research in which 80% of Americans said “...they agree that Jesus Christ is the Son of God the Father,...” but only 41% believe that the Son of God existed before Mary had her baby in Bethlehem. As expected, this number is being pulled down by the percentage of unaffiliated people who do not believe this fact (only 15% of them believe). What really surprised me was the fact that only 63% of “Active Christians” (defined as going to church at least 4 times per month) believe that the Son of God existed before Jesus was born. That means 37% either don’t believe this or are unsure.

What Does the Bible Say About the Matter?

In John 8, after John’s description of what happened with the woman caught in adultery, we see a long discussion between Jesus and the religious leaders of the day about His testimony. During that discussion Jesus states that Abraham, “rejoiced,” to see Jesus’ day (John 8:56). When asked how He could have seen Abraham, the Bible quotes Jesus as saying:

“Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM.”

John 8:58 (NKJV)

I checked a couple of different sources and the time in between Abraham’s life and Jesus' birth is…well…a long time. Yet Jesus’ statement implies that He was before Abraham. He believed that He existed before He is seen in the flesh, coming down from Heaven (John 3:13). Jesus also spoke of the glory He had with the Father, “before the world was.” (John 17:5) And so we see from Jesus’ own testimony, as recorded in the Bible, that He existed in Heaven before He was born here on earth.

John refers to this in the first chapter of His Gospel, speaking of the Word that became flesh (John 1:14). John tells us that this Word that became flesh is the only begotten of the Father. He also tells us that the Word was, “In the beginning…” The Word was with God and the Word was God. (John 1:1).

He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.

John 1:2-3 (NKJV)

According to the Bible, the Son was there at creation. He was sent to earth by the Father, born of a virgin, and we call Him Jesus. He testifies to this fact as did the Apostle John. I suspect that a deeper Bible search would likely find other indications that the Son existed before His Advent. This is one aspect of His eternal nature, one that is critical to our understanding of who He is, as well as our understanding of His gospel.

To see the Christianity Today article mentioned in this post go to: Most Americans, and Many Christians, Don’t Believe the Son of God Existed Before the Manger

How Deep is Your Commitment?

Jerusalem has fallen! Nebuchadnezzar and his armies have won and the king has been carried off to be tortured. Jeremiah is left behind along with the poor to whom the captain of Nebuchadnezzar’s army gave vineyards and fields (Jeremiah 39:1-10). Those who were left behind came to Jeremiah, asking him to petition the LORD his God on their behalf (Jeremiah 42:1-3). In doing so, they make a commitment to obey God even if they do not like what He says (Jeremiah 42:5-6). Does your commitment to obedience go as deep as those who found themselves in captivity?

Be honest. It’s easy to obey God when He tells us to do something we want. How easy is it to obey when God says something we don’t like or don’t want to hear? I wish I could say that I like everything God says and most of the time that is true. However, there are those times when God says something I don’t want to hear. There are those times when He asks too much or He asks me to give up something I want to hold on to. There are those times when the Christian walk is just too difficult and yet God calls on us to move forward by faith. It’s when God says something we do not like that you and I find out if our commitment to God runs deep or if it is just a surface thing, just a convenient show so that I can convince myself that all is well.

What are some of the things He asks that I find displeasing? He asks me to forgive when it’s the last thing I want to do, including when someone has truly and honestly hurt me. He asks me not to do things that I know are wrong even as I see others doing the same thing and seemingly getting away with it. He asks me to trust when I can see with my own eyes that the path leads to the base of an insurmountable obstacle. He asks me to help others carry their burdens and to joyfully give to others those things I value the most. He even asks me to suffer ridicule and to experience being trolled simply because I believe in Him. Sometimes it seems like He asks too much. Does it ever seem that way to you?

Even so, I want to join with that small group of people who, after being left behind in Israel, come to Jeremiah with a pledge to obey what God says, “Whether it is pleasing or displeasing…” (Jeremiah 42:6 NKJV). The reality of their situation and the difficulties they faced drove them to decide to take their dedication to God beyond the surface. Following their example, we should also pledge to obey everything that God asks of us. After all, Jesus is not just our Savior. He is our LORD. Knowing this to be a fact, how deep is your commitment to obey our LORD?

The People Behind the Ban on “Merry Christmas!”

I'm surprised! December is almost half over and I'm yet to hear of any “Merry Christmas” boycotts. Am I just out of the loop? I'm sure there are some who are avoiding their favorite coffee shop because they use the wrong cups but overall there doesn't seem to be an issue this year. Still, I find myself thinking about (concerned about) the people who were behind the bans on saying “Merry Christmas” in the first place. What's going on in their hearts that they miss the joy that comes with acknowledging the "reason for the season"?

Who is it that would go as far as trying to ban the words “Merry Christmas,” from being said at Christmas? Some are people who are afraid of offending others and are perhaps even offended themselves at the mention of anything having to do with Jesus Christ. Where believers see the love expressed that day in a Jerusalem manger some seem to see anything but love and compassion, bristling at a narrative that challenges their belief about themselves and the world around them. For them a Nativity Scene represents exclusion and pain and even ignorance, anything but the idea of a light coming into this world that all might be set free.

Others suffer a pain of a different kind, for which the sounds of the season become a burden. For them the holidays represent emptiness or loss. Perhaps they come from a broken family with Christmas serving as a reminder of the physical and emotional distance that comes when a marriage or when any other close relationship fails. There are many out there suffering emotional distress because of mental illness or simply because they are alone. I can see how the words “Merry Christmas” might stir up internal turmoil instead of the uplifting intended by the person speaking.

Do I agree that “Merry Christmas” should be banned from the public square? Of course I do not. But as one for whom the season once represented the most wonderful depths of depression, I want to challenge fellow believers to do better. Don't just say the words. Act on their real meaning. On Christmas we celebrate God reaching out to us in a miraculous way so that we might have life and have it more abundantly. Like our Lord let us reach out to others, including those who are offended by Christ. Reflect the light and the unconditional love that changes hearts. Live the truth that sets people free. Help others see the One in whom we might truly enjoy the season.

Lacking In Substance

Photo by Jeswin  Thomas from Pexels

Have you ever felt like your holidays were more empty than festive? It seems many feel that way. Tis the season when we are told that we are supposed to be happy. We're supposed to have a holly jolly Christmas. Life is supposed to be cheery and bright. And yet, for many this is the least wonderful time of the year.

I use to associate Christmas with a number of very negative life events. My parents announced their divorce during a Christmas trip to grandma's house. That year felt like over the river and through the woods to total devastation we go. As a teen I totaled my mom's car right before Christmas. A year or two later I watched my mom cry after receiving my first college report card. I wish I had gotten to the mailbox first that day. For a while it seemed as if my Decembers were cursed, marked by failures and tragedies enough to make anyone have a blue Christmas.

This might sound odd for a Christian to say but for many years I found nothing of  substance in celebrating the birth of our Lord. I was too encumbered with Christmas past to get anything out of the holiday. I did all the things I thought I was supposed to in order to honor Jesus but there was always something missing. My focus was on doing what others said was necessary. Meanwhile I was treading water waiting for the next big wave, in fear it might be the one in which I drowned. The pageantry of my religion only made matters worse.

It took something greater than religion to turn things around in my life. It took a relationship with the One whom we celebrate as being born in a manger on the first Christmas Day. I discovered His offer as described in the narrative of the nativity. Because Jesus was born and because He died on a cross, being resurrected on the third day, we have the opportunity to share in a relationship with the creator of the entire universe. The celebration of Christmas is the celebration of God's love and of the fact that He wants us to walk with Him daily. It is the celebration of Christian adoption by which we can call, "Abba, Father," knowing that He hears and cares.

No, life's problems did not go away. But now in all situations I have hope based on my relationship with God. When I am sad or overwhelmed I have something more than just religious practice to which to turn. I can turn and seek the glory of God knowing He responds with open arms. It is in His love that my life and the things I get to do around Christmas become substantial. Knowing we celebrate the birth of my closest friend makes the season grand.