Christmas Trees on Pentecostal platforms

[JamesGlen]

Evergreen trees w lights “on stage”, for decor during the Christmass holidays...

Are those even considered a Christmass tree?

What is or is not acceptable in the sight of God, as “Christmass decor” for a place that is declared as holy and set aside for the purpose of worshipping God”?

After all, even nature praises the Lord:

“Let the trees of the forest sing, let them sing for joy before the LORD....

[Esaias]

Jesus said we would not worship God in the temple at Jerusalem or the mountain in Samaria. That definitely includes some building with a baal tree.

[Evang.Benincasa]

Originally Posted by JamesGlen

Evergreen trees w lights “on stage”, for decor during the Christmass holidays...

Are those even considered a Christmass tree?

What is or is not acceptable as “Christmass decor” for a place that is declared as holy and set aside for the purpose of worshipping God”?

After all, even nature praises the Lord:

“Let the trees of the forest sing, let them sing for joy before the LORD....

Whatever the pastor and the members want in that building.

[JamesGlen]

I am trying to figure out how it is that Christmas trees are put on the platform, but facial hair is not allowed on the platform

[Sister Alvear]

Originally Posted by JamesGlen

I am trying to figure out how it is that Christmas trees are put on the platform, but facial hair is not allowed on the platform

:high five

[Evang.Benincasa]

Originally Posted by Sister Alvear

:high five

The Alvears sporting beards now?
I grow a beard every evening and shave it off every morning.

[Tithesmeister]

Originally Posted by Sister Alvear

:high five

Sister Alvear,

I’m happy to see you post. I have a question for you about Christmas. It has been suggested (forcefully stated) that we celebrate Christmas on December 25 because we “borrowed” the date from the pagans, and that what we are REALLY doing is participating in idolatry by pretending to celebrate the birth of Christ while actually honoring old man winter, (or something). It’s complicated.

Meanwhile, it occurred to me that y’all being in Brazil, and (at least partially) in the Southern Hemisphere, your winter solstice would fall in our summer. I looked it up (thanks to Elder Google) and sure enough y’all’s winter solstice fell on June 20 this year, while ours in the northern hemisphere is on December 20. (Now, I realize that December 20 is NOT when Christmas is traditionally celebrated but it is evidently close enough for they that wish to fling accusations of idolatry). So it occurred to me that if y’all are celebrating Christmas on December 25, and you believe you are celebrating winter solstice on the sly, then perhaps you should be celebrating Christmas on June 20, instead of December 25.

Please understand, I am Not suggesting that y’all would be so carnal as to celebrate the birth of our Savior or anything like that. But, if there were any of the less spiritual among the Brazilians that would be so carnal as to celebrate and be thankful for the birth of our Savior, and to set aside a day to recognize that birth, would they recognize it in December, or in June.

To further complicate matters, the equator dissects Brazil, meaning that part of the country falls in the northern hemisphere. So theoretically Brazil could celebrate winter solstice (under the guise of Christmas) twice each year. Once north of the equator on December 25, and again south of the equator, in late June.

So, what do y’all do, that are carnal and celebrate?

I appreciate your response.

[Sister Alvear]

Originally Posted by Tithesmeister

Sister Alvear,

I’m happy to see you post. I have a question for you about Christmas. It has been suggested (forcefully stated) that we celebrate Christmas on December 25 because we “borrowed” the date from the pagans, and that what we are REALLY doing is participating in idolatry by pretending to celebrate the birth of Christ while actually honoring old man winter, (or something). It’s complicated.

Meanwhile, it occurred to me that y’all being in Brazil, and (at least partially) in the Southern Hemisphere, your winter solstice would fall in our summer. I looked it up (thanks to Elder Google) and sure enough y’all’s winter solstice fell on June 20 this year, while ours in the northern hemisphere is on December 20. (Now, I realize that December 20 is NOT when Christmas is traditionally celebrated but it is evidently close enough for they that wish to fling accusations of idolatry). So it occurred to me that if y’all are celebrating Christmas on December 25, and you believe you are celebrating winter solstice on the sly, then perhaps you should be celebrating Christmas on June 20, instead of December 25.

Please understand, I am Not suggesting that y’all would be so carnal as to celebrate the birth of our Savior or anything like that. But, if there were any of the less spiritual among the Brazilians that would be so carnal as to celebrate and be thankful for the birth of our Savior, and to set aside a day to recognize that birth, would they recognize it in December, or in June.

To further complicate matters, the equator dissects Brazil, meaning that part of the country falls in the northern hemisphere. So theoretically Brazil could celebrate winter solstice (under the guise of Christmas) twice each year. Once north of the equator on December 25, and again south of the equator, in late June.

So, what do y’all do, that are carnal and celebrate?

I appreciate your response.

It has never been a test of fellowship or friendship either way...It must have been in the 90's here in the northeast where we live so there certainly was no snow...lol... Among our people it is mostly a family day....Brazilians have a midnight meal on the 24th. Personally we saved all during the year to take our kids (the ones here) out to eat on the night of the 24th...

[Evang.Benincasa]

Originally Posted by JamesGlen

I am trying to figure out how it is that Christmas trees are put on the platform, but facial hair is not allowed on the platform

Again, it’s what the pastor and the church family want.
You don’t like it don’t go to churches like that. Better yet, start your own religious get together and show us how it’s done.

[JamesGlen]

Originally Posted by Evang.Benincasa

Again, it’s what the pastor and the church family want.
You don’t like it don’t go to churches like that. Better yet, start your own religious get together and show us how it’s done.

Why can’t you post without being a smart alloc? Others have constantly posted wondering why you are still allowed to post on this forum,(there is a reason for that) and everyone constantly wonders why you are always so rude. PLEASE don’t respond to my threads anymore, and I would gladly do the same for you. There’s much more at stake when it comes to staying or leaving a local church family, than Christmas trees or beards on platforms, and there’s nothing wrong with discussing either topic on a Pentecostal forum, as to why they are or are not acceptable in Pentecostalism.