We're Not Putting X-Mas Trees Up!

[Evang.Benincasa]

Deu 12:1-4

"These are the statutes and judgments, which ye shall observe to do in the land, which the LORD God of thy fathers giveth thee to possess it, all the days that ye live upon the earth.Ye shall UTTERLY DESTROY all the places, wherein the nations which ye shall possess served their gods, upon the high mountains, and upon the hills, and UNDER EVERY GREEN TREE: And ye shall overthrow their altars, and break their pillars, and burn their GROVES with fire; and ye shall hew down the graven images of their gods, and destroy the names of them out of that place. Ye shall not do so unto the LORD your God."

1st Kings 14:22-24

"And Judah did EVIL in the sight of the LORD, and they PROVOKED him to jealousy with their sins which they had committed, above all that their fathers had done. For they also built them high places, and images, and GROVES, on every high hill, and UNDER EVERY GREEN TREE. And there were also sodomites in the land: and they did according to all the abominations of the nations which the LORD cast out before the children of Israel."

2nd Kings 16:1-4

"In the seventeenth year of Pekah the son of Remaliah Ahaz the son of Jotham king of Judah began to reign. Twenty years old was Ahaz when he began to reign, and reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem, and did not that which was right in the sight of the LORD his God, like David his father. But he walked in the way of the kings of Israel, yea, and made his son to pass through the fire, according to the abominations of the heathen, whom the LORD cast out from before the children of Israel. And he sacrificed and burnt incense in the high places, and on the hills, and UNDER EVERY GREEN TREE.

2nd Kings 17:7

"For so it was, that the children of Israel had sinned against the LORD their God, which had brought them up out of the land of Egypt, from under the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and had feared other gods, And walked in the statutes of the heathen, whom the LORD cast out from before the children of Israel, and of the kings of Israel, which they had made. And the children of Israel did secretly those things that were not right against the LORD their God, and they built them high places in all their cities, from the tower of the watchmen to the fenced city. And they set them up images and GROVES in every high hill, and UNDER EVERY GREEN TREE: And there they burnt incense in all the high places, as did the heathen whom the LORD carried away before them; and wrought wicked things to provoke the LORD to anger: For they served idols, whereof the LORD had said unto them, Ye shall not do this thing."

Jer 10:1-2

"Hear ye the word which the LORD speaketh unto you, O house of Israel: Thus saith the LORD, LEARN NOT THE WAY OF THE HEATHEN, and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; for the heathen are dismayed at them."

The Druids used the word "treow" for "tree," the also used the same word for the word "TRUTH." In ancient folklore and mythology the tree takes a central role. 4,000 years ago the ancients regarded the "oak" as a powerful symbol because of it's strength, its height, its large branch system, and the depth of its root system. In the time of the Old Testament the ancient middle eastern people regarded trees to have special powers, and that the tree themselves represented gods. As the Nile was looked upon as a god, trees also held that position.

In the cult of the ancient fertility goddess Cybele, or Great Mother (Magnae Matri). The Great Mother's consort was Attis, whose SACRED SYMBOL was a PINE TREE. A Roman Catholic named Boniface, supposedly chopped down a Druid's decorated oak tree, where they would have their sacrifices, and rituals. As the story goes, the Catholic missionary, Boniface cut down the oak and when it fell it split open.

The Druids said that because Boniface had done this, it would be he who would fall dead. As time past Boniface didn't die, but the oak that was cut down, and a fir tree spring up from between the oak's split trunk. it is said that Boniface took this as a sign, of his Christian faith, and instructed the people and the Druids that the were to use the evergreen to symbolize Christ.

Ancient tree worship is found in every ancient religion, across the planet.

It's still survives to this day.

In Jesus name

Brother Benincasa

www.OnTimeJournal.com

[Michael Phelps]

Originally Posted by Evang.Benincasa

Deu 12:1-4

"These are the statutes and judgments, which ye shall observe to do in the land, which the LORD God of thy fathers giveth thee to possess it, all the days that ye live upon the earth.Ye shall UTTERLY DESTROY all the places, wherein the nations which ye shall possess served their gods, upon the high mountains, and upon the hills, and UNDER EVERY GREEN TREE: And ye shall overthrow their altars, and break their pillars, and burn their GROVES with fire; and ye shall hew down the graven images of their gods, and destroy the names of them out of that place. Ye shall not do so unto the LORD your God."

1st Kings 14:22-24

"And Judah did EVIL in the sight of the LORD, and they PROVOKED him to jealousy with their sins which they had committed, above all that their fathers had done. For they also built them high places, and images, and GROVES, on every high hill, and UNDER EVERY GREEN TREE. And there were also sodomites in the land: and they did according to all the abominations of the nations which the LORD cast out before the children of Israel."

2nd Kings 16:1-4

"In the seventeenth year of Pekah the son of Remaliah Ahaz the son of Jotham king of Judah began to reign. Twenty years old was Ahaz when he began to reign, and reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem, and did not that which was right in the sight of the LORD his God, like David his father. But he walked in the way of the kings of Israel, yea, and made his son to pass through the fire, according to the abominations of the heathen, whom the LORD cast out from before the children of Israel. And he sacrificed and burnt incense in the high places, and on the hills, and UNDER EVERY GREEN TREE.

2nd Kings 17:7

"For so it was, that the children of Israel had sinned against the LORD their God, which had brought them up out of the land of Egypt, from under the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and had feared other gods, And walked in the statutes of the heathen, whom the LORD cast out from before the children of Israel, and of the kings of Israel, which they had made. And the children of Israel did secretly those things that were not right against the LORD their God, and they built them high places in all their cities, from the tower of the watchmen to the fenced city. And they set them up images and GROVES in every high hill, and UNDER EVERY GREEN TREE: And there they burnt incense in all the high places, as did the heathen whom the LORD carried away before them; and wrought wicked things to provoke the LORD to anger: For they served idols, whereof the LORD had said unto them, Ye shall not do this thing."

Jer 10:1-2

"Hear ye the word which the LORD speaketh unto you, O house of Israel: Thus saith the LORD, LEARN NOT THE WAY OF THE HEATHEN, and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; for the heathen are dismayed at them."

The Druids used the word "treow" for "tree," the also used the same word for the word "TRUTH." In ancient folklore and mythology the tree takes a central role. 4,000 years ago the ancients regarded the "oak" as a powerful symbol because of it's strength, its height, its large branch system, and the depth of its root system. In the time of the Old Testament the ancient middle eastern people regarded trees to have special powers, and that the tree themselves represented gods. As the Nile was looked upon as a god, trees also held that position.

In the cult of the ancient fertility goddess Cybele, or Great Mother (Magnae Matri). The Great Mother's consort was Attis, whose SACRED SYMBOL was a PINE TREE. A Roman Catholic named Boniface, supposedly chopped down a Druid's decorated oak tree, where they would have their sacrifices, and rituals. As the story goes, the Catholic missionary, Boniface cut down the oak and when it fell it split open.

The Druids said that because Boniface had done this, it would be he who would fall dead. As time past Boniface didn't die, but the oak that was cut down, and a fir tree spring up from between the oak's split trunk. it is said that Boniface took this as a sign, of his Christian faith, and instructed the people and the Druids that the were to use the evergreen to symbolize Christ.

Ancient tree worship is found in every ancient religion, across the planet.

It's still survives to this day.

In Jesus name

Brother Benincasa

www.OnTimeJournal.com

The day that I begin to worship my Christmas tree is the day the above referenced scriptures may apply.

Until then, there is no connection in my opinion.

[Evang.Benincasa]

Originally Posted by Michael Phelps

The day that I begin to worship my Christmas tree is the day the above referenced scriptures may apply.

Until then, there is no connection in my opinion.

Brother Phelps if you were a secular person, I would agree, but you take the tree to be part and parcel of your xmas celebration of the birth of Christ.

That's what's so mind boggling about this, people claim not to worship the Dagon bush, but can't do the xmas thing without the big green jewelry hanger.

In Jesus name

Brother Benincasa

www.OnTimeJournal.com

[Michael Phelps]

Originally Posted by Evang.Benincasa

Brother Phelps if you were a secular person, I would agree, but you take the tree to be part and parcel of your xmas celebration of the birth of Christ.

That's what's so mind boggling about this, people claim not to worship the Dagon bush, but can't do the xmas thing without the big green jewelry hanger.

In Jesus name

Brother Benincasa

www.OnTimeJournal.com

Brother, if a person wants to preach against something, anything, there is some obscure scripture reference SOMEWHERE in the Bible that they can interpret to back up their belief.

I just think it's ridiculous to try and preach against Christmas trees based on the scriptures you listed.

No offense, just my humble opinion.

[rgcraig]

Originally Posted by Michael Phelps

Brother, if a person wants to preach against something, anything, there is some obscure scripture reference SOMEWHERE in the Bible that they can interpret to back up their belief.

I just think it's ridiculous to try and preach against Christmas trees based on the scriptures you listed.

No offense, just my humble opinion.

Mike, I believe we're okay unless your family room is a grove in every high hill!

[Evang.Benincasa]

Originally Posted by Michael Phelps

Brother, if a person wants to preach against something, anything, there is some obscure scripture reference SOMEWHERE in the Bible that they can interpret to back up their belief.

I just think it's ridiculous to try and preach against Christmas trees based on the scriptures you listed.

No offense, just my humble opinion.

Brother Phelps you don't have any scripture for the entire practice for xmas.
The celebration is made up of rituals from pagans dating past the first century AD. Baptized by the Eastern and Western Churches and adopted by certian Christians there after.

Brother Phelps I'm not offended, I don't do the Popish festival.

I am glad that you are not offended.

In Jesus name

Brother Benincasa

www.OnTimeJournal.com

[IAintMovin]

Originally Posted by Evang.Benincasa

Brother Phelps you don't have any scripture for the entire practice for xmas.
The celebration is made up of rituals from pagans dating past the first century AD. Baptized by the Eastern and Western Churches and adopted by certian Christians there after.

Brother Phelps I'm not offended, I don't do the Popish festival.

I am glad that you are not offended.

In Jesus name

Brother Benincasa

www.OnTimeJournal.com

Hey Bennie.......that tie you wear in all your pics.........pagan ritual........better get that nasty thing off.....plus the design for you suit was probably done my a homosexual.....better find something else to wear.....and that hairstyle......want me to go on and on...........


you guys CRACK ME UP.........ROFL.........:ursof unny

[Evang.Benincasa]

Originally Posted by IAintMovin

Hey Bennie.......that tie you wear in all your pics.........pagan ritual....

better get that nasty thing off.....plus the design for you suit was probably done my a homosexual.....better find something else to wear.....and that hairstyle......want me to go on and on...........


you guys CRACK ME UP.........ROFL.........:ursof unny

Hairstlye? You bored tonight Elder?

[Michael Phelps]

Originally Posted by Evang.Benincasa

Brother Phelps you don't have any scripture for the entire practice for xmas.
The celebration is made up of rituals from pagans dating past the first century AD. Baptized by the Eastern and Western Churches and adopted by certian Christians there after.

Brother Phelps I'm not offended, I don't do the Popish festival.

I am glad that you are not offended.

In Jesus name

Brother Benincasa

www.OnTimeJournal.com

Well, by this reasoning, Brother, there are a lot of things that we don't have scripture FOR, such as two services on Sunday, driving a car, surfing the internet, etc.

But, we don't have scripture AGAINST, either.

But, we're just not consistent.

Let me give you an example - the UPC people and many UC's use the scripture "I will set no evil thing before my eyes" to support their stance against television, when the entire time they are spending hours a day on the internet!!!!!

THat's my point - if you have a conviction against something, just say "I'm convicted of doing this thing" and leave it at that, don't try to wrap misinterpreted scripture around your reasoing to imply that God is somehow enforcing this conviction on everyone!

And, I'm glad you're not offended either, I enjoy our conversations!

[Evang.Benincasa]

Originally Posted by Michael Phelps

Well, by this reasoning, Brother, there are a lot of things that we don't have scripture FOR, such as two services on Sunday, driving a car, surfing the internet, etc.

Brother Phelps, we get together almost every day, and Sunday takes all day, then there is Monday, Wednesday, Thursday. How about cars? Where do people celebrate the birth of Christ, or Christ's baptism, Christ ascension, with a car? What holiday do we celebrate using the Internet? The xmas doesn't exist only in the minds of the Catholics who handed it down to you, and you adopted it because it is part of your culture. It's the old frog in the kettle. If you throw the frog in fast while the water is at boil, he might jump as soon as he hits the water, but if you raise the temperature nice and slow, by the time the water is at boil, he is belly up dead.

Originally Posted by Michael Phelps

But, we don't have scripture AGAINST, either.

But, we're just not consistent.

Let me give you an example - the UPC people and many UC's use the scripture "I will set no evil thing before my eyes" to support their stance against television, when the entire time they are spending hours a day on the internet!!!!!

So what are they looking at?

Originally Posted by Michael Phelps

THat's my point - if you have a conviction against something, just say "I'm convicted of doing this thing" and leave it at that, don't try to wrap misinterpreted scripture around your reasoing to imply that God is somehow enforcing this conviction on everyone!

Misinterpreted scripure? Brother Phelps, the scriptures I offered were about how the ancients used TREE worship, they used groves next to their altars.
Brother Phelps, is the xmas tree Christian? Yes or no? Would the early apostles accepted the xmas tree with it's decorations? Yes, or no?

It is just that simple Brother Phelps, you want a tree, decortions, etc, have at it. You just cannot say that Jesus does back flips when you practice it.
The xmas has nothing to do with Him and never will. It doesn't move Christ no matter how much you jump up and down and cut yourselves with knives and lancets, till the blood runs red. The celebration just has nothing to do with Jesus Christ.

Originally Posted by Michael Phelps

And, I'm glad you're not offended either, I enjoy our conversations!

I am very glad Brother Phelps, I really appreciated our conversations over the years.

In Jesus name

Brother Benincasa

www.OnTimeJournal.com