The Jeremiah Tree

[Sister Alvear]

The real meaning of HIS coming was to bring salvation full and free... when He came a new day dawned...whatever I have I use it to cook for the hungry...It is awful hard to tell someone the story of the greatest love and leave them hungry...
I do not waste what little money I have on endless shopping sprees buying for people that already have about everything...when someone sends Christmas money to me I buy food and cook for the hungry and for those that have no one to share with them.


(that is just me...)

[Digging4Truth]

Originally Posted by edjen01

is this talking about christmas trees....holidays in general....or fighting wars?

Well it is clear that the practice now referred to as the christmas tree was adapted (or "learned") from the heathen.

So, in my opinion, that scripture refers to adapting such practices.

I think it would refer to Beltane/Samhain, Saturnalia, Ostara etc

Now some may consider me "liberal" for this view but I feel that this scripture is speaking to the purity of our worship to God. To me it is a call to keep my worship free from pagan influences.

As has been said many times the clock is of pagan origin, the calender, the names of the days of the week etc. I don't feel that God is commanding us to refuse to allow these things to be a part of our lives but, instead, to ensure that our worship to Him is based upon His instructions and that we not mix practices designed to worship another God in with the worship of the true and living God.

So... beyond things that we actually work into our religion I think the scripture is speaking less to those things.

Now, on the issue of fighting in a war... I feel less and less like this is something that I feel comfortable taking part in as a Christian. Others will feel differently and they will act and move on their own convictions but I don't feel that going to war is something my convictions can agree with.

[Sister Alvear]

and I am off the subject again...

[Digging4Truth]

Originally Posted by Sister Alvear

and I am off the subject again...

I may be too Sister...

When I get several threads going I sometimes lose touch of which one was on what subject.

An age thing probably... on my part.

[Sister Alvear]

I want my worship to be to HIM and HIM alone...

I have a problem in the states if I am not careful because much worship is to status quo...buildings...fancy things....new fads...

We can be what others may term as UC but be lost because our worship is things...we may not wear this or that...but our homes and cars and clothes...show where our heart and treasures really are...
and I don´t think we have to be on food stamps to be saved....however there is a balance...

well, just my thoughts again....

[edjen01]

Originally Posted by Digging4Truth

Well it is clear that the practice now referred to as the christmas tree was adapted (or "learned") from the heathen.

So, in my opinion, that scripture refers to adapting such practices.

I think it would refer to Beltane/Samhain, Saturnalia, Ostara etc

Now some may consider me "liberal" for this view but I feel that this scripture is speaking to the purity of our worship to God. To me it is a call to keep my worship free from pagan influences.

As has been said many times the clock is of pagan origin, the calender, the names of the days of the week etc. I don't feel that God is commanding us to refuse to allow these things to be a part of our lives but, instead, to ensure that our worship to Him is based upon His instructions and that we not mix practices designed to worship another God in with the worship of the true and living God.

So... beyond things that we actually work into our religion I think the scripture is speaking less to those things.

Now, on the issue of fighting in a war... I feel less and less like this is something that I feel comfortable taking part in as a Christian. Others will feel differently and they will act and move on their own convictions but I don't feel that going to war is something my convictions can agree with.

maybe I'm living in a cave...but I don't really know anyone who uses a Christmas tree as part of their worship. Most that I know....have one as a means of celebration....sorta like a b-day cake.

I think if we try to exclude all the things the "heathen" did first as a element of worship....we will have a very limited worship service.

[Digging4Truth]

Originally Posted by edjen01

maybe I'm living in a cave...but I don't really know anyone who uses a Christmas tree as part of their worship. Most that I know....have one as a means of celebration....sorta like a b-day cake.

In my explanation I am not talking about the tree in and of itself.

The tree is only one part of the practice that was adapted. That practice as a whole was christmas.

Surely you would recognize that our churches do, indeed, actively make christmas and easter a part of our their religious activities?

Originally Posted by edjen01

I think if we try to exclude all the things the "heathen" did first as a element of worship....we will have a very limited worship service.

I think we should actively attempt to exclude activities designed for the worship of heather gods from our own worship no matter who limited it would leave our worship services.

Now one has to be fair in these assessments though. If a heathen used a stone in the worship of their god this would not preclude anything made of stone from being in our churches. But if the heathen fastened that stone with a certain symbol then we would do well to not adopt that symbol into our worship.

People wax nonsensical on this subject sometimes and say heathens use cars... should we not use cars. That is faulty reasoning and a discussion fallacy.

[Digging4Truth]

Originally Posted by Sister Alvear

I want my worship to be to HIM and HIM alone...

I have a problem in the states if I am not careful because much worship is to status quo...buildings...fancy things....new fads...

We can be what others may term as UC but be lost because our worship is things...we may not wear this or that...but our homes and cars and clothes...show where our heart and treasures really are...
and I don´t think we have to be on food stamps to be saved....however there is a balance...

well, just my thoughts again....

Indeed... a very well balanced post representing a call to be balanced ourselves.

[edjen01]

Originally Posted by Digging4Truth

In my explanation I am not talking about the tree in and of itself.

The tree is only one part of the practice that was adapted. That practice as a whole was christmas.

Surely you would recognize that our churches do, indeed, actively make christmas and easter a part of our their religious activities?



I think we should actively attempt to exclude activities designed for the worship of heather gods from our own worship no matter who limited it would leave our worship services.

Now one has to be fair in these assessments though. If a heathen used a stone in the worship of their god this would not preclude anything made of stone from being in our churches. But if the heathen fastened that stone with a certain symbol then we would do well to not adopt that symbol into our worship.

People wax nonsensical on this subject sometimes and say heathens use cars... should we not use cars. That is faulty reasoning and a discussion fallacy.

thanks for the explaination....wasn't trying to be difficult...I just wasn't clear.

I guess I view many of these things throught the lense of..."to the pure all things are pure".

[Digging4Truth]

Originally Posted by edjen01

thanks for the explanation....wasn't trying to be difficult...I just wasn't clear.

I guess I view many of these things through the lens of..."to the pure all things are pure".

Yes. That is certainly a consideration.

And, in my thinking, the pure are only pure through our obedience to the word of God as we have no holiness of our own that is better than filthy rags.

But these are things that we all work out with fear and trembling.

In this thread I am expressing my thought processes by which I have come to my own convictions and I feel no need to knock those who do not come to the same conclusions I do.

Also... I did not take your post as "being difficult" The medium of forums leaves a lot to be desired in it's ability to properly portray our true thoughts & attitudes.

Asking questions is much preferred to going with assumptions.