Comments on: Using Symbolism to Teach My Children the True Meaning of Christmas http://www.keeperofthehome.org/2012/12/using-symbolism-to-teach-my-children-the-true-meaning-of-christmas.html Naturally inspired living for homemakers Thu, 20 Jun 2013 04:15:34 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.2 By: susan http://www.keeperofthehome.org/2012/12/using-symbolism-to-teach-my-children-the-true-meaning-of-christmas.html/comment-page-1#comment-102131 susan Fri, 21 Dec 2012 10:59:40 +0000 http://www.keeperofthehome.org/?p=20734#comment-102131 Thanks for sharing this post. I plan on retelling this to my dd. This is beautiful way to talk about Jesus' sacrifice for our sins. Thanks for sharing this post. I plan on retelling this to my dd. This is beautiful way to talk about Jesus' sacrifice for our sins.

]]> By: Katie http://www.keeperofthehome.org/2012/12/using-symbolism-to-teach-my-children-the-true-meaning-of-christmas.html/comment-page-1#comment-102038 Katie Thu, 20 Dec 2012 13:06:39 +0000 http://www.keeperofthehome.org/?p=20734#comment-102038 Great post Beth! One of my favourites of yours that I've read. Great post Beth! One of my favourites of yours that I've read.

]]> By: Katie http://www.keeperofthehome.org/2012/12/using-symbolism-to-teach-my-children-the-true-meaning-of-christmas.html/comment-page-1#comment-102037 Katie Thu, 20 Dec 2012 13:06:08 +0000 http://www.keeperofthehome.org/?p=20734#comment-102037 Alison, I'm not looking to get into a huge debate, but I have heard the argument before that if 'heathens' used something,then we as Christians are not to use it. Does that mean that we are never to sing, dance, act, paint again? Those arts have all been greatly misused. I think of how there are examples of dance in the Bible that are heathen/idolatrous and those that are used in the exuberant/joyful praise of the Lord (dance of Salome vs the dance of King David). By saying that something has been used by 'heathens' and we are to never use it, that downplays the power of the blood of Jesus and His redemptive work on the Cross. Of course, nothing is ever to get in the way of our seeing Jesus first and foremost, but He himself used signs and symbols in His teaching. I won't get into your statement that you "think it's damaging to...place more emphasis on Christ's birth and death at certain times of the year...etc", I would just point out that God did set up the 7 Jewish feasts and that Christ has fulfilled all of them. Perhaps we should celebrate those as Jewish people have done for hundreds of years and thus point the way to the Messiah who came for all. Alison, I'm not looking to get into a huge debate, but I have heard the argument before that if 'heathens' used something,then we as Christians are not to use it. Does that mean that we are never to sing, dance, act, paint again? Those arts have all been greatly misused. I think of how there are examples of dance in the Bible that are heathen/idolatrous and those that are used in the exuberant/joyful praise of the Lord (dance of Salome vs the dance of King David). By saying that something has been used by 'heathens' and we are to never use it, that downplays the power of the blood of Jesus and His redemptive work on the Cross. Of course, nothing is ever to get in the way of our seeing Jesus first and foremost, but He himself used signs and symbols in His teaching. I won't get into your statement that you "think it's damaging to...place more emphasis on Christ's birth and death at certain times of the year...etc", I would just point out that God did set up the 7 Jewish feasts and that Christ has fulfilled all of them. Perhaps we should celebrate those as Jewish people have done for hundreds of years and thus point the way to the Messiah who came for all.

]]> By: Alison http://www.keeperofthehome.org/2012/12/using-symbolism-to-teach-my-children-the-true-meaning-of-christmas.html/comment-page-1#comment-102002 Alison Thu, 20 Dec 2012 03:19:43 +0000 http://www.keeperofthehome.org/?p=20734#comment-102002 Thanks for thinking about my comment and replying. I did not mean to suggest that you worship the tree or the lights. I could tell that from your post. It is clear that you want to use these as teaching tools and symbols that point to God. I do not think I misunderstand you. I agree that hanging a cross on your wall or having a Bible verse on your nightstand could be a beneficial symbol to help remind us of what Christ has done for us. But why would you decorate an evergreen tree when it is clearly denounced in the Bible (Have you read Jeremiah 10:2-4?)? How is that different from putting a golden calf on display in your home and saying it symbolizes God's strength and provision for us? You wouldn't! If you felt you needed a symbol, you wouldn't pick something that the pagans used to worship their gods! I know that historians do not always agree on the origins of the Christmas tree but when the Bible says "Learn not the way of the heathen... For the customs of the people are vain: for one cutteth a tree out of the forest... They deck it with silver and with gold; they fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it move not. (Jer 10:2-4)" I cannot deny that the Word of Truth directly identifies this as heathen and VAIN. Why would we then choose this symbol to glorify him? If our true intent is to celebrate the gift of grace and eternal life only made possible by the blood of Jesus Christ, why would we hide that behind symbols of evergreen trees, lights, and angels. And if the tree and lights really are helpful symbols for you and your children, why don't you leave them up all year round? I think it's damaging to the faith of our children to place more emphasis on Christ's birth and death at certain times of the year. God never instructs us to do this in the Bible. Why do we do it? I would challenge "thinking Christians," like you and I, to question why we are so ready to conform to this pattern of the world and so offended at the thought of Christmas with no tree! Thanks for thinking about my comment and replying. I did not mean to suggest that you worship the tree or the lights. I could tell that from your post. It is clear that you want to use these as teaching tools and symbols that point to God. I do not think I misunderstand you.

I agree that hanging a cross on your wall or having a Bible verse on your nightstand could be a beneficial symbol to help remind us of what Christ has done for us. But why would you decorate an evergreen tree when it is clearly denounced in the Bible (Have you read Jeremiah 10:2-4?)? How is that different from putting a golden calf on display in your home and saying it symbolizes God's strength and provision for us? You wouldn't! If you felt you needed a symbol, you wouldn't pick something that the pagans used to worship their gods! I know that historians do not always agree on the origins of the Christmas tree but when the Bible says "Learn not the way of the heathen... For the customs of the people are vain: for one cutteth a tree out of the forest... They deck it with silver and with gold; they fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it move not. (Jer 10:2-4)" I cannot deny that the Word of Truth directly identifies this as heathen and VAIN. Why would we then choose this symbol to glorify him?

If our true intent is to celebrate the gift of grace and eternal life only made possible by the blood of Jesus Christ, why would we hide that behind symbols of evergreen trees, lights, and angels. And if the tree and lights really are helpful symbols for you and your children, why don't you leave them up all year round? I think it's damaging to the faith of our children to place more emphasis on Christ's birth and death at certain times of the year. God never instructs us to do this in the Bible. Why do we do it?

I would challenge "thinking Christians," like you and I, to question why we are so ready to conform to this pattern of the world and so offended at the thought of Christmas with no tree!

]]> By: Beth Ricci http://www.keeperofthehome.org/2012/12/using-symbolism-to-teach-my-children-the-true-meaning-of-christmas.html/comment-page-1#comment-101963 Beth Ricci Wed, 19 Dec 2012 17:03:52 +0000 http://www.keeperofthehome.org/?p=20734#comment-101963 Stacy, THANK-YOU for making *this* my first comment ever on a guest post here at KOTH... I am honoured by your words, and I am so glad you liked it! :) Stacy, THANK-YOU for making *this* my first comment ever on a guest post here at KOTH... I am honoured by your words, and I am so glad you liked it! :)

]]> By: Beth Ricci http://www.keeperofthehome.org/2012/12/using-symbolism-to-teach-my-children-the-true-meaning-of-christmas.html/comment-page-1#comment-101962 Beth Ricci Wed, 19 Dec 2012 17:02:44 +0000 http://www.keeperofthehome.org/?p=20734#comment-101962 Glad you enjoyed it, Elizabeth! Glad you enjoyed it, Elizabeth!

]]> By: Beth Ricci http://www.keeperofthehome.org/2012/12/using-symbolism-to-teach-my-children-the-true-meaning-of-christmas.html/comment-page-1#comment-101961 Beth Ricci Wed, 19 Dec 2012 17:02:09 +0000 http://www.keeperofthehome.org/?p=20734#comment-101961 Thank-you Christina! Your words are too kind :) Merry Christmas to you as well! Thank-you Christina! Your words are too kind :) Merry Christmas to you as well!

]]> By: Beth Ricci http://www.keeperofthehome.org/2012/12/using-symbolism-to-teach-my-children-the-true-meaning-of-christmas.html/comment-page-1#comment-101960 Beth Ricci Wed, 19 Dec 2012 17:01:31 +0000 http://www.keeperofthehome.org/?p=20734#comment-101960 I love advent too, especially now as an adult. I love advent too, especially now as an adult.

]]> By: Beth Ricci http://www.keeperofthehome.org/2012/12/using-symbolism-to-teach-my-children-the-true-meaning-of-christmas.html/comment-page-1#comment-101959 Beth Ricci Wed, 19 Dec 2012 17:00:00 +0000 http://www.keeperofthehome.org/?p=20734#comment-101959 Hi Alison, thanks for taking the time to comment. I want to just address a few things that I think you misunderstood in my post. 1) I think you are not quite understanding the meaning of "symbolism". It has nothing to do with icons and idolatry. It is simply the idea or meaning behind an object or practice. A stop sign is an example of a symbol. We all know what that red octagon means because it is a symbol in our culture. Even without the word on it, we'd all still recognize it. Another example is the sign on the door of a public washroom - a stick figure male and female. These are symbols. Using a Christmas tree to symbolize the resurrected Christ does not mean we are engaging in idolatry of trees any more than using a washroom male/female sign is engaging in idolatry of toilets. 2) Nowhere did I suggest worshipping the tree, the angels, the bells, the lights, or anything but God himself. I apologize if that was unclear! Thanks for sharing your thoughts. Hi Alison, thanks for taking the time to comment. I want to just address a few things that I think you misunderstood in my post.

1) I think you are not quite understanding the meaning of "symbolism". It has nothing to do with icons and idolatry. It is simply the idea or meaning behind an object or practice. A stop sign is an example of a symbol. We all know what that red octagon means because it is a symbol in our culture. Even without the word on it, we'd all still recognize it. Another example is the sign on the door of a public washroom - a stick figure male and female. These are symbols. Using a Christmas tree to symbolize the resurrected Christ does not mean we are engaging in idolatry of trees any more than using a washroom male/female sign is engaging in idolatry of toilets.

2) Nowhere did I suggest worshipping the tree, the angels, the bells, the lights, or anything but God himself. I apologize if that was unclear!

Thanks for sharing your thoughts.

]]> By: Beth Ricci http://www.keeperofthehome.org/2012/12/using-symbolism-to-teach-my-children-the-true-meaning-of-christmas.html/comment-page-1#comment-101958 Beth Ricci Wed, 19 Dec 2012 16:51:35 +0000 http://www.keeperofthehome.org/?p=20734#comment-101958 Thanks Stacy, glad you enjoyed it! Thanks Stacy, glad you enjoyed it!

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