Christmas Trees on Pentecostal platforms

[KeptByTheWord]

Originally Posted by JamesGlen

I have no interest at all in being on a Pentecostal platform. I am just trying to understand how it is, that an adorned tree that is called a Jesus tree(Christ tree or Jesus Christ’ death tree) is an acceptable practice to be fastened in an area of a church bldg that is considered by many as a holy place set aside for the worship of our God. Some believe it is like desecrating the temple or holy place set aside for God, Because it is claimed/preached as such(Gods house with the platform and alter area being the most “holy place” because that is where people commit/encounter/meet w God. Is that generally the way it is thought of across the board in Pentecost, “House of God set apart for worship to God, sanctuary being the most holy place, and the platform and alter area maybe being considered the holy of holies area? If not what is the breakdown? FTR I don’t see a church bldg that way, but I’m discussing it because many do.

So with that said, why are decorated and adorned trees called Jesus trees set up there?
In the OT food that was once offered to idols, was not allowed to be eaten by Gods people. Yet nowadays trees adorned and fastened upright and called by Jesus name above every name, are set up on display, and surely even gifts placed under them. That seems to desecrate/defile the Saviours name “Jesus” above all names, by calling an adorned tree by his name. He’s not a tree. He’s our Saviour, THE annointed One.
So my question is, what idoes an adorned tree called a Christ tree being set up for display have to do with our Saviour Jesus Christ, and why would it be set up on display in a special holy place dedicated unto worship of that Saviour alone?

Benincasa, I read the first sentence of your response post and stopped there. I will not read your responses. You are a rude smart alloc, lacking the fruit of the Spirit, and an embarrassment to the forum regarding Christian character, as has been pointed out time and time again by many other posters in the past. You don’t quite go far enough to get banned, because they don’t ban people for talking to others like they are trash. Again I ask, please abstain from posting on my threads, and I will gladly do the same for you.

There are so many "idolatrous" practices within every.single.church.

The days of the week, the months of the year, all our holidays... everything our country is founded upon, could somehow be traced back to an idolatrous practice. It is almost impossible to root it out. Talk about the "high places". Yes, we've got them, everywhere.

I don't think you will find a single church anywhere that doesn't have some form or function in their midst that could be traced back to some idolatrous practice.

[Evang.Benincasa]

Originally Posted by KeptByTheWord

There are so many "idolatrous" practices within every.single.church.

The days of the week, the months of the year, all our holidays... everything our country is founded upon, could somehow be traced back to an idolatrous practice. It is almost impossible to root it out. Talk about the "high places". Yes, we've got them, everywhere.

I don't think you will find a single church anywhere that doesn't have some form or function in their midst that could be traced back to some idolatrous practice.

Cheesy Corn Casserole?

[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...

[KeptByTheWord]

Originally Posted by Evang.Benincasa

Cheesy Corn Casserole?

Yes let's not forget those loaves n' fish potlucks, they're definitely sent from heaven for us to feed upon!

[Evang.Benincasa]

Originally Posted by KeptByTheWord

Yes let's not forget those loaves n' fish potlucks, they're definitely sent from heaven for us to feed upon!

Amen, I know they had red velvet cake at the last supper.

[LOVE JESUS]

Originally Posted by Evang.Benincasa

God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

VERY true but I was referring to the love among the posters.

[Evang.Benincasa]

Originally Posted by LOVE JESUS

VERY true but I was referring to the love among the posters.

That's what I meant as well.

[votivesoul]

James,

If there are legitimate problems in a church, and nothing is being done about them, there are usually only two possible reasons:

1.) Ignorance
2.) Hypocrisy

The people don't know there are problems and so, never deduce that ought should be done.

Or, the people know things are not right, and are keeping things in the wrong on purpose.

You have to decide which is the case in your case, and then, what you might do about either/or.

If this was your church assembly you were talking about, it clearly bothers you enough to reach out to a bunch of strangers on a forum to gather opinions. But has it bothered you enough to speak to your church about it?

If the placing of a Christmas tree in the building the church uses is a sin in your eyes, or if demanding men be clean shaven to minister from the platform is a sin in your eyes, if you can thicken your skin for a moment and relax regarding Evangelist Benincasa for a moment, you'd realize that he is right.

You're either going to have to say nothing and live with that, if you can.

Or, you're going to have to step up, man up, and go be an adult and have an adult conversation with the leadership and get the skinny on what's going on, and what if anything, they are willing to do to make changes.

Or, you can find yourself a new assembly.

Listen, not a single one of those three choices is easy. They are all fraught with consequences, some potentially worse for you than others. Which one is right? Well, that's up to you and the Lord. But unless and until you make a choice on one of them, you aren't going to get the answers you really want, and you certainly won't receive the peace you really need.

[Tithesmeister]

Originally Posted by Evang.Benincasa

There is a huge Apostolic Jesus name church which has a amazingly large golden angel holding a trumpet. This item is a fixed smack dab in the middle of the platform.

EB, you keep referring to this angel. Are you serious?

Is this something you’ve seen?

Or did you only hear about it?

Where’s da angel of which you speak?

In an apostolic church? Scandalous!!

[Tithesmeister]

Originally Posted by Sister Alvear

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...

Sounds nice. I’m always up for a feast.

But I do hope y’all didn’t have such a nice family dinner NORTH of the equator, because, from what I been hearing that would constitute idolatry. I don’t mean to rain on your parade, but it may be safer to just fast the month of December, so you wouldn’t inadvertently be guilty of celebrating some god you’ve never heard of and maybe not be capable of even pronouncing his name. Y’all be careful now.