Restoring 'Christmas'

Restoring 'Christmas' -- Lowe's Axes 'Holiday Trees' CampaignBy Mary Rettig and Jody BrownNovember 30, 2005(AgapePress) - The president of a Mississippi-based pro-family group says he's pleased that Lowe's home improvement stores have stopped selling "holiday trees" and have changed to offering "Christmas trees."According to the American Family Association (AFA), several major retailers have joined in a politically correct "push to ban" the use of the term "Christmas" in their advertising and in-store promotions. Included in that list, says AFA, are such major outlets as Kmart, Sears, Target, Wal-Mart, and Walgreens. Last week, the pro-family group brought to the attention of the public that another retailer -- this time the home improvement retailer Lowe's -- appeared to have jumped on the bandwagon as well. AFA reported that instead of selling "Christmas trees," Lowe's was offering fresh-cut "holiday trees." (See earlier story)Following that revelation, "thousands of AFA supporters contacted Lowe's to express their displeasure," states an AFA press release -- resulting in the retailer announcing it was going to refer to all its trees as Christmas trees "to ensure consistency of our message and to avoid confusion among our customers." In addition, Lowe's said it had removed a "Holiday Trees" banner from their storefronts.Why make such a big deal about the advertising phraseology employed by retailers? AFA president Tim Wildmon responds. Tim Wildmon "The secularization of Christmas is a serious problem, especially in the retail business today," Wildmon says. "These big corporations are wanting to make money off people at Christmastime for celebrating Christmas, but they want to call it a 'holiday season' -- they don't want to identify it as Christmas because that might offend one or two percent of the American public."And since retailers are unable to remove "Christ" from "Christmas," says the AFA president, many of are simply trying to do away with Christmas. Such "anti-Christian bias," he adds, does not bode well with consumers."Companies who choose to abandon the national observance of Christmas are finding that Americans are not afraid to speak out with their pocketbooks," he says. Last year the pro-family group called for a boycott of Federated Stores because the retailer had banned "Merry Christmas" in its advertising. But this year, "they are using 'Merry Christmas,'" notes Wildmon.AFA also reports that more than 400,000 individuals have signed an online petition to stop retailers' ban on the use of "Christmas." The AFA leader says while this petition, which is being sent to retailers, likely will have no effect on company policies this year, it could affect things next year.As for the Lowe's announcement, Wildmon offers kudos, saying it is "good to know Lowe's is a company that listens to their customers," That quality, he says, is a "rarity in today's politically correct retail market."Source

i've seen adverts for some shows in which fox news hosts like bill o'riley and so on are declaring war on people who are at war with Christmas. i say that there is no connection between, santa claus, so called "christmas trees", reindeer or any of this other foolishness with the birth of Christ. Christ's birthday is celebrated on the 25th of december because Constantine decreed it. i'm not sure when exactly Christ was born but i've heard t said that it was earlier in the year. we could do better without all the pomp and fanfare which comes with this season. don't get me wrong it's a blessing to spend time with family but it would be better if we did so in all reverence to Christ without the pagentry.

Was about to say, no matter if a tree is called a 'holiday-tree' or 'Christmas-tree' or whatever it has nothing to do with Christ, not having any relation to Him at all.Alto I see no wrong in having a tree in our house, decorated, etc. I do oppose Santa Claus.A nice song which I heared from a brother which also resides on this forum has this lyrics:Last time I heard about it He didn't come in a Santa outfitSanta Clause is dead!Last time I heard about it He didn't rise in an easter outfitThe easter bunny is dead!Christmas is when I celebrate Jesus' birthEaster's when I celebrate Jesus' resurrectionJesus is alive!Amen! :-)

Hi IRONMAN...I agree with you. The roots of "Christmas" predate the birth of Christ -- and are decidely pagan in origin. However, most of vocal opposition concerns the attempt to remove all references of Christianity away from public expression. There used to be "conspiracy theories" about Hollywood and wealthy retailers purposely attempting to secularize holidays such as "Christmas" and "Thanksgiving" because many of those leaders did not consider themselves "Christians." I tend to believe that these attempts were more economic in purpose.Remember, the modern conception of "Santa Claus" is relatively new. Even the appearance was greatly influenced by early 20th century advertising from Coca-Cola -- where it painted Santa's suit almost completely red. The purpose, according to a book concerning the history of Coca-Cola, was to have viewers associate the warm, happy feelings of Christmas with a bottle of Coca-Cola.This is common with alot of holidays. From many of their inceptions, there were almost completely secular economic reasons for their celebration. Even Christmas began as an attempt to "bridge the gap" between traditional paganism and the newly "christened" Holy Roman Empire. Of course, while I recognize the pagan origins of such holidays, I still do not want to see the name of Christ banned or legislated out of them. I even wrote to Wal-Mart concerning the issue. I told them that I would not shop at a store that was afraid of offending non-Christians by saying such things as "Happy Christmas" or "God bless you." I also told them that I would not be offended if I were told, "Happy Chanukah!" I told them that I felt that Sam Walton would have been displeased by such secularized corporate commercialism. Wal-Mart wrote me back an apology. At the end of their note, they wrote, "God bless you!" :-)

bro Chrisi guess we agree on the economic designs of secularizing holidays such as Christmas and so on.This is common with alot of holidays. From many of their inceptions, there were almost completely secular economic reasons for their celebration. Even Christmas began as an attempt to "bridge the gap" between traditional paganism and the newly "christened" Holy Roman Empire.Of course, while I recognize the pagan origins of such holidays, I still do not want to see the name of Christ banned or legislated out of them.this disturbs me though. if Christmas as we know it came from an attempt to reconcile/bridge the gap or somehow unify Christianity and paganism why should we continue to all the name of Christ to be associated with such things? does this not blaspheme His very name?what fellowship does Chirst have with paganism? joining together Christ and one of the things He came to free us from? How can we in good conscience sit back and allow the saviour to be in any way associated with what He (and what we too should be) is at war with? How does the Lord God in heaven feel about this? :-( if Christ's name was removed from all this pagentry would it somehow detract from our faith? if it does then we have no faith. it should increase our faith because it is a step on the journey to return to out true N.T. roots as the Holy Spirit laid down through the apostles. our brethren from the days when Christ ascended to heaven suffered death and all manor of violence for preaching the true gospel in faith. should we not strive to represent Christ as they did since they were in obedience to God instruction in those days?not meaning to rant but the Lord has been quickenning me as to how far the church is off the mark in terms of sturcture, conduct and how much of what we value as orthodox/tradition and practise is really of pagan or Greco-Roman origin rather than N.T. doctrine and practice. bro it's scary...but the Lord will correct it, amid all the grief i feel about these things, that is my comfort.Lord set us right with you by any means necessary.AMEN.

My wife and I chose to raise our children knowing the truth. Santa is purely fiction ~> Jesus Christ is reality. If we were to lie about Santa then why should they believe us about Christ?There is nothing wrong with festive ornaments and decoration; however, it has nothing to do with Christ. Many Christians also teach obscure stories about the Nativity as well. Such as the place where Christ was born was not a barn but a cave. And the wise men did not arrive till much later. And so on! Most pagan holidays were "Christianized" by the institutional church system. Why is this so? There is nothing to be restored in my opinion than the truth about who Christ is ~> God in the flesh.

Even though some holidays may have been pagan, can they not be changed, much as we were? What was once nothing good can become a tool for the Lord, can't it? I think that there's a good thing in Christmas- it's known for its love and giving atmosphere (once you get past black friday, etc.) Can we use it as such?

Even though some holidays may have been pagan, can they not be changed, much as we were? What was once nothing good can become a tool for the Lord, can't it? I think that there's a good thing in Christmas- it's known for its love and giving atmosphere (once you get past black friday, etc.) Can we use it as such?Its not known for Christ. Even tho its known for 'love' and 'giving atmosphere'.Well apart from that, its a free day (even 2 for us Dutchies) which you can spend with family or friends.What makes this day so special that countries who are in war 'lay off arms' for a day?

Clowstruth while I agree that followers of Christ should use every opportunity to glorify our Lord there is nothing in scripture that would indicate the need for us to change earthly things into something that looks like God ordained it. There is nothing wrong with being festive and celebratory; however, it pushes it when we followers of Christ force the issue of these Holidays having some kind of spiritual meaning when they were never intended as such. There is a big difference between the agent of change being the Holy Spirit as we were and the agent of change being man for his own pleasure. God creates the tools that He uses. Man does not. Unfortunately, man is busily creating all sorts of tools and labeling them "evangelism."

Article about Christ being bornYeshua Hamishia or Jesus Christ. How can we restore something that was not even christian in the first place. I still think it is right to celebrate christmas. This is just an interesting article from a Jewish perspective!!

Interesting Dom!

that places Christ's birth in September of October rather than December...although to most it doesn't seem like a big deal, i feel it is though. i don't think scripture calls for us to celebrate the birth of Christ, we should celebrate the death of Christ in the celebration of the last supper. it makes me seek the Lord on all this pagentry we call Christmas, what does He feel about it?

Hi Warrior4Jah, in regards to your comments that you see no wrong in having a 'christmas tree', I thought it could be helpfull to see what God says on the subject, and He is quite clear.

Jer 10:1 Hear ye the word which the LORD speaketh unto you, O house of Israel: Jer 10:2 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. Jer 10:3 For the customs of the people are vain: for one cutteth a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman, with the axe. Jer 10:4 They deck it with silver and with gold; they fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it move not.ote]God Bless,Nath.

Hello Mr. Nath,We have touched on this in the past, try a search on Christmas for the short term am hoping to gather these all together under one heading, (thoughts on Christmas). As it relates to this though, what is the context there? Seems to have much more bearing elsewhere than what is happening in this day and age.It goes on to say;Jer 10:5 They are upright as the palm tree, but speak not: they must needs be borne, because they cannot go. Be not afraid of them; for they cannot do evil, neither also is it in them to do good. Jer 10:6 Forasmuch as there is none like unto thee, O LORD; thou art great, and thy name is great in might. Jer 10:7 Who would not fear thee, O King of nations? for to thee doth it appertain: forasmuch as among all the wise men of the nations, and in all their kingdoms, there is none like unto thee. Jer 10:8 But they are altogether brutish and foolish: the stock is a doctrine of vanities. Jer 10:9 Silver spread into plates is brought from Tarshish, and gold from Uphaz, the work of the workman, and of the hands of the founder: blue and purple is their clothing: they are all the work of cunning men. Jer 10:10 But the LORD is the true God, he is the living God, and an everlasting king: at his wrath the earth shall tremble, and the nations shall not be able to abide his indignation. Jer 10:11 Thus shall ye say unto them, The gods that have not made the heavens and the earth, even they shall perish from the earth, and from under these heavens. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Edit: Oops, left out the main part here (10:3)Jer 10:3 - For the customs of the people are vain,.... Or, "their decrees", or "statutes" (o), their determinations and conclusions, founded upon the observation of the stars; or, their "rites and ceremonies" (p) in religion, in the worship of the sun and moon, and the hosts of heaven. The Syriac version is, "the idols of the people are nothing"; and which appears by what follows: for one cutteth a tree out of the forest (the work of the hands of the workman) with the axe; not for building, or for burning, but to make a god of; the vanity, stupidity, and folly of which are manifest, when it is considered that the original of it is a tree that grew in the forest; the matter and substance of it the body and trunk of a tree cut down with an axe, and then hewed with the same, and planed with a plane, and formed into the image of a man, or of some creature; and now, to fall down and worship this must be vanity and madness to the last degree; see Isa_44:13. (o) חקות "decreta", Targ.; "statua", Junius & Tremellius, Piscator, Cocceius, Schmidt. (p) Ritus, Vatablus; "ceremoniae", Tigurine version.Jer 10:4 - They deck it with silver and with gold,.... Cover it with plates of silver and gold, for the sake of ornament, that it may look grand, majestic, and venerable; and by this means draw the eye and attention, and so the devotion of people to it: they fasten it with nails and hammers, that it move not. The sense is, either that the idol was fastened to some post or pillar, or in some certain place on a pedestal, that it might not fall, it not being able otherwise to support itself; or the plates of silver and gold, as Kimchi thinks, were fastened to the idol with nails and hammers, that so they might not be taken away from it; for, were it not for the nails, the god would not be able to keep his silver and golden deckings.Jer 10:5 - They are upright as the palm tree,.... Being nailed to a post, or fastened to a pillar, or set upon a pedestal, and so stand erect without bending any way; and are like a palm tree, which is noted for its uprightness; hence the church's stature is compared to it, Son_7:7, here it is a sarcasm, and a bitter one: but speak not; man, that is of an erect stature, in which he differs from other creatures, has the faculty of speech, which they that go upon four feet have not; but the idols of the Gentiles, though erect, have not the power of speaking a word; and therefore can give no answer to their worshippers; see Psa_115:5, they must needs be borne: or, "in carrying be carried" (q); when being made they are fixed in the designed place, or are moved from place to place; they are then carried in men's arms, or on their shoulders: because they cannot go; they have no life, and so are incapable of motion of themselves; they have feet, but walk not; and cannot arise and bestir themselves for the help of those that pray unto them, Psa_115:7, be not afraid of them, for they cannot do evil; that is, inflict judgment, cause drought, famine, or pestilence, or any other evil or calamity: neither is it also in them to do good; to give rains and fruitful seasons, or bestow any favour, temporal or spiritual; see Jer_14:21. (q) נשוא ינשוא "portando portantur", Schmidt; "portabitur" Pagninus; "portabuntur", Montanus; "omnino portanda sunt", Junius & Tremellius, John Gill