INTRODUCTION
1. The Bible is Always Alive
- Regardless of when you read something, it can be applied to your life today.
- Regardless of how often you read it, you will receiving something new from it.
2. That’s How God Is!
- The best selling book is still the best selling book
- It will continue to be that way!
3. Our Text is Jeremiah 10:1-5
- Jeremiah was used by God to warn the Jews of the coming captivity that would move them to a country known as Chaldea
- Chaldea was a very Idolatrous Country greatly addicted to Astrology and Idols (which was their use of the tree).
READ TEXT
4. Traditions Sometimes Cause Confusion
- Easter Bunny, Santa Claus, Thanksgiving and other Holidays
- The use of the Christmas Tree and it’s decorations here at Christmas time – from this text have made some question decorations.
What is First Read Isn’t Always What It Appears
- It sounds like a Christmas Tree in our text!
(‘cut a tree out of the forest’… ‘decorate it with silver and gold’)
A. I Remember My Family’s Tradition of Christmas
- Go to the woods and cut the tree – put in base
- Dad would add the lights – We would add the popcorn and silver and gold tinsel
- Graduated to Ice Cycles – we thought we were big!
- Then we were really big when we add the blinking lights!!
- A Great Family Tradition
B. The Hanging of the Greens
(which we will have some day) when the church is decorated through a special Christmas Service each year.
This morning, as we enter a new season, I wanted to discuss with you the truth about some of the traditions that occur on and around Christmastime, so I’ve entitled this message – “THE TRUTH ABOUT TRADITIONS”.
So let’s begin with the truth about…
I. THE CHRISTMAS TREE
I’m not going into the history of the Christmas Tree. It’s a tradition that dates back for centuries. AND IF I thought it was wrong to have a Christmas Tree in your house, I certainly would not have one in our church.
The TRUTH about the CHRISTMAS TREE is that it reminds us about another tree. It was on a Tree that God hung His greatest gift to humankind.
- The Christmas tree is symbolic of a broken curse,
- its evergreen branches representing everlasting life.
READ 1 PETER 2:24 (NIV)
Jesus Christ gave His life on a tree known as the cross for you and me.
A. THE LIGHTS ON OUR CHRISTMAS TREE
We place lights all around our Christmas Tree.
Lights that remind us of the “Light of the world”.
1. John 8:12 (NIV)
12 When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."
YOU and I are not the light, but those that have said YES to Jesus possess the light and are to allow His light to shine through us – a REFLECTION OF THE LIGHT FROM THE SON!
2. Matthew 5:14-16 (NIV)
14 "You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden.
15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.
16 In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.
B. THE ORNAMENTS ON OUR CHRISTMAS TREE
The Ornaments on our Christmas Tree also have a lot of Tradition.
1. The First Ornaments consisted of FOOD (fruit mostly) hung on the tree and would be eaten as the season progressed.
2. Today – there is NO TELLING what you will find from pictures, balls, moving objects that sing or dance – just about anything.
Look at the ORNAMENTS on our CHRISTMAS TREE! (DESCRIBE)
As you put ornaments on your tree this year, remember the beauty of the Son of God, giving HIS Life on the tree for YOU and I.
The GIFTS that we place under the TREE remind us of the Greatest Gift – JESUS CHRIST. This leads me to my next tradition. The Tradition Of…
II. GIFT GIVING
Gift Giving is a Tradition that reflects on the act of the THREE WISE MEN giving gifts to the Christ Child. Let me share some truths about them.
A. Christ was NOT a Baby but Several Months Old
1. Joseph and Mary were living in a house and Jesus was born in a barn.
2. Matthew 2.11 – they referred to Jesus as the Christ Child and they came upon the ‘house’
3. Herod ordered all the male children ‘under the age of 2’ be killed. No need to do this if Jesus was only a few days old.
4. We know that Joseph and Mary offered what was known as the ‘Sacrifice of the Poor’ by offering a sacrifice with a pair of pigeons or turtledoves. (That offering was offered 40 days after the birth of the son.)
So if the Wise Men would have given them gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh, (which was very valuable), I don’t think they would qualify to be able to present the Sacrifice of the Poor).
B. SPEAKING OF GIFTS, WHAT HAPPENED to those gifts?
Many believe they funded the family’s escape to Egypt. If you remember, God warned Joseph of the danger the family was in and directed them to Egypt.
At the time Joseph received the dream from God, Herod had NOT ORDERED the massacre! God warned him of a danger that was going to happen and what needed to be done to escape the danger!
How did they fund that escape? What a Gift!
APPLICATION: What About YOUR GIFT?
What will YOU give to Jesus this Christmas?
Finally, one last tradition…
III. CELEBRATING CHRISTMAS
A. Let’s think about this holiday season: Nowhere does the Bible discuss that on a certain day we are to …
1. To Celebrate the Birth of Christ.
2. To Celebrate many different holidays.
– Like the one we just had – Thanksgiving.
- The Bible says we are to ‘give thanks ALWAYS’.
3. To Celebrate birthdays
CHRISTMAS, like it or not, is a TRADITION! In fact, so are many things that surround the Celebration of Christmas.
o The Christmas Tree
o The Decorating of the Tree
o The Exchange of Gifts
B. So AS WE WRAP IT ALL UP, let me share with you The Truth About These Traditions!
Notice Verse 3 again:
a. “cut a tree from the forest…adorn (decorate) with silver and gold”
b. “the customs (traditions) of the people are worthless”
C. So, is it wrong to have a Christmas Tree, Exchange Gifts, or Celebrate Christmas? IT CAN BE!
CHAPTER 10 is warning the people about IDOLS.
The TRUTH about the TRADITION is that ANYTHING PUT BEFORE GOD is WRONG!
THAT’S WHERE THE PROBLEM IS - IDOLATRY
DON’T MAKE AN IDOL OF YOUR CHRISTMAS!
1. The emphasis placed on appearances (decorations, parties, etc)
2. The emphasis of keeping up with others – even ruins many Christmases
3. So many go way beyond their means and even into extreme debt
When your Celebration of the Holiday becomes About the Holiday RATHER than about the Christ child – it becomes an idol – it becomes wrong!
So WHERE IS YOUR HEART THIS HOLIDAY?
It was on a Tree that God hung His greatest gift to humankind. The Christmas tree is symbolic of a broken curse, its evergreen branches representing everlasting life.
Our exchange of gifts isn’t a surrender to commercialism, but testifies of how the love of Christ is to overflows in our hearts as we give to one another. So this Christmas, REMEMBER THE REAL SEASON – JESUS!
ILLUSTRATION: A TRUE STORY
A woman by the name of Sandy Willey related a Christmas story that occurred during World War II. A woman named Anne took her two little children to Texas to be with her parents because her husband was stationed in Europe.
And they prepared for Christmas and got the tree up and all the gifts bought and were enjoying the joy of Christmas, almost putting aside the worry of the war.
When one week before Christmas they got that dreaded knock on the door and the terrible telegram greeting. And the mother had to tell the children that “daddy wouldn’t be coming for Christmas ever.”
And then Anne went up to her room to weep alone. And grandma and grandpa debated about what to do and finally they decided to take down the Christmas tree and the decorations and put the presents away.
When Anne came out of the room and saw the empty spot she said, “Mother what have you done.” And her mother said, “Your so broken hearted, your father and I talked and decided this is no time for Christmas.” And Anne said, “Oh, no mother, bring the tree back, Christmas was made for times such as these.”
Enjoy the Holiday – but REMEMBER THE TRUTH ABOUT TRADIITONS!
REMEMBER TO MAKE SURE THAT JESUS IS YOUR CELEBRATION!
