Christmas Celebration and
Decorations
“At the close of my long journey East, I
reached my home in time to spend New Year's eve in
Healdsburg. The College hall had been fitted up for a Sabbath-school reunion. Cypress
wreaths, autumn leaves, evergreens, and flowers were tastefully arranged; and a
large bell of evergreens hung from the arched doorway at the entrance to the
room. The tree was well loaded with donations, which were to be used for the
benefit of the poor, and to help purchase a bell. Except in a few instances, the names of
the donors were not given; but appropriate Bible texts and mottoes were
read as the gifts were taken down from the tree. On
this occasion nothing was said or done that need burden the conscience of any
one.” {RH, January 29, 1884 par. 1}
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Dear Friends, Ellen White approved
of Christmas trees laden with gifts of monetary offerings to Christ and other
Christmas decorations. We do not use Christmas trees, but I have a beautiful
display of artificial silk poinsettias we set out because we love the beauty
of that plant which blooms in the winter season. Having grown up in Florida
where I grew them, I miss the real thing. We keep those displays in plastic
bags and use them from year to year. The Lord and my close friends know that
they are the only things that we possess which I have sometimes referred to
as Christmas decorations. Those who know us intimately know that we do not
celebrate Christmas. We display these poinsettias for a little color during
the winter time. However, we did not even display those this year as members
of our group church can testify. Note: This is
an update for February 14, 2012. We have not used the pointsettias
arrangement for a number of years now, but not because we view this as wrong. Some
individuals are so severe and legalistic in their religious exercises that
when their children are of age, they flee the homes where such lack of love
and severe discipline replace the love of Christ. I remind you, Ellen White
said that it would be unwise to not recognize Christmas. I know far
too many SDA youth who gave/give up the church because of unfounded and fanatical
legalistic restrictions of their parents. Ellen White said it would be a
mistake to ignore Christmas. Yet, there are always those who think themselves
wiser than the gift of the Holy Spirit to the church. Though I personally do
not celebrate Christmas, I believe in taking all the testimony of Ellen White
on this issue, yet I am castigated by some whose lack of love is more
indicative of Satan’s spirit than Christ’s. I don’t wear
a wedding ring, yet Ellen White approved of such in some countries of the
world. Though the ring is a symbol of the sun, it has other connotations, as
does Christmas, that are not pagan. The Holy Sabbath
seventh-day is celebrated by some as a pagan worship day, worshipping Saturn.
But we don’t discard the true meaning of the Sabbath because some choose to
celebrate it in a pagan way. Sister White Sends a Christmas Present: “I have for some
reason felt anxious for you. I expected to find a letter from you here at
Enosburg but was disappointed. I sent
you a Christmas present. Let me hear from you.” -129-
{3MR 128.3} “Do
not neglect to watch and pray. I have risen early to write to you. I am very
anxious that you should succeed in the Christian warfare. The eyes of angels
are upon you constantly. Seek to do good. Help those
who need help. Pray much, this is your strength.” {3MR 129.1} "The Rasmussens
had several children and a sister-in-law living with them. The latter had
lived in Battle Creek years before and had met Ellen White there. She had
thoroughly prepared her nephews, the Rasmussen boys, to dread the visit of
the prophet. Her philosophy was that it was a sin for children to play with
toys or laugh, and claimed that Sister White backed up her cheerless views.
{5BIO 139.3} Some have
errantly thought that there is nothing in Scripture to celebrate Christ’s birthday, but the wise men brought gifts to Christ at
His birth. I realize that December 25th is not Christ’s birthday,
but it is generally recognized as such. Though no one knows the exact date of
Christ’s birth, Ellen White saw nothing remiss in recognizing Christmas and
using it for good purposes. I agree with her and the following Scriptures: The wise men
who honored Christ’s birth day were not pagans. Some say His birthday was
never recognized. That is not truth. That Lord has shown this writer that
Ellen White gave a balanced view on the Christmas issue, in using it for
good. Matthew 2 1 Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of
Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, Wise-men from the east came to
Jerusalem, saying, 2 Where is he that is born King of the Jews?
for we saw his star in the east, and are come to
worship him. 3 And when Herod the king heard it, he was
troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 And gathering together all the chief
priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ
should be born. 5 And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea:
for thus it is written through the prophet, 6 And thou Bethlehem, land of Judah, Art in
no wise least among the princes of Judah: For out of thee shall come forth a
governor, Who shall be shepherd of my people Israel. 7 Then Herod privily called the Wise-men,
and learned of them exactly what time the star appeared. 8 And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said,
Go and search out exactly concerning the young child; and when ye have found
him, bring me word, that I also may come and worship him. 9 And they, having heard the king, went
their way; and lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them,
till it came and stood over where the young child was. 10 And when they saw the star, they rejoiced
with exceeding great joy. 11 And they
came into the house and saw the young child with Mary his mother; and they
fell down and worshipped him; and opening their treasures they offered unto
him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. 12 And being warned of God in a dream that
they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another
way. 13 Now when they were departed, behold, an
angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise and take the
young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I
tell thee: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him. 14 And he arose and took the young child and
his mother by night, and departed into Egypt; 15 and was there until the death of Herod:
that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet,
saying, Out of Egypt did I call my son. 16 Then Herod, when he saw that he was
mocked of the Wise-men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the
male children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the borders thereof, from
two years old and under, according to the time which he had exactly learned
of the Wise-men. 17 Then was fulfilled that which was spoken
through Jeremiah the prophet, saying, 18 A voice was heard in Ramah, Weeping and great
mourning, Rachel weeping for her children; And she would not be comforted,
because they are not. 19 But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel
of the Lord appeareth in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, saying, 20 Arise and take the young child and his
mother, and go into the land of Israel: for they are dead that sought the
young child's life. 21 And he arose and took the young child and
his mother, and came into the land of Israel. 22 But when he heard that Archelaus was
reigning over Judaea in the room of his father Herod, he was afraid to go
thither; and being warned of God in a dream, he withdrew into the parts of
Galilee, 23 and came and dwelt in a city called
Nazareth; that it might be fulfilled which was spoken through the prophets,
that he should be called a Nazarene. —rwb |
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