Michael Gaynor
Oh Christmas tree (NOT holiday tree)
By Michael Gaynor
"A rose is a rose is a rose." So wrote Gertrude Stein, suggesting that some things resist definition in words.
"If you call a tail a leg, how many legs has a dog? Five? No, calling a tail a leg doesn't make it a leg." So Abraham Lincoln reputedly said, suggesting that arbitrarily redefining a word is futile as well as silly.
A Christmas tree is...a Christmas tree, not a holiday tree, no matter what the secular extremists arbitrarily pretend, and their arbitrary redefinition should be resisted.
The Christmas tree is a reminder of the tree by which humanity's sinfulness was overcome, namely the tree upon which Jesus Christ was crucified. Is the Christmas tree an appropriate reminder of the Cross on which Jesus was crucified? St. Paul would think so. In Galatians 3:13, St. Paul said: "Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: 'Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree' (quoting Deut. 21:23).
St. Peter too. According to St. Peter, "the rock" on whom Christ built His Church, "He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed." To be sure, trees existed long before the birth of Christ and were used by people for many purposes. But the Christmas tree is a suitable symbol and reminder of our salvation and forgiveness through Jesus Christ!
Which is why the secular extremists want to call it something else!
On December 1, 2005, President Bush once again irritated the secular extremists at the lighting of the National Christmas Tree in Washington, D.C., by speaking these simple, straightforward, sensible words:
"Thank you all very much. Welcome to the Christmas Pageant of Peace. Laura and I are so honored to join you all. The lighting of the National Christmas tree is one of the great traditions in our Nation's Capital. Each year, we gather here to celebrate the season of hope and joy — and to remember the story of one humble life that lifted the sights of humanity."
Amen!
President Bush explained: "It is a time to rejoice, and to give thanks for the blessings of the season and for the blessings that surround us every day of the year. We also remember that we have a responsibility to help those in need. America is a compassionate and generous land. And acts of kindness toward others fulfill the spirit of the season."
There should be nothing objectionable about that explanation. Any who objects is...objectionable!
And President Bush acknowledged that he was following a great American tradition instead of creating one:
"As we approach Christmas in this time of war, we pray for freedom, and justice, and peace on Earth. In his Christmas Eve address to the nation in 1941, Franklin Roosevelt said that 'Against enemies who preach the principles of hate and practice them, we set our faith in human love, and in God's care for us and all men everywhere.' We ask for God to watch over our men and women in uniform who are serving overseas. Their families miss them — hold a seat open for them — and pray for their safe return. America's military men and women stand for freedom — and they serve the cause of peace. Many of them are serving in distant lands tonight, but they are close to our hearts."
So it was, and so it is again. Amen.
Merry Christmas, and Happy Hanukkah! Accept no imitations or secular extremist redefinitions.
© Michael Gaynor
"A rose is a rose is a rose." So wrote Gertrude Stein, suggesting that some things resist definition in words.
"If you call a tail a leg, how many legs has a dog? Five? No, calling a tail a leg doesn't make it a leg." So Abraham Lincoln reputedly said, suggesting that arbitrarily redefining a word is futile as well as silly.
A Christmas tree is...a Christmas tree, not a holiday tree, no matter what the secular extremists arbitrarily pretend, and their arbitrary redefinition should be resisted.
The Christmas tree is a reminder of the tree by which humanity's sinfulness was overcome, namely the tree upon which Jesus Christ was crucified. Is the Christmas tree an appropriate reminder of the Cross on which Jesus was crucified? St. Paul would think so. In Galatians 3:13, St. Paul said: "Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: 'Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree' (quoting Deut. 21:23).
St. Peter too. According to St. Peter, "the rock" on whom Christ built His Church, "He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed." To be sure, trees existed long before the birth of Christ and were used by people for many purposes. But the Christmas tree is a suitable symbol and reminder of our salvation and forgiveness through Jesus Christ!
Which is why the secular extremists want to call it something else!
On December 1, 2005, President Bush once again irritated the secular extremists at the lighting of the National Christmas Tree in Washington, D.C., by speaking these simple, straightforward, sensible words:
"Thank you all very much. Welcome to the Christmas Pageant of Peace. Laura and I are so honored to join you all. The lighting of the National Christmas tree is one of the great traditions in our Nation's Capital. Each year, we gather here to celebrate the season of hope and joy — and to remember the story of one humble life that lifted the sights of humanity."
Amen!
President Bush explained: "It is a time to rejoice, and to give thanks for the blessings of the season and for the blessings that surround us every day of the year. We also remember that we have a responsibility to help those in need. America is a compassionate and generous land. And acts of kindness toward others fulfill the spirit of the season."
There should be nothing objectionable about that explanation. Any who objects is...objectionable!
And President Bush acknowledged that he was following a great American tradition instead of creating one:
"As we approach Christmas in this time of war, we pray for freedom, and justice, and peace on Earth. In his Christmas Eve address to the nation in 1941, Franklin Roosevelt said that 'Against enemies who preach the principles of hate and practice them, we set our faith in human love, and in God's care for us and all men everywhere.' We ask for God to watch over our men and women in uniform who are serving overseas. Their families miss them — hold a seat open for them — and pray for their safe return. America's military men and women stand for freedom — and they serve the cause of peace. Many of them are serving in distant lands tonight, but they are close to our hearts."
So it was, and so it is again. Amen.
Merry Christmas, and Happy Hanukkah! Accept no imitations or secular extremist redefinitions.
© Michael Gaynor
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