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BREAD FOR THE JOURNEY BLOG@ Rhythms of Grace: a Journey into RestSustenance for the journey into rest and peace
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NEW SERIES: CHRISTMAS TREE DIARIES  Some Christians hold very strong opinions on this subject, believing that Christmas trees have their origin in paganism, and therefore should have no place in the Christian home. It’s important that we consider this question, because as we have already seen, whatever is not of faith is sin. Therefore, if we are going to have Christmas trees, we need to have faith-filled ones! While respecting the reasons for the viewpoint mentioned above, my research and reflections have led me to the following conclusions… Trees are important. Providing food, shelter, protection, heat and medicines, the world’s forests have been the mainstay of numerous civilisations. In addition to meeting the basic needs of mankind, trees also supply a variety of habitats for the animal kingdom, absorb pollutants and protect the soil from erosion. In fact, we know they are indispensable to the very air we breathe. And of course, they add incalculable beauty to the landscape. Not surprisingly then, trees have taken a significant part in religious thought and practice in many different cultures. Ancient Egyptians, Babylonians, Chinese and various nations of the Middle East all have records of sacred practices involving trees, as do the Romans, Scandinavians, and ancient Britons. Evergreens, in particular, have been valued for their representation of continued life in a world given over to death and decay, for ‘eternity has been set in the heart of man’ [Ecclesiastes 3:11]. Because varied tree-related customs have been practised among so many diverse people-groups, whether any specifically gave rise to our Christmas tree tradition is a matter of continuing debate between scholars.  Many academics believe our present Christmas tree custom originated in Germany. Two engaging stories regarding its genesis are as follows: One relates how an eighth century monk, Boniface, intervening to prevent human sacrifice at an oak dedicated to Thor, cut the tree down. Seeing a small fir tree growing in between its roots, with its branches pointing to Heaven, he used it as a visual aid, a symbol of God’s promise of eternal life, as he preached the Gospel to the assembled company. Another story tells of the reformist, Martin Luther, riding home through a starlit forest one Christmas Eve. Affected by the beauty of the night, he took a small fir tree home, and adorning it with candles, he set it in a pot, explaining to his friends it was a reminder of when the ‘brightness of heaven’ came to earth. THE PARADISE TREEBut perhaps the most plausible explanation, however, is found in the medieval ‘Paradise Tree’. In the Middle Ages, it was customary to perform ‘mystery’ plays at festivals, which served the purpose of entertaining and educating a largely illiterate population. On Christmas Eve the story of the Paradise Tree was performed. This drama related the account of Creation, the temptation of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, and closed with the promise of the coming of a Saviour. The only prop was a cut tree in a pot, which was adorned with apples, representing the forbidden fruit. Later these were augmented by wafer discs symbolising the body of Christ—the promised Saviour; these in turn were eventually replaced by pastries cut in the shapes of stars and bells. When the religious authorities forbade the performance of the plays in later years, the people, not wanting to relinquish treasured traditions, transferred the custom of the tree into their homes. The Paradise Tree, (or, more properly, trees, for there were two in the garden), will be our starting point in these reflections, not because of medieval practices, but because the concept of significant trees actually predates all religion. It goes back to the very beginning, to the act of creation when the Lord planted a garden, and set in the middle of it the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, and the Tree of Life. These biblical trees are a powerful reminder that we live in a created world, that all creation belongs to the Maker, and that it was given to mankind to steward on His behalf. For this reason I believe that the children of God have the right to use any element of that creation as an aid to meditation and worship, and as tools for prophetic declaration—which we will discuss later—without being troubled by their use in other religious practices. For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, because it is consecrated by the word of God and prayer [1 Timothy 4:5]. THIS WEEK’S GRACE RHYTHM
Thank the Lord for both the beauty trees add to the environment, and for their immense practical value. (If you generally go to a Christmas tree farm to make your selection ‘in the field’, you could use this reflective activity as part of your mission.)
2. Where do people in your community buy their real or artificial Christmas trees? Visit one of these locations to pray a blessing. Some examples are given below… In Jesus’ name, I bless everyone who comes here with a fresh revelation of the Creator-God. May the delights of His creation bring joy to every heart, and the peace of His presence pervade the atmosphere. In Jesus’ name, I bless these Christmas trees. May each tree carry an anointing like Paul’s handkerchief—an anointing to open blind eyes to the Creator, and an anointing which causes wonder to rise, and the eyes of the heart to open to the mysteries of the season revealed in Jesus. I bless this farm/store with a prosperous season. May the owners and employees be blessed with good working relationships, and a good return for their effort. Amen NEXT WEEK: THE TREE OF KNOWLEDGE Trees feature in a number of places in the Bible—and always to make a significant point. The next few posts will focus on how our Christmas trees, whether natural or artificial, can help us reflect on some of those important images. GET IN TOUCH!
[Photo credits: Kayla Tift (pine forest); Taylor Rooney (young pine tree); Sarah Evans (writing paper) @ Unsplash, with thanks]
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