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Holiday Tree offensive to Judaism
November 30, 2005
My church - Redeemer Presbyterian is participating in the lighting of Concord's "Holiday Tree". We have the opportunity to sing carols at the tree lighting and then carol downtown. I'm thankful we get to sing CHRISTMAS carols. I came across this post today from a Jewish Blog - I say AMEN!
The US has lately had some controversy over municipal trees being called "Holiday Trees" instead of "Christmas Trees." Christians have objected to the name of their holiday being obscured in such an ambiguous term. In particular, Boston has been the site of a controversy this year over the naming of the tree. The man who donated the tree even said that had he known it would not be called a "Christmas Tree," he would not have given it to the city.
A representative of House Speaker J. Dennis Hastert said, "To rename a Christmas tree as a holiday tree is as offensive as renaming a Jewish menorah a candlestick".
I'll go one step further. While Christians consider the renaming of the holiday symbol an affront to their religion, I find it offensive to my Judaism. The implication is that the tree is a symbol of the various holidays celebrated in America, most notably Hanukkah that generally falls out around the same time as the Christian holiday (particularly this year). The tree is not. It has nothing to do with Judaism, Hanukkah or any of our holidays. Regardless of its historical origin, the tree has come to be a symbol of one of the most important Christian holidays. Using an ambiguous term that implies it has significance to Judaism is, in my opinion, extremely offensive to Jews (and presumably members of other religions) and is simply inaccurate.
P.S. Dennis Hastert is a graduate of my Alma Mater - Wheaton College - he doesn't get a lot of Christian press because he lives a fully developed Christian Worldview that makes a respectful impact on our culture.
Plan A, B or C or is it Plan S?
November 21, 2005
I wrote on my other blog: iWestminster: There is no Plan B. I got me to thinking about the controversial drug Plan B. I thought it was a good question - is the drug appropriately named Plan B? Or should it have another name?
Here's how Ellen Goodman from the Boston Globe talks about Plan B.
Saving Plan B from the zealots
"If teenagers also need Plan B it's because Plan A -- abstinence -- fails more often than condoms. Too many teenagers end up pregnant, facing Plan C: abortion or motherhood. In the name of protection, we are leaving teenagers far too vulnerable."
As God is the Order and Controller of all things - but not the author of sin, we know that only by God's decretive permission did Plan A -- abstinence fail. But this does not mean we should go to Plan B or Plan C. We are to called to faithfully obey God's will, even after sin and failure - God will provide as we pursue His Plan A. This will not leave us vulnerable - but victorious with God's divine providence.
BTW: My new name for Plan B is Plan S (short for sinning - by disobeying and not trusting God's Plan A).
The Bill Clinton Option
November 16, 2005
I've been following the cessationist vs. non-cessationist debate closely. Who am I to comment? I keep thinking back to the authority and sufficiency of Scripture as outlined in the Westminster Confession of Faith and, I am wondering if we really know what that means. We adhere to the Bible as our authority - the Word of God, but than look to a "word from God" to give us direction.
I've had many good friends who are continuationalists - I've found their hearts to be turned towards God. I've found their thinking often to be convoluted. Their experience, their impression of what God is telling them, there "word from the Lord" always trumps basic Scriptural principles. It is as if their individual revelation from God - supersedes Scriptural instruction.
A great post by Daniel Phillips talks about the Bill Clinton option. It is sad if we affirm God's redemptive plan from Genesis to Revelation - but still need a Bill Clinton option. Read it.
Paul as Blogger
November 16, 2005
Michael Haykin has an interesting post on Paul as a blogger. I'm sure others have thought of this - but it was a revelation to me. I think that's one reason I like to blog. It is kind of a letter, a reply to all, a collection of thoughts, and a way to work out difficult matters (i.e. Romans). Of course, Paul's writing in inspired in the "God-breathed" sense. My blogging is hardly inspired in any sense.
Intervention for a Problem Thinker
November 4, 2005
This hits home!! Are you a Problem Thinker? I'm about to go away for a weekend with some girlfriends to a Spa. It is a nice annual gift our husbands give us. I am really fearing the weekend. I can't think! Thinking is not allowed. Reading deeply is forbidden. Our talk is of the latest Desperate Housewives show (saw my first episode last year on this trip, will get to see my second episode this year), why Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes are not married, who cut their hair in a cute style, how much weight we want to lose this year etc., etc., etc.,. My husband says it's good for me. My girlfriends say it's good for me. The Spa insists it's good for me.
Between a massage, yoga (where I try to think of nothing - less I think about some inner-power), Tai-Chai meditative walks my mind gets empty and gets increasingly desperate.
So what am I doing? I'm sneaking in my Ipod filled with John Piper's talks from the Sovereignty of God Conference, I'm bringing Bruce Ware's book on the Trinity and Grudem's, Systematic Theology, and I plan on working on my 4-6th Shorter Catechism questions for memorization. For fun - I'm also taking my new camera and hope to get some great autumn shots of New England.
I'll also try to not obsess about not thinking. I'm sure I'll do less thinking and reading than planned. I'm sure on some level this is good for me. But it is bitter medicine! I'll survive until next year's intervention.
Luther and the Bible
November 3, 2005
I just saw the 2003 version of Luther with my Bible Study. I know I'm a little behind the times - but it was a small way for us to celebrate Reformation week.
Thinking of my previous post - I must say I really like the Prince Fredrick's hands tremble when Luther hands him his gift of the German translation of the New Testament. What a privilege, honor, hand trembling moment it is for us to hold the Bible, translated so we can READ it and understand!
Worshipping the Book
November 3, 2005
Cathy Seipp writes an interesting piece on the Koran flushing incident and respect for holy books, and books in general.
I also generally agree with official U.S. policy that the holy books of other cultures should be treated with respect. Still, there's a limit as to how much respect any mere object - even a book - should command. When religious fanatics break out into murderous riots at the mere thought that their special book has been (as they say) "mistreated," I think that limit has been reached.
In my other blog I've been writing a lot about the Doctrine of the Word of God. Yes, we should have the highest respect and honor for the Word of God. But... notice I say the Word of God - the God-breathed holy Scripture,
It is not the paper, the binding, the gold-leaf we worship - it is God, revealed in holy Scriptures. God is living, the Holy Spirit quickens our hearts to understanding. We are people of the book. Not - people who worship the book.
Scary - Bible Taken Literally
November 1, 2005
The left gone nutty....
This is their idea of Halloween. The scary picture of "Promise Keeper-type men" carrying books the the "title" Bible Taken Literally.
I've excerpted below a few other ideas they have for a scary future under George Bush. As Michelle Malkin says so well - Moonbats!
Presenting the Future of Horrors Under Bush
- Ominous-looking Promise Keeper-type men in suits carrying enlarged "books" with the "title" Bible Taken Literally.
- Women in white shrouds with large/visible/bloody hangers and blood stains - People dressed as doctors with nooses around their necks (or a large bullet wound) and black hoods over their heads, with a sign that says, "Executed For Providing Abortions"
BANNERS:
- "Bush's Future, If We Accept It: Halloween Decadence Banned; Torture Legalized" (This could be carried by submissive women (maybe wearing bonnets, long pastel-colored skirts, long-sleeved shirts, etc., and signs that say, "submissive wife" or something)
- "2008 is Too Late! Real Horrors Are Already Here!"
- "It Doesn't Have to Be This Way: Nov 2: NO SCHOOL. NO WORK. UNION SQUARE. NOON"
- Two Days Til The Beginning of the End of the Bush Regime!
Missionaries, Trick-or-Treating and Chavez
November 1, 2005
In a bizarre linkage - I think we need to protest Hugo Chavez's decision to order all U.S. - based evangelists and missionaries to leave Venezuela immediately. He is accusing them of being CIA spies and exploiting the mineral rich tribal areas.
Chavez is also asking all of Venezuela to ban trick-or-treating and Halloween costumes. He said it is a "gringa" custom that is part of the U.S. culture of terror.
I know its too late - but I hope we all sent our kids out trick-or-treating last night. Don't feel guilty, you were protesting Chavez!
