As we approach the Christmas Holiday season it is time once again for all those that don't understand our liberty in Christ to start preaching on how bad Christmas Trees are along with other decorations etc. Unfortunately many in the right division camp also do not understand our liberty in Christ when it comes to such matters. I recently watched a video by a Mid Acts Dispensational preacher on the subject of Christmas Trees. This preacher has some good material on other subjects, but on this subject he really drops the theological "ball" along with many denominational preachers that I am familiar with.
This particular Mid Acts Dispensationalist uses Jeremiah 10:2, along with many denominational preachers that I know, to argue that since the "heathen" cut down and decorated trees, then believers have no business decorating Christmas trees etc under Grace.
I actually replied to his video a while back with the following, "Our apostle says we can eat meat offered in sacrifice to idols just like the heathen as long as we understand the idol is nothing (1 Cor 8:4-8). As long as the tree does not become an idol, then it is like any other decoration in the house."
Most Mid Acts Dispensationalists state that Romans through Philemon is theological "mail" for the Body of Christ. However, when faced with the subject of Christmas trees rather than going to our spokesman under Grace, Paul, many go to the book of Jeremiah (not our mail) for an answer. What if a Baptist went to Matthew to defend the practice of water baptism? The Mid Acts Dispensationalists would lambast him for going to the wrong spokesman in regard to the subject of water baptism. They would shout to the Baptist "you are not rightly dividing." However, when a Mid Acts Dispensationalists wants to reject a particular thing (like decorating Christmas trees) his fellow Mid Acts friends often times will give him a pass when he fails to rightly divide and go to the correct spokesman for the age of grace. I have found many right dividers, no matter the camp (Acts 2, Mid Acts or Acts 28ers), will drop Paul and consistent right division in a heart beat if Paul's teaching/right division crosses their traditions or the traditions of their favorite "right division preacher/teacher"!
For right dividers to be taken seriously they must start being more consistent in their Bible study, teaching and preaching. I would even suggest dropping any discussion of frivolous topics and just stick with solid Bible subjects that people need to understand in our to be a faithful ambassador of Christ.
I hope all of my readers have fun decorating the tree and also have a Merry Christmas!
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