Christmas
367
Jesus, the Majesty of heaven, the royal King of heaven, laid aside
His royalty, left His throne of glory, His high command, and came
into our world to bring to fallen man, weakened in moral power and
corrupted by sin, aid divine....
Parents should keep these things before their children and instruct
them, line upon line, precept upon precept, in their obligation to God—
not their obligation to each other, to honor and glorify one another by
gifts and offerings
Turn Thoughts of the Children Into a New Channel—There
are many things which can be devised with taste and cost far less than
the unnecessary presents that are so frequently bestowed upon our
children and relatives, and thus courtesy can be shown and happiness
brought into the home.
You can teach your children a lesson while you explain to them
the reason why you have made a change in the value of their presents,
telling them that you are convinced that you have hitherto considered
their pleasure more than the glory of God. Tell them that you have
thought more of your own pleasure and of their gratification and of
keeping in harmony with the customs and traditions of the world, in
making presents to those who did not need them, than you have of
advancing the cause of God. Like the wise men of old, you may offer
to God your best gifts and show by your offerings to Him that you
appreciate His Gift to a sinful world. Set your children’s thoughts run-
ning in a new, unselfish channel by inciting them to present offerings
to God for the gift of His only-begotten Son
[482]
“Shall We Have a Christmas Tree?”—God would be well
pleased if on Christmas each church would have a Christmas tree
on which shall be hung offerings, great and small, for these houses of
worship. [
Note: reference is made in this article to current building
projects. As the principles set forth in this connection are applicable
today, these specific references are left in the article.
] Letters of inquiry
have come to us asking, Shall we have a Christmas tree? Will it not
be like the world? We answer, You can make it like the world if you
have a disposition to do so, or you can make it as unlike the world as
possible. There is no particular sin in selecting a fragrant evergreen
7
The Review and Herald, December 9, 1884
.
8
The Review and Herald, November 13, 1894
.