Why we set up a Christmas tree

 

We technically didn't celebrate Christmas yet we do. Am I contradicting myself?

Read this to know why I decided to celebrate Christmas: 

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/15VfZ33FsfE/

And yet at the same time we don't celebrate it, at least not as the rest of the world do. 

Kung daraan kayo sa bahay, wala kayong makikitang dekorasyon o mga ilaw-ilaw sa labas, maliban sa ilaw sa aking halaman. Years ago bumili ako online ng solar lights thinking na malalaki ito at pwedeng ilagay sa labas, it turned out na napakaliit kaya nilagay ko na lang sa halaman. Wala kaming handa. Walang kung anu-anong okasyong usually associated with the celebration. 

Instead we have a simple dinner. Then we talk about Christ's incarnation. Why did Christ come? 

We don't even wait for the midnight. So we technically celebrate on the night of the 24th and not the 25th! (Ibang usapan kapag New Year, talagang nagpupuyat kami at nag-aabang na tumawid ang taon because we rejoice sa bagong taong dinagdag ng Panginoon sa ating mga buhay.

This year we decided to have a tree? Why? This is our way of saying to our legalistic brothers that we're parting ways from you. Christmas is an event that a Christian is free to observe or not. Any believers who automatically judged Christmas observers as pagan or Romish are legalists. We are setting up a tree: "What now?"

I have preached and defended the free grace gospel for a long time that I hope none will accuse me of paganism. If others still think we are, wala akong pake. 

I am exercising our Christian liberty. You are free to exercise yours. If you don't observe, I don't think less of you. I just hope the respect is mutual. 

Not to mention that my wife loves Christmas trees. Every year kapag nagbabayad kami ng kaniyang annual Pag-ibig contributions, hindi pwedeng hindi kami magpapic sa giant Christmas tree ng Robinson's. I figure if my wife likes a tree so much, why not set up at home. It will be a fun family activity. 

Kaya last year we decided we'll have a tree this year. A real tree. Kaya bumili ng pine tree. But last month, nakakita si misis ng driftwood, took a fancy to it and so now we have two trees. 

It is a family activity. Si misis ang nagtiyagang magbuhat ng mabigay na driftwood from Amoguis and of course the pine tree is hers. Kami ni Nash Ephraim ang nag-varnish at nag-set-up. Si Naomi Viviane ang naglagay ng mga ilaw. (Siya rin ang magluluto). In my book, any activity that will bring the family together is good. I will use any excuse so the family will be sitting and working together. 

So now we have a tree. Maybe next year, we'll add new family traditions. It doesn't matter to me if some of those traditions are similar to the world's. Maybe exchange gifts? 

Let everyone be convinced in his or her own mind regarding things not directly forbidden by the Bible. 

Manatiling nakapokus sa biyaya. Huwag ninyong hayaang nakawin ng mga huwad na guro ang inyong karapatang mag-isip ng doktrina. 

(Kung gusto ninyo ng karagdagang impormasyon, bisitahin ninyo kami. May pagtitipon kami sa Dahat, kada Linggo, kada 1:00-3:00 pm. Sana manampalataya kayo at kita-kita tayo.

Isang mahalagang paalala: ang mga blogs na ito ay personal kong opinyon at eksposisyon; hindi ito opisyal na pananaw ng Partido Christian Bible Church. Kung nais ninyong malaman ang kanilang opisyal na posisyun, magtanong kayo sa mga matanda ng simbahan. Ang Nieto Bible Page ay isang hiwalay na ministri mula sa PCBC at independiyente rito. Nakikipagtipon ako sa PCBC, pero may personal akong kumbiksiyon sa mga bagay. Bagama't miyembro (muli) ako ng teaching and ruling leadership ng PCBC, anumang mabasa ninyo rito ay hiwalay sa kanila. Anumang nasusulat ay aking pananagutan. 

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