No Excuse For Christmas Idolatry
Three Tabernacles
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| Vatican Nativity and Christmas Tree. "The Mother of Harlots and Abominations of the earth" (Rev. 17:5). |
“And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart, and was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light. And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with him. Then answered Peter, and said unto Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here: if thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias. While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him. And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their face, and were sore afraid ” (Matt. 17:1-6).
Very few people have had the blessing that these three apostles had. In Genesis 18 the LORD visited Abraham and ate with him. Centuries later, He showed Moses His glory (Ex. 33:18-34:8). Once in history the seventy elders of Israel, Moses, Aaron and his sons went up the mountain and saw a glorious manifestation of the God of Israel (Ex. 24:7-11). There are no commemorative images of these encounters.
In the New Testament, the disciples Peter, James and John went up the mount with the Lord and saw Him transfigured and glorious. Moses and Elijah also appeared and talked with the Lord before the astonished disciples. Peter, supremely impressed, suggested that they commemorate the occasion, “let us make here three tabernacles.” God did not appreciate this idea. A bright cloud (probably the Shekinah glory) covered them and His voice said: “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him” (Matt. 17:5). No one made a tabernacle, not for Moses, nor for Elijah, not even for Christ. Dios did not allow any such thing, nor does He today.
But today people make their tabernacles, called "manger scenes" or "nativity scenes" with Joseph, Mary and Jesus - the sacred family, to commemorate that important event. It's the same error as Peter's. In the place of Moses and Elijah they put Joseph and Mary, the shepherds, the wise men, and angels. Peter thought that his idea of the tabernacles was a good one, and the religious folk today also think their nativity scenes are a good idea. Strangely, not only Catholics and Orthodox, but Protestants and Evangelicals, and yes, even in Christian assemblies these idols appear. One Catholic remarked sarcastically that Christmas is that time of year when Protestants don't have a problem with images. He recognized the contradiction!
Very few people have had the blessing that these three apostles had. In Genesis 18 the LORD visited Abraham and ate with him. Centuries later, He showed Moses His glory (Ex. 33:18-34:8). Once in history the seventy elders of Israel, Moses, Aaron and his sons went up the mountain and saw a glorious manifestation of the God of Israel (Ex. 24:7-11). There are no commemorative images of these encounters.
In the New Testament, the disciples Peter, James and John went up the mount with the Lord and saw Him transfigured and glorious. Moses and Elijah also appeared and talked with the Lord before the astonished disciples. Peter, supremely impressed, suggested that they commemorate the occasion, “let us make here three tabernacles.” God did not appreciate this idea. A bright cloud (probably the Shekinah glory) covered them and His voice said: “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him” (Matt. 17:5). No one made a tabernacle, not for Moses, nor for Elijah, not even for Christ. Dios did not allow any such thing, nor does He today.
But today people make their tabernacles, called "manger scenes" or "nativity scenes" with Joseph, Mary and Jesus - the sacred family, to commemorate that important event. It's the same error as Peter's. In the place of Moses and Elijah they put Joseph and Mary, the shepherds, the wise men, and angels. Peter thought that his idea of the tabernacles was a good one, and the religious folk today also think their nativity scenes are a good idea. Strangely, not only Catholics and Orthodox, but Protestants and Evangelicals, and yes, even in Christian assemblies these idols appear. One Catholic remarked sarcastically that Christmas is that time of year when Protestants don't have a problem with images. He recognized the contradiction!
But God did not command or even permit the use of images, not in the Old Testament nor in the New. It was NOT a practice among the first Christians. The only images/idols found are in the book of Acts 17 among the heathen in Athens, in 1 Thessalonians 1:9-10 which describes how they turned from idols to God, and in Revelation 13, the image of the beast. Never in the homes or assemblies of Christians!
Some excuse themselves saying, "I don't pray to them, the nativity scene is just a reminder, a simple way to remember the Lord's birth". Perhaps they don't realize that this is exactly the excuse that some Catholics give for their images - they say they are aids to memory, reminders. But Scripture doesn't say that it's ok to have them as long as you don't pray to them.
What Scripture says is that God prohibits the making, having and use of images. So, what are teraphim (household images) doing in the homes of believers? The use of images is not an inoffensive custom. And worse yet if those doing it are missionaries, pastors, elders -- James 3:1 says they will receive a more severe judgment. They have given bad example and perhaps caused stumbling of the Lord's people. Should they not confess publicly and seek forgiveness? Alas, like the chief priests and scribes and elders of Israel, they may be too proud to do so!
If you have put a manger scene in your home, repent and get rid of it. It is not possible to please God and honor Christ with tabernacles and images. No! Not even at "Christmas!" "Go and sin no more."
Carl Knott
