Does your nativity scene tell the truth?

[Alcott]

You may have a point there, but at least a mirror or photograph is an accurate representation of the object.

How does that make any difference as to whether it's an image or a likeness? Besides, in a mirror, right is left and left is right.

 

[webdog]

Okay guys, I know I'm trying to make a mountain out of a bump in the road, but I just wanted to see if anyone would belly up and admit that the common nativity scene tells a lie. The wise men saw Jesus in the house, not the manger. I think if I had said "Does your nativity scene depict the manger scene with complete accuracy" people would have said "well of course not, everyone knows that". But notice how quickly feathers got ruffled because I used that word "lie".

Don't we find it convenient to re-define a lie to be an insignificant inaccuracy?

How can we criticize the catholic church for taking liberties with extra-biblical inaccuracies when we are guilty of the same thing?

Can you define all "lies" as being sin? Did Rahab the Harlot sin in hiding the Israelite spies? Did David and Jonathan sin when they were in the field with the archer? Did Jesus sin when He "pretended to go further" while walking with the two gents after His resurrection?

I believe Scripture makes a case for intent being the determining factor if a lie, pretending, etc. is sin

 

[Rubato 1]

Guys, I think that's enough. JD is probably gonna need stitches after laughing at all of us for being strung along so long. :laugh:

 

[tinytim]

I would like to know if Mary, Joseph and the babe were lying in the manger, or if it was just the Babe. Luke 2:16

This is a nativity you could copyright.:thumbs:

I thought I was the only one that laughs when I read that in the Bible!!!:laugh:

Also, I wonder who the arsenist was... the wisemen came from a fire....

Of course, unless you have a fat Mary, your nativity scene is defective...
Remember in Silent Night.. it refers to her as a round young virgin!!!

BTW, it is not lying, it is poetic license....
A nativity scene is just a piece of art that is depicting something...
It doesn't have to be perfect...

That babe in the manger was.

 

[Alcott]

Speaking of lying about the scene... how was a sinless Jesus lying in a manger?

 

[EdSutton]

Does your nativity scene, if you have one, tell the truth, or does it tell a lie?

I'll help ya' out.

1. I don't have a "nativity scene".

2. I have yet to see a single one in my 59+ years that "told the truth".

Ed

 

[EdSutton]

Mine tells the truth. I didn't add my wise men until about 2 years after I originally put it up.

Cute! Not Biblical, but cute, anyway.

Ed

 

[EdSutton]

The lights are arranged so that the shadow of a cross falls across the manger.

Best comment so far!

Ed

 

[EdSutton]

But you have to change the manger scene to a small house before the wise guys show up.

Yup! Ya' got it!

Except on the Baptist Board!

There, 'us, wise guys' can show up any time, anywhere.

Ed

 

[EdSutton]

Okay guys, I know I'm trying to make a mountain out of a bump in the road, but I just wanted to see if anyone would belly up and admit that the common nativity scene tells a lie. The wise men saw Jesus in the house, not the manger. I think if I had said "Does your nativity scene depict the manger scene with complete accuracy" people would have said "well of course not, everyone knows that". But notice how quickly feathers got ruffled because I used that word "lie".

Don't we find it convenient to re-define a lie to be an insignificant inaccuracy?

How can we criticize the catholic church for taking liberties with extra-biblical inaccuracies when we are guilty of the same thing?

The gent do have some points, here.

Ed

 

[rbell]

If we follow JD's reasoning, no art or symbolism whatsoever can be used to depict anything Biblical...for fear of "lying."

Absolute, unadultrated silliness.

 

[I Am Blessed 24]

Well, as you can see by my avatar, I love nativity scenes and I have one that covers about 30 feet of my front lawn.

I would move the wise men farther away, but then they would be in the neighbor's yard...

I'd rather see a nativity scene in someone's yard than Santa and his reindeer...

I agree, rbell, this is a silly thread. I guess we Baptists WILL argue about anything and DO!!!

 

[tinytim]

What about one with Santa kneeling in worship to Jesus..

I love the symbolism there...

We all should put Jesus before Santa

 

[I Am Blessed 24]

I haven't seen that one, Tim.

I still like mine and will put it up every year because I feel it is a silent witness to all who pass by.

The lost world sees a nativity scene with wise men present and that's who I'm targeting.

 

[Rubato 1]

I would move the wise men farther away, but then they would be in the neighbor's yard...

Actually, for you, I think they would be in Indianapolis.

 

[Matt Black]

At the risk of sounding a bit like one of your former Presidents, it depends on the meaning of the word 'lie'. Clearly, having the Wise Men (of whatever number) together with the shepherds is historically inaccurate. But does that matter in this context? It really depends what truth we are trying to convey as more important - whether the fact that Jesus was worshipped by both shepherds and Magi is more important than the timeline of that worship. Let me give a similar example, from outside of the Baptist tradition: in Eastern Orthodox icons of the Pentecost scene, Paul and James (the brother of the Lord) are depicted as being present in the room. Now, we know from the Scriptures that Paul and James weren't actually there historically; but the main point of the icon is not to show who was there and when, but that all the Apostles received and were commissioned by the Holy Spirit, including (later) James and Paul. This particular icon, just like the Nativity scene, is not meant to be a snap-shot of one moment in time, but rather a visual representation of a dynamic story, rather like a comic strip consisting of just one frame.

 

[J.D.]

Guys, I think that's enough. JD is probably gonna need stitches after laughing at all of us for being strung along so long. :laugh:

You're on to something there! Actually I'm serious but I realize it's a light subject. But there is a heavy application. The accumulation of "inaccuracies" surrounding Christmas does bother me, seriously. Here's an example: My lost "friends", that never go to church, nevery pray, some are drunks, on drugs, live in sin, you name it, etc., and think I'm wacked-out for not joining them in their rioting -- they observe Christmas like the last judgement depends on it. It's their religion. So Christmas is their substitute for biblical faith. That bothers me. I don't think I should encourage it.

 

[J.D.]

Can you define all "lies" as being sin? Did Rahab the Harlot sin in hiding the Israelite spies? Did David and Jonathan sin when they were in the field with the archer? Did Jesus sin when He "pretended to go further" while walking with the two gents after His resurrection?

I believe Scripture makes a case for intent being the determining factor if a lie, pretending, etc. is sin

Good point. Is lying to an enemy at war a sin? I would like to see some ideas on that.

 

[annsni]

Mine is a lie. I'm SURE Mary and Joseph were bigger than 3" with Fisher Price written on their bottoms.

But then again, I never told anyone "This is exactly how the birth of Christ was" so I'm not lying.

 

[Alcott]

Good point. Is lying to an enemy at war a sin? I would like to see some ideas on that.

No, you can pierce them with bullets, slash off their arms or legs, burn them with a flamethrower, or stab them with a bayonet... but lying to them-- now that must be a sin!