Five things Friday roundup: Reflections on Christ’s incarnation in a fragile earth and a living Christmas tree

In Indonesia, where Christians are a minority, a growing movement encourages the use of living Christmas trees as a symbol of faith and environmental stewardship, moving away from artificial decorations.

A Living Christmas Tree as a Symbol of Faith

For many in Indonesia, the Christmas tree often represents a marker of Christian identity. One pastor describes telling his children that artificial trees are “plastic that will end up stored in a warehouse like trash,” opting instead for a living tree grown outside their home.

Incarnation and Caring for Creation

The concept of a living Christmas tree is rooted in an incarnational understanding of faith, emphasizing the importance of caring for the world Christ entered. Amid increasing environmental concerns, planting a tree is seen as a declaration of active participation in God’s work of embracing creation.

Reimagining the Symbol for a Javanese Mennonite Community

A pastor in Jepara, Indonesia, invited his congregation, a Javanese Mennonite Church (GITJ), to reimagine the Christmas tree as an active commitment to caring for life. This approach aligns with the Mennonite emphasis on simplicity, peace, and holistic shalom.

1. Christ as the Tree of Life (Kayon)

Javanese culture features the gunungan, or mountain, a tree-like symbol known as the kayon, representing the tree of life and the center of the universe. This resonates with the concept of the cosmic Christ described in Colossians 1:17, in whom all things were created. Planting a living tree symbolizes the incarnate Christ present with humanity and all creation, uniting the divine and human.

2. The Full Story of Salvation

Javanese spirituality recognizes an origin (sangkan) and purpose (paran) for all life, reflecting the biblical arc from Creation to restoration. A living tree embodies this cycle, beginning as a seed and returning to the earth to give way to new life. This perspective frames Christ’s incarnation as part of God’s larger saving story, encompassing his birth, life, death, and resurrection.

3. Sacramental Communion: God Revealed Through Creation

Traditionally, Javanese society has understood God through nature. A growing tree inspires awe and points to the Creator, a concept known as a sacramental understanding of creation. Scripture also reveals creation as a medium of God’s revelation. A tree’s roots in the earth and branches reaching for the sky symbolize a connection between humanity, creation, and God, mirroring the Javanese concept of manunggaling kawula Gusti, the union of the human and the Divine.

4. Caring for and Restoring Creation’s Harmony

Javanese wisdom emphasizes memayu hayuning bawana: nurturing the beauty and harmony of the world. This ethic views nature as a partner to be guarded, not exploited. The incarnation demonstrates God’s presence and involvement within the world, not outside it. Celebrating Christmas without concern for the earth is seen as failing to live out the incarnation fully.

5. Roots of Life and Hope

A tree embodies the incarnation, representing the life-giving Word made flesh. Just as a tree draws from the soil, Christ rooted himself in the world to become a source of life and hope. Communities once honored trees near springs, recognizing their life-sustaining role. Planting a tree is an act of hope, trusting in its role for sustainability.

One pastor planted a Kalpataru tree in front of his house in 2019, now considered his family’s Christmas tree. The tree has grown and helped sustain their well, preventing it from running dry during the dry season. The practice of planting a living Christmas tree can extend beyond families to become a communal ritual, symbolizing a shared commitment to care for the earth.