Someone told me that we shouldn't put up Christmas decorations...?

Question

She used Jeremiah 10 as a reference for this. I'm not really getting that we shouldn't decorate out of that. She is, however, the mother of the church, so I'm assuming she knows what she's talking about. What do you think?

Are there any other points of reference in the Bible regarding this?

Answer 1

lots of people can use the bible to come up with whatever rationale they want. listen to your own heart. do you think there is something wrong with putting up xmas decorations? if you think it's fine, then it's fine.

Answer 2

I think this mother of your church has very little understanding to why the church even celebrates anything during that time. When the Christian Church was underground during perilous persecution, the church would gather on those days, and find Christ in that pagan feast, and point to Him instead. He is eternal, just like the evergreen sybolizes in pagan cultures, so we kept that, because it isn't an evil thing to decorate your home with evergreens.

She is thinking that Jeremiah 10 is a modern day christmas tree. And you shouldn't have one up in your home....IF you are are going to start worshipping the tree. The tree was some tradition for the worship of the sungod's return to the North, after His descent South. The 25th was a day that the return of their god was perceptable by the human eye. Are you worshipping the sun? Then why worry about this?

Jesus' birthday is not December 25th, but it is a good time to think about the Light of the World, coming into our darkness.

Many don't know the history of the early church, and are thus mistaken on why the church holds to these times. Put up your chirstmas tree and frustrate the devil. This is a season of Joy. In the past, it was a horrible pagan season with all sorts of unmentionable things happening.

What are you going to do instead...start finding some Jewish Holidays to celebrate? Keep in mind, the Jews would turn Christians in when they could, and that is why the church had to separate themselves from the Jews as much as possible. Even to the point of not fasting on the same day that they did. When Christians were persecuted, they usually ended up martyred.

Without the benefit of the history of the Church, this every manfor himself belief is rampant. And confusion runs amuk. May you find the Truth.

If you seek Truth with your whole heart, you will find it.

Answer 3

As a fundlementalist Baptist Christian I do want to say I am experiencing the same thing in a few groups I am. They are saying I shouldn't have the tree up or any decorations or have movies of Santa Claus because it's of the devil and is pagan.
However, my church last year did a program for Christmas lights of Jesus. They had a candle, Christmas tree, Christmas lights, Lawn lights of the navity scene and a Santa and so on. The whole church was lite up of Christmas decorations both Christian and secular it was a best feeling I had around the Christmas season.
This is How I view decorations in the house or at church. It's for fun and for amusement and to show the Love of Christ when you deck out your home. It's just shows you have a warm and welcome feeling into your home.
Jesus came to Earth to fullfil the Bible and to change the world by his light and he is the light of the world. If you feel you love to decorate like my family does then do so.
God Bless you
And Happy Christmas
Happy Hannukah also
Happy Holidays.

Answer 4

I wonder if she is referring to the beginning of that chapter:

(Jeremiah 10:2-4 NASB)
2Thus says the LORD,
"Do not learn the way of the nations,
And do not be terrified by the signs of the heavens
Although the nations are terrified by them;
3For the customs of the peoples are delusion;
Because it is wood cut from the forest,
The work of the hands of a craftsman with a cutting tool.
4"They decorate it with silver and with gold;
They fasten it with nails and with hammers
So that it will not totter.

If so, this passage refers to the creation and displaying of idols. Decorations are not the same thing.

Answer 5

People have said that Jeremiah 10 refers to a Christmas tree. Yes, there are similarities, but watch this. The passage refers to carving wood. Who has ever carved a Christmas tree? This passage refers to the making of idols, not to decorating a tree.

This is known as "going too far with the word". Some people twist scripture in order to justify their own beliefs, to feel superior to others--holier than thou--and to control others.

I believe you are free to decorate or not to decorate as you see fit. Silver and gold and other metals were used to decorate the Tabernacle and the Temple, and are worn as jewelry by human beings. In an Ezekiel passage, God gives Israel, in the form of a woman, jewelry to wear, yet takes it away again because of her consistent wickedness. (This refers to the seventy years in exile.)

If holy places and people can wear silver and gold, why shouldn't your tree?

Answer 6

The passage in Jeremiah speaks against following the pagan ritual of creating an idol out of a tree. If you are in danger of worshipping the Christmas tree, then don't do it. If you are a fundamentalist Christian that doesn't believe in images of Jesus for fear of idolitry, then perhaps you should be careful there too.

Christian tradition says that we are able to celebrate with decorations *without* turning away from God. I suppose everyone has to work it out for themselves.

Answer 7

It all depends upon if you follow a religion. Christimas, historically, is a Pagan holiday (i've done the research so i'm quoting based upon my readings). Dec. 25th is "supposed" to be the birth date of Jesus Christ, however, history has shown he was not born in that month let alone the day. The evergreen tree, according to pre-Christian Pagans is said to have special powers to protect against the forces of nature and evil spirits.

Christians have a way of changing a lot in our culture, I would know I was baptised Christian myself. Though this is not all completely a bad thing;however it is still something Christians deny. For example, in the bible (i'm not exactly sure where) it states that Christians are not supposed to eat pork (like muslims); however we all know Christians fail to recognize this quote in the Bible and wish to mis-read it.

So it all comes down to what you believe. Do your research. Christmas is so commercialized now, but what are your true intentions? Do you recognize the birth of Jesus as the son of God or as another wonder prophet? Do not let others hassle you. Search for yourself.

Answer 8

If she believes this, then she definitely shouldn't put up decorations. Christians should not sin against their conscience.

However, Christmas decorations are not even mentioned in the Bible much less forbidden. There are many such attempts at applying the Law of God against things because of personal beliefs.

St. Paul speaks to this point about those who eat certain foods while others judge against it....or worship on one particular day rather than another....

Rom 14:3-6
4 Who are you to judge someone else's servant? To his own master he stands or falls. And he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand.

5 One man considers one day more sacred than another; another man considers every day alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind. 6 He who regards one day as special, does so to the Lord. He who eats meat, eats to the Lord, for he gives thanks to God; and he who abstains, does so to the Lord and gives thanks to God.
(from New International Version)

Answer 9

I think that people should just shut the hech up about things they don't understand. God loves it when we celebrate His Son, and Christmas is the time to do it. Deck the Halls and forget what some lady has to say. Don't assume that people know what they are talking about just because of some posiotion they hold in their church. Search your feelings. Your feelings will let you know what's OK

Answer 10

Mother of what Church? She sounds like a
Jehovah Witness they don't celebrate anything, they say its not THE day therefore they won't celebrate it but they don't have parties for anything either. Very sad group of people.