Do you have a Christmas tree?

Question

It's a pagan tradition. The bible says it's wrong to have one. Yet millions of Christians put them up each year and think nothing of it. Jeremiah 10:2-4: "Thus saith the LORD, Learn not the way of the heathen, and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; for the heathen are dismayed at them. For the customs of the people are vain: for one cutteth a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman, with the axe. They deck it with silver and with gold; they fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it move not."

Btw I am not Christian and yes I do have a tree. I don't follow organized religion yet I do believe in God and Believe that Jesus is holy. I don't belong to a church and I worship God my own way. I'm not trying to be disrespectful to your religions. I'm just trying to understand a few things.

No I'm not demeaning pagans either. My sister is a wiccan.

Answer 1

I do not have a Christmas tree, and the church I attend has chosen not to have one also.

Many people here do not seem to have a strong identification with the Bible, which is the only sure way God has of communicating His will with us. In that book, He clearly is opposed to all forms of nature worship, which includes such things as decorated trees, asherah poles, worshipping the sun, and other things. The Old Testament is a fairly detailed accounting of the practices of paganism.

Modern people think it's okay to do what they want. They think that the essence of being reasonable is finding a good reason to do whatever they want. So-called Christians are guilty of this also. They don't appear to understand that the God they claim to worship has an opinion in the matter, and in many others. When people make justifications for what they do, they become "a law unto themselves." Not a good place to be vis a vis the creator of everything. Trees in the name of God, and being a law unto yourselves, has another name--idolatry, a violation of the first commandment.

For those of you who say "This is the way I was raised, and I was raised to associate the Xmas tree with Jesus," well, I can easily take that argument anywhere at all, and many cult leaders do. Just because you "thought" something was such-and-such, doesn't mean it's so.

The reason why the path is narrow is because people aren't concerned with the will of God, and they do what they want. This is a rejection of God. There is a huge gulf between worshipping a God, and making justifications to do what you want to do, or what you have always done. It's no wonder that so many people cannot tell the difference between Christians and non-Christians anymore.

Answer 2

This passage is speaking of cutting a tree and carving it into an idol, gold and silver plating were used on wooden idols to make them look like gold and silver. The craft was a well respected trade throughout the Bible days. Martin Luther was the first person recorded to put a Christmas tree up and decorate it in the now popular fashion, However, I personally am not into the whole Christmas tree and gift giving thing, and I don't recommend it to any Christian, ( or anyone else ) I believe it is a time set aside to remember the greatest gift the world has ever known, lying in the feed troth for animals, in a stable, in this humble way, our King entered this world.

God be with you,
William, a bond-servant of Jesus
<'(((><

Answer 3

I understand your concerns about the use of the Christmas tree, specifically in relationship to Jeremiah 10:1-5. These verses do not apply to Christmas trees, but they do condemn the idolatry practiced in Jeremiah's day. God's people were following the customs of the heathen who cut down trees, shaped the wood into idols, decorated them with silver and gold ornaments, and worshiped them as gods.

I put a 4 ft. up only for my 3 yr old granddaughter. Her family isn't saved and have one and she wants one at my home. Otherwise I wouldn't. My children are grown and it doesn't matter to them.



It is important that we keep Christ central and our worship of Him unhindered in our observance of Christmas. However, some believe it is unbiblical to have a Christmas tree lighted and decorated in the home or the church. It has been suggested that the branches of the tree pointing upward can signify praise to God. The star at the top can represent the star of Bethlehem. Also, the green of the evergreens has been recognized as symbolic of eternal life, God's gift to us through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Answer 4

Interesting how you've interpreted the principles of the Bible. I have wondered about those verses, yet I feel that God was talking to his people (the Jewish) about the fact that they had a really big problem with idolatry and would cut down and fashion their idols from wood and then worship it. I’m not sure if God was referring to Christmas trees. But it's a good point and maybe I just interpret these verses in such away because I really like the experience of decorating and having a Christmas tree, even though this year I was to broke to afford one.

Answer 5

Hey! What's wrong with us pagans? Most of us are happy-go-lucky and we love to share our holidays with you Christians. We even wish you a "Merry Christmas"! I don't see a "Christmas tree" specifically stated in that passage. Also, not to be demeaning, but aren't u supposed to live by the new testament since you believe in Jesus? Here's some other pagan symbols open for discussion...

Easter Eggs, bunnies, etc
3 and 4 leaf clovers
Wedding Rings
5 pointed stars (ohhh! US Flag! GASP!)
Christmas Wreaths
Poinsettias
The Cross! (represents the seasons)
Necklace charms made of gold or silver
Gem stones
Cute stuff with stars and moons on them
Brooms
Herbs
(the list goes on and on!)

My advice to you is look into your heart and see how you show God's love to others. If a tree, wreath, or whatever prevents you from being a good Christian, then by all means get rid of it, but you're going to turn into a schizo trying to avoid everything that may not be "Christian". BB!

Answer 6

Ok I am Jewish aso no, I do not have a tree but that quote is about idols. It is not about trees. Christmas trees are a recent "invention" (within a few hundred years). What that is talking about is taking a tree, carving an idol and decking it with gold and silver. It is not God and it will not move or talk. It is man made. That is point. An idol is nothing more than a piece of wood that looks pretty so do not worship it.
I know many Christians and none of them worship their tree, it is just a custom. Idols might be seen as crosses with Jesus on it or statues of Mary or other idols.
It is not about trees.

Answer 7

I use the same tree every year, it grows in the garden and gets decorated with lights. Each year though, I have to climb higher to get the lights to the top.

I'm not a christian so I don't give a hoot what the bible says. And if the practice originally came from paganism, it's now passing to it's rightful place within secularist holiday enjoyment.

Answer 8

If you believe that Christians are following after the traditions of heathens you are mistaken. When I was a child I knew nothing of the pagan religions of the past and did not realize the Christmas tree was associated with such false faiths until I was an adult. I had always seen the Christmas tree as a symbol of Christmas, which in my home is a celebration of Jesus Christ birth. I continue to worship Christ and since Christ knows my heart, He knows that.

Answer 9

Yes, have a tree every year and my reasons are neither concerned with religion or pagan interests. It's fun to bring something into the house every year, decorate it and celebrate with my family. Is it a co-incidence that I dance around it naked on the winter solstice? I don't have a clue

Answer 10

Because Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God and the Word Incarnate, by His Presence, sanctifies (makes holy) the whole world.

Because His Body, the Church, of which He is the Head, is a continuation of that very same Incarnation, continues to sanctify the world and all that is in it. That includes the calendar, so-called Christmas Trees, and all formerly "pagan" holidays and their trappings

This is basic Christian doctrine.

As it says in the Acts of the Apostles, "What God has made holy, let no man call unclean".