Are Christmas Trees in the Bible?

20/12/2010

Many ‘Christians’ and non religious people at this time of year, all ‘join together’ to pull out all the stops to celebrate ‘Christmas’. One of the oddest customs is to to bring a tree in from the cold outside and set it up in the warmth of a living room. The tree is then decorated with gold tinsel and presents. On the top of the tree often a gold shimmering star is placed and under the tree people put presents for all their family.

Is the Christmas Tree Biblical?

It might surprise you to know that the Christmas tree is in the Bible:

“Hear ye the word which the LORD speaketh unto you, O house of Israel: 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.” Jeremiah 10:1-4

This passage was given to Gods chosen people to warn them to not learn the way of the heathen around them – to NOT make Christmas trees! It’s a reference to the pagan practices of the false religions that were around Israel. God’s people were supposed to of been separate from these pointless, vain and fruitless practices.

Paganism and Christmas

Just this one simple area of the customs of Christmas expose its true origin. It is not really a true ‘Christian’ festival – but rather a compromise with paganism. The ancient pagans believed that there was a strong connection with evergreen trees and fertility. They decorated trees as an act of worship to their gods – they left presents under the trees as sacrifices. When the Roman Empire switched from being Pagan to being ‘Christian’ these customs were simply re-branded as being Christian. They were no such thing!

Although no-one today will be considering they are worshiping a pagan god as they decorate their tree, the truth of the matter is that this is what the practice originally was intended to be all about. Why would followers of the Bible want to be part of such a practice? Why would we want to blur the lines between Gods word and the pagan practices of the world at large? If we did not have society telling us this was what we were supposed to be doing would we do it? To be an independent Bible based thinker you must have an answer for these questions and to be a follower of Jesus and the Bible you must have a Biblical reason. I leave it to you to find one!

Much more could be said about the pagan origins of Christmas but this year – as you see all the Christmas tree’s spring up around you consider God’s words to his true followers: “Learn not the way of the heathen“…

As we read in Peter:

“But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:” 1 Peter 2:9