THE CHRISTMAS TREE

IT IS COMMON PLACE TO HEAR THAT CHRISTMAS TREES ADORNED WITH ORNAMENTS ARE IDOLATROUS. THE FOLLOWING PASSGE FROM JEREMIAH 10: 2-4 IS OFTEN CITED AS SUPPORT FOR THIS:

"Do not learn the ways of nations or be terrified in the sky, though the nations are terrified by them. For the customs of the peoples are worthless; they cut a tree out of the forest, and a craftsman shapes it with his chisel. They adorn it with silver and gold; they fasten it with hammer and nails so that it will not totter." (empasis added).

WHILE THIS PASSAGE SOUNDS LIKE IT SUPPORTS THAT THEORY, READ ON:

"Like a scarecrow in a melon patch, their idols cannot speak; they must be carried because they cannot walk."  Jeremiah 10 : 5

HIS REFERENCE WAS THEREFORE, A REFERENCE TO WOODEN IDOLS, NOT CHRISTMAS TREES.

IN FACT, CHRISTMAS TREES ORIGINATED IN CHRISTIAN GERMANY 2000 YEARS AFTER JEREMIAH'S CONDEMNATION OF WOODEN IDOLS. THEY EVOLVED OVER TIME FROM TWO CHRISTIAN TRADITIONS.

ONE WAS A "PARADISE TREE" HUNG WITH APPLES AS A REMINDER OF THE TREE OF LIFE FROM THE GARDEN OF EDEN. THE OTHER WAS A TRIANGULAR SHELF HOLDING CHRISTMAS FIGURINES DECORATED BY A STAR.

IN THE 16TH CENTURY, THESE TWO SYMBOLS MERGED INTO THE PRESENT CHRISTMAS TREE TRADITION. AS SUCH, THE CHRISTMAS TREE BEGAN AS A DISTINCTIVELY CHRISTIAN SYMBOL.

IT IS OUR PRAYER THAT THIS CHRISTMAS SEASON YOU WILL BE REMINDED TO USE THE SYMBOLISM OF THE CHRISTMAS TREE AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO WITNESS TO THOSE WHO ARE UNBELIEVERS..TO EXPLAIN THE REASON FOR THIS SEASON.

GOD BLESS YOU.