About this time every year I here casual conversation pertaining to the validity of the Christmas tree. Its about as predictable as the lyrics to the song 'The twelve days of Christmas' and just as monotonous!! It goes without saying that those representing either side have the best of intentions and are certainly well meaning. Well, at least the lion's share of them. I am sure some are just being quarrelsome because of a predilection for being cantankerous. The latter of course is characteristic of sin.
Now, for those who genuinely and honestly grapple with this topic I would like to clarify a couple of things that have been, more often than not, misrepresented both biblically & historically.
For those who gainsay the Christmas tree a passage often cited in support of their position is Jeremiah 10:1-10. It reads as follows:
This is what the LORD says: "Do not learn the ways of the nations or be terrified by signs in the sky, though the nations are terrified by them. 3 For the customs of the peoples are worthless; they cut a tree out of the forest, and a craftsman shapes it with his chisel. 4 They adorn it with silver and gold; they fasten it with hammer and nails so it will not totter. 5 Like a scarecrow in a melon patch, their idols cannot speak; they must be carried because they cannot walk. Do not fear them; they can do no harm nor can they do any good." 6 No one is like you, O LORD; you are great, and your name is mighty in power. 7 Who should not revere you, O King of the nations? This is your due. Among all the wise men of the nations and in all their kingdoms, there is no one like you. 8 They are all senseless and foolish; they are taught by worthless wooden idols. 9 Hammered silver is brought from Tarshish and gold from Uphaz. What the craftsman and goldsmith have made is then dressed in blue and purple-- all made by skilled workers. 10 But the LORD is the true God; he is the living God, the eternal King. When he is angry, the earth trembles; the nations cannot endure his wrath
The language of the underlined, at prima facie value, seems to support their position. However, the context clearly evinces that the Christmas tree is not in mind. The context is clear that God, through Jeremiah, is forbidding idol worship. Cutting down trees predicated on the intent to idolize them or worship them in God's place is what is forbidden....not the Christmas tree. An occasion of this tree worship is recorded in Isaiah 44:14-20:
He cut down cedars, or perhaps took a cypress or oak. He let it grow among the trees of the forest, or planted a pine, and the rain made it grow. 15 It is man's fuel for burning; some of it he takes and warms himself, he kindles a fire and bakes bread. But he also fashions a god and worships it; he makes an idol and bows down to it. 16 Half of the wood he burns in the fire; over it he prepares his meal, he roasts his meat and eats his fill. He also warms himself and says, "Ah! I am warm; I see the fire." 17 From the rest he makes a god, his idol; he bows down to it and worships. He prays to it and says, "Save me; you are my god."
This idolatrous expression is what is meant in the context of Jeremiah 10. The common usage of a tree for symbolic or decorative purposes, per se, is not meant or intended. After all the Terebinth tree played an integral role within the cultus of Israel. (Joshua 24:26, Judges 6:11 et al).
While idolatrous usage of various species of trees have been commonplace throughout history within many pagan ritualistic forms of worship (the Roman Kalends, the Germanic Yule tree, etc.) the Christmas tree does not find its inception within these sinful rituals.
The Christmas tree came into prominence within the borders of Germany around the 16th century, at least residentially/domestically. The actual origins of the tree can be traced back to the eleventh century as they appeared in the customary mystery plays. One of these performances in particular, the Paradise Play, utilized a tree to depict the tree from the garden of Eden.
These mystery plays were eventually ousted by the Church due to egregious immorality. However, the Paradise tree remained as it made its way into peoples domiciles. The people introduced the tree into their homes on Dec. 24 in conjunction with one of the Eastern church's feasts. The Paradise tree came to symbolize a tree of sin and a tree of life. This is why the trees were adorned with apples, signifying the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, as well as wafers, signifying the fruit of life, Jesus Christ.
It is historically most plausible that what we now know as the Christmas tree emerged from the Paradise tree (as well as another Germanic custom of the middle ages known as the 'Christmas light').
For those who would rather not have a Christmas tree there is nothing that requires you to. Be blessed. For those who involve a Christmas tree there is nothing forbidding you not to. Be blessed. There is nothing sinful about a Christmas tree and it would be wrong to bind anybodies conscience to something that is not defined as a biblical sin especially when privy to information and history that shows it not to be a pagan ritual or of pagan origin.
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