Despite some Christmas Confusion, the Christmas tree can be a wonderful symbol for the tree of life.
🌲 God placed the tree of life in the garden of Eden (Genesis 2:9). However, when Adam sinned, mankind lost our right to eat from that life-giving tree.
Genesis 3:22: And the LORD God said, "The man has now become like one of us, knowing good and evil. He must not be allowed to reach out his hand and take also from the tree of life and eat, and live forever."
God couldn't allow sinful men to live eternally, and we couldn't do anything to restore that privilege. We needed a Savior, and Jesus was our longing fulfilled (Proverbs 13:12).
His victory over sin and death restored our privilege:
🌲 Revelation 22:14: Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city.
If you decorate with a Christmas tree, let it be an "evergreen" reminder of your eternal life in Christ!
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For more ways that the Christmas tree symbolizes Christian principles, see The Christmas Tree Connection.
These passages also speak of the tree of life: Revelation 2:7 and Revelation 22:1-5.
Note: If you have concerns about Christmas trees, don’t use one. I don’t want to persuade anyone to use a tree against their conscience (Romans 14). But please don't be taken in by the false claims about Christmas Trees and Jeremiah 10:2-4. See 6 Ways to Determine if a Scripture is Used Correctly.
If you have questions, I encourage you to read these articles:
Should we have a Christmas tree?
Do Christmas Trees have Pagan Roots?
After reading many articles, this is my conclusion:
It's possible that there could be a loose connection between Christmas trees and ancient pagan practices, long forgotten. But it's also possible that Christmas trees originated in German celebrations of Christmas. Neither view can be proved conclusively. We need to ask ourselves what the tree symbolizes for us. If we associate it with pagan practices, we shouldn't have a tree. If it has no pagan connection for us, we can let it symbolize the tree of life or other symbols of the tree found in Scripture. There is nothing intrinsically pagan about trees or decorations. Satan doesn't own them. For a more thorough explanation see The Anti-Christmas Spirit.
Bible Love Notes
The Olympic Games definitely have pagan roots and no one complains about that.
ReplyDeleteGreat point, Kellifornia.
DeleteTo quote an article:
"The Olympic Games began over 2,700 years ago in Olympia, in south west Greece. Every four years, around 50,000 people came from all over the Greek world to watch and take part. The ancient games were also a religious festival, held in honour of Zeus, the king of the gods."
But the Olympics are so far removed from that religious festival than no one associates them with any religion, nor is there any pagan ritual involved in our modern Olympics. They are strictly an athletic competition.
Nike tennis shoes are also named after a Greek god and FTD Florists have a pagan god for their symbol. If a person is concerned about Christmas trees, they should avoid these products and 1000's of other things if they are going to be consistent.
I suppose someone could say, "Well the Olympics aren't pretending to be a Christian competition." And that would be true. But, using that reasoning, you would still need to view a Christmas tree as a neutral decoration, having no pagan or Christian origins.
If we are looking for pagan connections, we are going to find them. Some folks even consider Labor Day a pagan holiday simply because it falls on the same day as some ancient pagan festival. They ignore the fact that it was established in 1894 to honor the labor unions to improve the conditions of workers.
We should be concerned about paganism that mimics present-day paganism (for example, yoga, which mimics Hindu rituals, Tarot Cards still used in the occult, fortune-telling which is an occult practice, etc.).
And if our conscience is bothered by Christmas trees, we shouldn't put one up.
But we need to be careful not to impose this non-essential belief on other believers (Romans 14).
We are saved by faith not by seeing. We are saved by hearing and obeying the word of God. As a Christian we have nothing to do with anything related with materials, symbols. And i believe that if anything is not written in Bible and no instruction to do so, we don't
Deletehave to practice it. If we disobeyed, that is paganism
Hi Frehaileab,
DeleteIf you believe you can only do things commanded in Scripture, then you are violating your belief by using the internet, using anything electric, or using any modern invention such as cars or buses.
New Testament Christians only met in homes, no church buildings are mentioned. If you go to church in a building, then you are violating your beliefs. The New Testament was written in Greek, and it doesn't say anything about translations, so you must learn Greek or you will be violating your belief.
And if you are following your belief about having no symbols, you must never use a cross or go into a home that has a cross on the wall. You cannot wear a wedding ring because it symbolizes your marriage. And if you believe Christians cannot have anything to do with "materials" then you must take a vow of poverty and never have more than food and shelter.
Your beliefs don't come from Scripture, but if you want to follow them to honor God, I won't judge you for doing it.
But Scripture commands you not to judge me for choosing to celebrate certain holidays as I feel led to celebrate them:
Colossians 2:16: Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day.
Scripture tells me that if I am convinced that celebrating a holiday honors God, it is fine for me to do it, and you have no right to judge me:
Romans 14:4-: Who are you to judge someone else’s servant? To their own master, servants stand or fall. And they will stand, for the Lord is able to make them stand. One person considers one day more sacred than another; another considers every day alike. Each of them should be fully convinced in their own mind. Whoever regards one day as special does so to the Lord... You, then, why do you judge your brother or sister? Or why do you treat them with contempt? For we will all stand before God’s judgment seat.
I will not judge you, and you must not judge me.
The OT scripture Jeremiah 10:3-4, is what’s some use to say that Christmas trees are forbidden and are pagan practices. But they were making idols. Covering them with silver and gold and worshiping those instead of the one true God. The Christian use of the evergreen tree and lights has meaning that points to Jesus. But I agree that anyone not fully convinced of this should not go against his/her conscience.
ReplyDelete