The Idol Christmas Tree
66Why Is The Christmas Tree An Idol?
Why
would God consider a decorated tree to be an idol? Why is that
offensive to Him? A tree is a source of provision that He created to
meet the needs of mankind in several ways. Trees provide oxygen,
beauty, wood, paper, food, medicine, and the list goes on and on.
When
it comes to Christmas trees, people typically believe they are
worshiping or honoring God's Son Jesus Christ by decorating trees and
placing gifts for loved ones underneath them.
But why did God
say "learn not the way of the heathen" (heathen are pagan unbelievers
who worship false gods), and then describe their practice of cutting
down trees, fastening them to stand upright and decorating them in
Jeremiah 10?
"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 wormkman, with the ax. They deck it with silver and with gold; they fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it move not. Jeremiah 10:2-4"
Cutting a tree down in order to decorate it and
place wrapped presents under it removes that tree from the purpose God
intended for it, and when people kneel before it to receive gifts that
tree did not provide - this is FALSE worship and God is not pleased
with His children performing such acts.
Singing to the inanimate tree is also offensive to Him. Consider the words to O Christmas Tree:
Oh Christmas tree, oh Christmas tree, of all the trees most lovely
Oh Christmas tree, oh Christmas tree, of all the trees most lovely
Each year you bring to me delight, meaning in the Christmas night
Oh Christmas tree, oh Christmas tree, of all the trees most lovely
Oh Christmas tree, oh Christmas tree, with faithful leaves unchanging
Oh Christmas tree, oh Christmas tree, with faithful leaves unchanging
Your boughs are green, in summers glow and do not fade in winters snow
Oh Christmas tree, oh Christmas tree, with faithful leaves unchanging
Each year you bring to me delight, meaning in the Christmas night
Oh Christmas tree, oh Christmas tree, of all the trees most lovely
Singing
such a song may seem harmless and no big deal. This is the humanistic
viewpoint however, and God is not pleased because He alone is our
provider. He wants to be the center of our attention because He alone
is worthy.
He made it quite clear to us in His Word that He is
a jealous God and He hates idol worship. Students of the Bible know
that throughout the Bible, God turns people's idols against them unless
they repent.
However, most students of the Bible seem to be
completely unfamiliar with Jeremiah 10 where God warns His people not
to set up and decorate trees with silver and gold the way people do at
Christmas time. There are many ways to honor the birth of God's Son
without disobeying Him.
"God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. John 4:24"
Worshiping God in spirit is important to Him because He is a spirit being and so are we. Worshiping Him in truth can never include kneeling before a tree to receive gifts which that tree did not provide. Materialism has no place in spiritual worship.
Be Blessed!
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Heart4theword
How appropriate your profile name is indeed, for only those who have a heart for God's Word will respond the way you have! You're right about stepping out on a limb but this Christian walk is not a popularity contest now is it? :D
I am blessed to know that it's the Word which convicted your heart, and believe me, it takes some getting used to not having a tree up. But the peace you find from knowing you're doing what's right according to the Word and not humanism will more than make up for it.
Thank you for sharing this encouraging comment.
Here's some food for thought on that one... http://www.orlutheran.com/html/jer10.html Keep in mind, when you read the entire thing, Jeremiah is talking about worshiping the tree itself.
Thank you Mr. Bradley for stopping by and leaving this comment. I did as you requested and after careful consideration of the information found on this link, here is my response.
With all the dissertation Dr. Bucher came up with, instead of attacking those who disagree with him by calling them superficial interpreters of scripture and enslavers of fellow believers' consciences with imaginary sin, why didn't he deal with these 7 words in Jeremiah 10:2 "learn not the way of the heathen"? His avoidance of those words is highly suspicious.
Even if Believers are not worshiping the decorated trees that they set up, by definition they in fact have followed the exact same practice of the heathen unbelievers who do so.
The phrase "learn not the way of the heathen" means we are NOT to do what they do - even if it feels or looks harmless and fun to us. Being holy like God is holy means we are set apart, we are DIFFERENT, we don't do the things that heathen unbelievers do.
If it looks like a duck, quacks waddles and has feathers like a duck, most reasonable people will conclude 'it's a duck.' We as Believers are not to do things that have the appearance of sin because we bear the responsibility of not being a stumbling block to others.
Even if we are not worshiping the Christmas tree, what could possibly justify us doing something that LOOKS like something God says is sin? If we are so sensitive about idol worship the way God is, why would we turn around and do something that has the appearance of idol worship to those who are on the outside looking in?
That line of reasoning is not logical or intelligent. How do we take something God defines as sin, and make it acceptable? None of us are in a position to re-define something God classifies as sin. This is so simple that only those minds which have been blinded by Satan will miss it.
Old Bible commentaries by supposedly reputable men of God mean very little to me because the Spirit of God dwells in each Believer, and He is able to (and He does) bring correct interpretation of scripture directly to the Believer's heart and mind.
Each Believer needs to hear the voice of God for his/herself, especially with all the religious trickery going on. Just because somebody has the title of 'Rev.' or 'Dr.' before their name doesn't make them right about everything. Only the Word of God is right and we need to know that Word, and know God for ourselves.
Fact is, Dr. Richard P. Bucher simply does not acknowledge that tree worship still exists in our modern era, he does not agree that Jeremiah 10 is referring to our modern day practice of setting up and decorating Christmas trees, and he made a sloppy and unsuccessful attempt to use other scriptures to prove his point.
He said those passages PROVE God was not talking about the Christmas tree in Jeremiah 10. However anybody looking at those passages can tell they do not prove or disprove that notion.
And I am so glad that writer did not say 'I prayed, and God showed me He was not talking about the Christmas tree in Jeremiah 10...' because if he said that, he would be lying.
It is quite evident he was only speaking from a faulty humanistic view as he totally avoided the crux of the entire issue: "learn not the way of the heathen".
heart4theword Level 4 Commenter 2 years ago
I know you were stepping out on a limb, writing about this one. It is amazing the traditions we carry on, just because everyone does it. We don't seem to question about it's origin. This year, we did not put up a tree, because of this very verse, you pointed out in the Bible. I have to admit it was different, not having a tree up, yet we felt this was what was right for us. Merry Christ-mas!