What I have found interesting in all of the responses I’ve gotten so far about the tree is that no one uses scripture to back their stance.

So far in scripture I have not found where God tells us to commemorate the birth of His Son with trees the way we do, but I have found where He says NOT to set up and decorate trees the way unbelievers do.

And in that same passage of scripture He explained the origins of this widely accepted tradition as being a pagan practice of idolatry.

How is this splitting hairs, and what are we supposed to do with that command “Learn not the way of the heathen” just ignore it?

If any tradition we hold dear even slightly resembles a practice that offends God, are you saying we should do it anyway?

Jesus made wine that was far more potent than even the stuff they started with at the beginning of the night, don’t you think people got completely smashed because of it? He knew that people would get more intoxicated than they should, but it was to bless those people who would enjoy the wine and not abuse it.

The point is that God gives us the resources we have to use our mind to decide how best to use them and honor God.

Same with the tree, we don’t kneel to a false god when we bring a tree in to the house, but it is today a part of a tradition that honors Christ, (or in some households – Santa, but that’s another issue).

I have heard the Jewish star is an occultic symbol. If it was a Swastika, I would be concerned because everyone associates that symbol with Naziism. No one thinks about magic or demon worship when they look at the Jewish star, they think of Israel, controversy and the Palestinians if they are at least a little bit informed.

I also would like to say that Easter is in my mind more important than Christmas (and Jesus’s birth was in the Spring, but so what?), and eggs and bunnies are symbols of fertility which have nothing to do with Christ. But I’m not going to make a big issue of that either, but use that day as a tool to tell people about Christ and if they’re interested, tell them about the false connection between Ishtar and Christ – if it comes up.

There is my dollar’s worth of opinion.

This post was not written to condemn anybody, but to see who would be convicted by what the scriptures had to say on the subject. Most people (seminary trained pastors and preachers included) don’t even know about Jeremiah 10 and God’s forbidden practice of tree worship.

If God says something was a sin then, why would it NOT be a sin now? God and His Word change not, and we can sin and not know we are committing sin until God shows us. The question is “Now what?”

Tree worshipers still exist today and when God said “learn not the way of the heathen” He is clearly saying that He doesn’t want us to do the things that they do.

You said we have bigger sins to worry about, but the size of a sin according to our human standards is irrelevant. The first of the 10 commandments: “Thou shalt have no other gods before me.” Idolatry is right at the top of the list with God.

Sin is sin, and if the sin of tree worship matters to God enough for Him to warn His people about it in the Bible, it’s supposed to matter to His people.

You said that we have taken a heathen practice and given it a new meaning, but When did God ever tell us to take heathen practices and give them new meaning?

How do we change something God says is wrong, and make it right? Even if we have ‘good intentions’ by setting up decorated trees in our homes, God told us in Romans 14:13-16 not to put a stumbling block in our brother’s way, and not to let our good be evil spoken of because the ones who don’t know any better will get the wrong impression.

You say that setting up trees in our homes doesn’t mean the same thing now as it did then – according to who? – Who determines the meaning of sin? Since when do WE define or re-define what God says is sin? God and His Word change not.

Do you know the spirit from which you have spoken? This is nothing but faulty humanism at it’s best. God’s Word changes not.

This is a matter of an individual’s personal conviction after having read the scripture, meditated on it, prayed, asked God, and heard back from God about it.

I can tell you right now, God is not like us: He is not going to contradict Himself by saying it was wrong then, but it’s not wrong now. God’s Word changes not.

If God’s Word does not convict an individual on any issue, nothing else will.

This pertains to my college courses for next semester and buying another vehicle.

God is so awesome to use Godly people in my life to bring me this message – thank you!

I’m also pleased that you found comfort and encouragement in this article. God knows our needs. Continue To Be Blessed!