Trees Are Just Tradition

This time of year all of the Christmas contentions arise. I think a lot of this yearly passion is founded in the passage below. It is one of the most misinterpreted passages of scripture during this time of year. Both by believers and non-believers alike.

Jeremiah 10
1Hear ye the word which the LORD speaketh unto you, O house of Israel:

2Thus 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.

3For the customs of the people are vain: for one cutteth a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman, with the axe.

4They deck it with silver and with gold; they fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it move not.

5They are upright as the palm tree, but speak not: they must needs be borne, because they cannot go. Be not afraid of them; for they cannot do evil, neither also is it in them to do good.

People are taking this scripture and using it as a reason not to celebrate Christmas. Even though Christmas is not mentioned once. No one seems to notice for whom this was written. Jesus hadn't been born yet. Which is why we celebrate Christmas. They are stretching the meaning and using their colorful imaginations to justify their positions. For the past two days I've listened to debaters waffle over exactly what this means. All the stables of the holiday are largely ceremonial. The Christmas tree, nativity scene, even Santa Claus and his reindeer are symbols. Nobody worships any of these things, but they do associate them with the Christmas season.

Could this whole thing be the fault of the Christians? Let's not pick and choose which principles we follow. Non-believers are watching and taking note. Some of us don't celebrate Christmas, but we participate in communion. They are done for the same reason. Luke 22:19 And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me. The whole world didn't believe in God back in the old testament, just like they don't believe today. Jeremiah 10 has nothing to do with Christmas trees today, it was about idol worship back then. In history you can find several instances where people used trees for the wrong reason, but that has nothing to do with Christians and Christmas Trees today. The magic word is context. Trees are just tradition.