Are Christmas Trees Pagan?

ARE CHRISTMAS TREES PAGAN?

The short answer is no.

WHERE DID THE PRACTICE OF PUTTING UP TREES ORIGINATE?

For this, we have to go to the Dead Sea Scrolls for history. The Essenes, (a portion of the Jewish population), relocated to the land of Canaan. The practice of worshipping the idol Asherah was in play when they got there and the shrines for Asherah were formed in living trees by reshaping them to hold an image of the idol. To nullify the pagan shrine, Jews simply removed the idol so the tree could go back to its original shape / form.

The trees we display in and around our homes are either fake or have been cut down. Once cut, the trees are no longer living. Nor do we reshape them and insert an idol to worship. Therefore, a Christmas Tree cannot be an Asherah tree. Furthermore, simply placing lights on a living tree doesn't make it an Asherah tree either. Again, we're not inserting an idol within the tree to turn it into a shrine.

In the 7th century, a British Monk - in an effort to Christianize the pagans - referred to the triangular shape of an evergreen tree to teach the Trinity. That spawned the practice of bringing a tree into the home - and often hanging it upside down from the rafters - as a reverent reminder of the triune nature of God - Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

Trivia: It was Martin Luther who was the first person to put lights on a tree.

BUT WHAT ABOUT JEREMIAH, CHAPTER 10?

This part of scripture is often misquoted as the person referring to it in order to deem Christmas trees as pagan symbols, doesn't include the full context in their criticisms. Yes, Jeremiah talks about cutting down a tree and lading it with gold, but if you keep reading, you'll find that he's actually talking about carving out an idol and covering it in gold.

That said, if your ornaments are paganistic in nature, which is a whole other conversation, just stop it and remember whose birthday it is we're celebrating.

PAN-BABYLONIANS (LEGALISTS)

Pan-Babylonians tend to go overboard with finding paganistic symbols. This can be harmful to the body of believers as a whole. 1st Corinthians 1-3 tells us if something is clearly pagan, to nullify or destroy it. If not, don't divide believers over it. Getting hung up on secondary or non-issues is definitely one way to divide and create dissension. So to the Pan-Babylonians I say, knock it off and go decorate a tree.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!