Samuel at Gilgal

1 Samuel 13 & 15

Should A Christian Put Up A Christmas Tree?

christmas-treeQuoting Gary DeMar:

Have you ever met a Christian who refused to display a Christmas tree in his house because he believed it to be a pagan tradition? I have. The use of the trees does have pagan roots, but Gary DeMar shares with us here why it is OK to display them:

Just because pagans might have used trees to worship their gods does not mean that we can’t use them to teach us something about God who has given us the “indescribable gift” of Jesus Christ (2 Cor. 9:15). The Christmas tree is an evergreen that reminds us that we have “eternal life” in Jesus Christ (John 6:40). The shape of the tree reminds us that we are “born from above” (John 3:3). The needles on the branches remind us that Jesus was “pierced through for our transgression” (Isa. 53:5). The lights hung on the tree remind us that Jesus is “the light of the world” (John 8:12) and through Him we are to be “the light of the world” (Matt. 5:14). The objects we hang on the tree remind us that “every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow” (James 1:17).

Instead of condemning the setting up of the Christmas tree as some practice brought into our homes from the pagan cold, it should remind us that God promises us “the right to the tree of life” (Rev. 22:14). If the Bible tells us “to go to the ant . . . to observe her ways and be wise” (Proverbs 6:6), certainly we can learn similar things from God’s other good creations, even trees.

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December 9, 2008 - Posted by Samuel | Christianity, Culture, History, Religion | | 3 Comments

3 Comments

  1. [...] unknown wrote an interesting post today onShould A Christian Put Up A Christmas Tree? « Samuel at GilgalHere’s a quick excerptThe shape of the tree reminds us that we are “born from above” (John 3:3). The needles on the branches remind us that Jesus was “pierced through for our transgression” (Isa. 53:5). The lights hung on the tree remind us that Jesus is … [...]

    Pingback by Hot Christmas Online » Blog Archive » Should A Christian Put Up A Christmas Tree? « Samuel at Gilgal | December 9, 2008

  2. I find it of troublesome concern when ‘Christians’ look for justifications to clearly disobey God. It is irrelevant all the ‘good Christians’ we can find that use the tree. It is more so irrelevant by ‘changing’ the symbolism associated with the pagan practices as well. Above, is a commentary on why Christian’s can do something God said we should not. The problem is, who do you follow? Man or God. Are we lead by training or tradition? Do we follow customs or commands? The above commentary on ‘why its OK’ reminds me of the Garden of Eden when the serpent said to Eve ‘yea, hath God said?’. And now, you sir, are doing the same thing.

    Read the following carefully:

    Deut. 12:30-32 Take heed to thyself that thou be not snared by following them, after that they be destroyed from before thee; and that thou enquire not after their gods, saying, How did these nations serve their gods? even so will I do likewise. 31 Thou shalt not do so unto the LORD thy God: for every abomination to the LORD, which he hateth, have they done unto their gods; for even their sons and their daughters they have burnt in the fire to their gods. 32 What thing soever I command you, observe to do it: thou shalt not add thereto, nor diminish from it.

    Jeremiah 10:2-4 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. 3 For 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. 4 They deck it with silver and with gold; they fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it move not.

    From just these passages, it is CLEAR from God’s Word, not man’s opinion as to what God expects of us and from us. Why would one even want to consider doing something they even remotely thought God abhorred and considered an abomination. I suppose, the person above finds no problem celebrating Easter with all it’s pagan roots. Let me be more specific, it is completely pagan. Christ was NOT born in December, he clearly, FROM Scripture was born in the Feast of Tabernacles. Leviticus 23 told Israel to ‘proclaim the Feasts of the LORD’. Christ was the Passover lamb. He died on Passover, buried on Unleavened Bread and rose on First Fruits. The 3 Spring festivals! The Feasts (Moed in Hebrew) were God’s divine appointments with mankind! John eluded to this when he referred to Christ as ‘The Lamb of God’, The Word was made flesh and dwelt among us! (Dwelt, in Greek derives from Tabernacle!!!). Christ was born on Tabernacles. The Feast was held on the 15th of Tishri (See Leviticus 23). It explains why there was ‘no room at the inn’ for them. All men we required 3 times a year to ‘appear before the LORD’ and this was the last Feast of the year for Israel, during October. It explains the no room problem, the shepherds in the field still, and many others. On top of that, Christ’s earthly ministry lasted for 3.5 years. He died on Passover, Nisan 14. Luke tells us Christ was 30 years old when He began to minister. Backing up half a year from Passover, His death and the ‘half year’ into his 4th year of ministry, puts Christ’s birthday around mid-October, which IS the Feast of Tabernacles.

    So, if you study the Feasts of the LORD, Leviticus 23, you will see Christ fulfilled the Spring Feasts and will then, prophetically, fulfill the Fall Feasts as well. Yom Teruah, Yom Kippur, and Tabernacles. Each of Christ’s advents were/would be on Tabernacles, His Birth, when He was ‘made flesh and DWELT, or tabernacled with men. Also, in His second advent, NOT rapture. When Christ transfigured on the Mount of Olives, Peter, James, and John wanted to build three tabernacles, or booths. It WAS the Feast of Tabernacles when Christ was Transfigured. A clear picture He would return on the FEAST as well.

    Easter has always been pagan. The reason the Catholic church absorbed the pagan festival is because the missed the FACT Christ was fulfilling First Fruits on His resurrection! They did not need to ‘pick a day’ to celebrate! God already ordained that day long ago! Is it no coincidence that another pagan feast was occurring the same month that God would raise His only Son up? I wonder who would have ordained a pagan feast to mask the truth? Well, the Apostle Paul saw passed it. He mentions this in 1 Cor. 5 and 15, clearly. He knew Christ fulfilled Passover, Unleavened Bread, and First Fruit. So, why does God’s People still not know? Because of these pagan traditions! If you simply study to shew thyself approved unto God (II Tim 2:15) and stop pleasing men, you would see this!

    God forbids His people to treat Him as the pagans do. He also warns us from the verses above NOT to add to it or diminish it. Yet, you all try to ‘justify’ the pagan days so you can ‘honor’ God. All you have done is disobeyed God and blasphemed Him. Do you know see that? ‘Yea, hath God said…’

    YES! God did say…and it is about time His people listen. Leave men’s traditions behind.

    Will you be lead by traditions…or lead by training?
    Will you follow customs…or forsake commands?
    Will you compromise the faith or contend for the faith?

    Those are your choices. Anything less than obedience to God is condemned.

    Comment by Derek Yesucevitz | April 15, 2009

  3. Shut up.
    It’s a Christmas tree.

    Comment by Austin Lee | October 26, 2009


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