Christmas Tree

The Christmas tree debate

Before reading this study, I would highly recommend you reading my study titled “I do not celebrate Christmas”. That study gives a thorough run down of the pagan origins of Christmas. This extra study, on the Christmas tree, has been the result of a reader challenging my use of Jeremiah 10, as evidence that God condemns them. Therefore, I am going to take on a more in depth look at the Christmas tree. Personally, I find it quite disturbing that a simple tree can cause so much controversy….but here we go!! Let’s see what God’s Word really says.

=> Is there a Christmas tree in the Bible?

The first question that should be asked in regard to this subject is the following: Is there a command anywhere in God’s Word that a human should cut a tree out of the forest, set it up in their home in December every year, and decorate it? No!! There is no such command nor suggestion that such a thing should be done.

Despite this, there are millions of Christian believers who do this very thing at the time of the Winter Solstice. It is well recognised by many people today that the practice is purely and simply a retention of pagan doctrines, and the custom has nothing to do with the teachings of the God’s Word.

=> The pagan origins of the Christmas Tree

Since the earliest of times evergreen trees were worshipped by pagans. The evergreen tree was chosen because of its ability to remain green during the winter season. The evergreen tree symbolised immortality, fertility, sexual potency, and reproduction, and was often brought into homes and set up as idols.

The significance of the evergreen can only be understood when you understand how much the pagans worshipped nature. "To them, Nature was everywhere alive. Every fountain had its spirit, every mountain its deity, and every water, grove, and meadow, its supernatural association. The whispering of the trees ... was the subtle speech of the gods who dwelt within" (W.M. Auld, Christmas Traditions).

The first known decorating of evergreen trees came from the pagans, honouring their god Adonis, who was slain and supposedly brought to life by a serpent. Mythology writes that he representation of the slain Adonis was a dead stump of tree, with a snake coiled around it.  This was supposedly symbolising the restoral of life. An evergreen tree sprouted from the roots of the dead tree, symbolising the god that can never die.

• In Babylon, the evergreen tree came to represent the reincarnation of Nimrod as his new son, Tammuz.
• In Egypt, this god was worshiped in a palm tree as Baal-Tamar.
• In the land of Canaan, pagans also took on tree-worship, calling it the Asherah...a tree with its branches cut off and carved into a phallic symbol.

So you can see that the annual custom of erecting and decorating evergreen trees was brought down to us through the centuries by the paganism of Tammuz and Baal, or the worship of the sun, mingled with the worship of Aesculapius the serpent. The evergreen tree is an obvious symbol of this false god.

=> Christmas Tree’s condemned by early Christians

Due to the warnings of the apostle Paul in the New Testament that Christians should "flee idolatry" and John's statement to "keep yourselves from idols", the authorities in Post-Reformation England condemned the celebration of Christmas altogether, because of it's paganism.  They actually made laws forbidding it to be celebrated, which were put into effect in the American colonies.  Anyone found celebrating Christmas in any shape or form, was fined.

The reason that the pilgrims were forbidding the celebration of Christmas was because they were wise enough to realise that the Bible did not condone such customs of the early heathen that had nothing to do with the teachings of Christianity. In fact, they had many Scriptures that made it quite clear that God was not pleased with such idolatrous celebrations. One such command is found here…

Jeremiah 10:2,3
"Hear you the word which the Lord speaks unto you, 0 house of Israel. Thus says the Lord. Learn not the way of the heathen [non-Israelite nations], and be not dismayed at the signs of the heaven; for the nations are dismayed at them. For the customs of the people are vain."

=> What about Jeremiah 10?

The book of Jeremiah is used as strong Biblical proof to support why it IS and ISN’T okay to have a Christmas tree. Let’s look at both arguments more closely.

Firstly, it is crucial to understand that Jeremiah was a book of prophecy, and applies as much today as it did hundreds of years ago! Even though we have learnt that these Scriptures were applicable for the times of Jeremiah, we must keep in mind that the book is primarily prophecy. Just as with other prophecies, this was written for our time, to our people, and referring to the common customs of the modern world! For example, Jeremiah describes such things as hot-cross buns for Easter in Jeremiah 7:18.

Now, let’s look at the actual passage in question, Jeremiah 10:1-5 and 8,9. King James Version.

“Hear you the word which the Lord speaks unto you, O house of Israel. Thus says the Lord. Learn not the way of the heathen and be not dismayed at the signs of the heaven; for the nations are dismayed at them. For the customs of the people are vain. For one cuts a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman with the axe. They deck it [the tree] with silver and with gold. They fasten it [the tree] with nails and with hammers that it move not. They [such trees] are upright as the palm tree, but speak not. The tree [KJV: stock] is a doctrine of vanities. Silver is spread into plates is brought from Tarshish, and gold from Uphaz, the work of the workman, and of the hands of the founder. Blue and purple is their clothing. They [the trees] are all the work of cunning men."

The pronouns in this passage have been identified in brackets, and follows the Hebrew meanings of the words precisely.

=> First view….Jeremiah is referring to idols made from wood.

Now, some translators arrive at the conclusion that Jeremiah is speaking about getting some timber from the forest, carving it into the shape of an idol and then plating it over with silver and gold. In brief, they claim that Jeremiah is not really talking about a tree, but an idol carved from wood.

These translators claiming that this Scripture is just referring to the making of idols have some grounds to stand on. The early pagans were well know to take wood and carve it into an idol, and gild it with silver and gold. There are such examples in the Bible, particularly during the creation of the Ark of the Covenant….

Exodus 25:10, 11
“And they shall make an ark of shittim wood: two cubits and a half shall be the length thereof, and a cubit and a half the breadth thereof, and a cubit and a half the height thereof. And thou shalt overlay it with pure gold, within and without shalt thou overlay it, and shalt make upon it a crown of gold round about.”

Even in Isaiah, there is mention of images that were gilded…..

Isaiah 40:19
"The workman melts a graven image, and the goldsmith spreads it over with gold, and casts silver chains"

But, if you go on to read the following verses in Isaiah, you will notice that not all idols were gilded. It was the poor and impoverished pagans who could not afford gold or silver, who had to create an idol made out of wood alone.

Isaiah 40:20
"He that is so impoverished that he has no oblation chooses a tree that will not rot; he sees him a cunning workman to prepare a graven image that shall not be moved."

Though the majority of ancient idols were made of solid clay, stone, bone, metal or wood, most were not gilded over with gold or silver. They were on the other hand commonly decorated or painted with such substances, and this is why some translators say that this is what Jeremiah may have been talking about.

=> Second view….Jeremiah is referring to “tree worship” and the Christmas tree.

Other translators say that Jeremiah is talking directly about “tree worship”, and that this passage is referring to the “Christmas Tree.” And I also believe that Jeremiah is referring to an actual tree, and not a lump of wood. These trees were decked with silver and gold, and rich weavings of blue and purple fabrics. He compared the use of these decked-out trees to the practice of idolatry and such trees were being used in false worship.

Let’s look at the Scripture in question again…..

• In verse one, we are told to listen, because God is speaking to us.
• In verse two, God gives us a commandment. “Learn not…”.  Don’t practice this heathen custom.
• In verse three, we begin the description....a custom where a tree is cut from the forest.
• In verse four, they fasten the tree upright so that it will not fall over, and it’s lavishly decorated.
• In verse five, we are told that it is fastened upright and cannot speak or walk, its needs must be met. And we are told not to be afraid of it, because it is a false god and has no power.

Is not this the perfect illustration of the Christmas tree??

Why these verses are not describing a wooden carving, as some have suggested, are as follows….

• No wooden carving is linked with the signs in the heavens
• The original Hebrew text uses the word “ets” means “a tree from it’s firmness”.  It's the roots that give a tree it’s firmness...so it must be a tree rather than a plank of wood.
• Wooden carvings aren’t usually fastened upright.  They sit on their own.
• It’s needs must be met. What ‘needs’ does a wooden carving have? You have to add water to the tree.

When Jeremiah said "one cuts a tree out of the forest," the word for "tree" is a Hebrew word that means a living tree that grows in the ground. As already stated, the very phrase “a tree from it’s firmness” confirms this point. The "trees" in the Garden of Eden, (like the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, and the tree of life), were indicated as being ordinary "trees" by the use of this word. Sometimes it can mean a block of wood.  But notice that Jeremiah said that they cut a tree "from the forest".   A forest is made up of numerous trees usually over a large area of land....not many "blocks of wood" or "pieces of timber." The immediate context of Jeremiah shows he is really talking about a tree that one can cut down and that it can be decked or adorned with gold or silver or blue or purple cloths.

There is a further way to show that the context of Jeremiah is speaking of a literal tree. He states that the "tree" which is decorated with ornaments and is nailed in place is like a "palm tree" that is upright so that it remains upright. This is what Jeremiah wrote if one uses the simple meaning of the Hebrew words as a guide. A "palm tree" is being discussed by Jeremiah because the only other time the word is used in the Bible, it clearly refers to a living palm tree (that Scripture is found in Judges 4:5). The palm tree (also an evergreen) was being decorated with gold and silver spiral ribbons like those that were being made on a lathe and also with blue and purple cloth ribbons. These trees were known as asherahs, and they are mentioned several times in the Old Testament and often are translated by the English word "grove." But the word asherah has refers to a single tree that can be living, cut from a forest, or depicted in abstract forms. The most ancient form of all pagan religion is simple "tree worship." The fact is that long before most nations of the world took up depicting their gods and goddesses in human or animal form, most pagans were thoroughly engrossed in various forms of "tree worship."  This "tree worship" was well known in the time of Jeremiah. In mountainous areas cedars and firs were worshiped. In more desert regions the palm was the tree most worshiped.

This kind of heathen activity is exactly what Jeremiah is talking about in chapter 10. He was telling the Israelites not to learn the way of the heathen, and the modern Christmas tree is a prime example in our day of what the heathen were doing in the time of Jeremiah.

=> Using pagan tradition to worship God

This subject alone deserves a full-blown study on it’s own. But let’s just touch on it briefly now. We have established that the Christmas tree has pagan origins, way back when the evergreen tree was used during the winter solstice festivals. We have also learned that the traditions of the pagan’s were embraced and Christianised by the Roman Catholic church, as a means of attracting them into their religion. We have established that neither Christmas, nor the Christmas tree are found anywhere in the Bible, and are not recorded as being acceptable ways of worshipping our Lord Jesus Christ. The celebrations were not apart of the early Church, and actually abhorred, rejected and prohibited by early Christians. So, what’s changed?? Why is it that Christians, all over the world, embrace Christmas and the beloved Christmas tree, and are seemingly trying to try a blind eye to all the facts? Has the Bible changed? Has God changed??

Hebrews 13:8
Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.

There are many Scriptures that the Lord Jesus has warned us about in dealing with idols and those things the HEATHEN do, of which we are commanded to NEVER do or imitate. As Christians, we are NOT to embrace heathen ways, especially as a means of worshipping our Holy God.

What is the harm?? Some argue that the days of our week, and the months of our years, and the very wedding rings on our fingers have pagan origins. We don’t disregard them. So what is the difference?? The difference is that we are using CHRISTMAS, the CHRISTMAS TREE, etc, as a means of worshipping God. And that is so very very wrong, because of it’s pagan origins, and because it is not a way in which God has asked us to worship Him. Does THAT really matter? Some argue that God looks at our hearts. But take a look at these verses…..

John 4:23, 24
“But the hour cometh, and not is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship Him. God (is) a Spirit: and they that worship Him must worship (Him) in spirit and in truth.”

So, we must worship Him in truth….and not in any way that we like. God has laid out very clear and precise ways in which we ARE and ARE NOT to worship Him. God actually condemns using pagan’s forms of worship, to worship Him! Look at the very first instance of this in the Bible. God asked Cain and Abel to bring a burnt offering to Him. Abel obeyed, but Cain did not. He thought of a different way to worship God, and God condemned him for it. And Cain, filled with hatred, contempt and jealousy, killed his brother. Is this not a very clear example and illustration of the seriousness of worshipping God in any other way other than how we are commanded?

=> The conclusion

As has been seen, the interpretation of Jeremiah and it’s relevance to the case against the Christmas Tree is highly debated. I believe that the “Christmas tree,” as described in Jeremiah, is a “custom of the people” and is worthless. I believe that there is enough Biblical and historical evidence to prove that the cutting down and setting up a tree is termed "the way of the Gentiles [heathen]." We are commanded not to learn or follow that way, and taught that using a tree in this manner is idolatry. The basic commandment against idolatry, of course, is found in Exodus 20:4-6. If we try to honour God through any sort of idol or icon, we are guilty of breaking this commandment.

But, regardless of how you interpret these Scriptures found in Jeremiah, you must agree with the underlying message of Jeremiah. And that is that we are forbidden to use pagan traditions as a means of worshipping God. God forbids it. What does a Christmas tree, with all its decorations and pagan symbolism, have to do with our Lord Jesus Christ’s coming to save humanity from sin? I am hopeful and prayerful that this study opens eyes to the wickedness of white washing pagan festivals, and using them as a means of worshipping our Heavenly Father.



Written by Lee Lambert

Christmas

THE REASONS WHY I DO NOT CELEBRATE CHRISTMAS

I do not celebrate Christmas, and haven’t for the past 16 years. I was brought up in a Christian family who went all out for Christmas. But it wasn’t until I met my husband-to-be that I found out the reason why some Christians choose not to celebrate the festive season. I have to admit that I kept putting off “the discussion”, hoping if I ignored it long enough, it would go away! Giving up Christmas just didn’t seem do-able! But, we were about to be joined as husband and wife, and I knew we had to talk. Geoff gave me a book called “Babylon Mystery Religion” by Ralph Woodrow. The summary of the book, as written on the back cover, is…. “a detailed Biblical and historical account of how, when, why and where ancient paganism was mixed with Christianity.” Mingled with much prayer, I read the book, and was overcome with an incredible feeling of peace in our decision that, as husband and wife, we would NOT be sharing in the celebrations of Christmas.

Let me take you through the reasons why. Firstly, what are the REAL origins of CHRISTMAS.

=> Origins of Christmas in the Bible

Some maybe surprised that there is no evidence in the Bible of Christmas, and no details of it ever being celebrated by the early Christians during Jesus’ time here of earth. Don’t you think that if God wanted us to celebrate Jesus’ birthday, He would have told us when and how to celebrate it? The word “Christmas” is not mentioned even once in the Bible, nor is there any record that Jesus told the apostles or the early church to celebrate His birth. The only two birthday’s actually recorded in the Bible are that of Pharaoh and Herod. The Bible is the complete Word of God, and tells us everything we need to know to be equipped in our spiritual lives. God's Word tells us how we're to worship, how to evangelise the lost, how to observe the Lord's Supper, and everything else relevant and important for the Christian life. But not once in the Bible does God tell us to celebrate Christmas! We're told to remember the Lord's death, but nowhere are we told to celebrate His birth. Notice that there really are very few details of his birth in the Bible. Compare that to the accounts and details in the Bible about when He died.

History reveals that it actually wasn’t until 440 AD, that the Church of Jerusalem started the celebration of Christmas. Before this time Christians praised God that He had sent Jesus in the flesh, but the day and the time of His birth had no relevance to them. Jesus was no longer physically on earth. It was the risen Jesus Christ to whom they looked, by faith, and not a baby in the manger.

Well then, if the origins of Christmas can’t be found in the Bible, where did this celebration begin?

=> The pagan origins of Christmas

The real origins of Christmas actually started long before Jesus was even born!! Christmas started with the sun worshipers during the time of Nimrod, the man who supervised the building of the tower of Babel. Their seasonal connections with the pagan feasts of the winter solstice relate them to ancient times, when many of the earth's inhabitant's were sun worshipers. As the superstitious pagans observed the sun gradually moving south in the heavens and the days growing shorter, they believed the sun was departing never to return. To encourage the sun's return north (i.e., to give the winter sun god strength and to bring him back to life again), the sun gods were worshipped with elaborate rituals and ceremonies, including the building of great bonfires, decorating with great evergreen plants such as holly, ivy, and mistletoe, and making representations of summer birds as house decorations. The winter solstice was the shortest day of the year, when the sun seemed to stand still in the southern sky. That day is 25th December, which they declared to be the birthday of Tammaz, the sun god. As they observed the slowdown in the sun's southward movement, and its stop, the heathen believed that their worshipping and praying had been successful. It was at this time that they broke out in unrestrained celebrations, with revelry, drinking, and gluttonous feasts. Then, when the pagans observed the sun moving again northward, and a week later were able to determine that the days were growing longer, a new year was proclaimed. It’s interesting to note that Semiramis, the widow of Nimrod, was said to be Tammaz’s mother, and not only claimed to be the queen of heaven, but that Tammuz had a miraculous birth. For centuries his birthday was celebrated by the heathen, and the festival was known as “Saturnalia”.

=> The Catholic origins of Christmas

Christmas is a Catholic holiday, one they stole from the pagans. Remember, it was on 25th December that the pagans of the Roman Empire celebrated the birthday of their sun god. After Constantine, the Roman emperor, won the battle of the Milvian Bridge, he forced all the pagans of his empire to be baptised into his church. The baptised pagans far outnumbered the true Christians. As the first 25th December rolled around, and the pagans said that they wanted to worship their sun god, Constantine knew he would have to do something. So, to keep the peace between the true Christians and the baptised pagans, a special mass was declared, to celebrate both the birth of Jesus and the birth of the sun god, Tammuz. To make Christianity more tolerable to the baptised pagans, the Roman Church took “Saturnalia” and adopted it. The Roman Church adopted many of the associated pagan symbols, forms, customs and practice….and they were reinterpreted (or “Christianised”) into ways “acceptable” to Christian faith and practice. As a result, the pagans converged on the Roman Churches because they were still able to worship their god, but simply under different names. It didn’t matter to them whether they were worshipping the Egyptian goddess mother and her child….or Mary and the Son of God. Either way, it was the same idol-religion. Christmas is nothing but “Christianised” paganism.

Ok now, we have established that “Christmas” did not originate from the Bible or the early church. It originated from pagan customs, and was Christianised by the Roman Church. Does it really matter what Christmas’s origins are?? Can’t we turn the whole festive season around to glorify God? Let's look further…..

=> God actually condemns using pagan customs to worship Him

God's Word forbids the observance of any holy days in this dispensation of grace.

Galatians 4:10, 11
"Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years. I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain"

Many Christians argue that Christmas is supposedly a day to worship and celebrate the birth of Jesus, so wouldn’t it be a good idea to look into the Bible and see what it says about HOW we should worship God? We have already determined that Christmas does not make mention in the Bible, and that few details of Jesus’ birth are mentioned in the Bible. So, do you think that gives us a free rein to celebrate as we want? The answer is quite clear, in God’s Word. God uses specific instructions about using pagan practices to worship Him – the exact thing that Christmas does.

Deuteronomy 12:30-32
“…Do not inquire after their gods saying ‘How did these nations serve their gods? I also will do likewise.’ You shall not worship the LORD your God in that way…whatever I command you, be careful to observe it; you shall not add to it nor take away from it.”

Jeremiah 10:1
“Learn not the way of the heathen…for the customs of the people are vain…”

Jeremiah 7:1-7
“The word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying, Stand in the gate of the LORD's house, and proclaim there this word, and say, Hear the word of the LORD, all ye of Judah, that enter in at these gates to worship the LORD. Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, Amend your ways and your doings, and I will cause you to dwell in this place. Trust ye not in lying words, saying, The temple of the LORD, The temple of the LORD, The temple of the LORD, are these. For if ye throughly amend your ways and your doings; if ye throughly execute judgment between a man and his neighbour; If ye oppress not the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, and shed not innocent blood in this place, neither walk after other gods to your hurt: Then will I cause you to dwell in this place, in the land that I gave to your fathers, for ever and ever."

Notice in this last Scripture, Jeremiah, actually stood at the gate of the temple to tell all that would enter there to change their ways. He told them not to come into the church with paganism, but to "amend your ways and your doings."

Some may argue that this is simply an Old Testament command, and no longer applies to us. But the apostle Paul makes the same point in 2 Corinthians 6, where he addresses whether unbiblical religious customs and practices have any place in the worship of God’s people….

2 Corinthians 6:14-18, 7:1
“What fellowship has righteous with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? And what accord has Christ with Belial (the devil and/or demons)? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God…. Therefore ‘Come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, and I will receive you. I will be a Father to you, and you shall be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.’ Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.”

Rather than relabeling pagan customs as Christians, or allowing members of the Church to continue their pagan practices, Paul told them in no uncertain terms to leave all these forms worship and worship God in true holiness as He commands. Jesus also said….

John 4:24, 25
“But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God (is) Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth.”

God commands that we are to worship Him in true holiness, and not to revel in recycled and so-called Christianised pagan customs and symbolism.

As we have learnt, Christianity had to undergo a transformation so that pagan Rome could “convert” without having to give up its old beliefs and rituals. Pagan customs involving vestments, candles, incense, images and processions were all incorporated into church worship and continue today.

I don't know of a single thing connected with Christmas that is biblical. You have to go outside of the Bible to learn of the Christmas tree, Santa Claus, the holly wreath, mistletoe, the yule log, and all the other things that go along with the Christmas celebration. Let's be honest before God and admit that this is a pagan holiday and a trick of the devil.

Now, let’s look at the other reasons why Christians should not celebrate Christmas….

=> Jesus was not born on 25th December

Luke 2:7, 8, 15
"And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night... And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us"

December falls in the middle of the rainy season in Palestine, and the sheep were kept in the fold at that time of the year. The shepherds always penned their flocks up from October to April. They brought their sheep from the mountainsides and the fields no later than October 15 to protect them from the cold, rainy season that was sure to follow. So the birth of Jesus could not have taken place at the end of December. No one knows the exact day when Jesus was born, but it is likely that He was born sometime during early October. We can assume this because His earthly ministry lasted three and a half years, and He was crucified on the fourteenth day of the month of Nisan, which is our April. If we go back three and a half years to the time when Jesus was 30 years old we come to the month of October. This was probably the month when our Lord was born into the world. But really, trying to work out when Jesus was born is not important, or else God would have given us a date in the Bible. The important thing is that He was born and that He died for our sins. We're not worshiping a helpless infant lying in a manger. We're worshiping a risen and exalted Saviour who has all power in Heaven and in earth.

Let’s look at some of the many so-called rituals and traditions of Christmas….

1. “Christ-Mass”

Christmas was originally spelt and pronounces as “CHRIST’S MASS”, referring to the blasphemous special Roman Catholic mass performed in celebration of Jesus’ birth. During the mass, Jesus is considered to be both the priest and the victim, and the Catholic priest offers Him as a sacrifice every time the mass is preformed. The priest believes he has the power to change the bread and wine into Jesus literal flesh and blood, and require people to worship these elements as they do God Himself. These Catholic priests are re-doing the sacrifice for sin every time a mass is held, which is obviously a wicked denial of the Gospel. Many Christians stand against the false teachings of the Roman Catholic church, but join with them at December, to embrace their most blasphemous lie of them all….Christmas.

2. The Christmas tree

Due to their ability to remain green through-out the winter season, evergreen trees have been a symbol of immortality, fertility, sexual potency, and reproduction, for a very long time. Pagans often set these evergreen trees up in their homes as idols, as magic symbols of luck and hope for a fruitful year to come.

The first known decorating of evergreen trees came from the pagans, honouring their god Adonis, who was slain and supposedly brought to life by a serpent. Mythology writes that he representation of the slain Adonis was a dead stump of tree, with a snake coiled around it. This was supposedly symbolising the restoral of life. An evergreen tree sprouted from the roots of the dead tree, symbolising the god that can never die.

In Babylon, the evergreen tree represented the rebirth or reincarnation of Nimrod as his new son, Tammuz. In Egypt, this god was worshipped in a palm tree as Baal.  Even heathen people in the land of Canaan adopted tree worshipping, calling it the Asherah…a tree with it’s branches cut off, and carved into a phallic symbol.  The evergreen tree was also worshipped in Rome as the same new-born god, Baal, who was restored to life by a serpent also. A feast was held in honour of him on 25th December, observed as the day on which the god reappeared on earth, after he was supposedly “re-born”. Therefore, the annual custom was of erecting and decorating evergreen trees was brought down to us through the centuries by the pagan Roman Catholic Church…the paganism of Tammuz and Baal, or the worship of the sun, and worship of Aesculapius the serpent (interesting that it was a serpent….as was Satan’s form in the Garden of Eden). Whether erected in homes or in churches, decorated or not, the evergreen tree is a glaring symbol of this false god.

On top of this, did you know that the Christmas tree is actually condemned in the Bible?

Jeremiah 10:2-4, 8
". . . Learn not the way of the heathen,. . . 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. They deck it with silver and with gold; they fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it move not... But they are altogether brutish and foolish: the stock is a doctrine of vanities"

Here, you have the perfect description of the Christmas tree, called by God, “the way of the heathen”. The fifth verse says that there trees cannot speak or walk….but must be carried. Some people misread this to make it say that there is no harm in having a Christmas tree, but that is not what it says at all. Rather, Jeremiah tells is it is vanity and foolishness, and says…

“…learn not the ways of the heathen.”

No doubt there are many sincere Christians who think that they are honouring God by having their Christmas tree when, in reality, they are dishonouring Him by having anything to do with a heathen festival that God hates. Some Christians may be saying “I have a Christmas tree, but we don’t worship it. I don’t see anything wrong with it.” But, be reminded that it is not US who determine what is right or wrong…..but God. If the Christmas tree is not an idol in a Christian home, then why are such people so reluctant to give it up?

3. The Nativity Scene

Sadly, even this is tainted with paganism. Nearly every form of pagan worship descended from Babylonian mysteries, which focuses attention on the “mother-goddess” and the birth of her child. This was adapted to “Mary-Jesus” worship, which accommodated the masses of baptised pagan’s worshipping in the Roman Catholic Churches. Many Christians within Protestant circles cry out “idolatry!”, at the site of erected Mary and Joseph images and statues. But at Christmas time, the image of a baby is placed at their feet, and it’s called a “nativity scene”. A somehow, Christians think that the baby-idol “sanctifies” the scene, and it is no longer considered idolatry!

Exodus 20: 4-5
“You shall not make for yourself a carved image…any likeness of anything that is in Heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; you shall not bow down to them nor serve them.”

4. Santa

Originally, the Santa Claus concept came from the pagan Egyptian god, Bes, a rotund, gnome-like mythical figure, said to be the defender of little children. He was said to live at the North Pole, working all year round to make toys for children who were well behaved and obedient to their parents.

In Dutch he was called “Sinter Klaas” or “Saint Nikolaas”, who was a 4th century Catholic bishop. He was considered to be a “protector of children”, and gave treats to children. The red suits came from the fact that that is the colour worn by bishops and cardinals in Italy at that time.

It was the early settlers who took the custom to America. In Holland and other European countries, the original Santa Claus was actually a grim personage who traversed the countryside, trying to find out who had been “naughty or nice.”

Santa is a blasphemous substitute for God. Santa is supposed to have super-natural powers and divine attributes, which only God has. The Santa Claus myth has become one of the most popular and widely accepted and unopposed myths ever! Santa distorts the truth of Jesus Christ’s birth, by subtly blending truth with myth.

Another interesting point to consider is a game played by occultists, where they throw dice, and jumble the letters of words. SANTA is strangely very similar to SATAN!

5. Christmas Wreath

As we have learned, in pagan mythology, the evergreen trees mean eternal life and a never-dying existence. Pagan wreaths were usually round in shape, made from evergreen leaves, and symbolised the sun. Thus, the wreaths represented the eternal sun god. The round form was also said to represent the sign of the female, which stands for the regeneration of life. Because of these pagan associations, the Christian church was initially not happy with the use of wreaths. But in the same way that it Christianised other pagan traditions, the church soon found ways to find it’s own symbolic meanings. For example, the sharp pointed leaves of the evergreen holly leaves came to represent Jesus’ crown of thorns, and the red berries His blood. Now, such wreaths adorn even the doors of churches.

6. Mistletoe

The use of mistletoe plant can be traced back to the ancient Druids, who were pagan Celtic priests, considered wizards and magicians. The mistletoe, poisonous to both man and animal, was considered to be a sacred plant, a symbol of fertility and had magical powers. It represented the false “messiah”, considered by the Druids to have been a divine branch that fell from Heaven, and grew upon a tree on earth. The mistletoe symbolised a reconciliation between man and God, and since kissing is often a symbol of reconciling, that is how we got the custom “kissing under the mistletoe”. In ancient Scandinavia, enemies were reconciled under mistletoe, and if hung in a home, was bound to bring good luck, fertility and protect a house from witchcraft.

7. Christmas Eve

“Yule Day” is a Chaldean word meaning “infant”. In early times, the heathen Anglo-Saxons called the 25th December “Yule Day”, in other words “infant/child day”. It was the day they celebrated the birth of the false messiah. The night before “Yule Day” was called “Mother Night”, and it wasn’t referring to the mother of our Lord Jesus, because this was centuries before He was even born. It was referring to the mother of Tammuz, the sun god. Today it is referred to as “Christmas Eve”.

8. Yule Log

The Yule Log was yet another pagan ritual, used by ancient Celts to celebrate their winter solstice. The fire promised good luck and long life. In Babylon, the Yule Log represented the dead Nimrod, and the evergreen tree that appeared the next morning, represented Nimrod coming to life again, reincarnated as his son, Tammuz. Even today, the Yule Log is placed into the fire place on Christmas Eve, and on Christmas morning, the Christmas tree appears. In old times, the Yule Log was never to be purchased….it had to be found or a gift.

9. Candles

Candles were lit by the ancient Babylonians, to honour of their gods. They would adorn their altars with candles. And as is also well known, candles play a huge part in Roman Catholic rituals, which was actually adopted from heathenism. Like with the Yule Log, the candles were not to be purchased….they had to be a gift. They were lit and extinguished only by the head of the family, and if they were moved or blown out mistakenly, it was bad luck.

10. Christmas goose and ham and Christmas cake

All of these were used in the worship of pagan gods. In Egypt, the goose symbolised a child, ready to die. In other words, a symbol of the pagan messiah ready to give his life for the world. Hogs were sacrificed during festivals of the Saturnalia, because superstition had it that the sun god, Adonis, had been killed by a boar.

11. Christmas carols

It would surprise many Christians to learn of the origin of some of the carols sung at Christmas time.

“It Came upon a Midnight Clear” ~ written by a Unitarian minister, does not mention Jesus Christ once, and reflects the liberal social gospel theology of the 19th century.

“O Little Town of Bethlehem” ~ written by an Episcopal priest. The fourth verse teaches the Roman Catholic superstition about Jesus Christ coming to be born among people during Advent season.

“Silent Night” ~ written by an Austrian Roman Catholic priest, contains the Roman Catholic superstition about halos emanating from holy people, with no gospel message at all.

=> Who has condemned Christmas in the past?

It is quite surprising to learn of how many Christian scholars actually condemned the celebration of Christmas.

Charles Spurgeon wrote, "We have no superstitious regard for times and seasons. Certainly we do not believe in the present ecclesiastical arrangement called Christmas ... we find no scriptural word whatever for observing any day as the birthday of the Saviour; and consequently, its observance is a superstition, because (it's) not of divine authority ... probably the fact is that the 'holy days' (were) arranged to fit in with the heathen festivals."

H.A. Ironside wrote, "It is a lamentable fact that Babylon's principles and practices are rapidly but surely pervading the churches that escaped from Rome at the time of the Reformation. We may see evidences of it in the wide use of high-sounding ecclesiastical titles, once unknown in the reformed churches, in the revival of holy days and church feasts such as Lent, Good Friday, Easter, and Christ's Mass, or, as it is generally written, Christmas. Some of these festivals . . . when they are turned into church festivals, they certainly come under the condemnation of Galatians 4:9-11, where the Holy Spirit warns against the observance of days and months and times and seasons.”

In the 17th century, Christmas was actually outlawed in England and some parts of American colonies because of its unbiblical and pagan origins. They knew something most people today have forgotten or have never known.

In America, it was only in the early 1800’s that several founding member’s of the New York Historical Society introduced “Christmas”. Before then, it was actually illegal in Massachusetts to even take the day off work! In Boston, schools stayed open on Christmas day until 1870. It was recorded that Christmas was “unseemly to ye spiritual welfare of ye community”. It wasn’t until 1836, in Alabama, that Christmas was declared a holiday. It wasn’t until 1885 that all federal workers were given Christmas off work. The so-called Christmas traditions were concocted more for commercialism than for religious.

=> Who celebrates Christmas?

The whole "civilized world" celebrates Christmas. Millions who make no profession of faith in the blood of the Lamb, who "despise and reject Him," and millions more who while claiming to be His followers yet in works deny Him, join in these celebrations, under the pretence of honouring the birth of the Lord Jesus. Is it fitting that His followers should unite with the unsaved in this tradition of man? Does any truly born-again soul really think that Jesus, who the world cast out, is either pleased or glorified by such participation in the world's joys? The customs of the people are vain; and it is written…

Exodus 23:2
"Thou shalt not follow a multitude to do evil."

=> Arguments that Christians use….

“I want to put Christ back in Christmas”

Some people admit the many problems with Christmas. But rather than face up to those problems, some assert that we should “put Christ back into Christmas”. But, it is impossible to “put Christ back into Christmas” since He was never in Christmas in the first place!! He never so much as heard the word “Christmas” in His lifetime on earth, nor did His apostles after Him. You can search the Bible from cover to cover, but you won’t find a single word associated to “Christmas”. Do you really thing God would want His Son put “back into” such a pagan and occult celebration??? Putting “Christ back into Christmas” may sound like a nice sentiment, but it’s really only a misguided effort to try and justify a long-standing tradition, rather that what the Bible tells us we should do.

“We can’t help that the origins are pagan”

Some will say, “We can’t help if we were born into a pagan world. We can’t help it is we were reared and steeped in pagan doctrines and customs. We can’t help if Christmas has pagan origins.” Oh yes we can!!

John 8:32
“And you shall know that truth, and the truth shall make you free.”

Do you think Christians today can turn Christmas around, and make it an acceptable form of worship to God? Can God possibly accept or hour such worship? Jesus provides the answer in His stern rebuke of the religious teachers of His day. They were men who had substituted human traditions and teachings for God’s divine truths and commands…..

Mark 7:6-9
“Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites….’in vain they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’…All too well you reject the commandment of God, that you may keep your tradition.”

There is only one righteous thing we can do with these pagan holidays, and that it to repudiate them and have no part in them. The virgin birth of Jesus Christ is a blessed fact, but the Xmas celebration is a wicked and ungodly thing.

“Christmas provides a time to share the Gospel”

I have heard this argument all too often. There is a saying….”It is never right to do wrong, to do right.” In other words, you cannot take something condemned in God’s Word and “use it” to spread the Gospel. Neither will God bless it to spread His Word. Unacceptable, pagan and unholy forms of worship is surely not the way God uses to bless the faithful. In fact, as we have seen already, God condemns such worship. Why then would He use Christmas to spread the Gospel?? This so-called “special time of the year” is probably more of a hindrance to the receptiveness of the gospel message. Why? Because it deludes people into thinking that God is pleased , when in reality He is offended by false religion and false forms of worship. Christmas also deludes the unsaved with it’s ecumenical spirit and counterfeit “love”, under the disguise of “peace and goodwill to all men”. It is more than likely deadening a person’s sensitivity to his desperate need to repent of sin and be reconciled with God.

“Christmas is merely celebrating Jesus Christ’s birth”

Some may say…. “I know Christmas is pagan, but I still think it’s ok for a church to have a special time to celebrate Jesus’ birth.” But, is it ok for Christians to believe that we have the right to add to the Bible, and God’s commands for how we are to worship Him? Is it better for us to follow His Word, or the thinking of fallible men? God commands that we worship Him in “spirit and truth”. If we think we have the right to add to the Bible, and it’s commands on how we are to worship Him, then where does it stop? We could add thousands of things, and then be no better off than all the false cults!

“There are hundred of other things in daily life that have pagan origin”

Another argument of many Christians is that many things in our daily life have pagan rituals…..like wedding rings, certain custom clothing, the modern division of time into hours and minutes, the names of the week, etc. But the question here is using things of pagan origin to worship God. Think about it….do we use these other things to worship God? God plainly condemns all forms of worship that has pagan origins. He has clearly outlined HOW we are to worship Him. The origin and meaning of a custom, tradition, or form does not take on any significance unless it is somehow specifically incorporated to, or lined up with, our worship to God. Rings, and customs, etc, are merely by-products of paganism, not paganism itself…….these things have no religious connotations or associations of their own, as do Christmas customs and traditions.

=> Conclusion

The very fact that most of the world celebrates Christmas, should make a Christian stop and think. It doesn’t matter if you are an atheist, pagan, Buddhist or even a Hindu. If God had set down a date, and how to celebrate His Son’s birth, then there would be no doubt that the world’s embracing of the celebration would be a different story. After all, God has commanded that one day per week be set aside to commemorate Jesus Christ’s death…does the world observe it?? Of course not. The world loves Christmas, but hate the Lord Jesus Christ, and shun anything to do with Him.

There is only one righteous thing we can do with these pagan holidays, and that is to repudiate them and have no part in them. The virgin birth of Jesus Christ is a blessed fact, but the Christmas celebration is a wicked and ungodly thing.

On a personal note….I know many accuse us of being too hard on our children, and not being fair…..we are accused of denying them good fun. But I would rather tell them the truth, than fill their innocent minds with pagan lies. As a Christian family, we teach our children about the virgin birth of our Lord and Saviour. They know of all the Bible teaches about this blessed event. Our children do not miss out on gifts…..there is nothing wrong with gift giving. Look at this verse in the Old Testament…

Esther 9:22
“…as the days on which the Jews had rest from their enemies, as the month which was turned from sorrow to joy for them, and from mourning to a holiday; that they should make them days of feasting and joy, of sending presents to one another and gifts to the poor."

We don’t give our children gifts on Christmas day, but rather on New Years Eve, to celebrate the end of one year and the beginning of a new.

Deciding whether or not to celebrate Christmas is an individual choice, a family choice, and one that should not be taken lightly. It is my prayer that this study has made you more aware the origins of Christmas, and will help you make that decision with open eyes. I am not going to judge anyone who still feels comfortable celebrating Christmas as they see fit. In my humble opinion, I really don’t think that you can stick a bandaid over the pagan celebration called “CHRISTMAS”, and use it as a means of worshiping our God.

Written by Lee Lambert