Question: We all know that the Old Testament is before Jesus Christ. In Jeremiah 10:2-5 (KJV), "Thus saith the Lord, Learn not the ways of the heathen, and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; for the heathen are dismayed at them. 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 ax. They deck it with silver and gold; they fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it move not. They are upright as the palm tree, but speak not: they must needs be born, because they cannot go. Be not afraid of them; for they cannot do evil, neither also is it in them to do good."

This sounds like a Christmas tree. Question is: Are we wrong to do this? Have we adopted a heathen or pagan custom?

Thomas

Answer: Dear Thomas,

One of the most basic rules of understanding the Bible, and for that matter, any literature, is that the passage in question must first be understood in its original context. It had a meaning to its original audience – and of course, it can also have a meaning to later audiences. But to leapfrog over the meaning that was both originally intended and inspired by God, is to jump to a conclusion that is often not warranted. I would encourage you to do some research into what this text meant to the original audience God inspired Jeremiah to address – and having done that, if you still feel it has some relevance to a Christmas tree (not known for 1500 to 2000 years after Jeremiah wrote), I will be happy to discuss it with you.

In Christ,

Greg Albrecht