Question: What is the true origin of the Christmas Tree? It’s purpose and meaning? Was the Christmas tree an apostolic Teaching?

Julio

Answer: Dear Julio,

The true origin of the Christmas tree. First, why do we need "true" to qualify "origin"? Is there a "false" origin? The Christmas tree, as we know it, dates back only a few centuries – it comes to North America from Europe. In its early years, the tree was decorated with fruit which was considered to be symbolic of the fruit of the tree of life (Rev. 22:2). Some believe that the round orbs and ornaments that are commonly used as decorations today are symbols of that fruit.

But, I suspect that your question has more behind it – as you use the word "true" to modify "origin". There are those who claim that the Christmas tree is pagan, has its origins in paganism, that not only the Christmas tree but Christmas itself (a celebration of the birth of our Lord and Savior) is intrinsically pagan.

First, back to the modern origins. Why would Christians start using a tree as part of the festivities celebrating the birth of the Son of God and son of man, born in Bethlehem, as many Old Testament prophecies referred to? We already noted the tree of life in Rev. 22. For Christians, what other possible symbolism does a tree call to mind? What about the cross of Christ? Ironically, some of those who argue that the Christmas tree has pagan origins conversely argue that Christ was not crucified on a cross because the cross is of pagan origin. They insist upon the word "stake" (staros) or tree – which is also used in the Bible (see 1 Peter 2:24, Acts 5:30, 10:39 and 13:29.) Is it possible that Christians who first started using the Christmas tree had the cross of Christ in mind, as well as the tree of life?

Would such Christians have remembered the righteous man who is like a "tree" (Psalms 1)? Or the righteous who flourish like a tree (Psalms 92)? Perhaps Christians several hundred years ago were mindful of Isaiah 61, which speaks of ""reeds of righteousness"" – Proverbs 3:8 which speaks of wisdom as the tree of life. Maybe they remembered Paul's use of the olive tree, as he talked of the new covenant family of God, the body of Christ, where there is neither Jew nor Greek, male nor female, bond or free –but where we are all one in Christ (Romans 11). Could they have remembered that he made us one by his atoning work on the cross (tree) – see 2 Corinthians 5)?

Those who claim the Christmas tree to be pagan refer to Jeremiah 10. They neglect one of the most basic rules of understanding the Bible however, and twist the Bible in order to suit their own presupposition. The basic rule is that the passage in question must first be understood in its original context before we make an application to our lives today.

That is, it has a meaning when it was written/spoken – and if we leapfrog over the originally intended meaning as inspired by God, we will be jumping to a conclusion. If we are correct about our application of the passage, it will only be by chance – for we will have ignored the original meaning of the text.

If we follow that rule, we will first of all note that there were not Christmas trees when Jeremiah wrote – in fact there weren’t any Christmas trees for 1500 to 2000 years after Jeremiah! So, was Jeremiah writing about the "true" origin of the Christmas tree? Not unless God writes the Bible in some secret code, some meaning that no one will understand for thousands of years, until he "reveals" it. But the problem with that reasoning is that the Bible is one of the primary ways that God has revealed himself to us – another is his creation – and yet another is his coming to us in the person of Jesus, humbling himself, born to a young unmarried Jewish girl, who, along with her husband to be, Joseph, was denied lodging in the inn – so Jesus was born with the animals in Bethlehem. So does he keep things hidden for thousands of years – things he has inspired in the Bible – and then unlock the true meaning? No. Contrary to the gospel. Contrary to his plan. Contrary to the Bible. Contrary to God’s nature.

Jeremiah 10 condemns idol worship. If anyone is placing anything in their homes, offices, garages, cars, etc. and worshipping it – then that is an idol. It could be a tree, it could be a rock, it could be food, it could be lots of things. But, do the vast majority of people worship the Christmas tree that they bring into their home?

Several things to note about this passage – a workman cuts a tree out of the forest and forms it into an idol. So, this is not a tree as we know Christmas trees, but a tree that was used, as wood, to be formed and shaped into an idol – a representation of a pagan god.

Second, the workman uses an ax – or a chisel to do the work of shaping the tree into an idol. Third, the passage says that the customs of the people are vain – specifically the one that is being talked about. But not all customs and traditions are wrong (see 2 Thess. 2:15 and Judges 11:39 and Luke 4:16).

It is possible for almost anything to be labeled as having pagan origin – but if we did this, our lives would be drab and colorless, for almost all art, decorations, plants can be "proven" to have pagan origins. We would have to rename all days of the week, for they are all named after pagan gods. Some believe that all jewelry is wrong – for it is vain, and has its true origin in paganism.

Such conjectures are not based upon historical fact, and even worse, are elevated by some to central and core issues of our faith – i.e. if one has a Christmas tree, one is a pagan. This is not what the gospel of Jesus Christ is all about.

In Christ,

Greg Albrecht