I'm confused Christmas tree or not?

[Pressing-On]

Originally Posted by Paula

How do you feel about the Christmas tree? I want to get one for my children but I don't want to be in violation of the scriptures.

Do you bow down and worship the tree? If not, don't worry about it.

[Digging4Truth]

Originally Posted by Pressing-On

Do you bow down and worship the tree? If not, don't worry about it.

Everybody bows down. How else do you get the presents from under the tree?

[Pressing-On]

Originally Posted by Digging4Truth

Everybody bows down. How else do you get the presents from under the tree?

Well, you got me there, Digging! Heathen practice!!!!

[Digging4Truth]

Originally Posted by Pressing-On

Well, you got me there, Digging! Heathen practice!!!!

I got you?

Wow...

I think I'll sit here and savor the moment for a while.

[Pressing-On]

Originally Posted by Digging4Truth

I got you?

Wow...

I think I'll sit here and savor the moment for a while.

[Paula]

What about Jeremiah 10 verse 3 and 4?

[Cindy]

Originally Posted by Paula

What about Jeremiah 10 verse 3 and 4?

That doesn't have anything to do with a Christmas tree.

[houston]

Originally Posted by Paula

What about Jeremiah 10 verse 3 and 4?

That is about idols, not the christmas tree. Though, dif ornaments on the tree represent idols.

[Digging4Truth]

Originally Posted by Paula

What about Jeremiah 10 verse 3 and 4?

I think it is a bit of a stretch to conclusively derive that Jeremiah 10:3-4 are speaking about the exact pagan custom that ended up being what is now called a Christmas tree. It is, quite possibly, speaking of the cutting down of a tree and carving it into an idol. Of course we cannot conclusively derive that either. So it is up in the air on those verses.

But any prudent and honest student of history would have to conclude that most of the major trappings of Christmas are adaptations of pagan worship.

Therefore it would seem to me that Jeremiah 10:2 would be the more relevant verse...

Jeremiah 10:2 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.

Christianity should never have learned the ways of the heathen but pagan customs are not only learned but so ingrained into Christianity that people will fight you as hard for these things as they will over salvation doctrine.

It makes me wonder when I read verses such as the following...

Ezekiel 8:13 KJV - He said also unto me, Turn thee yet again, [and] thou shalt see greater abominations that they do.
Ezekiel 8:14 KJV - Then he brought me to the door of the gate of the LORD'S house which [was] toward the north; and, behold, there sat women weeping for Tammuz.
Ezekiel 8:15 KJV - Then said he unto me, Hast thou seen [this], O son of man? turn thee yet again, [and] thou shalt see greater abominations than these.
Ezekiel 8:16 KJV - And he brought me into the inner court of the LORD'S house, and, behold, at the door of the temple of the LORD, between the porch and the altar, [were] about five and twenty men, with their backs toward the temple of the LORD, and their faces toward the east; and they worshipped the sun toward the east.
Ezekiel 8:17 KJV - Then he said unto me, Hast thou seen [this], O son of man? Is it a light thing to the house of Judah that they commit the abominations which they commit here? for they have filled the land with violence, and have returned to provoke me to anger: and, lo, they put the branch to their nose.
Ezekiel 8:18 KJV - Therefore will I also deal in fury: mine eye shall not spare, neither will I have pity: and though they cry in mine ears with a loud voice, [yet] will I not hear them.

God said they were worshiping the sun. Is that what they had in mind? Where they actually praying to the sun or worshiping the sun? Or had they adapted a sun worship ritual and applied it to the worship of the true God and God is calling it for what he sees it as?

In Exodus... This is what Aaron said...

Exodus 32:5 KJV - And when Aaron saw [it], he built an altar before it; and Aaron made proclamation, and said, To morrow [is] a feast to the LORD.
Exodus 32:6 KJV - And they rose up early on the morrow, and offered burnt offerings, and brought peace offerings; and the people sat down to eat and to drink, and rose up to play.

Aaron said that the next day was going to be a fest to the LORD.

But in the very next verse God says...

Exodus 32:7 KJV - And the LORD said unto Moses, Go, get thee down; for thy people, which thou broughtest out of the land of Egypt, have corrupted [themselves]:

So... what they were considering to be worship... God considered to be corruption.

Does God view our actions through the filter of our thoughts or intentions? Or does God see what we do through the eyes of what they truly are and where they truly come from?

I don't think God is impressed with our grand intentions as we convince ourselves that He is.

[Praxeas]

Originally Posted by Paula

What about Jeremiah 10 verse 3 and 4?

Jer 10:3 For the religion4 of these people is worthless.
They cut down a tree in the forest,
and a craftsman makes it into an idol with his tools.5
Jer 10:4 He decorates it with overlays of silver and gold.
He uses hammer and nails to fasten it6 together
so that it will not fall over

Pagans went out to the forest, cut down a tree, crafted or carved it to resemble some form of a god or an animal, decorated it with gold and silver then mounted it somewhere so it can't move. That's not talking about a christmas tree