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for the customs of the peoples are vanity. A tree from the forest is cut down and worked with an axe by the hands of a craftsman. They decorate it with silver and gold; they fasten it with hammer and nails so that it cannot move. (Jeremiah 10:3-4 ESV)
Are Christmas trees a harmless tradition or direct disobedience to God? When we read these verses, it seems pretty clear that God forbids His people from decorating trees. Yet, as always, we must be very careful about reading a few words and applying them to our lives without understanding why those words were said. After all, the Bible isn’t a list of bullet points but a beautiful unveiling of God’s character through how He interacts with His creation and points us to Christ.
Many people hold these verses up as a condemnation of Christmas trees. Are they right? Before we answer that, we first need to understand the history and purpose of Christmas trees.
Christmas tree traditions
The history of Christmas trees is surprisingly long and widespread. Ancient cultures, all the way back to ancient Egypt, have traditions involving plants that stay green during the winter. The reasons are varied, but most cultures use these evergreens around the Winter Solstice to celebrate the eventual end of winter, often dedicating these times to a god of the sun or agriculture. So, in that way, there are some pagan connotations to using an evergreen tree.
However, the true tradition of the “Christmas tree” seems to have only started in the 16th century when Christians would bring evergreens into their home during the winter. The famous reformer Martin Luther is credited with starting the tradition of putting lights in trees because he wanted to simulate the look of stars shining through the branches. With the church’s sensitivity to paganism at this time, we should at least pause to ask why these Christians had no problem with decorating trees while reading such condemning language in the book of Jeremiah.
In America, Christmas traditions weren’t so easily adopted. The Puritans saw Christmas time as incredibly sacred, and anything that would take away from it was criticized and perhaps penalized. This meant Christmas trees, and even the singing of Christmas carols, was seen as a “heathen tradition” by the preacher Oliver Cromwell. It wasn’t until the late 1800s that decorated Christmas trees began to rise in popularity, arguably with the increase of non-Puritan immigrants bringing their culture’s traditions.
Around the world, some form of decoration has been used for centuries. What started as a religious ritual was warped and transformed into an excuse to liven up a home during the dreary winter months. With that brief history, we can return to the Bible.
Israel and its paganism
The Old Testament has regular commands against Israel following certain practices. Ignoring that we aren’t ancient Israel, it seems that the Old Testament is filled with God condemning very specific behaviors. But why? The answer is found by taking this oft-used passage in Jeremiah and looking at the verses before and after it. So let’s get a more full view of what’s happening.
Hear the word which the Lord speaks to you, O house of Israel. Thus says the Lord,
“Do not learn the way of the nations,
And do not be terrified by the signs of the heavens
Although the nations are terrified by them;
For the customs of the peoples are delusion;
Because it is wood cut from the forest,
The work of the hands of a craftsman with a cutting tool.
“They decorate it with silver and with gold;
They fasten it with nails and with hammers
So that it will not totter.
“Like a scarecrow in a cucumber field are they,
And they cannot speak;
They must be carried,
Because they cannot walk!
Do not fear them,
For they can do no harm,
Nor can they do any good.” (Jeremiah 10:1-5)
Hear the word that the LORD speaks to you, O house of Israel. Thus says the LORD:
“Learn not the way of the nations, nor be dismayed at the signs of the heavens because the nations are dismayed at them, for the customs of the peoples are vanity. A tree from the forest is cut down and worked with an axe by the hands of a craftsman. They decorate it with silver and gold; they fasten it with hammer and nails so that it cannot move. Their idols are like scarecrows in a cucumber field, and they cannot speak; they have to be carried, for they cannot walk. Do not be afraid of them, for they cannot do evil, neither is it in them to do good.” (Jeremiah 10:1-5 ESV)
As always, Israel was being warned against following the customs and religious traditions of the people around them. They were being reminded that although the nations around them worshipped false gods, there is only one true God ruling over all creation. Jeremiah’s worship emphasizes this:
There is none like you, O LORD; you are great, and your name is great in might. Who would not fear you, O King of the nations? For this is your due; for among all the wise ones of the nations and in all their kingdoms there is none like you. They are both stupid and foolish; the instruction of idols is but wood! (Jeremiah 10:6-8 ESV)
God’s response sheds even more light on why He forbids the decorating of trees:
Thus shall you say to them: “The gods who did not make the heavens and the earth shall perish from the earth and from under the heavens.” (Jeremiah 10:11 ESV)
From here, God gives a logical comparison of His glorious might to these false gods representing by idols that have to be created by a person’s hand and moved around. In fact, Jeremiah 10:1-25 has one primary focus: God is God. Israel is being told not to compromise their faith in God just because everyone around them is finding satisfaction or their purpose in worshipping idols.
So when we read these early verses about decorating trees, we need to realize that God isn’t offended because people want pretty trees, but why they are doing it. God is reminding Israel that idols cannot save them, nor can following the religious customs of the area bring them any form of success or deliverance. God is calling His people to remember who the God of the universe truly is, and there is no other god out there for them.
God does this because He loves His people. We see God’s heart for His people and recognize that He isn’t mad because He isn’t getting attention. Instead, God’s love for Israel makes Him grieve because His people are on a path of destruction. God wants Israel to turn to Him for their sake, not God’s.
This chapter ends with a statement from Jeremiah that calls for the destruction of these idolatrous nations. Jeremiah understands why God hates idolatry, and he sees the danger facing God’s people if they keep trying to find satisfaction in the same things as those who don’t know God. God loves them too much to let them settle for anything less than the One they need because He’s the same One we all need.
To tree or not to tree?
Now that we better understand this passage, we can understand that the topic of Christmas trees is a matter of personal conviction. Based on their history and current purpose, it’s clear that the modern tradition of Christmas trees isn’t about idolatry, but is as cultural as having turkey during Thanksgiving. Israel was living amongst people using decorated trees in the worship of false gods, and their greatest danger was trying to find their satisfaction apart from God because these idols led them to gods who promised them the desires of their hearts, but would ultimately lead to their destruction.
The command against putting objects in trees wasn’t specifically against trees, but about embracing the religious customs of the local people and compromising truth for the sake of fitting in. These verses teach us about the character of God, His hatred of idolatry, and His love for His people. However, these words were in no way a specific law that tells all people, for all, time, not to decorate trees.
With that principle in mind, a person can certainly feel like Christmas decorations take away from the sacred idea of Christmas being about Jesus Christ. However, the decision should be made based on their personal convictions, not because they’re treating the Bible as a list of specific rules that give us the letter of the law, rather than trying to understand the spirit of the law. God doesn’t want us to obey a list of rules, but to put our hearts and lives in line with finding satisfaction in Him, not the world.
You adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. (James 4:4)
The warning in Jeremiah is a critical one when we understand it correctly. Rather than condemning a fun tradition, it warns us against finding our value, identity, safety, and satisfaction in the same things as God’s enemies. God warns us against being friends with the world. The danger for Israel then is the same danger we face today. May we give far more concern toward pursuing holiness than whether decking the halls will bring on the wrath of God.
[This updated article was originally published 12-18-19]
