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My Fellow Christians: Is a Christmas Tree an Idol?

ChristineES

ChristineES

Tiggerism
Premium Member
On FB, I belong to a group for Messianic Jews and Christians. We are having a discussion that the author of the subject compared Aaron's Golden Calf, in Exodus, to the same kind of idolatry as a Christmas tree. I stated that a Christmas tree nowadays is not worshiped, but a decoration.
Am I mistaken about that? Do you agree with him that a Christmas Tree is an idol on the level with the Golden Calf or just an idol?
Any discussion is welcome.
 
Estro Felino

Estro Felino

Believer in free will
Premium Member
hem...yes....it is.

you know, there are two Christmases. The religious one and the cultural one. The first one is a very secondary festivity, because the most important celebration for a Christian is Eastern, Christ's resurrection.

the second one is a secular phenomenon which is an opportunity to share values like family values, brotherhood, etc. and in this secular festivity...all the symbols of happiness are used: the tree, presents, decorations, lights etc etc

I think that trees are not a negative thing- they are symbols.
 
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Robert.Evans

Robert.Evans

You will be assimilated; it is His Will.
ChristineES said:
On FB, I belong to a group for Messianic Jews and Christians. We are having a discussion that the author of the subject compared Aaron's Golden Calf, in Exodus, to the same kind of idolatry as a Christmas tree. I stated that a Christmas tree nowadays is not worshiped, but a decoration.
Am I mistaken about that? Do you agree with him that a Christmas Tree is an idol on the level with the Golden Calf or just an idol?
Any discussion is welcome.
Click to expand...
Does not Jeremiah say we should not have a tree in our abode? I think so. It is an idol to one degree or another. If it not, and is as you say, a decoration, then throw it out, along with your ear rings, ornaments, pictures etc. If not, if you can't do it, then they are idols.
 
nazz

nazz

Doubting Thomas
ChristineES said:
On FB, I belong to a group for Messianic Jews and Christians. We are having a discussion that the author of the subject compared Aaron's Golden Calf, in Exodus, to the same kind of idolatry as a Christmas tree. I stated that a Christmas tree nowadays is not worshiped, but a decoration.
Am I mistaken about that? Do you agree with him that a Christmas Tree is an idol on the level with the Golden Calf or just an idol?
Any discussion is welcome.
Click to expand...
I don't think its an idol although Christmas shopping might be.
 
Nada

Nada

#
ChristineES said:
On FB, I belong to a group for Messianic Jews and Christians. We are having a discussion that the author of the subject compared Aaron's Golden Calf, in Exodus, to the same kind of idolatry as a Christmas tree. I stated that a Christmas tree nowadays is not worshiped, but a decoration.
Am I mistaken about that? Do you agree with him that a Christmas Tree is an idol on the level with the Golden Calf or just an idol?
Any discussion is welcome.
Click to expand...


Idol, Idolatry — Watchtower ONLINE LIBRARY
 
ChristineES

ChristineES

Tiggerism
Premium Member
So, in your view, when does a decoration became an idol? When we worship it? Is it more abstract? If someone has a statue in their home that was once used as an idol, yet the person does not worship the statue, just thinks it lookss nice, is it still an idol?
I've had people say that having pictures of your children or someone else on the walls could be called an idol.
 
ChristineES

ChristineES

Tiggerism
Premium Member
Robert.Evans said:
Does not Jeremiah say we should not have a tree in our abode? I think so. It is an idol to one degree or another. If it not, and is as you say, a decoration, then throw it out, along with your ear rings, ornaments, pictures etc. If not, if you can't do it, then they are idols.
Click to expand...
I am not sure, I have to look it up. I haven't read Jeremiah in 30 years.
 
ChristineES

ChristineES

Tiggerism
Premium Member
nazz said:
Jeremiah does talk about trees which were the Asherah tress people worshiped. I don't know of anyone who worships Christmas trees.
Click to expand...
Well, in that case, what we call Christmas trees were, at one time worshiped, would that mean we should not have them?
The decorations on a Christmas must used to symbolize something, I don't know what, though.
 
Robert.Evans

Robert.Evans

You will be assimilated; it is His Will.
ChristineES said:
I am not sure, I have to look it up. I haven't read Jeremiah in 30 years.
Click to expand...
Jeremiah 10... doesn't specifically say not xmas tree, but mentions not cutting down tree and putting gold etc on it. Either way, I think it is an idol.... it just depends on whether you think is it important or not. Don't forget we all stand before him evenutally, so we might ask if it is worth the risk. :)
 
savagewind

savagewind

Veteran Member
Premium Member
The problem is name calling. If a person believes a Christmas tree is idolatrous then it is for him or her. There is no changing that. But I think that to decide for everyone that it is idolatry is wrong. VERY wrong. The reason why is that for someone whose conscience is weak and she puts a tree up for it's lovely decoration, to call it against the love of God is to add a mental burden to her. Why would you do that? What purpose does it serve?
 
ChristineES

ChristineES

Tiggerism
Premium Member
Robert.Evans said:
Jeremiah 10... doesn't specifically say not xmas tree, but mentions not cutting down tree and putting gold etc on it. Either way, I think it is an idol.... it just depends on whether you think is it important or not. Don't forget we all stand before him evenutally, so we might ask if it is worth the risk. :)
Click to expand...
It could be an idol; but my belief has always been that it's not an idol if I don't worship it. I am wondering if I have been wrong about that, which is why I asked for people of my faith's opinion on it. :)
 
ChristineES

ChristineES

Tiggerism
Premium Member
savagewind said:
The problem is name calling. If a person believes a Christmas tree is idolatrous then it is for him or her. There is no changing that. But I think that to decide for everyone that it is idolatry is wrong. VERY wrong. The reason why is that for someone whose conscience is weak and she puts a tree up for it's lovely decoration, to call it against the love of God is to add a mental burden to her. Why would you do that? What purpose does it serve?
Click to expand...
That's true, too. That is what Paul said, although I can't remember which verse or book at the top of my head. :)
 
Robert.Evans

Robert.Evans

You will be assimilated; it is His Will.
savagewind said:
The problem is name calling. If a person believes a Christmas tree is idolatrous then it is for him or her. There is no changing that. But I think that to decide for everyone that it is idolatry is wrong. VERY wrong. The reason why is that for someone whose conscience is weak and she puts a tree up for it's lovely decoration, to call it against the love of God is to add a mental burden to her. Why would you do that? What purpose does it serve?
Click to expand...
I think madam makes a good valid point :)
 
nazz

nazz

Doubting Thomas
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