A Conscience Consideration Concerning a Christmas Tree

“Ephraim shall say, ‘What have I to do any more with idols? I have heard him, and observed him: I am like a green fir tree. From me is thy fruit found.’” Hosea 14:8 (KJV, emphasis added)

Just curious: did you put up your Christmas tree yet? You still have about eleven days to grace your home with a glorious evergreen. On December 1st I went to my favorite place to pick up our family’s traditional Christmas trees. The perfect tree for me must be full, symmetrically strong, splendidly scented, and gloriously green! Evergreen trees are marked by their distinctive display of green leaves throughout the entire year. In addition, the needle-like leaves from the past season are shed more slowly until after the new foliage has been completely constructed.

Now it is paramount to point out that there is nothing in the Word of God (Bible) that either commands or condemns the practice of putting a Christmas tree on display in one’s dwelling. But there are those who, in error, position themselves against cutting down trees and decorating them. They point to the text found in Jeremiah 10:1-16 which discusses cutting a tree from a forest. However, even a perfunctory perusal of the passage makes it clear that the prophet Jeremiah puts forth the prohibition against idols made of wood, plated with silver and gold, and worshiped. Therefore, unless we are genuflecting, praying, giving glory, and praise thereby promoting idolatrous worship of the tree these passages cannot be applied to Christmas trees. In addition, there is no spiritual significance or blessed benefit to having or not having a Christmas tree. The good Lord lavished us with liberty to choose. And whatever liberty you elect to enjoy is a matter of conscience and its motivation must be to please the Lord.

In Romans 14:5-6a, the Apostle Paul sets out this principle in a passage about liberty: “One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind. He that regardeth the day, regardeth it unto the Lord; and he that regardeth not the day, to the Lord he doth not regard it” (KJV).

Do not be seduced and slip into spiritual pride by putting down those who display a Christmas tree or promote people who do not display a Christmas tree. Our freedom in Christ should not forward the fruit of the flesh, division, strife, condemnation, or legalism but the fruit of God.

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.” Galatians 5:22-23 (KJV)

Just as the Evergreen tree is distinct with leaves that are always green, let us find inspiration to always bear and display the fruit of the Spirit every day of the calendar year.

For the Glory of God,

PBKSR