by Pieter J. Friedrich
12/24/03
One of the most traditional Christmas decorations is the Christmas tree.
The traditional Christmas tree is an evergreen. Specifically it is some type of fir tree which is cut down and brought into one's house. The tree is decorated with strings of lights, a wide variety of ornaments, and garlands. Commonly the tree is topped with an angel or a star. Gifts are placed beneath the tree and are opened on Christmas morning.
The Christmas tree is not only traditional, but is also controversial. One person says:
"Hundreds of years prior to Christ's birth pagan Romans cut down evergreen trees and brought them into their homes for their December 25th worship of Baal-Berith. The Egyptians also brought trees into their homes on December 25th to worship their pagan messiah Baal-Tamar. According to pagan teachings, the mother of 'Adonis,' the Sun-God, was mystically said to have been changed into a tree, and when in this state, to have brought forth her divine son. The evergreen tree has absolutely no connection to anything at all relating to Christ's birth. It is purely a pagan tradition."
Because of the supposedly pagan roots of the Christmas tree, many Christians reject that Christmas decoration. Some Christians have even gone so far as to term the Christmas tree a "hellish banner."
Yet I believe the Christmas tree is a worthy and highly symbolic Christmas decoration. It is a decoration worth keeping.
In I Cor. 8:4-6 Paul wrote: "Therefore concerning the eating of things offered to idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is no other God but one. For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as there are many gods and many lords), yet for us there is one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we for Him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, through whom are all things, and through whom we live."
The evergreen was, in a sense, meat offered to idols. There is nothing wrong with the meat once it is taken away from the idols. The claim that the evergreen was a pagan symbol and thus cannot be used as a Christians symbol is as valid as a claim that idols were believed to eat meat and thus Christians should not eat meat or that idols were made of gold and thus Christians should shun gold. Just as meat that was offered to idols can be eaten to the glory of God so can a symbol that was once used to offend God be claimed for Christ and used to glorify God.
The evergreen tree is a perfect symbol for Christianity.
The arrow-shaped tree points to Heaven as a reminder of the Deity of the Christ (John 10:29-38) whose birth we memorialize on December 25th. The roots grip the ground and the branches grasp at the sky in symbolism of the unity (I John 2:1-2) between Man and God in which Christ's birth resulted.
The lights we hang on the tree symbolize the Light of the World (John 8:12) who was Himself hung upon a tree. The globular ornaments remind us of the Earth which Christ was sent to save, and the many colors of the ornaments are a reminder that Christ died because He loved the world (John 3:16) - that is, the elect of all colors and from all nations.
We place angels and stars on the tree, of course, in remembrance of the angels (Luke 2:8-12) that announced the birth of the Christ and the star (Matt. 1:1-12 that appeared upon His birth. The gifts are placed at the base of the tree in remembrance of the Wise Men who placed (Matt. 2:11) gifts at the feet of Christ, and the gifts are given in imitation of Christ, who gave Himself to Mankind as the greatest gift in history.
The eternal green of the tree represents the eternal life Christ brought (Rom. 6:23) to Man, and His undying love (Phil. 1:3-6) for His chosen people.
The tree itself stands as a reminder of the tree (Heb. 12:2) which the Baby Jesus was predestined to die upon by His own choice because of the love He bore (Eph. 5:25) for us, His elect.
The evergreen tree was once a pagan symbol, but it was usurped and subverted by Christianity. There is no reason not to use the evergreen, and as there is much Christian symbolism to be found in that type of tree there is much reason to use an evergreen. As long as the focus is never placed on the tree itself, but rather on the Man/God the tree helps us to remember, I would suggest that in celebrating Christmas all Christians ought to use evergreen Christmas trees.
