What does this sound like to you?

[nebula]

[nebula ask]   

From where did Jeremiah know about Christmas trees - or the celtic practice from which they came?

[My testimony]

He didn

[salt and light]

Repent 1,

Thankyou and God bless you brother.

[Repent1]

Greetings nebula,

God bless

[You ask]

OK - so from where did Jeremiah learn about Celtic practices? You know, Celtic - British Isles - way, way, way far away from Israel - where evergreen trees were a symbol for eternal life - the reason the symbol was redeemed by Christians.

[My testimony]

I don

[nebula]

Jeremiah 7:18

The children gather wood, the fathers kindle the fire, and the women knead dough, to make cakes for the queen of heaven; and they pour out drink offerings to other gods, that they may provoke Me to anger.

Ezekiel 8:16

So He brought me into the inner court of the Lord's house; and there, at the door of the temple of the Lord, between the porch and the altar, were about twenty-five men with their backs toward the temple of the Lord and their faces toward the east, and they were worshiping the sun toward the east.

Well, if you want to interpret these passages that way, I guess that is your perogative.

But that brings me again to the question -

Who worships a Christmas tree?

Who sets up a Christmas tree for the purpose of knowing the future or seeking a better life?

Just as who makes hot crossed buns for the purpose of worship or as an offering?

And who worships the sun during a sunrise service?

As far as the symbol of the evergreen tree, that is how I've been told - in Celtic culture, the evergreen tree symbolized eternal life, which is why it was "redeemed" - that is, instead of using the evergreen tree as a symbol in the pagan understanding, use it in a redeemed fashion.

Frankly, I a ma little sensative to this because I have learned that the greatest error of Christian missionaries to tribal cultures have been to take away their culture and replace it with Westernization in the name of purifying them from paganism. But many Christians in tribal cultures have found freedom in maintaining their culture and symbols in a redeemed way.

Have you ever been to a worship service led by Native Americans with native drums and native flutes and them dancing in their native regalia? I hope you get the opportunity some time if you haven't - it's an awesome experience!

Which brings us back tot he topic at hand.

There's a big difference between an Asherah pole (come to think of it, this is probably what Jeremiah was referring to) and a Christmas tree!

Again, who bows down to a Christmas tree? Who looks to a Christmas tree for wisdom? Who makes offerings to a Christmas tree? Who seeks the future from a Christmas tree?

And frankly, I hope to always be able to hear "Silent Night" and "Hark the Herald Angels Sing" being played in the Mall among the repetoir of Christmas music they play!

[Catsmeow]

Doesn't it all come down to the condition of the heart of a man?

If it's a sin to you, it's a sin! Scripture says so.

Some people have very tender consciences and perceive things evil which are not innately evil but have innately evil connotations.

I'm that way about anything occultish....I avoid it like the plague, (tarot cards, ouiji boards, et al).

[jesussaves]

Well it sounds to me like the Lord is instructing us not to become involved in things that those who practice idol worship are involved in. Things like the worship of the sun or moon...horoscopes...palms readings, mediums..etc...then He goes on to let us know that they cut down trees and make them into an idol image, all decked out in stuff...but it is still just a tree! It cannot move, speak, answer a prayer...it is just a man made image...an idol.

[Catsmeow]

Yep! That's all it amounts to.

[O'Dannyboy]

Tell me brothers and sisters. Do you think one can love the law and yet hear the word? Does he who doesn't hear the word know that is is living? Is the word not lawful and righteous even unto fulfillment for Gods' glory? Has grace not the patience to understand the law even as it is written upon our hearts? Is there not room for mercy and understanding in laws that have already been fulfilled? I weap for those whose eyes are open and do not see, just as they have ears that do not hear. What need have we for the word if we have law?

Hebrews 4:12

[Catsmeow]

Man looks at the outside but God looks upon the heart of a man.