Source:
https://scmp.com/comment/letters/article/2179805/let-churches-have-christmas-trees-bible-never-says-they-cant
Comment/ Letters

Let churches have Christmas trees, the Bible never says they can’t

    The Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church is seen behind a decorated Christmas tree, in Berlin. Photo: EPA

    I do not think the Bible explicitly mentions that Christians and churches are not allowed to have Christmas trees. Hence I have reservations about the viewpoint of Colin Nevin (“Are churches mixing up Christian and pagan with Christmas trees?”, December 25).

    He cites Jeremiah 10:2-5 to support his argument for why churches should not have decorated Christmas trees. However, these verses should be read in conjunction with Isaiah 44:9-18, especially Isaiah 44:9-10 (the King James Version): “They that make a graven image are all of them vanity; and their delectable things shall not profit; and they are their own witnesses; they see not, nor know; that they may be ashamed. Who hath formed a god, or molten a graven image that is profitable for nothing?”

    What this passage refers to is the cutting down of trees to carve an image, decorating it with silver and gold, and then worshipping it.

    Thus the passage in Jeremiah cannot be taken out of context and be used as a legitimate argument for why churches should not have Christmas trees.

    Actually, the Bible does not mention anything about celebrating Christmas, nor does it mention that this festive season should not be celebrated either. At the end of the day, whether to celebrate Christmas is really a personal decision.

    Eunice Li, Shanghai