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They're beautiful, they bring back lots of memories, and gifts look wonderful at the base of their branches, but in a Christian context, do Christmas trees "belong?" Do they have any theological significance? Perhaps.....
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O Christmas Tree
December 8, 2008
I am like a green pine tree; your fruitfulness comes from me. Hosea 14:8
In some Christian homes, the Christmas tree is seen as a nod to pagan interests, and indeed, since ancient times the holiday tree tradition has played an important part in winter celebrations.
It seems that many pagan festivals used trees to honor their gods and spirits. For instance, in Northern Europe the Vikings considered the evergreen a symbol and reminder that the darkness and cold of winter would end and the green of spring would return.
The Druids of ancient England and France decorated oak trees with fruit and candles to honor their gods of harvests. At the festival Saturnalia the Romans decorated trees with trinkets and candles.
And understandingly, Christians want to avoid all appearance of evil. But the verse above seems to take the evergreen and show it as a perfect metaphor for the role God plays in our life. He is always green, no matter what the season. And furthermore, our fruitfulness comes from him. We can be fruitful in winter, spring, summer or fall - it doesn't matter to God, since he is he source of our greenness.
O Christmas Tree, O Christmas tree,
Your leaves are green forever.
O Christmas Tree, O Christmas tree,
Your beauty leaves you never.
In summer's heat, or winter's cold,
In spring or fall, your foilage holds.
O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree,
Thy leaves are green forever.
O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree!
Thou has a wondrous message:
O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree!
Thou has a wondrous message:
Thou dost proclaim the Savior's birth
Good will to men and peace on earth.
O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree!
Thou has a wondrous message:
So go ahead, put up a tree, guilt free! And as you look at it, thank our heavenly Father for his love that endures forever.
In some Christian homes, the Christmas tree is seen as a nod to pagan interests, and indeed, since ancient times the holiday tree tradition has played an important part in winter celebrations.
It seems that many pagan festivals used trees to honor their gods and spirits. For instance, in Northern Europe the Vikings considered the evergreen a symbol and reminder that the darkness and cold of winter would end and the green of spring would return.
The Druids of ancient England and France decorated oak trees with fruit and candles to honor their gods of harvests. At the festival Saturnalia the Romans decorated trees with trinkets and candles.
And understandingly, Christians want to avoid all appearance of evil. But the verse above seems to take the evergreen and show it as a perfect metaphor for the role God plays in our life. He is always green, no matter what the season. And furthermore, our fruitfulness comes from him. We can be fruitful in winter, spring, summer or fall - it doesn't matter to God, since he is he source of our greenness.
O Christmas Tree, O Christmas tree,
Your leaves are green forever.
O Christmas Tree, O Christmas tree,
Your beauty leaves you never.
In summer's heat, or winter's cold,
In spring or fall, your foilage holds.
O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree,
Thy leaves are green forever.
O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree!
Thou has a wondrous message:
O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree!
Thou has a wondrous message:
Thou dost proclaim the Savior's birth
Good will to men and peace on earth.
O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree!
Thou has a wondrous message:
So go ahead, put up a tree, guilt free! And as you look at it, thank our heavenly Father for his love that endures forever.
