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| Are You in the Right Church? Ministry of Deliverance Can a Christian Have a Demon? Prayer of Deliverance Choosing the Right Mate Is Masturbation OK? Exposing Religious Spirits Should Christians Wear Tattoos? Can You Lose Your Salvation? Real Meaning of Ear-Rings Exposing Witchcraft Never Say Whats Up Dog Should Christians Celebrate Easter? Should Christians Celebrate Halloween? Should Saints Wear Dreadlocks? Can a Christian Be Cursed? |
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| STUDYtOPICS |
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| Some Christians believe that in Jeremiah 10:2-4 that Christmas trees are sinful. When I was growing up in church the pastor did not want us to have a Christmas tree for it was an object that was worship by pagans according to Jeremiah 10:2-4. But does Jeremiah 10:2-4 actually condemn the setting up of Christmas trees? Let look at this verse closely and break it down. Pray this prayer: Ps 119:18 Open our eyes that we may see your wonderful things in your law. Jeremiah 10:2-4. "Thus saith the Lord, Learn not the way of the heathen For the customs of the people are vain: for one cutteth a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman, with the axe. They deck it with silver and with gold; they fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it move not." When you read at face value it does seem that Jeremiah is describing Christmas trees. But look closely. When studying the bible you have to understand which writer is speaking and to who is the writer addressing why and what purpose is the writer speaking this. this passage is to pay careful attention to its context. In this whole chapter Jeremiah is proclaiming the "Lord as the only God. Verse 6, 7, 10 & 12 Verse 8 & 9 speak of "worthless wooden idols" on which workmen place hammered silver and gold, and rich apparel. Now the King James Version in verse 3 reads "One cutteth a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman, with the axe" The New International Version says "They cut a tree out of the forest, and a craftsman shapes it with his chisel." The tool referred to in the passage is not a woodsman's tool, but that of a wood carver. Most modern English translations agree with the NIV. NOTE: Jeremiah is not condemning Christmas trees. He is condemning idolatry. The trees in Jeremiah 10:2-4 are cut down to carve them into worthless idols that will later be decorated with gold and silver. He is not talking about cutting down a tree and setting it up in your house to put gold and silver on it to worship. The word workman in verse 3 in Hebrew means - charash a person that engrave, or to fabricate of any material. The Prophet Jeremiah says nothing about Christmas trees, but cutting down a tree to make or fashion the tree into an idol. |
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| Does Jeremiah 10 Really Talk about Christmas Trees? |
| Isa 40:20 He that is so impoverished that he hath no oblation chooseth a tree that will not rot; he seeketh unto him a cunning workman to prepare a graven image, that shall not be moved. KJV |
| Hab 2:18-19 Of what value is an idol, since a man has carved it? Or an image that teaches lies? For he who makes it trusts in his own creation; he makes idols that cannot speak. Woe to him who says to wood, `Come to life!' Or to lifeless stone, `Wake up!' Can it give guidance? It is covered with gold and silver; there is no breath in it. NIV |
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