Evergreen Tree (Post 2 part 2)
Have you ever asked yourself honestly, "Why do we bring an Evergreen TREE into our home?" Yes, I know it's tradition, but have you really given it much thought?
These trees play a major role in 'Christmas'. It all starts with the 'Tree'. Our Father doesn't want us to worship Him, using the 'ways' of the heathen, that's clear in scripture. These verses below show that Our Father was angry with those at the groves, and cut down the trees and the Asherah poles where the people were worshiping their gods under the evergreen trees. There are many more verses, but I will only list 7 to keep the post short.
Deuteronomy 16:21
Thou shalt NOT plant thee a GROVE of ANY TREES near unto the altar of the Lord thy God, which thou shalt make thee.
2 Kings 16:4
And he SACRIFICED and BURNT INCENSE in the high places, and on the hills, AND UNDER EVERY GREEN TREE.
Exodus 34:13
But ye shall DESTROY their altars, break their images, and CUT DOWN THEIR GROVES:
1 Kings 14:23
And Judah did evil in the sight of the LORD, and they provoked him to jealousy with their sins which they had committed, above all that their fathers had done. For they also built them high places, and images, and GROVES, on every high hill, and UNDER EVERY GREEN TREE.
Isaiah 57:5
“Enflaming yourselves with idols UNDER EVERY GREEN TREE, slaying the children in the valleys under the clifts of the rocks...”
Jeremiah 3:6
The Lord said also unto me in the days of Josiah the king, Hast thou seen that which backsliding Israel hath done? She is gone up upon every high mountain and UNDER EVERY GREEN TREE, and there hath played the harlot.
2 Kings 17:16 And they left all the commandments of the LORD their God, and made them molten images, even two calves, and AND MADE A GROVE, and WORSHIPPED ALL THE HOST OF HEAVEN, and served Baal.
An Asherah pole was a sacred pole or sometimes a TREE that was used in the worship of the pagan goddess Asherah. The Asherah pole was often mentioned in the Old Testament as one of the ways the Israelites sinned against the Lord and worshiped other gods.
MOST IMPORTANT
Before you say, "But we are not worshiping other gods, we are worshiping the one true God." Should we believe it's okay to "Christianize" the Evergreen Tree and bring it into our homes as part of worship to our Holy God? Hold on!
What were they doing UNDER these evergreen TREES? Making idols, worshiping their gods, and performing sacrifices! Once we understand this, we have to ask ourselves, can we sanitize this to make it acceptable in The Father's Eyes? Even with good intentions, He told us, He doesn't want it! "Ye shall not do so unto the Lord your God." Deuteronomy 12:4" and "Thus saith the LORD, Learn not the way of the heathen," Jerm 10:2
Yes, HE has made these beautiful trees for us to enjoy, however people through out time and around the world have used trees for magical and spiritual proposes. And The Father has shown us through history and in His Word how pagans have used these trees in their worship. Evergreen fir trees were also used in the pagan temples during 'Saturnalia' (the celebration in Rome that became Christmas).
Our Father in Heaven is Holy and Pure, He doesn't want recycled heathen/pagan traditions of worship used for Him. We don't need Evergreen Trees in our homes. Enjoy the trees out in nature.
With all this said, I also understand that EVERYONE has to follow their own conscience. And we are ALL at a different level of learning and discovering in our life.
Please know that I share in love. I'm not condemning anyone for partaking in this day or for having a tree. I understand it's an emotional subject. It's just some people have never stopped and thought about the different aspects of this holiday, they are simply following these traditions. My hope is that one day you will desire to study it for yourself. May this bless you. Much Love!
