Jeremiah Chapter 10 and Christmas Trees?
 

Jeremiah 10:1, "Hear ye the word which the LORD speaketh unto you, O house of Israel."
Jeremiah 10:2, "Thus saith the LORD, Learn not the way of the heathen, and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; for the heathen are dismayed at them."
Jeremiah 10:3, "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 ax."
Jeremiah 10:4, "They deck it with silver and with gold; they fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it move not."

That could only describe a Christmas tree and its ornaments, some will say. What could be more obvious? Jeremiah is clearly condemning the Christmas tree! Well, not so fast. Let's read on...

Jeremiah 10:5, "They are upright as the palm tree, but speak not: they must needs be borne, because they cannot go. Be not afraid of them; for they cannot do evil, neither also is it in them to do good."

• They speak not???
• They cannot go (move) by themselves???
• Be not afraid of them???
• They cannot do evil???
• Neither can they do good???

Just how, if I may ask, can those be logically applied to a Christmas tree? I suggest they cannot, with any sense. But let's continue...

Jeremiah 10:6, "Forasmuch as there is none like unto thee, O LORD; thou art great, and thy name is great in might."
Jeremiah 10:7, "Who would not fear thee, O King of nations? for to thee doth it appertain: forasmuch as among all the wise men of the nations, and in all their kingdoms, there is none like unto thee."
Jeremiah 10:8, "But they are altogether brutish and foolish: the stock is a doctrine of vanities."
Jeremiah 10:9, "Silver spread into plates is brought from Tarshish, and gold from Uphaz, the work of the workman, and of the hands of the founder: blue and purple is their clothing: they are all the work of cunning men."

• Gold and silver plates???
• Blue and purple clothing???

How does that apply to the Christmas tree? It doesn't.

Jeremiah 10:10, "But the LORD is the true God, he is the living God, and an everlasting king: at his wrath the earth shall tremble, and the nations shall not be able to abide his indignation."
Jeremiah 10:11, "Thus shall ye say unto them, The gods that have not made the heavens and the earth, even they shall perish from the earth, and from under these heavens."
Jeremiah 10:12, "He hath made the earth by his power, he hath established the world by his wisdom, and hath stretched out the heavens by his discretion."
Jeremiah 10:13, "When he uttereth his voice, there is a multitude of waters in the heavens, and he causeth the vapours to ascend from the ends of the earth; he maketh lightnings with rain, and bringeth forth the wind out of his treasures."

Verses 10, 12 and 13 contrast the true creator God with false gods in verse 11.

Jeremiah 10:14, "Every man is brutish in his knowledge: every founder is confounded by the graven image: for his molten image is falsehood, and there is no breath in them."
Jeremiah 10:15, "They are vanity, and the work of errors: in the time of their visitation they shall perish."

Ah, graven and molten images that confound their makers! There is no breath (life) in them! Jeremiah is talking about manmade heathen statues - idols:

• The idol starts as a tree cut down, and it is then carved.
• Though it has a mouth, the idol cannot speak!
• The idol is nailed down, fixed in place. It cannot move on its own, it must be carried!
• Be not afraid of the idol!
• The idol cannot do evil!
• Neither can the idol do good! The idol is powerless!
• The carved wooden idol is covered with silver or gold plate!
• The idol is dressed in blue and purple clothing!
• The idol is lifeless!
• The idol is vanity (futile), and the work of error!

In context, Jeremiah is clearly not describing Christmas trees, he is talking about idolatrous graven and molten images of the heathen, the worthless futile powerless statues of their pagan gods, that are not to be feared.