Isaiah 55:13 records: "Instead of the thorn shall come up the fir tree, and instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle tree; and it shall be to the Lord for a name, for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off". The fir and the myrtle trees are evergreens, which literally means everliving or everlasting or never dying because they were evergreen all year round, especially during the time when everything else was dead in the dead of winter. And those red berries at Christmas time --- several kinds of evergreen myrtle trees have them. Not everything is what it appears on the face of it.
Because something is mentioned in the bible doesn't mean that it's automatically sanctioned to be part of religious worship of God. The problem with evergreens at Christmas IS that they were used in the same fashion in pagan origins.
Evergeens are not used in Christian worship.
They are decoration ... just like other types of plants are used indoors in other seasons (other than winter).
Most christians worship God together in their christian gatherings ... where evergreens are not even present.
Someone who worships a tree ... is rightly called an idolator.
Merely having greenery in your home doesn't cut it.
Romans 1:25 For they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.
Doesn't this about sum up Christmas? We have the truth of God exchanged for the lie of Santa. We have those who don't know God practicing the same things as those who profess to worship God.
This would only sum up Christmas ... for those who worship the created, ... rather than the Creator.
And those that do this ... do it year-round, not just at Christmas.
The truth is that there are idolators ... but that those which worship the true and living God above all ... who live their lives in relationship with Him ... simply aren't among those.
Paul was speaking of idolatry in the cited scripture.
Paul also speaks that ... christians should realize ... that practice does not make belief ... but, rather, ... belief makes practice.
Paul warns us not to judge our brethren ... because of issues of practice.Romans 14:4 Who art thou that judgest another man's servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand.Christianity is about a real relationship ... with a real God ... Who was really born into human history.
5 One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind.
6 He that regardeth the day, regardeth it unto the Lord; and he that regardeth not the day, to the Lord he doth not regard it. He that eateth, eateth to the Lord, for he giveth God thanks; and he that eateth not, to the Lord he eateth not, and giveth God thanks.
7 For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself.
8 For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord's.
9 For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and living.
10 But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.
11 For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.
12 So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.
13 Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother's way.
That chrisitans would celebrate this fact ... should come as no surprise.
You sound like Catholics who say that bowing down and praying before statues is not the same thing as idol worship. If the purpose were only to have greenery, then how come everyone's not putting trees in their house in July? You know that this stuff is intimately linked with Christmas .
Paul warns us not to judge our brethren ... because of issues of practice.
Sorry, but Romans 14 has nothing to do with observing holy days or pagan worship days. It has to do with eating practices and days devoted to that. This is evident if all of chapter 14 is read in context. I would never judge a brother for being a vegetarian, or for fasting on set days, or for eating meat that may have once been used in a pagan ceremony. That's what the chapter most likely admonishes against.