by Linda Steinbiser

Created on: October 30, 2007

Using of a Christmas tree is most probably a religious symbol because of the trees in the Garden of Eden. I feel that to most religious people, the tree represents the tree of life; the birth of Jesus as the Life. In the Garden Adam and Eve could eat of everything except the tree of good and evil. So now that they know Jesus is the tree of life, they use the Christmas tree to represent themselves as belonging to the tree and honor the tree by placing gifts under it representing gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

Just as the cross is a religious symbol that people use to proclaim quietly the salvation given by Jesus crucified on the cross, the tree is used as a symbol of that which is to come, both with Jesus and their communication with the Holy Spirit until they are back with God in His Garden.

As the Christmas tree represents the gift of life, decorating the tree with lights represents Jesus as the Light of the World. The star on top of course represents the star leading the shepherds and three Kings to the birthplace of Jesus. The decorations are the gifts that people brought and fruit being the fruit of the Spirit that would be given.

I say these are religious symbols because I am not sure they are Christian symbols as such. Symbols are used mainly by religious people who have to have something concrete to look at, feel, and touch....something like Thomas. The ideas though are true in concept and match with Scripture. And because the Christmas tree is so pretty decorated in its religious splendor, those that are not religious follow the same physical tradition without knowing its meaning.

Many people who hate religion put up trees with no thought of its meaning. Had they known, it would be the last thing on earth they would think of doing. Christians sometimes do not put up trees feeling it is a secular thing to do. It boils down to doing what the person believes in, which is how people deal with scripture and spiritual beliefs anyway.

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