“This is what the LORD says: "Do not learn the ways of the nations…for the practices of the peoples are worthless; they cut a tree out of the forest, and a craftsman shapes it with his chisel. They adorn it with silver and gold; they fasten it with hammer and nails so it will not totter. Like a scarecrow in a cucumber field, their idols cannot speak; they must be carried because they cannot walk. Do not fear them; they can do no harm nor can they do any good,” Jeremiah 10:2-5 (NIV).

These scriptures teach that idols have no power. Idols may be a tree decorated with silver and gold, or stone images, or anything else which people worship. Jehovah God is comforting His people by reminding them that idols are powerless. ​

We know of no Christian who worships a Christmas tree as a god. Shintoism does teach that gods live in trees. Consequently, Shinto believers consider trees sacred and do tie prayers onto the branches of trees. However, this belief is not attributed to Christmas trees. These scriptures in Jeremiah are not referring to a decorated tree – only to a tree decorated because it is an idol.​

Finally, if people believed Christmas trees were idols, would they throw them out as garbage in January?

Even though the date of December 25th reaches back to pagan holidays, which began before Jesus was born, those celebrating the birth of Jesus are not celebrating paganism. They are not remembering pagan ideas during Christmas activities. They and we, all, are humbly thanking God for His mercy and love shown through the gift of His only begotten Son.

However, if celebrating Christmas violates one’s conscience, that person should not celebrate it. In Corinth, some believers defiled their conscience by eating meat offered to idols. “…some, through former association with idols, eat food as really offered to an idol, and their conscience, being weak, is defiled,” 1 Corinthians 8:7 (ESV) We should never defile our hearts and minds. Our consciences are in the process of being educated, because no one has 100% of the truth. But we should always obey God according to what we believe He has taught us in the Bible.