https://billygraham.

org/answer/does-the-
bible-say-that-it-is-wrong-to-have-a-
christmas-tree/
Answers
By BGEA Staff   •   June 1, 2004   •   Topics: Christmas

Q:
Does the Bible say that it is wrong to have a
Christmas tree?

A:
We understand your concerns about the use of the Christmas tree. Some have indicated that this
practice is wrong because of the words in Jeremiah 10:1-5. These verses, however, do not apply
to Christmas trees, but they do condemn the idolatry practiced in Jeremiah’s day. God’s people
were following the customs of the heathen who cut down trees, shaped the wood into idols,
decorated them with silver and gold ornaments, and worshiped them as gods.

It is important that we keep Christ central and our worship of Him unhindered in our observance
of Christmas. However, we do not believe it is unbiblical to have a Christmas tree lighted and
decorated in the home or the church. It has been suggested that the branches of the tree pointing
upward can signify praise to God. The star at the top can represent the star of Bethlehem. Also,
the green of the evergreens has been recognized as symbolic of eternal life, God’s gift to us
through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Rev. Billy Graham

 Billy Graham is an Evangelist, best known for his televised crusades. He preached the message of Christianity for forty
years. He was advisor to several American Presidents. It is believed that he has led thousands to profess Jesus Christ as
personal Savior.
 Rev. Graham is best known for his worldwide evangelist crusades
 Rev. Graham is Founder of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA)
 Rev. Graham once said: “It is not the body’s posture, but the heart’s attitude that counts when we pray”

Read more: https://www.whatchristianswanttoknow.com/10-most-influential-christian-leaders-of-all-
time/#ixzz5hvmkyaOu

https://mypraiseatl.com/1641618/what-
does-the-bible-say-about-having-a-
christmas-tree/
Is It A Sin To Put Up A Christmas Tree?

Written By My Praise ATL

Posted November 29, 2017

Christmas is one of the most popular holidays in America and the “Christmas Tree “is iconic
to American family households. But, what does the Bible say about having a christmas tree
up for the holidays? Is it a sin to put up a Christmas Tree?
There are about 54 bible verses that could be interrupted as having to do with Christmas
trees. One of the more popular verses that speak about the Christmas tree is Jeremiah
10:1-25:
Jeremiah 10:1-25 says:
Hear the word that the Lord speaks to you, O house of Israel. Thus says the Lord: “Learn not the
way of the nations, nor be dismayed at the signs of the heavens because the nations are dismayed at
them, for the customs of the peoples are vanity. A tree from the forest is cut down and worked with
an axe by the hands of a craftsman. They decorate it with silver and gold; they fasten it with hammer
and nails so that it cannot move. Their idols are like scarecrows in a cucumber field, and they
cannot speak; they have to be carried, for they cannot walk. Do not be afraid of them, for they
cannot do evil, neither is it in them to do good.” …

This verse doesn’t necessarily apply to christmas trees, but it does refer to the  customs of
the heathen who cut down trees, shaped the wood into idols. Some say this means you
shouldn’t put up a tree, others believe this just means the most important thing is keeping
Christ at the center of our worship.

Leviticus 23:40 says:
And you shall take on the first day the fruit of splendid trees, branches of palm trees and boughs of
leafy trees and willows of the brook, and you shall rejoice before the Lord your God seven days.
The Latest Gospel News and Inspiration: Follow @praise1025

Some believe this verse means the tree is a celebratory symbol based on the worship of
God. It doesn’t necessarily apply to christmas trees, but it’s an interesting verse because of
the palm tree and leafy tree reference.

Deuteronomy 16:21 says:
 Thou shalt not plant thee a grove of any trees near unto the altar of the LORD thy God, which thou
shalt make thee.

Although this verse doesn’t speak directly to christmas trees, it does make a point to
mention trees near the altar of the lord. Some believe this means trees shouldn’t represent
the birth of Jesus, but others believe this verse doesn’t have anything to do with Christmas.

All in all, whether you put up a Christmas tree or not, the worship should always be about
the Lord and nothing else. If that is your driving force, whether or not you put up a tree is
solely up to you. Do you think it’s a sin to put up a Christmas tree?

https://sermons.love/td-jakes/3461-td-jakes-five-points-to-my-star.html

Merry Christmas. Happy holidays, season greetings to all of you. I'm bishop t.D. Jakes and I'm
delighted you've chosen to join me on this broadcast because we're really, really geeked about
sharing the Word of the Lord with you. I believe it will bring forth fruit in your life. As you're going to
a new year, there's things I want to share with you I believe are absolutely life-changing. The
message we'll share today is five points to my star. It's very appropriate for the time we're in right
now. The points are universal and timeless. I believe it will bless your life. Take a look at this and
be blessed. 

I'll never forget growing up, my wife and I talk, in the book we talk about how differently we grew up
in terms of Christmas. Her traditions were different than mine. They grew one a lot of decorating and
festivities and fanfare and trees in the house and lights outside the house and chestnuts over an
open flame. We were a little simpler than that. We had food. We weren't worried about lights. We had
a turkey or duck or hen anything to eat, that was Christmas to us. 

It's interesting to watch the difference between how she relates to the holidays and how I relate. We
both get excited about it but in different ways. We always had a Christmas tree a live tree and always
got it on Christmas eve because it was cheap. I like to give you something deep theological for it but
Christmas Eve they were letting them go for a dollar and we would drag it home and hope the pine
needles didn't fall off over the holidays. My mom put a star in the window. All different bulbs on it.
Different colored bulbs and that was her idea of decorating the house. Put it out and light it up and if
he was really fancy, she would put a blinker up and that was the extent of Christmas.  

All through our childhood we were taught to draw little stars and our childhood definition of a star
was quote, it had five points. I think it's interesting to take that concept, I recognize and realize that
stars in their truest sense certainly don't have five points. I would like to talk about a star that is a
star in my life. The King of kings, the Lord of lords and the Mighty God. I want to talk about five
points in this season of festivity that should teach us about life and God that should be significant
not only for the season but for the rest of your life. Can you say amen? 

It's important you understand that Isaiah said his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty
God, everlasting father and Prince of Peace. He gives five different attributes to the name of Jesus
Christ. Wonderful. Counselor. Mighty God. Everlasting Father. And Prince of Peace. On the night that
Christ was born in a manger, there's three wise men that gathered out to be witnesses to that birth
along with his mother and father. There's five witnesses to the birth of Jesus Christ. There are five
books to the Pentateuch. Genesis, exodus Leviticus Deuteronomy numbers that make up
Pentateuch. Five fold ministry leads the church. Apostles prophets, pastors teachers and
evangelists. 

Five is a significant number to God. It's the number of grace. At the end of the fifth day all of the
creative elements were created by the fifth day and man was created on the sixth day. Hold up your
right hand. You have five fingers on your right hand. Humble yourself under the mighty hand of God
that in due time he will exalt you. Five, five for the power and the authority that was extended
whenever they laid hands on people. They laid hands on people as a symbol of power and authority.
There were five wounds in the body of Jesus Christ when he was crucified and they hung him high
and stretched him wise and pierced him in his right hand and left hand and right foot and left foot
and pierced anymore his side one two three four five wounds that made up the body of Christ.
Offered up a living sacrifice. 

I want to give you five points today. Five points to my star and message I want you to remember
throughout the Christmas season that should be important to you. Can you say amen? It's
important that we as Christians discipline ourselves not to get overwhelmed in the tidal wave of
marketing and conception all ideas that cause people to get away from what Christmas is all about.
There is no way you can really celebrate the real worth of Christmas and leave Christ out of the
mass. He's everything to the story. It's not important whether he was actually born on the 25th or
not. The reality is it's a historical fact and biblical fact he was here and he lived and he impacted. I
don't know any other figure throughout all of history that has impacted the world like Jesus Christ.

Whether you accept him or reject him, believe in him or don't believe in him. I bet you heard of him.
He left a mark on this world and they're still talking about who he is. 33 years on the earth. 3 years of
ministry and in 3 years of ministry he revolutionized the world. There are things that he did before he
ever began his ministry of three years. The Bible covers the story and birth of Jesus Christ to when
he was 12 years old. From 12 years old to 30 is totally silent and says absolutely nothing about 18
years of his life. At age of 30 yokes up the mantel of ministry and ministers three years and at the
end of three years he goes to the cross and pays the ultimate sacrifice because he was in fact, born
to die. 

But I submit to you brothers and sisters that Christ didn't wait until he was 30 to start giving us word
and message. So the Bible says in the beginning was the word and the word was with God and the
word was God. All things were made by him and without him was not anything made that was made.
In him was life and the life was the light of men and the light shined in the darkness and the
darkness comprehended it not. A man sent from God, his name was John. He was not the light but
he was sent to be witness of the light saying there's one who is coming after he who is mightier than
I whose shoes I'm not worthy to latch. I indeed baptize you with water but he'll baptize you with the
Holy Ghost and with fire. And finally crescendos and said he dwelt among us and we beheld his glory
full of grace and truth. 

That's what Christmas is all about. The word was made flesh and dwelt among us. Sermons in the
flesh. Physical sermons. Sermons that we can see. I want to suggest to you that there are five
different things that are preached to us in the early developmental stages of Christ's life that should
become five points that will help you not only to have an appreciation of the holidays not only to
have a warm and fuzzy feeling or drink a glass of eggnog while you enjoy the season but go into a
brand-new year to face new obstacles and tests and trials and temptations, they will help you
whether you're running a business or family or trying to control your own temperament and
personality. 
Are you ready? Number one. The first point I want to teach you that Christmas teaches us is that
man has nothing to do with God's promise. When the angel came to Mary and said hale Mary you've
been highly favored among women. You shall have a son and he shall save his people from their
sins. The first something she said to him, Lord, how can these things be knowing I know not a
man? Over the discourse she began to realize something every believer has to understand if you're
going to be effective in life and effective believer. Man has nothing to do with God's promise.

What are you saying? I'm saying Mary began to realize God doesn't need the help of man, not his
potential to perform his word in your life. In fact, man can be totally oblivious to what God's spoken
in your life. You can be controversial and criticized by men. But if God says he's going to do
something in your life. God will do it. Man can't stop it. Say that with me. Man has nothing to do with
God's promise. 

I don't know what God's promised you. I'm sure he's not promised you what he promised Mary. I'm
sure you're not to birth a physical Jesus Christ. Maybe you're birthing a business. Maybe you're
birthing a family. Maybe you're birthing a ministry. Maybe you're birthing a vision and you don't see
the natural resources and support whatever you have to do in your spirit and God's spoken
something in your spirit and you're staggering at the promise of God saying Lord, I can't do this. I
don't have enough help. I don't have enough support. I don't have enough people. 

God wants you to understand even in the midst of the Christmas season that man has nothing to do
with God's promise. If God promises you something, he's able to bring it to pass. The Bible says the
spirit of God overshadowed Mary, that it came upon her. What you need to fulfill the promise of God
is not so much to confer with men but to confer with God. I am convinced if we spend too much time
seeking the approval of people but I've learned over 27 almost 28 years of my ministry that man will
approve you one moment and disapprove you the next moment. 

Can I get a witness? People are so fickle they'll change their mind on you in a moment. If you build
on the opinions of people, whatever you build will crumble and come to ruin. But my hope this
morning is build on nothing less than Jesus' blood and righteousness. I dare not trust the sweetest
frame, but holy lean on Jesus' name. You don't have to have man. You don't have to have man's
approval. You don't have to have man's resources. And you don't have to have man's money. O you
can't handle that. You think money is the thing you've got to have before you can do anything. Let
me tell you something. You don't have to be able to afford it. You don't have to be able to see your
way clear. People don't have to embrace you, support you or en doors you. In fact they can criticize
you.

Everybody was murmuring about Mary. She was very controversial. Even her own boyfriend was
trying to give her a bill of divorcement and put her away and put her to the side. But no one can curse
what God has blessed. If God blesses you, sometimes you've got to stand your ground and be
tenacious and say he that has begun a good work in my life shall perform it unto the day of Jesus
Christ. 

I wish to God we had more men and women that were willing to be continual verse al. That were
willing to be criticized. We have so many people that are so politically correct, trying to be polite,
trying to fit in. Sometimes you have to feel the fear and do it anyway. Feel the controversy and do it
anyway. Because man has nothing to do with God. I don't know what you're believing God do. How
difficult. How impossible. How tenacious you feel you have to be. But I want you to know this
morning on the verge of Christmas that man has nothing to do with God's promise. I dare you to
allow that promise to kick in your womb and stay alive in your spirit and to be tenacious enough to
hold on to your dream. If you hold on to it, God will bring it to pass. 

Touch somebody and say, don't abort your baby. It may be hard. It may be difficult. It may be
controversial. You may have pain. You may not have support. You may not have friendship. You may
not have the endorsement of people you respect. But if God started something in your life, don't
abort it because you run into trouble and opposition. In fact, pain is indication that birth is getting
close. You don't hear what I'm saying to you. Pain is an indication that pain is getting close. The
faster the pain, the closer the baby. Don't fool with me this morning. I'll preach in here this morning. 

You might be going through a hard time. You might be going through a lot of opposition, but that's
the time that you've got bear down. Touch somebody and say, bear down. When the pain is getting
greater that's when you have to bear down. When opposition is the greatest, you have to bear down.
There's something inside of you worth pushing for, worth striving for, worth delivering. I wish I had a
witness. 

Number two. The second thing I want you to get out of the Christmas story is that great things are
often born outside of the system. The Bible says when Mary got ready to bear down and deliver her
baby, there was no room in the inn. No organized support. No system. No structure to
accommodate what she was going to deliver. But this woman was so pregnant with destiny that
she understood that great things can be born outside of the system. Sometimes the system will
lock you out. It will shut the door and say you can't come in. It will leave you out in the cold at a
vulnerable moment. It's one thing to be locked out. It's another thing to be locked out at a
vulnerable moment.

You need to understand that great things are often born outside of the system. Don't wait for the
system to open up the door or make room. For what God has put down inside of you. Because God
has a way of doing great things in strange places. Obscure places, alienated places, rejected places,
ostracized places. Who but God would birth a king in a barn? Doesn't God have a sense of humor. He
would step out and say you don't have to have my promise born here to have it come to pass. Great
things are born outside of the system. We're not ignorant of the enemy's devices. We understand the
wiles of the devil. 

The word wiles comes from greek word... Which deals with methods. The enemy of master of
systems. He's always got a system to keep you away from getting what you're supposed to have.
Many people have given up on their dream and promise because the system said there's no room for
what you believe. There's no room for your faith. There's no room for your conviction. There's no
room for Christianity. There's no room for you to carry your cross. There's no room for the Ten
Commandments here. There's no room for your faith to be exhibited. Make room for everything else.
For rap music, rock music, pornography, everything else. When it comes to faith the world is always
saying, there is no room for you. 

I've got good news for you. [applauding] you may have to bear down in a barn with nothing around
you but sheep and oxen and cattle and you may have to give birth to your dream and wrap it up in
swaddling clothes but the circumstances do not diminish the circumstance of the concept. I feel I'm
preaching to somebody this morning. Don't let the circumstances intimidate you. It may not be the
ideal circumstance but it still can be the ideal promise. My God, my God, my God, my God. 

Touch two people and say, get outside the system. It's too organized, too constricting, too
confining. If you're going to do a great thing you have to step outside the system. Think outside the
box. Do something no one has done before. Change destiny. Great things are born outside the
system. Hallelujah. Slap somebody, tell them, I'm coming out. You don't have to put me out. I'm
coming out. Go ahead and stay in the inn. Go ahead and stay in comfortable but I'm willing to be in
an uncomfortable situation to get what God has promised me.

One of the things that makes me follow the Lord and love him so, everything he did he did outside of
the system. He did outside of the political system. He did it outside of the religious system. Nobody
hated Jesus like church folk. Jesus was more controversial to religious people than secular people.
Ya'll don't want to hear the truth. It was the Pharisees and Sadducees and church folk always trying
to kill him. But he worked outside of the system. He was born outside of the system. He died outside
of the system. The book of Hebrews says he died outside of the gates of Jerusalem. They shut the
gate on him and he hung his head and stretched himself wide and died outside of the gate. He died
outside of the system so that all of us who has ever been rejected by the system would have an
opportunity to be able... 

You don't get what I'm saying to you. You don't hear what I'm saying to you. I want to thank God for
putting Jesus where I can reach him. I want to thank God for putting Jesus where I can reach him. I
don't have to buy my way in. I don't have to politic my way in. Nobody has to vote me in. Nobody has
to like me. If God be for me, he's more than the world against me. Thank God for putting Jesus
where I can find him. I can find him even if I'm in a barn. I can find him even if I'm in a deplorable
situation. I can find him even if I'm in a jail cell. I can find him in the palace. But I can find him in the
hog pen. You can't hide him away from me. Because great things are often born outside of the
system. Great missions. Great companies. Great visions. Great ideas. Great inventions are often
done outside of the system. 

In fact, if you'll do what God called you to do, let the system catch up with you later. The system runs
behind, brothers and sisters. The system runs behind creativity. A day late and a dollar short. Once
you're successful anybody will give you anything. But while you're struggling out in the barn nobody
will bless you but God. But if God be for you, baby, he's more than the world against you. I wish I had
a witness up here. I feel a little bit like preaching this morning. 

In my younger days I used to cry because I was rejected outside of the system. I kept on walking
with God. I learned to dance because I was rejected outside of the system. In fact I want to go back
and thank all the people that rejected me. Thank you for shutting me out. Thank you for locking
doors. I'm glad you didn't help me. If you helped me you could say you made me who I am. But
when you shut the door... I'm out of time. I have to stop there. It's been a real joy and blessing to be
with you.

Thomas Dexter Jakes Sr. (born June 9, 1957), known as T. D. Jakes, is a pastor, author and
filmmaker. He is the pastor of The Potter's House, a non-denominational American megachurch.
Jakes's church services and evangelistic sermons are broadcast on The Potter's Touch, which airs
on Lightsource.com, the Trinity Broadcasting Network, Black Entertainment Television,[1] the Daystar
Television Network and The Word Network.
Other aspects of Jakes's ministry include the annual festival MegaFest which draws more than
300,000 people, the annual women's conference Woman Thou Art Loosed, and gospel
music recordings. He hosted the T.D. Jakes Show, a nationally syndicated talk show produced by
Tegna Media and distributed by NBC, until the show's cancellation in March 2017.[2]

Early life[edit]
Jakes was born in South Charleston, West Virginia, and grew up in Vandalia, attending local Baptist
churches. He spent his teenage years caring for his invalid father and working in local industries.
Feeling a call to the ministry, he enrolled in West Virginia State University and began preaching part-
time in local churches, but he soon dropped out of the university. He took a job at the local Union
Carbide factory and continued preaching part-time. During this time he met his future wife, Serita
Jamison. The couple married in May 1982. In that same year Jakes became the pastor of the
Greater Emanuel Temple of Faith, a small independent Pentecostal church in Montgomery, West
Virginia, with just ten members. Over the next few years, the church grew, drawing an integrated
congregation that helped increase Jakes's renown as a speaker and pastor. He moved the church
twice: from Montgomery to Smithers and then to South Charleston, where the congregation grew
from about 100 members to over 300. During this time, he began a radio ministry, The Master's
Plan, which ran from 1982 to 1985. He also became acquainted with Bishop Sherman Watkins,
founder of the Higher Ground Always Abounding Assembly (an association of over 200 Pentecostal
churches). Watkins ordained Jakes as a minister of the Higher Ground Assembly and encouraged
him to start a church in the Charleston, West Virginia, area. Jakes also used this time to continue his
education by studying through correspondence courses from Friends International Christian
University, an unaccredited, online university. Jakes completed a B. A. and M.A. in 1990, and a
Doctor of Ministry in Religious Studies from Friends International Christian University in 1995.
After the 1990 move to Charleston, as his congregation grew, Jakes began to focus on the spiritual
needs of the women in his church who had been abandoned and abused in their lives. He began a
Sunday School class for them, "Woman, Thou Art Loosed," in which he encouraged them to use
their past pain as a foundation for new growth. He later started a similar class for men, which he
called "Manpower." In 1993, Jakes self-published his first book, drawing on his experiences working
with the women of his congregation. Woman, Thou Art Loosed would become Jakes's signature
work and a national, religious bestseller. He also began a new television ministry, Get Ready, which
aired on Black Entertainment Television and the Trinity Broadcasting Network. Also in 1993, Jakes
moved his church yet again, to Cross Lanes, West Virginia. [citation needed]
Jakes's ministry continued to expand, prompting the founding of the T. D. Jakes Ministries
organization to oversee his work beyond the church itself. He continued to write and publish,
spreading his message of spiritual healing to new audiences. In 1994, he held the first of what would
become a series of conferences for ministers and their spouses, "When Shepherds Bleed." [citation needed]
In May 1996, Jakes moved his family and his ministry again, along with fifty other families involved in
his work, to Dallas, Texas. There he purchased the former facilities of Eagle's Nest Church, a large
Dallas church pastored by W. V. Grant (who at the time was facing prison time for fraud). Renaming
the church The Potter's House, Jakes continued his work. The Potter's House, with a 5,000-seat
auditorium and a 34-acre campus, had a congregation of 30,000. [citation needed]

Career[edit]
In 1980, at age 23, Jakes became the pastor of Greater Emanuel Temple of Faith, a storefront
church in Smithers, West Virginia, with ten members. The congregation grew to encompass 100
members and was notable because it was racially integrated. [citation needed]
In 1990, Jakes moved to South Charleston, West Virginia, and his congregation grew again, to 300
members. In 1993 he moved to Cross Lanes, West Virginia, where the congregation grew to more
than 1,100 people, of whom 60 percent were African American and 40 percent Caucasian. [citation needed]
In 1994, T. D. Jakes Ministries was established as a non-profit organization that produced televised
sermons and conferences. From 1995 to 1996, Jakes hosted "Get Ready," a weekly radio and
television show with national distribution through syndication. [citation needed]
In 1996, Jakes, his wife and family, and a staff of 50 employees relocated to Dallas, Texas, where
Jakes founded the Potter's House, a non-denominational megachurch. Located on a 34-acre hilltop
campus, the Potter's House features a 5,000-seat auditorium, as well as offices for employees and
staff. Between 1996 and 1998, church membership grew from 7,000 congregants to 14,000. [citation needed]
In 2005, Jakes accompanied President George W. Bush on his visit to the areas devastated
by Hurricane Katrina. In his book Decision Points, President Bush describes Jakes as "a kind of man
who puts faith into action."[citation needed]
On January 20, 2009, Jakes led the early morning prayer service for President Barack Obama at St.
John's Church in Washington, D.C., according to NBC News.[citation needed]
In 2009, Jakes partnered with Dr. Phil McGraw, Jay McGraw, and CBS Television Distribution to
launch a syndicated, secular talk show; however, due to economic issues within the syndicated
television market, the program never premiered.[3][4]
In July 2015, Tegna, Inc. and Debmar-Mercury announced that a new secular talk show hosted by
Jakes called T. D. Jakes would air a test run on Tegna stations in Atlanta, Cleveland, Dallas,
and Minneapolis from August 17 to September 11, 2015.[5][4] On May 10, 2016, Tegna announced
that it would begin airing Jakes's show September 12 in over 50 markets across the country. [6][7] On
March 15, 2017, Tegna announced that T. D. Jakes was cancelled due to poor ratings and low
clearances.[8]

Beliefs[edit]
Although Jakes was converted and ordained within Oneness Pentecostalism, he revealed in an
interview with Mark Driscoll in 2012 that he affirms the Trinity, although Jakes did not affirm the
eternality of the individual persons of the Trinity which is denied by Oneness churches. [9][10]
Jakes is an advocate of abstinence and has made appearances advocating it on Good Morning
America and Dr. Phil.[11]
Jakes has been ordained a minister of the United Pentecostal Church International.
In 2015, Jakes stated that his views on homosexuality and LGBT rights are evolving. However,
Jakes stated that his words were misinterpreted and that while he does not support same-sex
marriage, he "respect[s] the rights that this country affords those that disagree..." [12]