Asherah Pole?

[youthwalk]

My spirit is uneasy when I hear people sing the song "O Christmas tree" or "O tannenbaum". I heard my nephew singing it and I felt so uneasy, so revolted. I'd like to know if anyone else feels the same or further more, what you think. It reminds me of the pagan nation's worship of the asherah pole. In some versions it says Ashtoreth.

Encyclopedia Britannica:
"Asherah. Ancient West Semitic goddess, consort of the supreme god.... The word asherah in the Old Testament was used not only in reference to the goddess herself but also to a wooden cult object associated with her worship."

I Kings 11: 5
For Solomon went after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Zidonians, and after Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites.

I Kings 11: 33
Because that they have forsaken me, and have worshipped Ashtoreth the goddess of the Zidonians, Chemosh the god of the Moabites, and Milcom the god of the children of Ammon, and have not walked in my ways, to do that which is right in mine eyes, and to keep my statutes and my judgments, as did David his father.

II Kings 23: 13
And the high places that were before Jerusalem, which were on the right hand of the mount of corruption, which Solomon the king of Israel had builded for Ashtoreth the abomination of the Zidonians, and for Chemosh the abomination of the Moabites, and for Milcom the abomination of the children of Ammon, did the king defile.

Any Ideas, clarity...?

 

[GodDreamer]

well truthfully i've always thought that they were kind of stupid and creepy songs...although i've never thought about it in the way you presented it...all the more reason to dislike the song for me

 

[Kriegermädchen]

Okay, maybe I'm just missing something obvious here, but I don't see anything lyrically strange about the song "O Christmas Tree.". Here are the lyrics:​

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O Christmas Tree : Lyrics​

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O Christmas Tree! O Christmas Tree!​

Thy leaves are so unchanging;​

O Christmas Tree! O Christmas Tree!​

Thy leaves are so unchanging;​

Not only green when summer's here,​

But also when 'tis cold and drear.​

O Christmas Tree! O Christmas Tree!​

Thy leaves are so unchanging!​

O Christmas Tree! O Christmas Tree!​

Much pleasure thou can'st give me;​

O Christmas Tree! O Christmas Tree!​

Much pleasure thou can'st give me;​

How often has the Christmas tree​

Afforded me the greatest glee!​

O Christmas Tree! O Christmas Tree!​

Much pleasure thou can'st give me.​

O Christmas Tree! O Christmas Tree!​

Thy candles shine so brightly!​

O Christmas Tree! O Christmas Tree!​

Thy candles shine so brightly!​

From base to summit, gay and bright,​

There's only splendor for the sight.​

O Christmas Tree! O Christmas Tree!​

Thy candles shine so brightly!​

O Christmas Tree! O Christmas Tree!​

How richly God has decked thee!​

O Christmas Tree! O Christmas Tree!​

How richly God has decked thee!​

Thou bidst us true and faithful be,​

And trust in God unchangingly.​

O Christmas Tree! O Christmas Tree!​

How richly God has decked thee! !" ​

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I'm not at all looking to debate you, I'm simply just curious​

 

[daughteroftheking1983]

i have to admit that I had never looked at that song in that way before. But I guess that it is a bit strange to have a song written at for the time we celebrate Jesus' birth to primarily glorify a tree?

 

[vanilla8]

Jeremaih 10:3b 4 For one cuts a tree from the forest, the work of the hands of a woodman with an axe. They decorate it with silver and gold; they fasten it with nails and hammers so that it will not topple, 5b Do not be afraid of them for they cannot do evil, nor can they do good

 

[daughteroftheking1983]

But yet is it not better to praise God than a tree? Or praise God for the beauty of His creation?

 

[USMC]

It's just a song...There are lots of traditions we follow to celebrate our holidays, many of them come from pagan sources. Does that mean we should completely devoid ourselves of all holiday festivities, like the Jehova's Witnesses, just because we fear their pagan origins? As long as we don't let anything get in the way of our walk with the Lord, what difference does any of it make? We aren't worshipping the tree, we're merely singing a song about how pretty we think it is. Using that logic, we can throw out about half the oldies we grew up listening to about pretty girls because we're now all adulterers for singing and enjoying them.

Bottom line is, sing what you're comfortable with singing. Teach your family those values if that's what's in your heart. Should others be ashamed for enjoying those things? Definitely not. The same goes for just about everything on earth we humans enjoy, that God has gifted us with.

 

[KingZzub]

If people actually worshipped the tree, then yes, there is a problem.

However, there is no Scriptural command to not decorate your houses, and Colossians 2.16 tells us not to judge people on how they observe days.

Cheers,
Z