Colossians 2:
13 And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; 14 Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;
What were the “ordinances that was against us”? Weren’t they the laws and rules and rituals that we are told no one would have been able to keep? Weren’t they just a shadow of things to come? Christ took those all “out of the way, nailing it to his cross”. We are no longer under those laws, ordinances, and commanded holy days. No longer under the dietary laws, the watching for the new moon to ascertain when to celebrate holy days like the Old Testament Jews.
16 Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days:
No man is to hold us to those days any longer because those were only a “shadow of things to come”. The body is now “of Christ” who fulfilled all those “shadows”.
17 Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.
Jesus took that law of ordinances out of the way. That law was a yoke of condemnation to the Jews and a partition wall to the Gentiles. We are no longer subjected to the following of Sabbaths, or holy days which were “shadows”. The days we set aside to worship are no longer guided by those laws but can be set at any time.
That passage is Paul telling the Colossians that they need be made to feel subjected to the ordinances that the Jews were trying to force them back under. Christ set us free from those laws and ordinances.
20 Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances,
NO WHERE in that passage does it say we are free to take on the customs and rituals of the pagans which had long ago been condemned by God.
In my household the Christmas tree and lights have absolutely no connection to paganism. If you have a Christmas tree in your home and use it for pagan worship, I will not participate. But there is a way for all things in heaven and earth to be sanctified and set apart for good use. I give thanks for the Christmas tree, for it reminds me of the tree of the cross whereby all of creation is made new. The earth is the Lord’s, and all it contains. Paganism is nothing. It is defeated and dead in Christ. There is no room for it. I do not know it. But if you practice it, or practiced it formerly, and a Christmas tree causes you to worship Satan, then I suggest you stay away from them.
23All things are lawful, but not all things are profitable. All things are lawful, but not all things edify. 24Let no one seek his own good, but that of his neighbor. 25Eat anything that is sold in the meat market without asking questions for conscience’ sake; 26FOR THE EARTH IS THE LORD’S, AND ALL IT CONTAINS. 27If one of the unbelievers invites you and you want to go, eat anything that is set before you without asking questions for conscience’ sake. 28But if anyone says to you, “This is meat sacrificed to idols,” do not eat it, for the sake of the one who informed you, and for conscience’ sake; 29I mean not your own conscience, but the other man’s; for why is my freedom judged by another’s conscience? 30If I partake with thankfulness, why am I slandered concerning that for which I give thanks? -1 Cor. 10