Let’s begin with the date. And totally ignore this scripture: 5 One person considers one day more sacred than another; another considers every day alike. Each of them should be fully convinced in their own mind.
Is there ANY day, acceptablt to you, that is not STAINED by some pagan using it?
I Jeremiah we see the Israelites already worshiping with the cutting of a tree. ...to get some wood to build an IDOL.
Jeremiah 10:1 Hear ye the word which the Lord speaketh unto you, O house of Israel: 2 Thus saith the Lord, Learn not the way of the heathen, and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; for the heathen are dismayed at them. 3 For the customs of the people are vain: for one cutteth a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman, with the axe. 4 They deck it with silver and with gold; they fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it move not.
True believeing Jews cut down TREES to use in building their temple.
Giving of gifts during the festival of Saturnalis. OOooooh! GIFTS! Matthew 7:11 If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! 1 Corinthians 12:1 Brothers and sisters, I want you to know about the gifts of the Holy Spirit.
The bright red berries of the holly bush represented fertility in the depths of the dormant winter. Oh NO!!! FERTILITY!!! Genesis 1:28 God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.”
The circle of the Yule or Christmas wreath represents the pagan “Wheel of the Year” or “Circle of Life” So we can't use CIRCLES any more, either?? 1 Corinthians 9:24-27 "Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win. And everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things. They then do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable.
I have only addressed those days that are specifically associated with pagan worship of Baal that God has condemned. I couldn’t care less if Christians want to celebrate the birth of Christ. But to have incorporated it into the pagan celebration of the mythical birth date of Baal the sun god is not by coincidence and that is specifically what God was addressing in Deuteronomy.
There is nothing wrong with commemorating the death and resurrection of Christ but again, incorporating that into the celebration of the worship of the goddess Oestre (pronounced Easter) is what God was addressing in Ezekiel. Easter there was referenced with “"worshipping the sun towards the east" when referencing abominations that were being commited. Using symbols and rituals that the pagans used in worshipping their gods is what God was addressing in Deuteronomy when He said “Thou shalt not do so unto the Lord thy God”.
Each person has to determine for themselves whether to follow as closely as possible what God has said. I’m simply pointing to scripture which addresses what is still being done today. They just need to understand what God said about including those practices that were first used in worshipping the pagan gods.
"Your appointed feasts My soul hates" (Isaiah 1:14–15)
"I hate, I despise your feast days, and I do not savor your sacred assemblies" (Amos 5:21–23)
"I will also cause all her mirth to cease, her feast days, her New Moons, her Sabbaths—all her appointed feasts" (Hosea 2:11)
Ezekiel 20:7 Then said I unto them, Cast ye away every man the abominations of his eyes, and defile not yourselves with the idols of Egypt: I am the Lord your God. 8 But they rebelled against me, and would not hearken unto me: they did not every man cast away the abominations of their eyes, neither did they forsake the idols of Egypt: then I said, I will pour out my fury upon them, to accomplish my anger against them in the midst of the land of Egypt. 9 But I wrought for my name's sake, that it should not be polluted before the heathen, among whom they were, in whose sight I made myself known unto them, in bringing them forth out of the land of Egypt. 10 Wherefore I caused them to go forth out of the land of Egypt, and brought them into the wilderness. 11 And I gave them my statutes, and shewed them my judgments, which if a man do, he shall even live in them. 12 Moreover also I gave them my sabbaths, to be a sign between me and them, that they might know that I am the Lord that sanctify them. 13 But the house of Israel rebelled against me in the wilderness: they walked not in my statutes, and they despised my judgments, which if a man do, he shall even live in them; and my sabbaths they greatly polluted: then I said, I would pour out my fury upon them in the wilderness, to consume them.
God is clear about combining pagan practices and rituals in serving Him.
Scoff if you choose. We were told that would be coming.