Christmas (again)

[sheila]

...I just want to speak to you,not in the way of a rebuke at all..but just to inform you,ok?

    I just want to call to your attention that it was in the midst of Ur of the Chaldees that

  God spoke to Abram.  thus from the midst of Babylonia..the seed of Abraham hears the voice

of the Lord.  Thus if you can accept this..even though in the midst of Babylnia/with it's

practices   'this is my son,hear ye him" is heard in the land in the 'christmas' seed of faith.

and those that 'hear' the voice of the Lord in Babylonia..have  righteousness accounted to

them.[having accepted His word[come in flesh] to them as truth]

....and when He further speaks to them..and tells them to leave that land behind......they

will step out in faith and beleive it..just as Abram/Abraham did..and just as we


   But for now..all they have is the 'seed of the woman" even the christchild born in the flesh

the son of God come in the flesh...and they herald it yearly at the time and place of

greatest darkness[saturnalia]...that seed is life/light in the midst of the  darkness of this

world.  God can make it grow........

   Remember Abrahm come from such,as did we..and Jesus Christ come in the midst of

a conquered people[Israel ruled by Rome]

.......and God causes all to work togather for the good.....for this reason...angels were

instructed not to attempt to pullup the tares...until the harvest,lest 'wheat' seed faith planted

of God be uprooted.

                                                   :friendstu:

   So,I ask your forebearance in this matter,pateince

[Seth]

I would hate to think that any here are making an idol out of any of these holidays. Those that have yet blind hearts will have a better chance of seeing an alternate "spiritual" point of view, if one is given. Staying home, doing nothing is not a lot different than burying the silver.

I totally agree. It's important to know what an idol really is. It's an earthly replacement for God, whether a gold calf, money itself, or the biggest idol of all: SELF, that is pride. Without those characteristics, there is no idol. That's why I believe it's fine to celebrate the holidays, as long as you put them in their own place. It goes to the intention. If you know you aren't placing the day above another, as if to downgrade God's importance on any other ordinary day, then celebrating holidays is not defiling you. It's always what proceeds from the heart that defiles a man.

Seth I just read a few verses that disagree with your personal opinion.
Jer 10:1-5
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.

5 They are upright as the palm tree, but speak not: they must needs be borne, because they cannot go. Be not afraid of them; for they cannot do evil, neither also is it in them to do good.

So here Yahweh says Don't do it. Don't bring the tree inside the house and decorate it with gold and silver balls. Maybe what Yahweh means here is go ahead and enjoy the pagan holy days but just don't bring the tree inside and decorate it. Or maybe Yahweh is saying don't even acknowledge the pagan holy days because they are evil. I believe if something is evil we are required to not participate in it. The problem here is when Christians begin to think they know more than Yahweh does about the effects of participation in evil.

Yes, this is the verse people use to encourage others not to have a Christmas tree, but there is an obvious problem with this interpretation: God is not talking about pagan holidays. He is talking about idol worship. If you read the entire passage, he also mentions those who work with metal etc. Then he adds this:

Jeremiah 10:11
Thus shall ye say unto them, The gods that have not made the heavens and the earth, even they shall perish from the earth, and from under these heavens.

This is what the heathen (Hebrew word for nations, or Gentiles) were doing, making false gods from wood and metal and WORSHIPPING them. The Christmas tree wouldn't be invented for thousands of years. So the question is, is this a prophecy about a Christmas tree? You seem to think so, but it's your own private interpretation. The matter at stake in Jeremiah 10 is worshipping of false gods, idols.

What Christians need to understand about the difference between the Old Covenant and the New Covenant is what happens in the heart.

Titus 1:15
To the pure, all things are pure, but to those who are corrupted and do not believe, nothing is pure. In fact, both their minds and consciences are corrupted.

To the pure, their minds are pure and therefore consciences are not corrupted. A Jew is now a matter of the heart, a circumcision of the heart. Why? Because when the heart becomes circumcised the desire to WORSHIP false gods disappears and an idol becomes nothing more than a piece of wood or metal. It has no inherent power to corrupt the purified.

That is why meat sacrificed to idols is nothing, just meat. The Easter ham is nothing but ordinary meat. Same with the Thanksgiving turkey, and the Christmas roast. The Christmas tree is nothing but a tree with trinkets on it. The heart is purified, so all things are lawful but not all things are profitable.

Take a look at what Paul means by that:

1 Cor 10
23 All things are lawful, but not all things are profitable. All things are lawful, but not all things edify. 24 Let no one seek his own good, but that of his neighbor. 25 Eat anything that is sold in the meat market without asking questions for conscience' sake; 26 =for the earth is the Lord's, and all it contains (including Christmas trees). 27 If one of the unbelievers invites you and you want to go, eat anything that is set before you without asking questions for conscience' sake. 28 But 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; 29 I mean not your own conscience, but the other man's; for why is my freedom judged by another's conscience? 30 If I partake with thankfulness, why am I slandered concerning that for which I give thanks?

mplsfitter539, what you are doing is judging my freedom according to your own conscience. I wouldn't do that to you. To the pure, the mind is pure, and the Christmas tree therefore, becomes nothing but a tree. The HEART is really the matter at stake, and if the heart is pure, all things are lawful because the mind is devoted to God and not to worshipping idols. Nobody is worshipping a Christmas tree, so don't judge my freedom with your own conscience.

On the other hand, I would not encourage you to have a Christmas tree because obviously your conscience doesn't allow that and I wouldn't want your faith to be harmed.

[dajomaco]

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.

Please tell me who this heathen are.
Where are they.

Does the holy spirit comfotred you with the knowledge of who and where the heathens are? 

If so please share that I might go and tell them that Jesus has already turnred the heathens in to wine?

[Seth]

Dajomaco, the "heathen" is from the word "goyim" the word for "nations" or better known today as "Gentiles." The Jeremiah passage is warning Israel not to worship idols like the Gentiles do. From the perspective of the New Covenant, a Gentile (goyim) is anyone who has not been circumcised in the heart according to the Spirit. Check Romans 2 to find out about that...

[sheila]

Jeremiah 24;5-7   like these good figs so will I acknowledge them that are carried away

captive of Judah[Christ] whom I have sent away out of this place into the land

of the Chaldean's[Babylon] for their good.........and I will bring them again unto this land

and I will buil;d them up and not pull them down...and I will plant them and not pull

them up[as tares]...and I will give themm a heart to know me..that 'I AM' the Lord..

and they shall be my people.

  so next time you behold 'christians' dwelling in the midst of Chaldean/Babylon religious

practices....[christmas...christ seed in midst of multitude] remember this scripture..

   judge nothing before the appointed time...judge not lest ye be judged........

[Seth]

IMHO religious practices are themselves the fruit of INTERNAL carnality. Without the internal carnality, they are not carried away. Understand that it is WHAT PROCEEDS FROM THE HEART that defiles a man, not what he does with a Christmas tree or opening presents or eating turkey on Thanksgiving. Christmas is not a religious practice. It may be to SOME people, but not all.

There is no being carried away if the heart is pure...

Not understanding that is the basis of Judaizing.

[JulieTang84]

Good point Sheila  :HeartThrob:

We must never forget or be afraid; because light shines the brightest in the darkness.
   
Rom 2:19
And art confident that thou thyself art a guide of the blind, a light of them which are in darkness,

Standing aloof because the blind are blind is not spreading light; rather it is putting light under a shade.
   
Luk 8:16
No man, when he hath lighted a candle, covereth it with a vessel, or putteth it under a bed; but setteth it on a candlestick, that they which enter in may see the light.

Many Christians think that by shining in the dark; (mingling with the blind) that somehow, the light will be lost. Well. in some cases ones light might indeed dim or indeed go out. How strong was that light to begin with?

Mat 6:22,23
The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light. But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!

The Light which is darkness is dark no matter where it shines. (Try a ER church)

We are to be an example for all. If Christmas or Easter have lost their meaning, then how bright is our light? It need no illuminate the entire universe, but if only upon those we have contact with on a daily basis.

If we  :dsunny: Father will do his part.  :HeartThrob:

Love Julie :HeartThrob:

[Seth]

So much about this issue can be understood through scripture:

Colossians 2
20 If you have died with Christ to the elementary principles of the world, why, as if you were living in the world, do you submit yourself to decrees, such as, 21 "Do not handle, do not taste, do not touch!" 22 (which all refer to things destined to perish with use)—in accordance with the commandments and teachings of men? 23 These are matters which have, to be sure, the appearance of wisdom in self-made religion and self-abasement and severe treatment of the body, but are of no value against fleshly indulgence.

"Do not gather with family on Easter because it has pagan roots! Don't eat pork anyway! Don't touch a dead hawk! Don't have a Christmas tree! Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!"

These all have the appearance of wisdom in self-denial but have nothing to do with any value against fleshly indulgence. They are man made commandments because they enforce a Law which was weak through the flesh.

But the power against "fleshly indulgence" is found in the Spirit in a mind purified by faith.  The Old Covenant focuses on the external, so that the Pharisees were like whited sepulchers, pure on the outside, dead on the inside. The New Covenant reverses this process. It goes from the INSIDE to the OUTSIDE. A new creation in Christ can touch, taste and handle, because his mind is pure, and his conscience is therefore undefiled.

Always beware of those who judge your freedom from the weakness of their own consciences. I am so tired of the Judaizing that goes on in Christianity. It places people under fear and slavery to the ordinances of men, and their own guilt.

Those who love have fulfilled the Law. Eating pork, Easter, Christmas trees, ordinances, ordinances, ordinances, have nothing to do with LOVE. LOVE....and you will have fulfilled the Law....

[mplsfitter539]

So what you are saying is that if I want to go see and listen to Marilyn Manson in concert I should go with a clear conscience. How about if I go to a strip club and watch the dancers? Can I really do these things in the presents of Yahweh? Will he smile on me while I practice lawlessness? Should I mix my conscience up with abominations because you translate freedom to mean everything?
IMO when someone is trying to separate themselves from the pollution of paganism it may be a good idea to steer clear of it altogether.

1 Peter 2:11
11 Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;

I believe this is why we are in the state we are in today. Too many "Christians" have translated scripture to mean "do as though wilt" because of freedom. I am positive that x-mas is an abomination to Yahweh no matter how much freedom He has given us. It is a direct assault on everything He stands for. Do your own homework on this and research the origin of x-mas and then you to will see that it came from pagan origins and does not glorify Yahweh in the least.

[Seth]

So what you are saying is that if I want to go see and listen to Marilyn Manson in concert I should go with a clear conscience. How about if I go to a strip club and watch the dancers?

Give me a break.

THE QUESTION IS, WHY ARE YOU AT THE CONCERT?

If Jesus were at the concert, WHY would he be there? If Jesus were at the strip club, WHY would he be there? Do you think seeing a naked woman would defile Jesus? NO! Because he is pure in his heart. He would not be there to INDULGE IN HIS FLESH.

This is what the Colossians verse is all about. Having the appearance of self-denial through ordinances has nothing to do with putting away fleshly desires. That has to do with walking in the Spirit. It has nothing to do with Christmas trees because Christmas trees DO NOT DEFILE ANYONE who is pure of mind...

You seem to think that Christmas participation is what does the defiling. It does not. It is what proceeds from the heart that defiles.

[Seth]

Before you say Jesus wouldn't go to a strip club, you might want to consider who he ate with and who were his accusers...

Galatians 5:2
Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing.

If you take that scripture out of context, it looks like Jews cannot be Christians, or anyone who was circumcised for health reasons or even as Paul did with Timothy, to spread the Gospel. After all, it clearly says that if you be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing.

On the other hand, if you see the context of Galatians, you know that Paul is saying that if you be circumcised with the INTENT to BOAST IN THE FLESH, or to make yourselves righteousness through works of the ordinances in the Law, Christ will be no use to you, because you want your own righteousness not that which comes through you from Christ in the Spirit.

It's not the act of circumcision that defiles, but the INTENTION at the heart of it, which makes it a question of faith. It has everything to do with your intent, because we do not live by ordinances....but by faith.

Paul is NOT saying you cannot attend a party of an unbeliever because the party celebrates a pagan festival from thousands of years ago. Nor his he saying, don't have a Christmas tree because it has pagan beginnings, any more than he thought that eating meat sacrificed to idols was inherently bad. The question has to do with whether or not you BELIEVE in the idol in the first place. If not, the meat is fine. You could take meat sacrificed to idols home to your family and enjoy it because you KNOW that the idol isn't real. God is real. So the meat would do no harm to you because it cannot touch your faith.

Paul is telling us to EXAMINE OURSELVES, to know what our intentions are and to make sure we are living by faith. He knew darn well Christmas trees have no power to defile the pure, as long as the pure remain pure. The moment the pure begin to indulge in the flesh by going to a strip club with the INTENT to be seduced by sexual immorality, or to be in a Marilyn Manson concert with the INTENT to agree with blasphemy, they become impure and their consciences are defiled.

Does eating pork, or touching a dead hawk, or having a Christmas tree in your house and opening presents on the 25th have the power to defile your mind? IF SO, don't do it. IF NOT, you're fine.

KNOW IN YOUR HEART that the idol is false, and you will have no fear of the material itself. That is what living by faith is all about.

[Seth]

I have posted twice already because this is a passionate topic for me, because I believe the ordinances of men forced upon others leads to unhappiness, unnecessary self denial, guilt and fear. I will simply provide what I think the difference is between messages:

Apostle Paul: Don't do anything that harms your faith.

Judiazers: Don't do anything vaguely connected to paganism because paganism is bad.

The missing link in the Judiazer's message is: FAITH. Judaizers have no concern about faith and do not preach from that perspective at all. They insist that the act itself, or the distant history of the act, is the problem and not preservation of faith, and the walk according to the Spirit.

Does it harm your faith, or your brother's faith? That is the real question.

That is something that everyone needs to examine for themselves and NOT live by somebody else's ordinances, because those ordinances are determined by their own consciences. What they might deny themselves may have no impact on your faith.

2 Corinthians 24
Not for that we have dominion over your faith, but are helpers of your joy: for by faith ye stand.

Too many Christians are allowing other Christians to have dominion over their faith through their legalism.

[mplsfitter539]

Seth,
I can see that you totally enjoy x-mas and I surely don't want to ruin yours so you go right ahead and practice that old tradition of men called x-mas. I will leave it here because we profit nothing by arguing or points. I believe people defile the purity of their own mind by succumbing to the temptations of observing, practicing, participating in traditions of men that profit nothing.
Mark 7:13
King James Version (KJV)
13 Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye.

[Seth]

Yes and I enjoy pork and crab too, neither of which affect my faith.What you seem to not realize is that the effect of the word of God is LOVING your fellow man. As Jesus was healing on the Sabbath, the Pharisees condemned him rather than celebrating his achievements for sick people. Not realizing that the Sabbath was made FOR man, in their condemnation they made the word of God of no effect toward LOVE.

Obviously Christmas trees have nothing to do with that, and neither does meat sacrificed to idols. Good luck with your ordinances. I hope nobody follows you down that rabbit hole.

[dajomaco]

So what you are saying is that if I want to go see and listen to Marilyn Manson in concert I should go with a clear conscience. How about if I go to a strip club and watch the dancers? Can I really do these things in the presents of Yahweh? Will he smile on me while I practice lawlessness? Should I mix my conscience up with abominations because you translate freedom to mean everything?
IMO when someone is trying to separate themselves from the pollution of paganism it may be a good idea to steer clear of it altogether.

1 Peter 2:11
11 Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;

I believe this is why we are in the state we are in today. Too many "Christians" have translated scripture to mean "do as though wilt" because of freedom. I am positive that x-mas is an abomination to Yahweh no matter how much freedom He has given us. It is a direct assault on everything He stands for. Do your own homework on this and research the origin of x-mas and then you to will see that it came from pagan origins and does not glorify Yahweh in the least.

I do not mean your own conscience, but the other person's. For why is my freedom judged by another person's conscience? 30 If I partake with thanks, why am I slandered because of something I give thanks for?

[dajomaco]

This issue arose because of false brothers smuggled in,
who came in secretly to spy on the freedom that we have in Christ Jesus, in order to enslave us.

[dajomaco]

But when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face because he stood condemned.[c] 12 For he regularly ate with the Gentiles before certain men came from James.

James the brother of Jesus according to the flesh.
James the of the Book of James.
James the leader of the circumcision party

However, when they came, he withdrew and separated himself, because he feared those from the circumcision party. 13 Then the rest of the Jews joined his hypocrisy, so that even Barnabas was carried away by their hypocrisy.

[Seth]

I believe people defile the purity of their own mind by succumbing to the temptations of observing, practicing, participating in traditions of men that profit nothing.

This is the problem with blanket ordinances that Christians place on another. There is no way to know who is defiling their minds, unless you are the person. That is why Paul said that EACH person should examine THEMSELVES. Only God knows the heart and the mind, and for another Christian to say that someone else's mind is defiled and impure is nothing more than a blanket judgment on someone else's faith without knowledge. Thus, the dangers of blanket legalism reveal themselves.

Paul encouraged us to assess the situation for ourselves and then MAKE A CHOICE of what to do under the circumstances. mplsfitter539, would like me to accept his ordinance as a blanket rule WITHOUT the need for me to examine for myself whether a Christmas tree really does defile my mind or not. No need for me to think for myself if I am following him, right?

[Ross]

Hi;
Gal 5;17-24 " But I say walk by the spirit and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.
For the desires of the flesh are against the desires of the spirit, and the desires of the spirit are against the desires of the flesh,
FOR THESE ARE OPPOSED TO ONE ANOTHER SO THAT YOU MAY NOT DO THE THINGS THAT YOU PLEASE.
But if you are led by the Spirit you are NOT under the law.
Now the works of the flesh are obvious, which are;
    sexual immorality, impurity, debauchery, idolatry, sorcery, quarrels, strife, jealousy, fits of rage, dissensions, divisions, envyings, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these.
I warn you that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

By contrast, the fruit of the spirit is;
    love, joy, peace, patience, generosity, kindness, gentleness, faithfulness, self-control,
against such things there is NO LAW.
And those who belong to Christ HAVE CRUCIFIED THE FLESH WITH IT'S PASSIONS AND DESIRES."

* This seems to be saying that whilst we live we are at conflict within between the flesh and the spirit. The flesh seeks self-gain. The Spirit puts self to death. This is deeper than total submission, which is like slavery. To death seems to be highlighting that we have no personal effort in our position since that is all the work of Christ. This seems to be why we take up the cross daily so that we appreciate the work of Christ.
Just as the first Adam put us into the state of sin, the Second Adam, Christ, sets us up for the next stage of development in the coming spiritual realm.

[WhiteWings]

IMHO religious practices are themselves the fruit of INTERNAL carnality. Without the internal carnality, they are not carried away. Understand that it is WHAT PROCEEDS FROM THE HEART that defiles a man, not what he does with a Christmas tree or opening presents or eating turkey on Thanksgiving. Christmas is not a religious practice. It may be to SOME people, but not all.

But still the ancient Jews were warned not to be part of paganism. God hated it; even when the Jews thought it was ok and thought they (still) worshipped God.
What's next? Sacrifice swine on the Brazen Altar because we truly believe God would like some pork chops?

There is no being carried away if the heart is pure...

But is the heart of a xmas celebrator pure? Many really think it's an all Christian celebration of Christ's birth. Although wrong their hearts may be pure.

You do know xmas is pagan and you celebrate it. Is your heart really pure? Or are you just making up excuses to enjoy a pagan feast?


Note to Jabcat: I think this sub-thread has outgrow grab bag status  :winkgrin:
Maybe split it off and merge with this huge xmas and Isthar thread? http://tentmaker.org/forum/prayer-room-(members-only)/santa/

[jabcat]

Note to Jabcat: I think this sub-thread has outgrow grab bag status  :winkgrin:

Yeah, maybe so, huh?  Tried to split into that thread and it didn't work, so re-labed it as is...by January we'll be alright :)

(all posts edited only to change title of new thread)

[WhiteWings]

Yeah, maybe so, huh?  Tried to split into that thread and it didn't work,

The thread is already split; so a next step could be merging it with the huge thread.

[Jock]

Seth said: Does eating pork, or touching a dead hawk, or having a Christmas tree in your house and opening presents on the 25th have the power to defile your mind? IF SO, don't do it. IF NOT, you're fine

That is spot on. In my past affiliations I have had men lay a burden of guilt concerning christmas, easter and the like. Are we to go back to living the law? The days of the week, months of the years, names of planets, touching a cadaver, all pagan!

My wife and I have had years of not doing Christmas (I don't think we scored any points with God) especially if we laid a weight on our brothers. Oh how spiritual we were!

Let each man be persuaded in his own mind and heart. I can say that where love is found, liberty is found.

Shalom

Jock.   :banana:

[JulieTang84]

Psalm 23:4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

I tell you what guys, the dark valley is peaceful when compared to debates concerning faith and law.   :dunno2:

What gives? Jesus gave us SPIRIT, and also the parable of the talents of Silver. Is it not obvious that SPIRIT = SILVER. Not all are given the same amount, but we ARE ALL judged by what we do with what we are given.

What does having the gift of Spirit mean? Should we hide it away from all others, just like the servant who buried his; being to afraid of what his Master might say if he spent poorly, thinking his Master had plenty.

Or is it like the the servant that spent wisely and grew his Master's wealth. We must spend/spread/disseminate the LIGHT of SPIRIT in EVERYTHING we do. Christmas is NOT EVIL. It is just a day that people get together and celebrate (what is not important)

What is WRONG with participating in such holidays? Well, not a thing. We are no longer of this world, so the things of the world can no longer TRAP us. (Psm 23:4)

On the contrary, we can use such holiday events to Further the Light of Truth and Love to all that we have contact with. To be sure I am NOT talking of bible bashing for I know many who do this with very little effect other than turning even myself away.

We must live always with Joy. Our very being should almost glow with the Love we have for Father and His Love for each of us. DO NOT get so trapped in the letter of the law that the TRUE LIGHT is dimmed in any manner.

The WORLD is the Valley of the Shadow of Death, Christmas is part of the world. There is nothing to Fear, just a whole lot to LOVE.

Give Love away always and you will see Christmas as just another day made special for YOU to SHINE like you have never shone before. Please don't waste it with and bury your Spirit of Light away, thinking this is what Father wants, for it is not.

Shine for Father  :dsunny:

Love Julie  :HeartThrob:

[Seth]

But still the ancient Jews were warned not to be part of paganism. God hated it; even when the Jews thought it was ok and thought they (still) worshipped God.

This is true. He also said, don't eat pork. You have to see that something happened between the Old and New covenants that CHANGED the way we look at things.

Romans 14
14 I know and am convinced in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself; but to him who thinks anything to be unclean, to him it is unclean.

Paul had to be CONVINCED that nothing is unclean OF ITSELF. This is because he was so used to thinking externally, but the New Covenant is all about faith. Faith is internal. Therefore niether pork or Christmas trees are unclean OF THEMSELVES. Rather, it's what is happening with your faith that counts, which leads me to the next point:

What's next? Sacrifice swine on the Brazen Altar because we truly believe God would like some pork chops?

Please note the bolded parts. THAT is the issue. What do you BELIEVE? You can kill a pig on a brazen altar, it will not hurt you. But are you doing it BECAUSE you BELIEVE that God wants pork chops, or that Ba'al desires a sacrifice? Or are you doing it because YOU are hungry, not because you think the altar is anything but a butchering table and that the pig is nothing but ordinary meat.

WHY is the issue under the New Covenant because it is all a matter of faith. Not even circumcision is evil in itself. But WHY are you doing it is the real issue.

This is why Paul connects everything to faith and tells each person to make their own choice about it.

But is the heart of a xmas celebrator pure? Many really think it's an all Christian celebration of Christ's birth. Although wrong their hearts may be pure.

You do know xmas is pagan and you celebrate it. Is your heart really pure? Or are you just making up excuses to enjoy a pagan feast?

Simply because something has pagan roots does not make it evil OF ITSELF. The evil is in BELIEVING in paganism. That is why meat sacrificed to idols is ok to eat. If my heart is pure or not is a matter of my own faith. That's something to be examined individually.

1 Cor 13:10
Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?

That's the problem with Judaizing is that it does not allow for self examination and self decision. It insists on blanket rules like the Old Covenant, because the Law is NOT of faith. You follow rules without need to examine yourselves and determine what is harmful or not to your walk.

It's not up to WW to determine whether my heart is pure or not, that is the point.