You wrote:"Do you really think that "what is pagan for some may not be pagan for others??? Isn't this a classic example of humanistic moral relativism? The main question is not what someone "feels" is pagan. (God doesn't really care about our feelings when judgment day arrives, does He?) The question should be, I think, what does the Lord say is pagan? Can we discuss it from that angle? Ideas, anyone? How do we discover whether or not the Lord considers having a Christmas tree is an ungodly practice from the Lord's point of view? Marlin has brought up this issue several times, and I think it would be a good thing to discuss as a group."
Could I suggest that consideration of scripture is always wise when seeking to deal with such questions?
One example that comes to mind is I Cor.8. From that background, one could ask the question: "Does God consider eating meat offered to idols as idolatry/pagan?"
Can eating meat offered to idols be sinful for one person and absolutely righteous for another? I believe that it can!
Is it then possible that the same sort of principle could be applied to having a Christmas tree?
If one Christian views it as sinful or is stumbled by it, is it sin for him to have one?
But for another who knows that an evergreen tree is nothing but an evergreen tree, can it be perfectly righteous for him to have one and decorate it?
Another example is the observance of days in Romans 14. Can it be sinful for one man to esteem one day above another? On the other hand, can it be sinful for another man to observe every day alike?
In other words, if the Holy Spirit has convicted me that it would be sinful for me to do a certain thing (which scripture does not specificly say is sinful) can I rightfully teach others that it is sinful for everyone to do that thing which scripture does not specificly say is sinful?
Do these passages shed any light on the issue of Christian's and their views of Christmas trees?
Your brother in Christ, Bruce
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---------- "Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer every man." (Colossians 4:6) http://www.InnGlory.org
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