By the way, that's four insults. You called me unspiritual, intimated I am predatory, said I had an attitude and intimated I do what I wish with no regard for others.
I didn't insult you once, but you gave me four insults... AND you forgot to answer the question.
My response to your post was based upon your comments and your demonstrated attitude on this and other threads of mine. Anticipating an altercation, as your original post seemed to imply, isn't a spiritual attitude. It seems you benefit not at all from anything I post, but do enjoy making mocking remarks and following my threads for the purpose of mocking and criticizing. Predatory cats are bloodthirsty and stalk prey, and I was likening your behavior to this because you seem to enjoy seeing people debate with me for unrighteous reasons, and to follow my posts with the sole intention of mocking, criticizing and encouraging or anticipating altercation.
What positive thing have you posted in response any topic of mine? I don't recall any. And if you disagree, or have purposed to disagree with everything I post, why do you continue to read what I post and bother to comment?
Now, how do you perceive your own behavior and motives? I'm willing to hear and consider your explanation.
As for your question:
In the case of observing "Christ"-Mass and Easter, it's adding something to Christianity that God didn't give us, and which have their origins in Roman Catholicism and in pagan festivals that were conveniently "Christianized" by the Roman Catholic Church. This is more than just a disputable matter of personal faith; these practices are being kept as, and presented to the world as, a part of Christianity, and they are not.
It's not acceptable or pleasing to God for Christians to add things like holidays to the practice of Christianity which have nothing to do with Christianity and which He did not give us, anymore than it was okay for the Jews to add new practices to the religion He gave them. (Or was it not okay for them to do, but it pleases Him for Christians to do it? No, it does not.)
And contrary to what some or many Christians believe, doing something in Jesus' Name or putting a "Christian spin" on a practice doesn't make it Christian, or pleasing to God.
I already explained about Jewish holidays in the original post.
As far as other 'holi'days go, like national days of observance (Memorial Day, Independence Day, Thanksgiving---although that last one has connections to pagan harvest celebrations), it has to be a matter of personal conviction from the Lord as to what He would have the individual to do, whether it honors and is pleasing to Him or not. These days of observance are not additions to Christianity, but rather matters of personal faith, as far as whether a Christian believes it is pleasing and acceptable to God for him or her to keep them.
Regarding the keeping of Christmas and Easter, ask yourself, "Am I really doing this because I am convinced that it pleases the Lord, and I want to honor Him by it, or am I doing it because I like it, and I want to keep doing it, and because all my friends and family do it and expect me to do it, regardless of whether it really honors and pleases God or not?"
The Christian with the mentality of seeking to know the Lord's will about all things and to do what pleases and honors Him, and to abstain from whatever does not, regardless of what it is, will be blessed with wisdom and discernment to do this. But a Christian who does not have this attitude, will not be, and will do whatever he or she pleases, and find a way to justify doing it.
Just make sure you're the first kind of Christian, and not the second. God knows the difference, and as Romans 14:12 says,
Each of us will give an account of himself to God.
Blessed is the one who has no reason to pass judgment on himself for what he approves. But whoever has doubts is condemned if he eats, because the eating is not from faith. For whatever does not proceed from faith is sin.
(Romans 14:22,23 ESV)
As with food, so with all things.
