Question: What do you say to people that say that Christmas and Easter are pagan holidays?Response: There are some great comments and insights in the comment section. Be sure to check those out! I side with those comments that talk about the importance of how we use the holidays, not where they originated. Many churches have Harvest Parties to give an alternative to Halloween. I don't see any difference between that and "redeeming" the other holidays. I think Paul's teaching on eating meat sacrificed to idols would apply here: "So then, about eating food sacrificed to idols: We know that an idol is nothing at all in the world and that there is no God but one. For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as indeed there are many “gods” and many “lords”), yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we live; and there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we live. But not everyone knows this. Some people are still so accustomed to idols that when they eat such food they think of it as having been sacrificed to an idol, and since their conscience is weak, it is defiled. But food does not bring us near to God; we are no worse if we do not eat, and no better if we do. Be careful, however, that the exercise of your freedom does not become a stumbling-block to the weak."
I also think that using the holidays as an expression of our faith is a good thing. It gives a cultural opportunity to talk about spiritual concerns.
Dan Ver Woert has some interesting comments, as well that are worth investigating! Maybe it is the pagans who are copying us! Check out Ruthie Oberg's comments, too.
Lastly, the Assemblies of God has published a paper in their Perspectives section that deals with this subject. You can read it at http://ag.org/top/Beliefs/sptlissues_holidays.cfm
