You do not see the difference between a Christmas tree to which no one bows down to and the tree in Jeremiah 10? They are being carved by a craftsman into a God that they worshipped. That's the key.
Nothing is said that these trees are carved into idol statues of people. Jeremiah just says that they cut down trees and decorated them with gold and silver. Jeremiah also says that this practice is vain (See: Jeremiah 10:3-4). Jeremiah later talks about molten graven images in verse 14 (See: Jeremiah 10:14).
It is also written:
21 Thou shalt not plant thee a grove of any trees near unto the altar of the Lord thy God, which thou shalt make thee.
22 Neither shalt thou set thee up any image; which the Lord thy God hateth."
(Deuteronomy 16:21-22).
You said:
Christians who have a Christmas tree are not treating it as a God or as say an idol.
We cannot change history. Tree worship can be seen in Jeremiah 10:3-4. Why would we want to flirt with doing something similar? Sure, one may not bow down to these trees, but to decorate them as the pagans did is not good at all. They decorated trees as a part of their worship of these trees. So why would we want to copy them and get close to even what they were doing? Therein lies the problem that I know you will refuse to see (at this point in time).
Look out how they did so. There may be minute similarities, but just about anything we do or have done, heathens have done as well. Should we stop eating because heathens eat? Should we stop working because heathens work? The list goes on and on.
We need food to live. You are comparing a necessary function of survival with something that is tied with a practice of pagan idolaters. So they are not the same thing.
You said:
It's really not. It is truly a Christian holiday. It's the day that while not His actual birth, is the day that was agreed upon to celebrate His birth, to commemorate His birth.
Christmas was created by the Catholic church. Hence the name, “Christ-mass.” The Catholic church is full of idol statues and imagery. So it is no wonder that Christmas (Christ-mass) involves similar idolatrous elements. If you are Catholic, or you don't have an issue with Catholicism, then by all means knock yourself out.
You said:
I agree and a Christmas tree isn't an idol to Christians.
I am sure there are lots of Christians today who do not regard the reality of certain things. That does not change the truth of how things actually are.
You said:
It's not our God whom we worship. As far as fighting in department stores, just because there are some that do that, don't mean that all do that.
This is just one link in the chain of bad fruit of this holiday (holy day).
You said:
I think the last couple of years we shopped online totally for gifts. We gave gifts to our children and my girlfriend and I exchanged gifts. Neither of us went into debt.
But many have gone into debt. Just because you have not, does not mean that the bad fruit of Christmas has not manifested in the lives of others.
Also, we are told not to give out of compulsion. For Paul says,
"You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don't give reluctantly or in response to pressure. "For God loves a person who gives cheerfully.""
(2 Corinthians 9:7) (NLT).
Yet, Christmas is a time where you feel compelled to give out of pressure.
Christmas is also a time when it is about the exchange of gifts.
Yet, Jesus says,
Give without expecting anything in return.
For do not sinners love their own?
For sinners also lend to sinners, to receive as much again.
"And if you lend to them of whom you hope to receive, what thanks have you? for sinners also lend to sinners, to receive as much again. (Luke 6:34).
32 "For if you love them who love you, what thanks have you? for sinners also love those that love them.
33 And if you do good to them who do good to you, what thanks have you? for sinners also do even the same." (Luke 6:32-33).
"But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return; and your reward shall be great, and you shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil." (Luke 6:35).
12 "Then said he also to him that bade him, When you give a dinner or a supper, call not your friends, nor your brethren, neither your kinsmen, nor your rich neighbors; lest they also bid you again, and a recompense be made you.
13 But when you give a feast, call the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind:
14 And you shall be blessed; for they cannot recompense you: for you shall be recompensed at the resurrection of the just." (Luke 14:12-14).
8 "And Zacchaeus stood, and said unto the Lord; Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken anything from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold.
9 And Jesus said unto him, "This day is salvation come to this house,...""
(Luke 19:8-9).
You said:
Using computers is the way of the heathen, should we Christians stop using the computer?
Nothing is said in the Bible about using computers as being bad. However, the decorating of trees in Jeremiah 10:3-4 is condemned. Why should we go against what His Word says? Or why should we do even something even remotely close to Jeremiah 10:3-4? What if one is wrong on this point? What if Jeremiah 10:3-4 also condemns even possessing idol trees that are decorated in gold and silver?
You said:
You don't do Christmas anymore. Good on ya! Truly! It's a sin in your mind. Maybe for you, it really was sin and God put it on your heart not to do it anymore. However, many of us don't have that same conviction because it is not a sin to us in how we celebrate Christmas. Just as one person's excessive use of the computer can be a sin, but another's moderate use isn't. It is the same principle with Christmas trees. To one it can be sin, but to another, it isn't.
Edit: This is my only reply to you on this. I am growing tired of debating people online anymore.
I believe that once a Christian learns about the truth of Christmas, they will no longer celebrate it. It takes time to discover the truth for believers. It is my hope that you will discover the truth on this topic someday. To follow the Lord and not the ways of this world. For the ways of the world cannot satisy, but our Lord and His good ways can.