I think a proper understanding of the history of Christmas will leave one with mixed emotions. Judaic Christians chose December 25th as a time to celebrate Christ's birth based on an ancient belief called "integral age". The celebration of Christ's birth became so prevalent that the Aurilean chose to revive ancient pagan practices to over shadow the celebration. Slowly the pagan ways prevailed and Christmas was a dark holiday of rioting and debauchery. It was a time of dread throughout Europe. Christians continued to try to "redeem" the season for Jesus Christ but pagan ways abounded. Eventually Christmas became marketable and with the opportunity to make money people began to turn the season into a time of festivity and giving. Slowly both Christianity and the free market gave us the delightful holiday we know today.
Paul wrote,
2 Corinthians 10:5 (Amplified Bible)
5[Inasmuch as we] refute arguments and theories and reasonings and every proud and lofty thing that sets itself up against the [true] knowledge of God; and we lead every thought and purpose away captive into the obedience of Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One),
There are two types of Christians in this world. Those who flee from pagan ways and those who take every thought and purpose captive into obedience to Christ. Christians took the Christmas season and redeemed it, bringing it into obedience to Christ.
And thank God for that!
By your logic then I can and should go out and buy a statue of buddha and stick a label that says "Jesus" on it and set it on my mantle with a candle burning beside it and by so doing I am honoring God by taking back an idol and changing it's name.
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