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S. Michael Houdmann
Supporter
Whether or not Christians should celebrate Halloween can be a very controversial topic. Some Christians celebrate Halloween simply by dressing up in a costume and having fun, seeing it as innocent ...
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Cherie Mitchell
Halloween has pagan, demonic, and occultic roots. You can do further research into the history of Halloween on the internet. The reason Halloween began to be practiced by the church was because Constantine allowed the pagans (whom he wanted to "Christianize") to keep their festivals. It never was our festival to begin with. The name was changed to make it more acceptable among Christians. God doesn't want us to mix the holy with the profane. I think a Bible passage that says it well is this: 2 Corinthians 6:14-18 One bottom line question that is a great way to test this is: What Would Jesus Do? Would you invite Him to attend and participate? Remember, when you receive Him, you become filled with the Holy Spirit. You'll be taking the Holy Spirit with you wherever you go.
Diann Windsor
Everything we do we should ask ourselves do it glorify God. Going out dressing our children to look more innocent than any other children does not cover up that God do not want us to mix him with no other pagan rituals or gods. No they are not real but satan and his little dominions are. They are waiting seeking whomever they can devour. The question has been asked before in the Bible choose this day you will serve. Why do some Christians choose to serve pagan holidays by justifying their way to make it look innocent and misinterpreting scriptures to fit what they want to do? Our children are accepting worldly things because we allow it at a young age. When they get older they ask why they are hanging out with certain crowds or doing things that are ungodly. We should raise our children up in God from a young age to stand bodly for Him against all this worldly practice that is not of God. The Israelites did it, the younger generation started worshiping pagan gods, celebrating Halloween is doing exactly that. Who are these pagan god? Satan and he is real and deceitful.
Seth Freeman
For me now, I've kind of relied on I Corinthians 8 to be my guide. There were idol worshippers and people sacrificing animals to their false gods/idols in the temple, and then would sell the meat afterwards for a profit. The meat was supposed to be powerful because it was sacrificed to pagan gods. So as you can imagine, many Christians had a problem with purchasing and eating this meat. However, Paul teaches that it actually didn't matter whether or not they ate the meat because as Christians, we know the truth. We know that there are no real idols or real false gods. We know that there is only one God and that He has all the power. So Paul is like, “Sure, go buy that meat and eat it, it's no different than any other meat.” In the same way, while Halloween was originally, hundreds of years ago a day related to pagan worship and rituals, we know as Christians the truth that there are no idols or pagan gods and that rituals practiced by wiccans and Satanists is nothing compared to the reality of our God. But here is what is even more relevant to the Halloween discussion - Halloween is one of those things that is no longer today what it used to be. I don't see my 5 year old dressing up as a fireman and asking the neighbors for candy as practicing in the rituals of the occult. The day has been transformed into a chance for candy makers and pumpkin farmers to make lots of money. For the vast majority, Halloween truly is innocent. And I don't believe for a second that Christ is in heaven, looking down at my five year old running down the street yelling, Fireman Sean to the rescue! As something evil. All days of the year are the same. None of them are inherently evil or bad. Bad people practice bad things on all of them. But the Halloween that my children participate in is not the Halloween that cultist and Satanists participate in. One of the biggest arguments against Halloween that I hear is the idea that my innocent children asking neighbors for candy is somehow the same as practicing in dark pagan rituals. I mean really? This argument has always intrigued me. In the broad sense, a pagan is essentially anyone who is not a Christian. However, I think we would all agree that not being a Christian does not result in anything a non-Christian doing as immoral or evil. For instance, if the inventor of the modern hamburger was not a Christian, and therefore a pagan (and he may not have been!), then would that make the eating of hamburgers immoral? No, it would not. Likewise, what about movies created by pagans, are they ALL wrong to see? How about playing sports, or watching sports? The fact that a pagan began something does not necessarily mean that the activity practiced today is immoral or sinful. But perhaps by pagan it is meant to reference specifically Satanist, witches, or dark new age people, etc… Well, I don’t think having my 5 year old dress up as a fireman and walk down the street asking the neighbors for candy is engaging in the dark séances like they do, is it? Is dressing up like a princess and asking the neighbors for candy part of a dark ritual practiced by modern pagans? Or are the modern pagans practicing their séances and demon worshipping in a more private, more specific setting? I think so. Basically, I have a hard time believing that on one hand a parent could tell their child that it’s wrong and immoral to dress up as a panda bear and ask the neighbors for candy, yet at the same time it would be acceptable for the parent to drive down the street to where the actual cultist and Satan worshippers are holding a séance, sacrificing chickens to Satan, then selling the leftover meat, and buying that meat and bringing it home for dinner. Seems a bit inconsistent. Yet, we know for a fact that Paul and Scripture is perfectly ok with us buying meat that is being sold by cultists that was used in their sacrifices to their pagan gods. The bottom line is that while Halloween may have begun as something dark, what we practice today is not the same, and therefore not comparable. The morality of my child dressing up as a fireman and asking the neighbors for candy is not dependent upon the cultist activities of people of a different belief system than mine.
JEAN KABUYA
With regards to all the comments above. For and against Halloween. The bottom line is that no matter how it can be polished by some or vilified by others Halloween remains a pagan ritual that a confessing true christian; I mean true christian, not a pretending christian should not accept or participate. Why should we keep transforming pagans' and demonic rituals into holy rituals? Can a leopard change its skin to become a tiger? No matter how you color it, it will be and remains a leopard. The Lord God tells us neither even to inquire how those rituals are performed nor know why and to whom they are performed. Our assumptions not to talk about evil as evil is sending many souls to hell and has corrupted far more and altered our beliefs that a christian today calls wright wrong and wrong wright. Search into the history of the First church (from the Pentecost) and nowhere you will find these practices until after 300 AD (from Nero, Constantine...The Nicaea Council...) when the paganism infiltrated the REAL CHURCH they called THE WAY and persecuting the real christians accused them of being sorcerers. These are things the Lord God told the Hebrews that they are abominations for which God had to destroy the nations before them; for they had polluted the all land with these practices. Leviticus 20:27 Authorized (King James) Version (AKJV) 27 A man also or woman that hath a familiar spirit, or that is a wizard, shall surely be put to death: they shall stone them with stones: their blood shall be upon them. I doubt that a true christian will enter a temple of Molech or Dagoon, make incantations with their participants, sacrifice the human blood and come back to say that he loves Jesus! That's really really absurd and chimeric. Please read: Exodus 22:18; Leviticus 19:31; 20:6, 27 and then read Revelation 12:9 also Authorized (King James) Version (AKJV) 9 And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. Have you had some times to read and meditate about Revelation Chapter 13? It is about the false religion (the Beast). Very soon we may be not having the freedom (of speech) to preach the gospel under the decoration of hate speech because we are being deceived and corrupted slowly to accept the false prophet on his way. Christmas, Halloween and Easter are not christians' rituals, lets call them by their name: Pagan rituals infiltrated into christianity to falsify and corrupt the believers of Christ (by the same deceiver and opponent of the truth from heaven (first) and in the garden of Eden). Know that who ever consults the dead, the mediums.. reads the stars...is a witchcraft/idolater and will never enter the Kingdom of The Most Holy God by trying to call(dress up) evil wright and find no evil into it. (Exodus 22:18; Leviticus 19:31; 20:6, 27) The Scripture stipulates that you should teach your child the way of the Lord for in his old age he will not depart from it. Not to dress in fire fighters' costumes and go for a poisonous candy down the street (filled by the ghosts, vampires, witches, goblins, etc., and wearing innocuous costumes) and call it funny. What fun is it into selling your own child to Satan and come back to worship The Holy God?
Dorcas Sitali
Christ has nothing to do with belial as 2 cor 6:15-18 tells us. We know that halloween is a celebration of devil,despite all these garnishing or covering of it to make it appear innocent. We as Christian have our eyes open to such issues before we used to engage in such practices blindly 1 cor 10 speaks cautions not to be ignorant of certain matters, it makes comparisons between us and the children of Israel that just like they were baptized and eating from the same spiritual meat, we do so Jesus Christ...in verse 6 paul declared that these things of the old were written for our example we new testament believers, what happened to them every step of the way is similar with us but vs 13 says we are not tempted beyond our means or strength to handle because God has created a way of escape. As we read on the chapter paul in verse 20 becomes clear on the celebrations of the gentile people saying that what they sacrifice they to so to devils and not to God and he said i will not have you fellowship to devils vs 21 you cannot drink of the cup of the Lord and of devil: you cannot partake of the table of God and of devils vs 20 do not provoke the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than Him? The answer being no neither are we wiser that Him. Ahab is one fellow to learn from concerning provoking God 1kings 16:30 declares that he did more to provoke God than all the rest of the kings before why because he was a Jew, a covenant child but went contrary to the commands or Word of God. There is a calendar that evil people follow and this celebration is very much from there.
Jim New
After some prayer and thoughts on this subject of Halloween and reading the inputs of many and after reading Romans 14 thoroughly Paul spoke of 2 groups of believers- the weak and the strong. Paul mentions 3 points: eating of meat, drinking of wine and observance of special days. Pauls letters were not of ethical or of theological matters but of real life situations in first century Churches. He offered some Biblical guidelines to achieve UNITY in an atmosphere of differences. Sound familiar? To help the believers at Rome deal with their problems he laid down 3 principles 1. Judgment is God's, not mans 14:1-12 God has welcomed both the “weak” and the “strong.” We all are at different places spiritually. Paul says all believers live out our lives accountable to God! Paul also characterizes the “weak” by their lingering legalism. They tended to be harsh in their criticism of those in the Church who did not share their opinions. Regarding religious scruples in question, each should act in the light of his own convictions. The “strong” were convinced that Jesus Christ had put an end to all religious legalism. They rejoiced in their liberty in Christ. But, the “strong” also may have been tempted to look down upon their less mature Brothers. Both we're wrong! 2. Love requires self limitations for the sake of others. 14:13-22 Pauls letter was primarily for the mature or “strong” and they should bear the greater responsibilty for healing the breach of fellowship. He then urged them to never to place a stumbling block or an occasion to sin in the path of a “weaker” brother in Christ. Old taboos on certain ceremonial foods were no longer in effect. Jesus taught that it is not what goes into the mouth but what comes out. Matt 15:10 Although no food was unclean of itself, if someone regarded it as unclean then for that person it was. If the mature ignored the influence of their conduct on the immature, Paul declared they no longer walked in love Vs 15. God's reign is not fulfilled in food and drink laws but in “righteous, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit vs 17. Therefore we are to make every effort to do what leads to peace and mutual edification vs 19. Peace within the family of God! Psalm 34:15 3. Following Christ's example of forbearance(self restraint) 15:1-13 Pauls concern that the “weak” and the “strong” live in harmony carries on into chapter 15. Rather than pleasing themselves, “strong” Believers are to please their fellow Believers. By seeking our fellow Believers good instead of pleasing ourselves, we follow Christs example of forebearance. Our goal is to help them develop into “mature” Believers. Paul also prayed that his readers would live in harmony vs 5-6 That both the “weak and “strong” are to accept one another vs 7 Conclusion: I'm not convinced Paul is speaking about Halloween or Christmas or even Easter here. He is speaking about the (“special days”-”lingering legalism”)OT Holy days and ceremonies that were observed back then, not man made holidays of today. Am I or we passing judgment? Well, thats a good question! I believe I'm not putting down a “weak” Believer, just speaking the Truth in hopes he or she will turn around- plant the seed! I was there at one point in my life as we all were or are. I certainly pray for them! With that said, Halloween(and others?) has everything to do with where we are in our walk with God, our maturity in Christ. Jesus said we are to have pure hearts and minds- you can't be pure in participating in the ways of darkness. We are to have the “mind of Christ.” “We will be known by our fuits” “What fellowship can light have with darkness?” “For you were formerly darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord; Walk as children of Light.” Eph 5:8 "Do not follow the world" We cannot say we are “mature or strong” Believers if we allow ourselves to participate in any form of darkness! We have been deceived! “Unequally yoked” just as God warned the Israelites many, many times. Satan is the great deceiver! If he subtly fooled Eve, he will subtly fool us also if we don't have a close-intimate relationship with our Maker and stay in the Word! Satan's out to get the “weak” Believer esp., to pull you away from our God, everyone else is already going to hell! No OSAS! So, again “put on the whole armor of God,” our eternity depends on it! Hope this helps!
Bennie van den Bergh
Satan is a master deceiver. How does he deceive his enemies? The same way you move an ocean liner off course. One degree on the compass is all that is needed at the start of the journey to ensure that the destination will be missed by hundreds of kilometers. What we perceive as small trivial things can have an enormous impact in making us less sensitive to the Holy Spirit.
Priscilla Quarles
Satan does not have a day. This is the day the lord has made I will rejoice and be glad in it. As Christian we are at liberity to do everything we want as long as it is righteous. Halloween is a day of fun,to dress up as your favorite character and give sweets and treats,some have parties and some show scares movies with popcorn. Thats it. To stop during these things out of fear and acknowleding with the satan's worshipper this is the devil's holiday your are just as bad as they are. Don't worship the devil just give candy. In fact the devil don't take a holiday.when we continue what we are during we bring light to the situatuon. Don't teach our children to fear for the devil is under our feet, and there is no weapon form against us shall prosper. Enjoy Halloween!
mark wilkinson
It seems that most of the answers so far are from an American cultural perspective. What may seem to be innocent fun for children on Halloween night is not always so in Britain. Here, for weeks before the night itself the shops have a field day of selling grotesque masks and witches outfits etc etc. Children are under pressure to think about the scariest face they can paint and costume they can assemble. Maybe they will be expected to join in a fancy dress party at school in which there will be poetry, art and prose to grace the occasion. Harry Potty would be delighted... (A parent who keeps their child at home on such a day stands to be fined £60 under recent government legislation). Much money is wasted on such events - and Christians are answerable to God for how we use our resources. And what we allow our children to be exposed to. Then there is the question of children going around the streets after dark 'asking for candy' as one answer puts it. In some places this has descended to gangs of young children, some quite small, going around demanding householders give them something or they will damage their property. They call it 'trick or treating' but there can be something much more menacing involved. Old people sometimes live in fear of a brick being hurled through the window if they don't answer the door when the bell rings. They may resort to switching off their lights to give the impression they're not at home. They hope that their car parked on the driveway will not be scratched - or even worse. Whilst for many this is 'all harmless fun' for others it is a time of fear and of celebration of the dark side of life. I don't see how Christian parents can encourage their offspring to indulge in this, nor entertain the idea that evil is not involved here. Philippians 4:8 should apply to our thinking when deciding how to engage with the world's culture and activities.
David Whitley
This is clearly a Romans 14 rule issue. Why are you doing it? That is the bottom line. Who what when where why? For the vast majority it's a fun night to get dressed up be a little scared, laugh with friends and collect some candy. It's pagan origins are largely irrelevant but interesting history. Romans 14 (NIV) 14 Accept the one whose faith is weak, without quarreling over disputable matters. 2 One person’s faith allows them to eat anything, but another, whose faith is weak, eats only vegetables. 3 The one who eats everything must not treat with contempt the one who does not, and the one who does not eat everything must not judge the one who does, for God has accepted them. 4 Who are you to judge someone else’s servant? To their own master, servants stand or fall. And they will stand, for the Lord is able to make them stand. 5 One person considers one day more sacred than another; another considers every day alike. Each of them should be fully convinced in their own mind. 6 Whoever regards one day as special does so to the Lord. Whoever eats meat does so to the Lord, for they give thanks to God; and whoever abstains does so to the Lord and gives thanks to God. 7 For none of us lives for ourselves alone, and none of us dies for ourselves alone. 8 If we live, we live for the Lord; and if we die, we die for the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord. 9 For this very reason, Christ died and returned to life so that he might be the Lord of both the dead and the living. 10 You, then, why do you judge your brother or sister[a]? Or why do you treat them with contempt? For we will all stand before God’s judgment seat. 11 It is written: “‘As surely as I live,’ says the Lord, ‘every knee will bow before me; every tongue will acknowledge God.’”[b] 12 So then, each of us will give an account of ourselves to God. 13 Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in the way of a brother or sister. 14 I am convinced, being fully persuaded in the Lord Jesus, that nothing is unclean in itself. But if anyone regards something as unclean, then for that person it is unclean. 15 If your brother or sister is distressed because of what you eat, you are no longer acting in love. Do not by your eating destroy someone for whom Christ died. 16 Therefore do not let what you know is good be spoken of as evil. 17 For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, 18 because anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and receives human approval. 19 Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification. 20 Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All food is clean, but it is wrong for a person to eat anything that causes someone else to stumble. 21 It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or to do anything else that will cause your brother or sister to fall. 22 So whatever you believe about these things keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the one who does not condemn himself by what he approves. 23 But whoever has doubts is condemned if they eat, because their eating is not from faith; and everything that does not come from faith is sin.[c]
Elizabeth S
I do not believe that "Christ-likes" should celebrate "All Hallows Eve" (Halloween) as the roots of it are still demonic. You can cut the branches off an apple tree and hang oranges on it, it's roots remain apples and apples will eventually grow back. One may not see the demonic activity going on today as described in the past but be not fooled my brothers and sisters...IT IS STILL GOING ON! So for both sides of the argument and all who may not be sure seek the Holy Spirit who is sent to guide us into all truth and He will give you peace about the situation. (John 16:13; James 1:5)
leslie sue innis
Since the Jewish calendar came first, and God chose the Jews through whom to bring His One and only Son to us so we could be saved, is Halloween on the Jewish calendar? I do not see it on my Jewish calendar. Since there is so much controversy about it and we are supposed to be united in Christ, why don't we start a new tradition or go back to an old tradition that makes more sense like celebrate the new Harvest and eliminate candy and give out home made bread and fresh veges and fruits. That way,our children will be taught that God wants us to make healthy choices and to be grateful for all that He has made and given us to enjoy. (Not candy)
Vincent Mercado
Supporter
Halloween is originally a Christian celebration. November 1 is when All Saints Day is celebrated - the day of the holy ones or "sancta". Another name for "holy" is "hallow" - as when Jesus taught us to pray, "Our Father in heaven, hallowed be thy name." The eve of November 1 is also called All Hallows Eve. By word of mouth is came to be pronounced as Halloween. And so we should celebrate this day with prayer and remembering how our dearly beloved fought bravely for the faith, not with meaningless scary costumes and partying. As Christians, we should take back our holiday from the distortions of secular society.
Jennifer Taylor
My husband and I both grew up celebrating Halloween. However, when we had our own children, we decided that it would not be a holiday we would celebrate, for it is of this world. Instead of defending why a christian should celebrate it, we should ask ourselves why would we celebrate it. Even if you think it is harmless, to have your child dressed as a firefighter, what is the purpose? It is an empty ritual with no purpose. We chose to celebrate Christmas, in that we take a day out of the year to celebrate the birth of our Savior, even though He was not born on December 25. We do not comercialize the holiday as the world does, but celebrate it for its true meaning; the birth of our Savior. Halloween, while started by pagans, is an empty ritual practice for the believer. We should never conform ourselves to this world, but yet conform ourselves to the image of Christ. There is nothing Christ like about celebrating Halloween. At the same time, what is sin for one, might not be sin for another. Therefore, we should never judge one another if we are in Christ, whether we chose to participate or not. Just let the Holy Spirit within us convict us within, and he will lead and guide us to do what is right. As for me and mine, we will never change the truth of God into a lie. We will stay grounded in His Word, and seperate ourselves from the world. GOD BLESS
Melanie Barnert
Halloween has become a childs night to get candy. Never in my heart have I celebrated it but with fun. GOD judges our heart, not men. You can't lose your salvation. We are not to attack others with legalism. Over and over again Christ reprimanded the Sadducees and Pharisees for this and their lack of love for man.
Deborah Bullock
One year, our church picked a neighboring street and a group of adults with some of our youth, rang doorbells. We didn't have costumes on, instead we had a basket of high-quality chocolate bars with the Scripture from Jeremiah: "For I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and to give you peace." We gave one to those who answered and introduced ourselves (from our church name). Then, we asked if they would like us to pray for a concern and if they said yes, we prayed right there, with them and in Jesus Name. Halloween is Satan's high holiday, but only for his followers, not Christians. Those who would practice Halloween as a satanic high holiday got into satanism as a way of obtaining supernatural powers at any cost. There are gruesome steps involved. As I read the responses, I can't help but think people are afraid that trick or treating will open the door for satan to control their souls. That simply is not true. You have to give satan your soul. I conclude by saying, If you feel unsafe allowing your children to trick or treat, then don't. If you are of the mindset that you have to hide inside your house, light's shut off and refuse to hand out candy, you have missed an opportunity to be a light in the+ darkness. Giving a child a piece of candy and a "God Bless you" at your door, just might plant a seed that yields fruit.
Jack Gutknecht
Jesus, who is more powerful than Satan and all of his demons combined, all the time. God is good. He is strong and stronger than all spirit beings always, Halloween included. 1 John 4:4 says, “Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.” This attitude of playing along and blending in does not acknowledge that real spiritual forces are at work in the world. If Christians don’t stand out at Halloween, when will we? Romans 12:21 challenges us: “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” For 10 ways to Reach Out to Your Neighbors This Halloween, see Allie Boman's article by that same title at BibleStudyTools.
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