Celebrate Halloween?

[Redeemed86]

I have been seeing people talk about Halloween and a lot of pumpkin carving lately. That got me thinking if it is something you think is appropriate for a Christian to do. A little digging led to my personal discovery of "All saints day" which is on November 1st, a day after Halloween. Which I find ironic.

I personally never grew up celebrating Halloween because of a somewhat strict religious upbringing. On the contrary, I have seen/heard of other Christians decorating as if it were Christmas and, the usual, costume & candy thing. I've always thought the candy and dress-up was a way to commercialize a Holiday with a deeper meaning (as in Easter, Christmas) but that's just my personal opinion.

I guess it really just depends on your upbringing and beliefs.

Anyone out there join in any of the festivities?

 

[Prentis]

Personally, I look at halloween and it's roots, and find it to be a crazy thing.

Halloween was based on the idea of dressing up as evil beings to scare evil beings away, what a crazy idea!

But in that sense it reflects spiritual warfare... The completely wrong way, and an evil way. I wouldn't associate myself with it. Obviously, a kid who thinks it's fun to dress up is okay, it's innocence and just a fun day for him. But the idea and celebration itself is one of death.

Why would we participate in this? Why would we have anything to do with it?

Same as the idea of teaching our children that Santa Claus exist... Why would we live a lie?

 

[brionne]

no way

its not something christians should be involved in if they dont want to mix their christianity with satanic influcences.
2 Corinthians 6:14 Do not become unevenly yoked with unbelievers. For what fellowship do righteousness and lawlessness have? Or what sharing does light have with darkness? 15 Further, what harmony is there between Christ and Be′li‧al? Or what portion does a faithful person have with an unbeliever? 16 And what agreement does God’s temple have with idols?
Belial in this verse is Satan the devil. Halloween is a celebration of satan....its not something Christ would approve of and nor should we.

 

[jiggyfly]

When I stand back look at Halloween I am convinced that it is a christian religious holiday or activity.
Everyone dresses up and pretends to be something that they are not. Sure sounds like a Sunday worship service to me. :blink:

 

[Prentis]

When I stand back look at Halloween I am convinced that it is a christian religious holiday or activity.
Everyone dresses up and pretends to be something that they are not. Sure sounds like a Sunday worship service to me. :blink:

:lol:

The difference is that atleast people aren't lying to themselves about what they really are, they know it's a put on, and the next day they can have a good laugh about it... I'm talking about halloween, of course!

Avoid even the appearance of evil. Just doesn't jive!

Christmas, that's one thing, I don't see how this one is up for debate!

 

[FHII]

Nope

 

[HammerStone]

And thus why Christianity endures as the religion of "no." There are plenty of other religions that tell you want you can and cannot do to whittle away our lives.

Obviously, like anything you can get too caught up in things. I personally don't like the idea of reveling in the imagery of pure evil, Satan, sex, etc like Halloween can become. However, so just like eating too much gravy can be a sin or it can be part of a meal, we have to recognize that a child dressing up as a firefighter does not reflect on the family's religious beliefs. They are not worshiping firefighters, Ba'al or anyone else.

I actually was blessed to have done a Bible Study that happened to fall on a Sunday which was Halloween aka All Hallows Eve. Halloween is tradtionally a Christian holiday (influenced by elements of "paganism," of course). This Bible Study took place a local Methodist Church by a former Pastor I truly respect. We took a few moments to walk outside to a little memorial garden and closed our eyes as we prayed to God. The study was about Revelation, in case you were wondering, so we were talking about the saints gathered under the throne worshipping. What a moment to give glory to God by thinking about all those people he has saved and will save!

To jump back to the topic, heaven forbid Christians have that f-u-n word in anything! No thanks, not interested. I will continue to worship the one true God, his savior, and eat my Halloween candy along the way.

Jiggy, while quite a zinger and certainly very true, I'm afraid that attitude is exactly why Halloween is increasingly becoming a central topic of discussion.

 

[Helen]

:lol:

The difference is that atleast people aren't lying to themselves about what they really are, they know it's a put on, and the next day they can have a good laugh about it... I'm talking about halloween, of course!

Avoid even the appearance of evil. Just doesn't jive!

Christmas, that's one thing, I don't see how this one is up for debate!

Amen...what Pentis said. Yep!

 

[Shirley]

I don't see anything wrong with children dressing up and playing make believe.

 

[Prentis]

I don't see anything wrong with children dressing up and playing make believe.

I want to make it clear that I agree with that. It's 'cute', nothing more!

But should we celebrate it as a family? Or should we show ourselves a peculiar people different in it's ways, and in what it celebrates?

(General question, directed at no one and everyone)

 

[Helen]

I want to make it clear that I agree with that. It's 'cute', nothing more!

But should we celebrate it as a family? Or should we show ourselves a peculiar people different in it's ways, and in what it celebrates?

(General question, directed at no one and everyone)

Agree, and in fact I think it should be taken more seriously.
I don't know if others on this site come from England...but where we lived Halloween was no joke!!

It was not "cute' next morning reading in the papers how many cows were gutted, how many cats and dogs were found mutilated on the tomb stones.

It was even LESS "cute" reading about babies being kidnapped the day before halloween, one can only guess what for.

NO, I do not buy cute candy, or smile when I see parents teling their children that halloween is harmless...that is what they want us to believe.
It may look all cute " at the bottom", but there are REAL things happening " at the top" on Halloween.

"We are not ignorant of his devices..."

 

[Prentis]

Yes, and we should be found blameless, not only in deed, but in appearance.

Participating ties us in to a culture, and to beliefs and ways that should not be our own.

 

[HammerStone]

Prentis, with all due respect, you need to get off the internet because it's wordly by every definition. The internet purveys pornography, facilitates adultery and aids in terrorism amongst other things. You're using it to talk about God, though, right?

ByGrace, I don't fully understand the logic of your argument, because there have been - for lack of a better term - plenty of evil idiots who've killed others in the name of Christianity and religion. Is the holiday the problem or is it something else?

With people doing those sorts of things, then a "holiday" is the least of the problem.

I'm not trying to pick fights, I just think these viewpoints illustrate a huge issue in Christianity. I believe it's a huge issue here in America because we have become a nation of laws and not morals. In other words, to use Halloween, we try and blame the thing (the holiday) for the behavior, but surely these people don't just choose to only mutilate animals once a year? Are we not ultimately doing greater danger by trying to law our way to something and not change the heart?

 

[aspen]

Halloween is a non-issue. People who are really interested in evil do not need a specific day to engage in evil activities. People who are into loving God and their neighbors are not going to quit doing so because it is Halloween. I also think the roots of Halloween are interesting from an academic and cultural POV - anything more is just silly superstition.

 

[rockytopva]

Not I! I remember as a young teenager going trick or treating with a bunch of guys who began to get destructive and started smashing peoples pumpkins. As imagining some little girl crying for her lost pumpkin I chastised them over it. That was the last time I participated in anything Halloween.

 

[Comm.Arnold]

Technically you could go as a giant heart and tell everyone that you are love.

 

[goodshepard55]

When I stand back look at Halloween I am convinced that it is a christian religious holiday or activity.
Everyone dresses up and pretends to be something that they are not. Sure sounds like a Sunday worship service to me. :blink:

LOL...You do hit things right between the yes...Mercy I do love you...

 

[Redeemed86]

I think a point to consider is whether or not we, as Christians, get offended when people celebrate the commercialized/consumerism aspect of Christmas and Easter with no mention of Christ. I will admit that I do. How, then, is it ok to celebrate the same part of Halloween without becoming a hypocrite?

I guess I have opened up the topic to non-believers with the above.

Mind you, not everything/one that calls themselves "Christian" is of Christ and even if, at one point, it was rooted in Christianity (of the Roman Catholic variety h34r , for some reason it has gone in the opposite direction. Why? How?

I am not superstitious at all and may be over-thinking things here, but with Christianity and worldliness almost being synonyms, I think being a little conservative on some things can only help.

 

[Helen]

Prentis, with all due respect, you need to get off the internet because it's wordly by every definition. The internet purveys pornography, facilitates adultery and aids in terrorism amongst other things. You're using it to talk about God, though, right?

ByGrace, I don't fully understand the logic of your argument, because there have been - for lack of a better term - plenty of evil idiots who've killed others in the name of Christianity and religion. Is the holiday the problem or is it something else?

With people doing those sorts of things, then a "holiday" is the least of the problem.

I'm not trying to pick fights, I just think these viewpoints illustrate a huge issue in Christianity. I believe it's a huge issue here in America because we have become a nation of laws and not morals. In other words, to use Halloween, we try and blame the thing (the holiday) for the behavior, but surely these people don't just choose to only mutilate animals once a year? Are we not ultimately doing greater danger by trying to law our way to something and not change the heart?

Sorry for stepping out of line...I was just voicing what "I" think and believe.
Maybe it's because we come from different parts of the world. Having lived in southern England for 34 years of my life . Having had dialogue with Alex Saunders ( http://en.wikipedia....Sanders_(Wiccan)) King of the Witches.
And he met us and was asking us to "not pray against him" or his meetings, because he said ..because of us praying he could'nt get his coven going with the 'power peak'.

Having seen teenagers come to the Lord in our meeting.. who had been approached by him and his coven members to join them....( one young girl did, 15yrs old..and became his High priestess )
Please, and I mean please, forgive me for not taking what I have seen and heard lightly or thinking it just cute.
The night of Halloween means a lot to them....it is very important. That is when they can get their highest peak of power and renewal. But, enough said, ......sorry.

( I am happy to say we did continue praying, and in the end Alex Saunders left Bexhill On Sea, for good )

And I agree, I can see where you are coming from...I have lived in Canada also for 34 years ( now you know how old I am) And over here in Canada, it is just made as a" fun time."


Romans 14:5

"One man esteemeth one day above another : another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind."

I don't try to change anyone else's mind...I am still in the process of renewing mine, that's enough for me!! LOL

 

[aspen]

I think a point to consider is whether or not we, as Christians, get offended when people celebrate the commercialized/consumerism aspect of Christmas and Easter with no mention of Christ. I will admit that I do. How, then, is it ok to celebrate the same part of Halloween without becoming a hypocrite?

I guess I have opened up the topic to non-believers with the above.

Mind you, not everything/one that calls themselves "Christian" is of Christ and even if, at one point, it was rooted in Christianity (of the Roman Catholic variety h34r , for some reason it has gone in the opposite direction. Why? How?

I am not superstitious at all and may be over-thinking things here, but with Christianity and worldliness almost being synonyms, I think being a little conservative on some things can only help.

I think it is a waste of time to worry about how nonChristians celebrate Christmas. Catholics Christianized Halloween by inventing all-saints and all-souls day - it was meant to be a bridge for pagans to cross into Christianity. Halloween is older than Christianity.

I also think it is ok to have some fun, once in awhile - even if it involves moderate consumerism.