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| Halloween: demonically evil, or harmless fun? (EPrata artwork) |
Here are some different views on Christians celebrating or not celebrating Halloween.
Christian Apologetics and Research Ministry: What is Halloween? | Can Christians celebrate Halloween? / Origins of Halloween
Al Mohler: Halloween and the Dark Side: What should Christians Think?
Grace To You/Travis Allen: Christians and Halloween
GotQuestions: Should Christians celebrate Halloween?
Kirk Cameron Called to ‘Repent’ for Encouraging Christians to Celebrate Halloween
Should Christians Celebrate Halloween? Kirk Cameron & John MacArthur Think So [VIDEO]
Brent Larson at Crosswalk: Trunk or Treat?
LifeWay: Fall Alternatives to Halloween
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| EPrata photo |
News Stories in the culture about Halloween
Women beheaded in what observers thought was a gruesome Halloween prank
[Ed. Note: There's something wrong with a society that cannot figure out the difference between a grisly live murder and a holiday prank]
Good Girls Go Bad, For A Day
IN her thigh-highs and ruby miniskirt, Little Red Riding Hood does not appear to be en route to her grandmother’s house. And Goldilocks, in a snug bodice and platform heels, gives the impression she has been sleeping in everyone’s bed. There is a witch wearing little more than a Laker Girl uniform, a fairy who appears to shop at Victoria’s Secret and a cowgirl with a skirt the size of a tea towel. Halloween is a day to flaunt your inner vixen. Anyone who has watched the evolution of women’s Halloween costumes in the last several years will not be surprised that these images — culled from the Web sites of some of the largest Halloween costume retailers — are more strip club than storybook.
Millions spent on pet Halloween costumes
[Oy is all I can say]
Personally, I am no fan of this un-holy holiday. While it was part of my childhood, now as a born-again Christian adult, I no longer participate for a variety of reasons, most of which have to do with the pagan and occult origin of the day, and the fact that I have been saved from the darkness and now am in the glorious Light. My hand has been set to the plow, and I will not look back lest I make a crooked furrow.
ReplyDeleteThat said, I do not look with disdain on Christians who use the day to gather for church-based celebrations, as Jesus is Lord of every single day of the year, including October 31. However, I personally do not feel it is necessary or fruitful to specifically time themed church events with Halloween. If one does time these church-based celebrations to coincide with Halloween, I believe one would need to be extremely cautious of our witness to the world, and clearly demonstrate that we do not condone the wickedness, darkness, evil, witchcraft, violence, immorality, and the other disgusting things typically associated with Halloween.
I know of believers who live in family friendly neighborhoods who use the opportunity to hand out tracts with candy to the trick-or-treating children. I think using the day to reach the lost with the Gospel is an excellent way to redeem the time.
I personally do not believe Christians should go trick-or-treating themselves, since the practice is actually a form of somewhat polite and "socially acceptable" extortion (hence, the phrase trick or treat). Plus the plethora of candy consumed by children could head them in the direction of gluttony.
Yes, I have noticed that women's costumes have become more and more "red light district" than just simply storybook characters or make believe. Years ago, I even remember seeing "naughty librarian" costumes in an advertisement. Of all things, a librarian? Yet it seemed there was a "naughty" version of every type of women's costume available. Seriously.
I've also noticed that in general the costume themes keep getting darker and more macabre as the years pass. In some cases it's downright gruesome. Yet it is not surprising given what Scripture teaches about this age.
Above all, let us be salt and light.
-Carolyn
I believe it was David Meyer who said that the importance is in the specific day; therefore if a Christian celebrates a harvest festival on October 31, he still is unknowingly guilty of celebrating The Day.
ReplyDeleteInteresting, Karen! What bible verse was Meyer using as his basis? I'll go look that up to help me resolve my conflicted-ness.
DeletePersonally, I think this is an area of Christian liberty. We all know the story of the meat sacrificed to idols. I would never try to discourage a brother from avoiding Halloween, but neither am I going to be put under someone else's convictions. I understand the origins of Halloween, and agree that I want no part in anything occult. However, I think we can all agree that it has morphed into something beyond that. There is a large portion of our society that revels in the dark side of Halloween. But then there are those, like my family that see it as more of a school children's dress up holiday. We only do the "fun" side of Halloween. Pumpkin carving and elementary school parties (when my kids were younger). I hand out candy for trick or treating....I love to see all the kids in their costumes and how much fun they are having. I try to show love to each child that comes to my door; show interest in them. Its a chance to interact with kids in my neighborhood I wouldn't otherwise see in any other capacity. I hope that each kid goes away feeling genuinely cared for, and knows there are adults at this house who love them. I probably had 45-60 kids come to my door last night, and only 1 child was dressed in something scary/dark. Most kids were super heros or princess. I do not allow anything dark/scary for my kids, and they wouldn't want to dress up as that anyway. We don't decorate or do anything scary or dark or to do with death. Our Halloween consists of fun dress up, candy, carved happy pumpkins, etc. No witches, Dracula's, zombies or anything of a dark/scary nature. I am certainly open to the Lord directing me otherwise, but I have neither been convicted in prayer or the word over how we do Halloween. If there is a holiday I have issues/convictions about it is Christmas. And that would take up an entire post so I will save it for another time.
ReplyDelete~Jennifer
Answers in Genesis made a recent article about this subject, too. I think it handled it well.
ReplyDeleteOr maybe I'm thinking of GTY. Though they probably both published something.
ReplyDeleteYes. I linked to the essay published by GTY up above.
DeleteDavid is in heaven now, as of 2010, but his son Samuel continues the newsletter at www.lasttrumpetministries.org.
ReplyDeleteYou might be able to contact him for the article that his Dad wrote. David had himself been involved in witchcraft before he was saved, and understood the principles behind these things.
If you think of the devil and his minions as flying pest's, think of halloween as a hole in the screening on a hot summer night.
ReplyDeleteThough HELL-oween is over for another year (WHEW... just hate it!) Yet I wanted to chime in & say that it was through much prayer, reflection, studying on God's Word that we decided to have NO participation with even the APPEARANCE of evil!!
ReplyDeleteThere is a GREAT article here: http://christiananswers.net/q-eden/halloween.html
And it was also from David Meyer (last trumpet ministries) as well as (trying to do this by memory) EITHER cephas ministries or let us reason... various ones, who'd been previously involved in the occult & can tell us how DANGEROUS this 'holiday" is that caused us to shut our door and turn off the porch light for all time! While most children may be "innocently" dressing up & having fun, yet a lot of human.... yes, HUMAN sacrifices happen on this date..... right here in America.
I hope people will take the time to read the article at the link I provided -- if nothing else, the posted Scriptures that should help us decide to take a side on the side of LIGHT and not darkness!! And to do all things to the glory of God! Amen!