In any case, watch out for Creepy Clowns:
I understand the reluctance to support Halloween. All the other occasions you mentioned speak to life, while this seems to speak to death.
Our work has a huge Halloween dress-up party every year, and employee kids come in to get candy. Every year, there's always this crap about how Halloween is Satanic or corrupting the children. Why can't people just have fun?
This was in my e-mail this afternoon from WND (no link)
Media driving demonic activity? Yes, says expert
Karl Payne speaks out on Halloween and the reality of evil
________________________________________
Huge spikes in reported demonic activity all over the world. Black masses and blasphemous rituals held in cities around the country. The rise of Satanism as devil worshipers openly organize in what was once a Christian country.
Suddenly, Halloween doesn’t seem so innocent anymore.
Karl Payne, the former chaplain of the NFL’s Seattle Seahawks and a pastor at Antioch Bible Church in Redmond, Washington, has been engaged in the spiritual fight against demons for many years.
Calling demons real, powerful and dangerous, he chronicled his fight against them in his book “Spiritual Warfare.” And he argues the media is encouraging a troubling trend with its sensational and borderline celebratory treatment of a serious issue.
“I believe there is a correlation between the media’s incessant and increasing promotion of these kinds of subjects and an increased workload for those of us who actually work with real demonization and deliverance,” the pastor told WND. “Why should that come as a surprise? The same media industry that restricts the promotion of tobacco products because of the destructive and addictive effects promoted by advertisements on naïve, gullible young minds chooses to bombard those same naïve, gullible young minds with other harmful imagery. Audio and visual presentations of demonic, occultic and Satanic inspired death, destruction, slashing, bashing, blood, gore, murder, rape, terror and mayhem on a nightly basis. And yet they defiantly declare it represents nothing more than harmless entertainment.
“They act like it is a video game, if you don’t like what you see or the score you get, you can just hit reset and try again. But the reality is that demonization is real, and there is not an easy reset button to push once a person is caught in the middle of demonic conflict and desperately wanting out.”
If God is real, so are the Devil and his minions. Each one of us is in a spiritual war – and the consequences for defeat are unimaginable. Learn how to fight and win in “Spiritual Warfare” by Dr. Karl Payne, available now in the WND Superstore.
Payne doesn’t think such subjects are suitable for levity.
Payne rejects the idea Americans have always been titillated or entertained by dark subject matter.
“There was a day in our country and culture when glamorizing and glorifying demon possession, witches, curses, vampires, zombies and such would have been viewed as something to reject, as crossing a line that needs to be avoided, not entertained,” he said. “That day is gone. ‘I am free to do what I want, any old time,’ has become an accepted axiom that has replaced the golden rule reminding people to treat people the way you wish to be treated.
“Celebrating the rejection of moral and ethical absolutes in conjunction with the loss of common sense has not created a secular utopia. Instead, we have a country and culture where parents cannot allow children to play unsupervised in their own front yards or walk to the park to play on the swing set. This is progress?
“I do not know anyone who actually works with demonization and deliverance that is surprised that as men and women increasingly open their lives and minds to ‘entertaining’ demons, we have to work harder.”
And with Halloween around the corner, it’s the busy season when it comes to using dark subjects as “entertainment.”
Halloween displays are becoming increasingly gory and over the top. Children around the country are being exposed to bloody displays everywhere from front lawns to supermarket displays. And exorcism and possession are being used as fodder for television shows.
“I do not choose to celebrate Halloween, but then I have worked for more than 30 years with men and women who despair life, question their own sanity and live in constant fear of accusatory voices and demonic bondage on a daily basis,” he said. “I think most of pop culture celebrates Halloween as an excuse to party, drink and collect candy. I do not think most of our culture understands the reality of demonization; everything is a party or game that can be reset the next day. For me demonization can represent life threatening domination and bondage rather than harmless entertainment. I therefore have no interest in playing occultic games, walking on the dark side or encouraging others to do so.
“I receive calls and emails on a daily basis regarding questions about demonic activity. So for me, there is not much difference between one day and another. Halloween might be different in that for some celebrating this holiday, it is an act of rebellion and worship rather than just a time to collect and ingest enough candy to keep dentists busy the rest of the year.”
Payne suggested Christians could explore alternatives if they are uncomfortable with the kinds of demonic imagery and gory aesthetics which characterize Halloween today. He says he typically found an alternative for his own children, though someone at the home would usually hand out candy to anyone who came trick or treating at the door.
Payne cautioned that not only are demons real, but exposure is usually inadvertent. Christians, he said, should be on their guard.
“Most of the people I have worked with over the years did not get involved with demons on purpose,” he told WND. “They opened doors to demonic control through many activities culture would identify as natural or a curiosity. Unfortunately, demons approach their jobs with deadly earnest, while most people, including Christians, think it is a game to be played. If two fighters get into a ring, with one thinking it is a photo shoot, and the other fighting for his life, I can tell you who is going to win that particular fight.”
If God is real, so are the Devil and his minions. Each one of us is in a spiritual war – and the consequences for defeat are unimaginable. Learn how to fight and win in “Spiritual Warfare” by Dr. Karl Payne, available now in the WND Superstore.
The Bible is explicit: We live in a world of distinct opponents; our very lives are a battle. Yet too many Christians lose more battles than they win and endure their walk with God rather than enjoy it because they don’t recognize the enemy when they see it. “Spiritual Warfare: Christians, Demonization and Deliverance” by Dr. Karl Payne, teaches you how to recognize the enemy and win.
See I grew up when we had a block party and everyone brought their home made wares. We bobbed for apples are donuts and drank apple cider. The adults drank coffee or alcohol of some sort.
My child grew up that way for the most part. Not as many participated and many complained that we didn’t provide store bought chocolate
Tonight I sit helping out some friends. Some of the children are delightful. Some are just down right rude. That’s ok because my job is to teach them manners. Please and thank you still are the keys
My mom was a wizard with a sewing machine and quite creative. Her 5 children, myself included, won many costume contests back in the day when there were such things.
It was different then than it seems to be today.
Been a slow night here, not too many Trick or Treaters and not very many good costumes.
On the plus side, I’ll have plenty of candy to consume tomorrow night for Game 6!
Oh grow up....
Its a fun tradition founded in good roots....
Quit whining....
Do you need a safe space?
Lighten up Francis, 50 and more years ago China, importers and Hallmark had nothing to do with Halloween, it was for the kids.
In any case, watch out for Creepy Clowns:
Yes, today he's having fun playing Batman and eating candy, tomorrow he'll be summoning demons and eating babies.
Agreed. There is no day, let a lone Holiday, that spiritual forces are not at work in some way.
Halloween can seem good clean fun to some who don’t consider the spiritual side of things constantly at work in our world and it can be very evil and self destructive to some who choose to indulge in things that spiritually lead them in harmful directions.
It’s not just an average day that is for sure :)
We can always go back to how it was before trick or treating. Just don’t complain when you wake up and those rambunctious kids have taken your buggy apart and rebuilt it on your roof!
So glad it’s 1/2 mile up a dark, solid heavy-forest, unlit gravel road from our house to the paved road, and the nearest other house is over 1/4 mile from that point.
In 34 years here, never bothered with a Halloween’er.........they’d die of fright just trying to get here - on foot at least.....maybe even in a vehicle!
Why? ..... after all the No Trespassing signs is this one:
WARNING! Small Arms Fire Practice 24x7x365!
Trespass at your Own Risk!
I think maybe you’re having a bad day. I don’t celebrate Halloween but what I see are parents and kids all very much enjoying themselves and I only have very good memories of my Halloweens as a kid.
Halloween isn’t anything like it was when I was a kid. I grew up in the 50’s, and it was always one of my favorite times of the year. My mother would take the four of us kids trick or treating in the neighborhood. We never had store-bought costumes because we couldn’t afford them. My Dad used to burn a cork, then smudge our faces with it, and we’d wear some of his old clothes so we looked like hobos. We knew the best houses to go to because the people gave the same thing every year. Just about everybody had their porch lights on, and we always came home with a bagful of goodies. When my sons were little, I took them out treat or treating too. I’ve lived in this small apartment complex since 2000. The first year I was here, I had a handful of kids knock on my door. Since then, not one kid has come to our building to trick or treat. It’s pretty sad that most kids today aren’t experiencing the fun that we had every Halloween. It was a once a year treat for us, and we always looked forward to it.
So, what have you done to improve what you think sucks??
Nothing. You’re part of the problem.
George Carlin: “If you think you have a solution...you’re part of the problem.”
Halloween is awesome. My kids love it, adults around here love it. Don’t know what you’re talking about. To each his own I guess.
It’s over this evening. The porch is dark and we get the candied remains.
Sometimes I feel pretty glum about the begging,,,the rudness.
But then some child comes up with sparkles on his face and proudly says “Trick or treat!!”...You gotta love it.
We gave out the large bars this year...thanks Costco!! Those kids were like “Wow!”...and “This is the house with the big candy!”
I can’t say no to that.