Posted on 10/25/2008 7:00:34 AM PDT by DouglasKC
It all looks like so much fun and seems so harmless: jack-o'-lanterns, grotesque grinning masks, long black witch attire with pointed black hats, costumes painted like skeletons, outfits that represent demons and goblins, and children going door to door, soliciting treats from compliant neighbors.
But when Halloween comes around, do you find yourself yearning for the hours to pass until the whole trick-or-treat farce is over? If you don't, you should!
Since when is it acceptable for little children to threaten to commit vandalism?
What happens if the homeowner doesn't come to the door or doesn't have the treats the kids might expect? Is it permissible for children to then soap his windows, toilet paper his trees, chalk mark his sidewalk or turn over plants as they leave? When is it okay for children to commit vandalism while on another person's property?
Isn't it about time for all well-meaning citizens to just say NO to Halloween?
The clergy, in general, hasn't stood against it. Some churches even have Halloween parties. Some citizens do speak up against it, as the letters to the editor in your newspaper occasionally show.
Is Halloween simply good, clean fun, or is it something else entirely? You need to know!
God is giving a wake-up call to professing Christians. As it was with those the prophet Elijah addressed in his day, so it is with us: "'How long will you falter between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him.' But the people answered him not a word" (1 Kings 18:21). What will it take for Christians to accept and stand for God's truth rather than harmful traditions that originated in paganism?
Just where did Halloween come from, and why is it so widely celebrated?
The Encyclopedia of Religion explains: "Halloween is the name for the eve of Samhain, a celebration marking the beginning of winter as well as the first day of the New Year within the ancient Celtic culture of the British Isles. The time of Samhain consisted of the eve of the feast and the day itself (31 October and 1 November).
"On this occasion, it was believed that a gathering of supernatural forces occurred as during no other period of the year. The eve and day of Samhain were characterized as a time when the barriers between the human and supernatural worlds were broken. Otherworldly entities, such as the souls of the dead, were able to visit earthly inhabitants, and humans could take the opportunity to penetrate the domains of the gods and supernatural creatures.
"Fiery tributes and sacrifices of animals, crops, and possibly human beings were made to appease supernatural powers who controlled the fertility of the land . . . Samhain acknowledged the entire spectrum of nonhuman forces that roamed the earth during the period" (1987, pp. 176-177, "Halloween").
On this holiday "huge bonfires were set on hilltops to frighten away evil spirits . . . The souls of the dead were supposed to revisit their homes on this day, and the autumnal festival acquired sinister significance, with ghosts, witches, hobgoblins, black cats, fairies, and demons of all kinds said to be roaming about. It was the time to placate the supernatural powers controlling the processes of nature" (The Encyclopaedia Britannica, 15th edition, Micropaedia, Vol. 4, p. 862, "Halloween").
It was, bluntly put, a day devoted to appeasing demonic spirits and the dark side of the spirit world—something no Christian should have any part in (Ephesians 5:11).
So how did this dark celebration continue into modern times? Sadly, Halloween came down to us from the Roman Catholic Church, which assigned a day of each year to each of their saints. When it reached the point that they had more than 365, they then combined them together on Nov. 1 and called it "All Saints Day" or "All Hallows Day"—the night before being "All Hallows Eve" or "Hallow Even" (holy evening), contracted to the name Hallowe'en or Halloween.
Why did they choose this particular day? Again The Encyclopedia of Religion explains: "Samhain remained a popular festival among the Celtic people throughout the christianization of Great Britain . The British church attempted to divert this interest in pagan customs by adding a Christian celebration to the calendar on the same date as Samhain. The Christian festival, the Feast of All Saints, commemorates the known and unknown saints of the Christian religion just as Samhain had acknowledged and paid tribute to the Celtic deities" (p. 177).
Thus a pagan celebration was relabeled as Christian.
You cannot find any support for Halloween in your Bible, because God is adamantly opposed to it and the pagan, occult practices it revels in. He warns His people to have nothing to do with these (Leviticus 19:31; Deuteronomy 18:10-12). They blind us from the truth of God.
God does not take Halloween lightly. As He says, "Learn not the way of the heathen" (Jeremiah 10:2, King James Version). And, "Take heed to yourself that you are not ensnared to follow them, after they are destroyed from before you, and that you do not inquire after their gods, saying, 'How did these nations serve their gods? I also will do likewise'" (Deuteronomy 12:30).
God will not always remain tirelessly patient with those who insist on celebrating harmful and superstitious customs such as Halloween. "The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance . . . What kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God" (2 Peter 3:9-12, New International Version).
The author of sin and death, Satan the devil, is also the behind-the-scenes author of pagan customs like Halloween. Jesus said that Satan is a liar and the father of all lies (John 8:44). God is the God of the living, not the dead (Matthew 22:31-32). He is the God of not only true Christians alive today but, because of the certainty of the coming resurrection of the dead (1 Corinthians 15), of those who will yet live when raised from death. So certain is this resurrection that to God it is looked on as an accomplished fact (see Romans 4:17).
Conversely, Satan is the "lord of the dead." Hebrews 2:14 says of Jesus Christ that "only by dying could he break the power of the Devil, who had the power of death" (New Living Translation).
Satan is the lord of the dead in that he leads people by his lies and influence into the way of death and, as the next verse shows, puts them in bondage to the fear of death.
He has foisted Halloween on ignorant people and even well-meaning Christians in a subtle and deceitful way, perpetuating it through the Catholic Church with a "Christian" mask that hides its demonic origins.
When it comes to Halloween—or any other holiday for that matter—you should ask yourself, "Did God make man in His image, or did God intend man to remake God in man's image?" Now that's a sobering thought.
The religious excuse for perpetuating Halloween might be that, as we've seen, church leaders long ago called it a "holy evening" for all the Catholic saints who had no day assigned to them. But face it: People who celebrate this evening today couldn't care less about such religious notions. All they think about is instant gratification, to follow the pack with everyone else and to have some fun.
The Encyclopedia of Religion goes on to say: "Modern Halloween activities have centered on mischief making and masquerading in costumes, often resembling otherworldly characters. Folk customs, now treated as games [such as bobbing for apples], have continued from the various divination practices of the ancient celebrants of this occasion. Supernatural figures [such as the ghost, the witch, the vampire, the devil] play a key role in supplying an aura of the mysterious to the evening, whether or not they originally had an association with the festival.
"Children are particularly susceptible to the imagery of Halloween, as can be seen in their fascination with the demonic likeness of a carved and illuminated pumpkin, known as the jack-o'-lantern. In recent times, children have taken up the practice of dressing in Halloween costumes and visiting homes in search of edible and monetary treats, lightly threatening to play a trick on the owner if a treat is not produced" (p. 177).
Halloween is one of many human traditions that cloud biblical teachings and keep people in the dark from God's truth that can set us free (John 8:32). It is not a harmless holiday for you or for your children. God warns us to avoid it and to follow His ways, because He hates for us to dabble in the spirit world of Satan and his demons! Instead, as God tells us in Isaiah 66:2, "On this one will I look: on him who is poor and of a contrite spirit, and who trembles at My word." GN
Holidays or Holy Days: Does it Matter Which Days We Celebrate?
It's ironic that so many of today's popular holidays—including major religious celebrations like Christmas and Easter—originated in ancient pagan festivals and customs, while God's Holy Days revealed in the Bible are almost universally ignored. Which should you celebrate and why?
God's Holy Day Plan: The Promise of Hope for All Mankind
Is it possible to know what the future holds for us? The Creator of mankind does have a plan for us, and He reveals it to us through an annual cycle of festivals described in the Scriptures. It is an astounding plan offering an incredible future to every man, woman, and child who has ever lived.
Halloween's Dark Roots
In recent years eye-opening materials have been published about the questionable background of Halloween
Ghouls, Ghosts and Goblins
It seems like such harmless fun—children dressed as witches, skeletons or Darth Vader ringing the doorbell, enthusiastically announcing, "Trick or treat!" But is this preoccupation with the dead, witches and demons really harmless? And do you realize that Halloween was originally an important religious holiday—and still is in many parts of the world?
Can Halloween Be Christianized?
What should you do in deciding how you will approach this hotly debated issue?
1Co 13:4 Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, 1Co 13:5 does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, 1Co 13:6 does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth;
Gal 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
Gal 5:23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
Mockery may be an effective tool for fleshly matters, but I don't see where it's a virtue or a tool for use in the Christian arsenal.
Your search was invalid from the start. We’ve already acknowledged that Halloween is not in the Bible. And we do not celebrate it like the Pagans, this has already been gone over.
In the satiric story Jesus was celebrating it like most do today, with costumes, candy and costume parties. All nicey nicey. The question is: Would Jesus observe it in any way, shape or fashion? That's a rhetorical question. Of course he wouldn't. He had the opportunity to embrace the festival. It existed but he didn't acknowledge it. The only reason it's even considered Christian today is tradition. Twelve hundred years of wrong tradition is twelve hundred years of error.
Why am i not surprised. You don’t want to hear from me, but you can’t shut-the-hell-up.
As Ronald Reagan said, it’s not that liberals are ignorant, it’s that they know so much that isn’t so.
BTW...you’re a woman, aren’t you?
That's because you aren't relying on scripture for your doctrine. Your entire story about the purchase of sacrificed meat is extra-biblical, and probably as specious as any other story used to justify private interpretations.
In any case, you are reading an exception into the "strong and weak brother" scripture that is not justified by the scripture, because it isn't in the scripture.
I recognize that it's of course going to be imperfect because I'm an imperfect man trying to explain perfect spiritual concepts, but I'm willing to give it a go if you have the time and inclination.
Now you are starting to get to the focus of my questioning. I maintain your understanding is not imperfect because you are imperfect, but because you are wrong. What you need to recognize is that your understanding has gaps and flaws because your doctrine is wrong, not because you are imperfect.
The really insidious thing here is that you are so accustomed to accepting contradictions and confusion that you are front loading our discussion with the idea that you are imperfect, and therefore may be unable to defend an doctrine that is still true, even though you can't show it. That way, you can continue to believe what you currently believe, even if you lose the debate.
You've been trained to believe the problem is you, not bad doctrine.
I'm not sure what you're referring to? In what day?
You must be the only Christian I have ever met that does not know that passage refers to their day of judgement.
Do you want to present my proofs from scripture before you judge them wrong? I haven't done so yet, but if you want me to I will.
Now you are starting to get to the focus of my questioning. I maintain your understanding is not imperfect because you are imperfect, but because you are wrong. What you need to recognize is that your understanding has gaps and flaws because your doctrine is wrong, not because you are imperfect. The really insidious thing here is that you are so accustomed to accepting contradictions and confusion that you are front loading our discussion with the idea that you are imperfect, and therefore may be unable to defend an doctrine that is still true, even though you can't show it. That way, you can continue to believe what you currently believe, even if you lose the debate.
So far we haven't even had a debate. I think there is an objective truth in the bible that the spirit of Christ indwells in Christians. You apparently don't, yet rather than proving or disproving from scripture you're content to assert that I'm wrong and offer no alternative.
If you would like to present your case WHY you think scripture doesn't support an indwelling Christ in Christians than feel free. If you want me to present my case, let me know.
You must be the only Christian I have ever met that does not know that passage refers to their day of judgement.
You didn't quote a passage. What passage did you mean?
You just don’t want to get it. It’s OUR holiday now. The pagan history is 1200 years ago, they lost, we won, celebrate OUR holiday, don’t give it back.
I get it. Twelve hundred years of tradition trumps scripture and the example of our Lord Jesus Christ. I get it.
Yeah, candied apples were a rare and coveted treat, but plain apples were right at the bottom of the desirability list.
No 1200 years of ownership trumps what went on before. there’s nothing non-scriptural about celebrating holidays, having fun, and mocking pagans. Get over it.
I agree..
Since when does not going trick or treating on one night a year constitute "staying safe in your house" and not making disciples?
haloween is great chance for you to go out and witness and evangelize. don't cower in your home with the lights out. dress up as an apostle, dress your sons as joseph in his coat, or as david carrying a sheep. go as angels, as biblical musicians, shepherds, wise men..heck, organize a whole group and be a walking nativity scene.
Well again, Jesus Christ kept certain specific holy days, the days he created himself. He didn't sanction dressing up in costumes on a pagan holiday (no matter what they were) and evangelizing. If he wanted to do that he could have emulated the countless pagan holidays that were extant in his day. Yet he didn't. Scripture says the opposite:
3Jn 1:11 Beloved, do not imitate what is evil, but what is good. The one who does good is of God; the one who does evil has not seen God.
And...
2Co 6:14 Do not be bound together with unbelievers; for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness?
2Co 6:15 Or what harmony has Christ with Belial, or what has a believer in common with an unbeliever?
We are to emulate Christ:
1Co 11:1 Be imitators of me, just as I also am of Christ.
and while you're out there, think about John 3:17. "For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved."
Don't forget the next verses:
Joh 3:19 "This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil.
Joh 3:20 "For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed.
Joh 3:21 "But he who practices the truth comes to the Light, so that his deeds may be manifested as having been wrought in God."
I think a more effective way to get through is to point out the error of imitating and emulating false forms of worship. When you're out there trick or treating you're one of the crowd. When you stand up boldly and say "This is wrong" you are standing up for the truth.
What days are you speaking of? Yule and the vernal equinox?
Lev 23:2 Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, Concerning the feasts of the LORD, which ye shall proclaim to be holy convocations, even these are my feasts.
Read the rest of chapter 23....
Yep
We don’t do halloween in the Biased household.
My kids 5,8,11 really don’t like that too much. The 11 year old has kinda figured it out.
Oh well, as they grow in thier Faith they will understand.
Do you observed Sabbath on Saturday? Do you observe Rosh Hashana? Do you observe Passover?
Jesus kept the holy days that he created. They are his holy days:
Lev 23:2 Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, Concerning the feasts of the LORD, which ye shall proclaim to be holy convocations, even these are my feasts.
Jesus Christ, the Lord, God, calls these days "his". His days. They're not Jewish days. They're not man's days. They're His days.
Do you observed Sabbath on Saturday? Do you observe Rosh Hashana? Do you observe Passover?
Yes, yes and yes.
Not at all. I feel humbled that God has opened up my understanding on these truths. I feel awed that he called me, a lowly sinner, to be able to overcome culture and tradition and has given me the opportunity to observe his holy days. I do have many sins that I'm aware of and am trying to overcome and many more that I'm not aware of. Sin is sin in the eyes of God and I'm no better or worse than anyone else.
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