Actually there’s a major difference between how pagans and Christians observe Halloween. Christians don’t believe Halloween is the day when the line between the living and dead is its thinnest, and don’t perform any of the rituals that come from that. There’s a lot of VISIBLE similarity, but there’s really no FUNCTIONAL similarity. The toys are the same, the use is different. In a lot of ways the Christian observance is mocking the pagan observance, they believe the dead are closest to us then, we dress up like corpses to celebrate life.
They’re things with abhorrent origins. You can’t pick and chose on that position. It’s just like the pagan symbols in Christian holidays problem, if you’re going to throw out one set you need to chuck them all. If having abhorrent origins makes one thing irredeemably bad then ALL things with abhorrent origins must be irredeemably bad. This is what moral absolutes are all about.
Hmmm, speaking for Jesus. Very bad. I don’t pretend to know what Jesus would do about some silly assed holiday.
Can you show me where Christians are supposed to mock pagan religions by emulating them?
They’re things with abhorrent origins. You can’t pick and chose on that position. It’s just like the pagan symbols in Christian holidays problem, if you’re going to throw out one set you need to chuck them all. If having abhorrent origins makes one thing irredeemably bad then ALL things with abhorrent origins must be irredeemably bad. This is what moral absolutes are all about.
As pointed out previously it has to do with worship of God. God is very exact in the way that he is to be worshipped. Obedience to these standards is what he expects. Making things up is like..well...turning your back on the wishes of God.
Hmmm, speaking for Jesus. Very bad. I don’t pretend to know what Jesus would do about some silly assed holiday.
You said:
"If Jesus is in your heart then every day is a holy day. Some days might get some extra rituals, but every day is part of God’s creation, no matter what we or some pagan call it."
I figured if you could speak for Jesus in your heart than so could I.
Would Jesus celebrate Halloween? I wrote the following a couple of years ago to illustrate the absurdity of this notion:
After searching scripture diligently for some hint that God sanctions Christians celebrating on Halloween the same as pagans do, I finally found it!
Let's take a look at the book of Bizarre, chapter 14:
Bizarre 14:1 And the disciples gathered together on the feast of the pagans known as Samhain.
Bizarre 14:2 And being gathered together, they saw the pagans going house to house, dressed as demons, and sorcerers, and witches.
Bizarre 14:3 Then Peter stood and said "Men and brethren. Let us do as the pagans do and let us dress up and go from house to house as they do.
Bizarre 14:4 For we have the liberty to do so and it looketh like a lot of fun."
Bizarre 14:5 So they dressed. Here is the manner in which they dressed:
Bizarre 14:6 Peter dressed as a witch and Andrew his brother dressed as a cat that is black. James dressed as a ghost. John dressed as a soothsayer.
Bizarre 14:7 Philip and Bartholomew dressed as demons. Thomas, and Matthew the publican, dressed as vampires.
Bizarre 14:8 James the son of Alphaeus, and Lebbaeus whose surname was Thaddaeus dressed as werewolves.
Bizarre 14:9 Simon the Canaanite dressed as a hobo. And Judas Iscariot, who betrayed Christ, dressed as a princess.
Bizarre 14:10 They then sought Jesus, the Lord. Finding him in the synagogue, they began to boast.
Bizarre 14:11 Saying "Lord Lord, look, I am a witch!" And "I am a princess."
Bizarre 14:12 And their contention was great for each wished to gain the approval of the Lord for their costumes.
Bizarre 14:13 But Christ said "Have you not read where my Father said to not worship as the nations do?"
Bizarre 14:14 Peter said "Lord, we do not worship the pagan gods, but only you O Lord. But we taketh great joy in dressing up and doing as they do."
Bizarre 14:15 Then Jesus said "Verily Peter, you knoweth more than my father and I. Let us proclaim today as a day we all do as the pagans do and dress up, and go from house to house with great joy.
Bizarre 14:16 Further, I proclaim that the Holy Days I created with my Father, and caused to be written in the book of the law, are not to be observed henceforth."
Bizarre 14:17 And Jesus went to looketh for a costume but the hour was late and finding none, he said "Behold" and instantly his countenance became as one who is dead, and still walks the earth.
Bizarre 14:18 And Jesus did winneth the prize for best costume at the Samhain party and all were joyful.
Bizarre 14:19 But Judas was of dark countenance, for he desired his princess costume to win the prize.