Posted on 10/28/2020 11:47:55 AM PDT by Carpe Cerevisi
Every October, Christians trash each other on social media over Halloween. Is it harmless costumes and candy? Participation in the occult, cavorting with demons? Co-opting a pagan holiday?
Christians believe demons are real. The Bible talks about them. Most Christians agree that you should stay away from them. Fallen angels lurking in your kids candy bag might freak out a Christian mom or dad. And the stranger-sabotaged candy scares of the 1980s still haunt some parents.
Halloween remains popular among American Christians. Yet this stalking sense of the demonic has some churches holding sanitized harvest festival events, away from the gruesome imagery in the streets, satisfying the family desire to participate without the risk.
Other Christians take the hardline tactic of pointing out historical links to the Celtic pagan Samhain festival, supposedly the real Halloween. Trick-or-treating is declared equivalent with Ouija boards and seances. The 5-year-old in her princess tutu and tiara overloading on sweets is basically equivalent to a necromancer.
What is rarely discussed in these unhallowed debates is what exactly Halloween is. The term gets used for everything from neopagan reconstructions to Catholic cemetery processions for All Hallows Eve, to costumed parades through the Main Streets of small-town America.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtontimes.com ...
Here’s my take on this: Participating in Halloween is a pagan ritual to which Jesus said not to participate in pagan rituals. We are also not supposed to perform sorcery, or worship other deities or spirits other than the Lord. Halloween also encourages sinful behavior (drinking to excess, hording things you don’t need like candy, lasciviousness during parties, etc.); all things that lead to sin if not sinful in and of themselves. I would also argue that the way modern society practices Easter and Christmas are also pagan based and should be avoided.
There is a lot of liberty in Christ. Not necessarily "license", but liberty to choose what is benign and what isn't.
I can see Halloween being something that Christians can entertain, but if not then that's not bad either.
Amen-
The nuns I had reminded us of all saints day-
and a lot of kids went as angels-cowboys-police-
indians— ghost masks were popular- celebrating candy
and a day off- (except must go to church-which was fun too)
If you have time, read the article. It’s very good. It basically says there is a difference between handing out ( or receiving candy) and participating in the occult.
I don’t participate. I am reformed so Oct 31 is actually Reformation Day. I celebrate Reformation day, which commemorates what was perhaps the greatest move of Gods Spirit since the days of the Apostles.
I’m in a small town also and there are decorations, nothing crazy, we are giving out candy on Friday 6 to 8, there were flyers handed out if you don’t want to give out candy turn off your porch light. After that there is a barn fire in the park so it should be nice....
I will....not into that occult stuff....
I will remember to eat a bag of gummi worms and tape up the 95 Theses on a door.
But I’m still going to give out candy to any kids asking for it. Maybe I will make sure they’re gummi worms!
Nope
My grandkids are going to dress up as....a princess and a cop. I’m pretty sure they are not into demon worship. Candy, maybe, but not demons.
Paul told the peopel they can buy meat from the left overs from sacrifices to false gods- so yeah, the heathens worshipped and sacrificed to false gods, but the Christians were still allowed to buy the meat afterwards- as long as the Christians didn’t engage in worshipping the demons/false gods of the pagans, they were fine-
“Halloween also encourages sinful behavior (drinking to excess, hording things you dont need like candy, lasciviousness during parties, etc.)...”
I promise not to let my grandkids drink too much, overindulge in candy or engage in sexual promiscuity. But if someone gets upset about my grandson dressing up as a cop, I might get violent.
PS: Watching the Trump/Biden debates encouraged drinking too....
Don't get violent! We're also called upon to turn the other cheek and not judge 😉
Fair enough, FRiend!
Been back and forth on this myself. But the kids look forward to it.
It is All Saints day weekend and a harvest festival. Avoid the dark imagery and focus on the positive is what I go for. Make something bad into something good.
Lace meals in democrat politicians dining rooms.
ha, didn’t see your post before i posted mine0 - well stated- a day isn’t evil in itself- it’s what people do that make events evil- as stated below- just don’t be evil- and remember the Lord Your God, and enjoy a night of rest relaxation, and fun with the family, but if it bothers a person- then don’t participate, noone thinks less of one if they abstain-
[[It basically says there is a difference between handing out ( or receiving candy) and participating in the occult.]]
Exactly- not like the kids are getting the candy after bowing down and saying hail Satan, or after sacrificial proceedings, or after drinking blood and actively worshiping demons/false gods
While some may do that- that’s their problem- the rest of society enjoys a fun night of going door to door for treats-
As one poster said- Christmas and Easter are intertwined with pagan origins as well - but none of us sacrifice goats and drink the blood on those days either- We worship the Creator-
No day is evil- but it’s how one acts during certain days that can be evil- just don’t be evil, and enjoy a good fun night out
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