Some pastors see Halloween as ‘innocent’ fun, others view the holiday as ‘demonic'

Christian Post ^ | 10/31/2022 | Nicole Alcindor

[napscoordinator]

The problem is, you were delighted to celebrate as a child. But as an adult you wanna take away the day for children I just think that’s terrible. Kids have it hard enough today without adults, being idiots and hypocrites.

[imabadboy99]

Agree 100%. It’s great for kids to dress up like policemen, cowboys, etc. But the people who take delight in the gore and blood and guts are just sick.

[lurk]

Things start out as pagan superstitions and wives tales. But after a few hundred years it’s not longer about that.

Let it go. Life has enough drama already.

[Reily]

There are always people worried that somewhere someone is having fun!

[bigdaddy45]

I agree! (except for the nurses; i kinda like those....)

[PGR88]

I’ve read through the entire thread so far, and not one mention that the impetus for Halloween is the celebration of ALL SAINTS DAY on November 1, which started out by celebrating Christian martyrs throughout the Christian world.

[bigdaddy45]

We did blood and gore when i was a kid. At least a little. And that was in the 70’s.

[catnipman]

“Does everyone understand that Halloween is now a high, holy holiday for homosexuals?”

indeed ... it’s pretty clear that all the little children dressed in cute costumes that come to my door for a tidbit of free candy are all homos ...

[Honorary Serb]

Here’s a good American Orthodox Christian Saint to celebrate on October 31:

https://www.oca.org/saints/lives/2022/10/31/103122-priestmartyr-john-kochurov

I believe that Church and community celebrations on this day are fine! All the rest strays into dangerous territory!!

And we have all too many Satan-inspired events in our country every day of the year! Lord have Mercy!!!!

[Claud]

You are touching upon the very large divide between the Catholic and Protestant view of the saints. That’s a theological question, and I’m not going to wade into that here unless asked.

The *historical* claim, however, that Halloween was originally based on Samhain, is demonstrably false.

If Roman Christians set the date, why did they pick a date to appeal to some obscure Celts beyond the bounds of the former Empire? And why, when the Irish first celebrated All Saints Day, did they first celebrate it in April, if it was based on Samhain?

Regardless of our theological differences—I want folks to understand that yes, this *is* a Christian holyday with a Christian name. And here’s how we kept it for centuries, and will hopefully keep it again someday:

https://www.liturgicalartsjournal.com/2019/09/all-hallows-eve-halloween-in.html

[CitizenUSA]

I see this as one of those issues where you don’t partake in ways that cause other Christians to stumble. If one feels led by Christ to not participate, they should definitely NOT do it. On the other hand, there are many who see Halloween as nothing more than a fun time for kids to dress up and collect treats. However, don’t use your liberty regarding Halloween to mock or subvert the beliefs of other Christians.

[grame]

That’s my issue and where it gets dark and scary.

[Bob434]

Christians were allowed to purchase the cheaper meat that was used for Sacrificing to Satanic idols back in the days of Christ without being accused of ‘participating in satanic rituals’ themselves-

Pretty sure today’s kids are not bowing down and worshiping the Evil one when they don a mask and ask for candy and have a good time with their friends goign around neighborhoods for an evening of socializing and fun-

Whiel there is a lot of gore and junk- it’s all over TV0- magazines, signs etc- and children can not be shielded from it entirely=- The Christian parent will explain to the kids that evil does exist in the world, and to beware of it and don’t go i n that direction- and be taught that you can have fun while at the same time distancing yourself from those that are immoral in the world- in otherwords, the parents can teach the kids that they are allowed to buy the sacrifice meat from idols and not be a part of the actual satanic worship of false gods-

[Bob434]

[[However, don’t use your liberty regarding Halloween to mock or subvert the beliefs of other Christians.]]

Exactly-

[No name given]

You can thank the alphabet mafia and gender deceivers for that.

[No name given]

I think halloween is a very overrated holiday. I prefer Christmas and Easter actually.

[x]

Is there a middle ground here? Does it have to be a choice between innocent fun and damning satanism? Can you not do it and not vilify it? Can you do it and yet have misgivings and questions?

[jimbug]

I did not know Christ as my Savior until I was 33 years old. My parents were not believers.

Adults have the responsibility to train up their children in the way they should go, and most are totally ignorant of the fact that Satan is a real being.

A pastor friend of mine sent me this reply which you might find instructive. He is a missionary to South Africa. "Thank you for sending this...and thankfully, it is not much of an event here in our area of South Africa. I know some countries are more in tune with it...like the USA. Kind of ironic, we send missionaries to deep dark Africa...but here people do not make a plaything out of devil worship. Keep looking up!"

[jimbug]

Actually the celebration of halloween started much earlier than All Saints Day. Check out https://www.history.com/topics/halloween/history-of-halloween#ancient-origins-of-halloween

[Claud]

I think that’s sensible. However, there’s also been some unfortunate mocking & subverting of those Christians who have celebrated All Saints’ Eve hundreds of years before the Reformation. Today’s Christians don’t often realize that they are accidentally allying themselves with pagans in the process.

The official Halloween prayer of the Catholic Church that you can still find in some older liturgical books (it was stupidly suppressed in 1955) is this:

“Pour forth abundantly upon us of Thy mercy, O Lord our God, and grant us grace to follow in their joy in their holy testifying all Thy blessed servants, the eve of whose glorious and solemn commemoration we are keeping. Through our Lord Jesus Christ Thy Son, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, one God, world without end. Amen”

I don’t mind discussing the other aspects of the holiday, like dressing up and candy, but they don’t get at the real heart of the feast, which is to honor Jesus Christ through the saints. The rest is just little folk customs that got attached to it.