Halloween

[zyzychyn]

It's not.

 

[paulewog]

Or at least, isn't usually.... I would think you could sort of just turn it into a celebration of God's gift of Fall/harvest/etc

 

[VOW]

One problem, Paul.

Fall Harvest celebrations are pagan.


Peace,
~VOW

 

[paulewog]

They are?

Hm.

What was the Israelite one that they celebrated? I think it was called the Feast of First Fruits... or maybe the Feast of Tabernacles, thaty might be the same thing, not sure. I would consider that a Fall Harvest type thingy... where tehy gathered the first gathering-in of their stuffs and gave it to the Lord...

 

[4thecross]

Who cares what the origin is? That's pure legalism. A man should consult God as to what to do, being led by the Holy Spirit. I think it is safe to say that dressing up like a demon is certainly not what God has in mind for purity and righteousness. However, it is just mockery to have an alternative.

God may call a group of believers to hold a "Harvest Fest," but He may not. You should seek the living God as to how you should handle this "Harvest" season.

Much Grace,
4thecross

 

[Jpnseawa]

4thecross, I appreciate your comments, but to me it seems a bit over the top. I really don't think that God will think it a sin for my family to dress my daughter up in a costume and go out trick or treating. Yes , I think there must be some consideration as to what the costume is and making sure that it is appropriate. Otherwise, I don't see a problem with it.

 

[Smilin]

Originally posted by 4thecross
How is God's name glorified through the celebration of Halloween?

Is that your best logic behind not celebrating Halloween?

I'll refute your argument with other examples:

1.  How was God's name glorified when I had to kill those rabid skunks?

2.  How was God's name glorified when I suffered amoebic dysentary?

3.  How is God's name glorified by me washing my car?

4.  How is God's name glorified by debating with you?

 

 

[Smilin]

Originally posted by 4thecross
Who cares what the origin is? That's pure legalism. A man should consult God as to what to do, being led by the Holy Spirit. I think it is safe to say that dressing up like a demon is certainly not what God has in mind for purity and righteousness. However, it is just mockery to have an alternative.

God may call a group of believers to hold a "Harvest Fest," but He may not. You should seek the living God as to how you should handle this "Harvest" season.

Much Grace,
4thecross

4thcross...you wrongfully assume all children dress as 'demons'.

My children have dressed as the following:

A bumblebee, ladybug, mushroom, lobster, T-rex, dalmation puppy, the wizard of oz theme (scarecrow, tinman, cowardly lion), a princess, a ninja, big giant sponges, .... shall I continue?

You see, our tradition is based upon home-made costumes, a time for family and friends to gather and play games.....; we usually end the night with a hayride through the foothills of the appalachias, and toilet papering our chosen victims yard for the year.

Hardly demonic or Satanic, a waste of perfectly good toilet paper...yes.

Celebrations are what you make of them.

 

[Smilin]

For those of you against said 'Harvest Festivals'....
Our harvest festivals here consist of the local farmers marketing their produce to the public, engaging in friendly discussions, raising money for those in need.

I hardly classify this as a Pagan ritual, ... however I am totally ignorant of Pagan rituals...so I do not qualify to comment on them.

 

[4thecross]

Hi there Smilin,

1.  How was God's name glorified when I had to kill those rabid skunks?

2.  How was God's name glorified when I suffered amoebic dysentary?

Since you asked, it sounds like to me God was trying to get your attention.

3.  How is God's name glorified by me washing my car?

If you are in obedience to God as you wash your car, then you bet His name is glorified.  However, if you wash your car outside God's will, then you bring no glory to His name, you only succeed in disobeying God.

4.  How is God's name glorified by debating with you?

It is by way of the cross.  Perhaps you'll come to know what it means to deny yourself, since that's the only way to become a disciple.

(Luke 9:23-24)  Then he said to them all: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. (24) For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it.

Unless you hear from God on anything, your are living your own life, rather than Jesus living it through you.  With that in mind, did God tell you to celebrate Halloween?  If so, what did he tell you to do in terms of denying yourself so that you would not sin?

Much Grace,
Kevin

 

[4thecross]

Greetings Jpnseawa,

I'm not sure what you see as "over the top". I assume you think God only cares about "big" things and not the small things? Consider what Jesus said in the parable of the talents.

(Matthew 25:21) "His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!'

How can you be in step with the Spirit if you are only asking Him about a few "big" things?

(Galatians 5:25) Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.

It's important for us to rely on the Father for every single thing, just as Jesus did.

(1 John 2:6) Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did.

It is the Spirit of God that brings us life, and anything apart from Him is death.

Love in Christ,
Kevin

 

[Jpnseawa]

Originally posted by 4thecross
Greetings Jpnseawa,

I'm not sure what you see as "over the top". I assume you think God only cares about "big" things and not the small things? Consider what Jesus said in the parable of the talents.

(Matthew 25:21) "His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!'

How can you be in step with the Spirit if you are only asking Him about a few "big" things?

(Galatians 5:25) Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.

It's important for us to rely on the Father for every single thing, just as Jesus did.

(1 John 2:6) Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did.

It is the Spirit of God that brings us life, and anything apart from Him is death.

Love in Christ,
Kevin

4thecross...you "assume" incorrectly. I never said that I believe God only cares about the big things. My point was that my personal opinion is that allowing your child to dress up for halloween and go trick or treating is not unglorifying to God. Yes, allowing your child to dress up as a "demon" could be considered so. As long as your heart is in the right place, and you are listening to Gods' voice,  anything you do can be gloryifying God. If God was telling me to not take my child trick or treating, then I would not.

 

[Jenna]

There is nothing wrong with harvest festivals, so long as God is the focus. After all, who else do we have to be thankful to? Any harvest festival, halloween and thanksgiving included, should be God centered. Aside from that, it doesn't really matter if you celebrate by letting your kids rot their teeth out or run around looking like Spongebob. If anyone wants to talk about the "evilness" of Halloween, I would challenge them to look at the evilness of any day where God is not the focus of a person's life. It isn't the day, or what other people use to do on it, that makes it bad.

With love,
Jenna

 

[Smilin]

Originally posted by zyzychyn
It's not.

Why isn't it?  Please elaborate.

 

[Smilin]

Originally posted by 4thecross
Who cares what the origin is? That's pure legalism.

The origins are the arguments of many why we shouldn't celebrate Halloween.  Being a history buff, I find the origins of all traditional celebrations to be of interest. (Native Americans, Current Americans, British, Australian, Russian, Israeli,,,on and on..and on)...that's not legalism.  That's curiosity to me.

Originally posted by 4thecross
A man should consult God as to what to do, being led by the Holy Spirit.

You never answered the question I posed.  Do you celebrate Christmas=? do you erect and decorate a Christmas tree?  Do you hang a Christmas wreath on your door?  Do you decorate your house with tree greenery?  And finally..do you consult God before you do such..(if you do).  I'd challenge you to study the origins of these traditions, and then state 'well that's just pure legalism'.  Your argument of 'it is just mockery to have an alternative' to the ORIGINAL meanings of these traditions apply here as well. 

Here's a bold statement: Christ was not born in December.  A thesis I once wrote, gave proofs, and took quite a bashing over.  I assert that celebrating the birth of our savior in the month of december is just an alternative to replace (and try to convert) pagan celebrations that were originally performed during the same time period.  If you (or anyone else wish to debate this) we'll start another thread.  I'm just pointing out that your reasoning of 'it is just mockery to have an alternative' may backfire on you if you hold this argument to many other holidays.....

Originally posted by 4thecross
I think it is safe to say that dressing up like a demon is certainly not what God has in mind for purity and righteousness. However, it is just mockery to have an alternative.

1.  What do demons look like? (other than the 'traditional views' portrayed in religious paintings, illustrations in various religious texts, and the 'special effects' presented in the movie theater.)  The bible certainly doesn't give us a description of what demons look like.  How can someone accuse another of dressing as a demon, when their is no accurate record 'to my knowledge' of what a demon ACTUALLY looks like.  If you're referring to those rubber 'horror' masks sold at Walmart, those are simply the creations of someone's imagination..... Now..answer the question...(and describe in detail)...HOW could one recognize an ACTUAL demon.

Originally posted by 4thecross

God may call a group of believers to hold a "Harvest Fest," but He may not. You should seek the living God as to how you should handle this "Harvest" season.

Much Grace,
4thecross

Forgive me for assuming, but I dare say you haven't grown up around farmers, or Native Americans.  Celebrations are traditions for not only the Fall harvest season, but the spring season, the mid summer season, etc.  I do not believe you need to seek the Creator for these events.  Our traditions/beliefs teach us the Creator REVEALS himself to us through such events.

Now that our traditional celebrations are over for Halloween, excuse me, it is time to begin preparing the 'harvest feast' as my culture calls it...or as some others term it 'Thanksgiving'.

Many Respects,

Smilin

 

[Smilin]

Originally posted by Jenna
There is nothing wrong with harvest festivals, so long as God is the focus. After all, who else do we have to be thankful to? Any harvest festival, halloween and thanksgiving included, should be God centered. Aside from that, it doesn't really matter if you celebrate by letting your kids rot their teeth out or run around looking like Spongebob. If anyone wants to talk about the "evilness" of Halloween, I would challenge them to look at the evilness of any day where God is not the focus of a person's life. It isn't the day, or what other people use to do on it, that makes it bad.

With love,
Jenna

Jenna...Bless you...very well said....

 

[Smilin]

Originally posted by VOW
One problem, Paul.

Fall Harvest celebrations are pagan.


Peace,
~VOW

Boooyyyy I can't wait to get back home today and inform my neighbors they are Pagans...

Greetings, Vow, much friendship to you...and don't take my sarcasm seriously.  Your friendship and prayers have meant a lot to me since my random landing in this forum.

Many Blessings...Smilin

 

[dignitized]

Um . . . Actaully, the Jew's celebrated the Harvest every year and called it Yom Kippur. New years.

 

[Smilin]

Originally posted by 4thecross
Hi there Smilin,



Since you asked, it sounds like to me God was trying to get your attention. Kevin

First, my manners...Hi kevin, greetings, and thank you for your responses.  I wish you many blessings.

Now...my responses.

1.  God wasn't trying to get my attention.  My 4 year old (at that time) drew my attention to the 'perty kitty with a white strip' hissing at him in the back yard.  I had to kill the skunks since they are the number one spreader of rabies in this area, and were a threat to my children and the neighbors kids.

2.  I suffered amoebic dysentary as the result of eating tainted meat when I was in Turkey during my military career.  Was God trying to get the attention of the several hundred others who contracted this food form of food poisioning.  Are you insenuating that God uses food poisioning to get our attention?

To be fair..I agree with you that God has his ways of getting our attention...but not by any of the above. 

My point to all this?  Quite simply...All actions, reactions are not necessarily 'tributes or are meant to glorify God.'

Originally posted by 4thecross
If you are in obedience to God as you wash your car, then you bet His name is glorified.  However, if you wash your car outside God's will, then you bring no glory to His name, you only succeed in disobeying God.

I can't resist, and please excuse the sarcasm....but SHOW me where it is written how one can glorify god by simply washing my car/truck...etc. I can quote the bible verbatim, and maybe it's just my interpretation that is lacking.

I glorify God by working with troubled youths.  I glorify God by volunteering at St. Judes Hospital (children with cancer), I glorify God by serving food to the homeless at the shelter down the street.  I glorify God by stopping on the interstate and helping those in distress.  My culture glorifys God through our communion with the creation.

I don't feel closer to God when I wash my car, clean my house, cook for my children, change the oil in my vehicles, rake my leaves, clean out my gutters, sealing the driveway on a yearly basis, mowing my big huge lawn, trimming the bushes, replacing burnt out light bulbs, replacing the belt on the vacuum cleaner AT LEAST once a week, crunching the big hairy spider when requested, or by taking out the trash.  But that's just me.

Originally posted by 4thecross

It is by way of the cross.  Perhaps you'll come to know what it means to deny yourself, since that's the only way to become a disciple. 

1. Define what you mean:...to become a disciple?  I have a notion, but won't assume what you're thinking. (that would be rude of me)  If you care to elaborate on this...we can start a thread on it..and debate it further.

2.  I have come to know what it means to deny myself..please don't falsely assume I haven't.  I make no assumptions about your life's experiences. 

Another bold statement:  Denying myself for the past year has not made me a disciple.  It has made me stronger, healthier, and taught my many lessons.

Originally posted by 4thecross

Unless you hear from God on anything, your are living your own life, rather than Jesus living it through you.  With that in mind, did God tell you to celebrate Halloween?  If so, what did he tell you to do in terms of denying yourself so that you would not sin?

Much Grace,
Kevin

1.  I do live my own life.  It was given to me, and it is mine to live.  And I'd challenge you by stating that Jesus does not live through us....we live through Jesus.

2.  How has God shown approval of my celebrations of Halloween?  Our traditions involve pumpkin art, usually a Hay Ride, a gathering of friends, family, and neighbors to participate in friendship, games, and socialize.  (anyone know how to prepare raw pumpkin)??????? I'm just curious.  God approves of families, friends and neighbors growing closer together...wouldn't you agree?

3.  We don't trick-or-treat anymore...we decided that to be too boring and a waste of time.  My comrads and I found a design for a 'toilet paper bazooka'...we had a BLAST with this contraption.  The Kids LOVED it.  God didn't seem to mind this activity either.

4.  We've gathered at 'so-called haunted places' to laugh and debunk the myths associated with them.  (I'm a skeptic and don't subscribe to superstitional beliefs)  This year we visited an abandoned 'mental asylum'..... We encountered nothing (paranormal).  However it was worth it in my opinion to be able to say:  I visited the place and found nothing but cobwebs and rotting wood. (no visual orbs, ghostly mists, unexplained voices, erratic furniture movement, or distressed souls wandering the halls) as the superstitional myths go.

Many Regards,

Smilin

 

[Smilin]

Originally posted by Br. Max
Um . . . Actaully, the Jew's celebrated the Harvest every year and called it Yom Kippur. New years.

As have all cultures (that I'm aware of) have celebrated the end of the harvest season.

(correct me if i'm wrong anyone)