Halloween

[4thecross]

Greetings Smilin,

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.

I, too, have studied the same material in depth with all holidays.  My statement about legalism had nothing to do with knowing that it's pagan.  It's legalistic to not celebrate Halloween because it's pagan.

You never answered the question I posed.  Do you celebrate Christmas?

I do not celebrate any holidays expect what the Lord has allowed, that includes Christmas and birthdays.  Last year, the Lord did not allow me to celebrate Christmas at all.  This year, all the people in my church will be giving a gift to the Lord by way of sending money overseas (sorry, no gift exchanges here).  While I am quite aware that Jesus was born in late Spring/early Summer, this is what the Lord would have us do this year.  Probably since it would make more impact because everyone else is celebrating each other for Christmas instead of Jesus.

What do demons look like?

The only thing we know about demons from Scripture are the few instances where they are mentioned.  It doesn't mention what they look like.  If I took a poll of 100 people about the subject, most, if not all, would come to the same conclusion - something ugly and evil-looking.  So I personally do not know what a demon looks like, only what the world thinks a demon looks like.  That's what I was referring to.

As far as harvest fests (or feasts) go, most churches put on harvest festivals in place of Halloween.  As you mentioned, we already have a national harvest festival called Thanksgiving.  These Oct. 31 harvest fests are just an excuse to celebrate a holiday that Christians should have nothing to do with.

(Romans 12:9)  Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.

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

The only reason sickness and death are in this world is because of sin.  Anytime we are sick, we need to cry out to the Living God to see where our sin is, and ask Him for His grace to overcome that sin.  My pastor preached an excellent message called In the Hospital.  If you're interested, you can get a free copy from http://www.freesd.org.

SHOW me where it is written how one can glorify god by simply washing my car/truck...etc.

(1 Peter 1:15)  But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do;

(Colossians 3:17)  And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

(Colossians 3:23)  Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men

I don't know how much more clear that can get.

Define what you mean:...to become a disciple?

(Luke 14:26)  "If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters--yes, even his own life--he cannot be my disciple.

(Luke 14:27)  And anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.

(Luke 14:33)  In the same way, any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple.

(Matthew 6:24)  "No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.

I do live my own life.  It was given to me, and it is mine to live.

(Mark 8:35)  For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it.

And more to the point:

(2 Corinthians 5:15)  And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.

How can you be living your own life AND be obeying all these scriptures?  Not possible.

(Proverbs 27:19)  As water reflects a face, so a man's heart reflects the man.

...replacing the belt on the vacuum cleaner AT LEAST once a week...

Why don't you just get a new vacuum cleaner?

Love in Christ,
Kevin

 

[sunshine]

Originally posted by VOW
One problem, Paul.

Fall Harvest celebrations are pagan.


Peace,
~VOW

I don't know much about Pagan ritual...but I do know that the church celebrates a fall harvest every year....we call it "Thanksgiving", the second Monday in October.  I don't think that there is anything pagan in thanking the Lord for all the blessings we have been given, be it a bountiful harvest, or otherwise.

 

[Jpnseawa]

Originally posted by 4thecross
Greetings Smilin,

The only reason sickness and death are in this world is because of sin.  Anytime we are sick, we need to cry out to the Living God to see where our sin is, and ask Him for His grace to overcome that sin.  

 

So what you are saying is that anytime I get a cold its because I have sinned and God is punishing me because of it? What about say a newborn baby that gets sick? Is that because of sin as well?

 

[VOW]

To Smilin:

Hey, no problem with the teasing. You should hear Wolseley get going on the pagan origins of things in our lives. You'd need to rename the days of the week and months of the year to completely eradicate paganism influences.

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.

Smilin, to me, caring for your family, whether its doing laundry, repairing the house, shopping, cooking, bathing kids, changing a baby's diaper, heating bottles, any of the thousands of things you do for a family, those are ALL PRAYERS. You can be grateful to God for allowing you to be a good provider, so you even HAVE the clothes to wear, the house to fix, the food on the table. And you can pray for those who don't have those things. Our families are representative of our life with Christ. And in caring for our families we are praising Him.


Peace be with you,
~VOW

 

[Smilin]

Nice thoughts Vow...

 

[Jpnseawa]

Still waiting for an answer from 4thecross.....

 

[4thecross]

Greetings Jpnseawa,

Originally posted by Jpnseawa
So what you are saying is that anytime I get a cold its because I have sinned and God is punishing me because of it? What about say a newborn baby that gets sick? Is that because of sin as well?

That's certainly an interesting way to twist what I posted.  First of all, you need to be certain of one thing:

(1 John 1:8)  If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.

Once again, sickness and death entered this world because of sin.  Before sin, sickness and death did not exist.  God reserves judgement and punishment for the wicked.  But as for His children, he disciplines them.  However, I'm still not saying that everytime you get sick, God is disciplining you.  He may be trying to get you attention, He may be disciplining you, or He may just be reminding you of how frail we all are.  There's no cut and dry answer.  You just have to ask Him the next time you're sick.

As far as the newborn baby goes, no baby is without sin.  Indeed, that's where it all starts.  It certainly doesn't take a brain surgeon to see the rebellion and selfishness bound up in a child from day one.  I have a one-month-old, and he's my third child in the last 3 1/2 years.  I am a witness to the truth of the Word of God: that we are all born into sin because of one man's sin.

Much Grace,
Kevin

 

[Jpnseawa]

Originally posted by 4thecross
Greetings Jpnseawa,



That's certainly an interesting way to twist what I posted.  First of all, you need to be certain of one thing:

(1 John 1:8)  If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.

Once again, sickness and death entered this world because of sin.  Before sin, sickness and death did not exist.  God reserves judgement and punishment for the wicked.  But as for His children, he disciplines them.  However, I'm still not saying that everytime you get sick, God is disciplining you.  He may be trying to get you attention, He may be disciplining you, or He may just be reminding you of how frail we all are.  There's no cut and dry answer.  You just have to ask Him the next time you're sick.

As far as the newborn baby goes, no baby is without sin.  Indeed, that's where it all starts.  It certainly doesn't take a brain surgeon to see the rebellion and selfishness bound up in a child from day one.  I have a one-month-old, and he's my third child in the last 3 1/2 years.  I am a witness to the truth of the Word of God: that we are all born into sin because of one man's sin.

Much Grace,
Kevin

I'm not sure that I "twisted" what you posted. It seemed to me thats what you were implying.

I certainly never claimed to be without sin. I just do not believe that every time I am sick it is because I personally have sinned.

I agree with you that we are all born into sin.  I cannot comprehend though what a newborn could possibly do that could be considered sin. "Rebellion and selfishness"? So because a newborn cannot take care of itself and needs constant care then he/she is considered selfish? Maybe that is not what you are saying....

 

[4thecross]

Greetings Jpnseawa,

Originally posted by Jpnseawa
I agree with you that we are all born into sin.  I cannot comprehend though what a newborn could possibly do that could be considered sin.

These two sentences contradict each other.

In Christ,
Kevin

 

[Jpnseawa]

Originally posted by 4thecross
Greetings Jpnseawa,



These two sentences contradict each other.

In Christ,
Kevin

Hmm....you are corect, they do. Let me rephrase.

I agree with you that we are born into a sinful "nature". Meaning that all of us will sin at some point in our lives. I still don't see how a newborn can sin or can be considered selfish.

Didn't Jesus say in Matthew 18:3 "..., Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven."

 

 

[4thecross]

Greetings Jpnseawa,

Absolutely, Jesus did say that. I'm not sure I understand your point, though. Are you saying children are without sin? I know Jesus didn't say that, since he was talking about humility, not sinlessness.

(Matthew 18:4) Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

Rather, Scripture testifies this about us:

(Psalms 51:5) Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me.

I am sure we can both agree that Scripture says what it says, and there is no need to whitewash it.

Originally posted by Jpnseawa

Meaning that all of us will sin at some point in our lives.

There is no Truth in this statement. Indeed we sin everyday, and not just once or twice. Our lives are plagued with sin. Scripture calls us "sinful" not just "people who sin." Why do you think it is written:

(Hebrews 12:4) In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood.

Can you honestly say you've been at that point, even with just everyday things you do? If we are not listening to the Lord for the very next step we take, we are in sin.

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

Yes, it is indeed in our nature to sin. It's our VERY NATURE.

(Jeremiah 17:9) The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?

Much Grace,
Kevin

 

[Jpnseawa]

I never meant to imply that we will only sin "once or twice" in our lives. I realize that we sin every day.

I guess I'm still confused as to what a newborn baby does that could be considered a sin. Thats all I'm saying.

God bless.

 

[Higher Truth]

What's the bottom line? It's sanhaim.It can be easily researched on the internet. It is still a high unholy day for many occultic religions. Children were once sacrificed on this day, and there has been claims made that they still are. We serve a God that is sensitive to sin. If it were not for the covering, he would probably not even be able to look at us. The church in the course of history has assumed that they can take things that are anabomination in the sight of God, bless them and sanctify them. Do we really believe that God wants us to take the senconds of the world and offer them to him as firsts?

 

[MissytheButterfly]

I celebrate Halloween..in the sense that we give out candy for the neighborhood children. I am currently pregnant with our first child and my husband and I both agree that we will NOT be sending our children out for Halloween. We decided this because of today's world..people are so corrupt we just don't trust that it's a good idea. We have decided to just purchase the candy for our children ourselves and give it to them. That way we will know where it came from and who gave it.

Halloween has it's origin as a Pagan celebration. I studied Wicca and Pagan religions while while in college because I had some friends that were Wiccan and I was interested in exactly what they believed. I own books on Wicca and Pagan religions.

Here is some information on the background and origin of Halloween:

Halloween time is orginally a pagan observance called Samhain (pronounced sow-en) and it celebrates the end of the goddess-rules summer and marks the arrival of the god-ruled Winter. The name Samhain means "summers end". Samhain is also the ancient Celtic/Druid New Year, the beginning of cider season, and a solemn rite and festival of the dead. It is a time when spirits of deceased love ones and friends are honored and at one time believe to be the time when the dead returned to walk among the living. Samhaim night or Halloween night is considered the ideal time to make contact with and receive messages from the spirit world. Ancient Pagan foods for this time are pumpkin pie, apples, cranberry muffins, breads, ale, cider, and herbal teas.

The Christianized version of Samhain is "All Saints Day" (Nov 1) which was introduced by Pope Boniface IV in the 7th century to supplant the Pagan festival. All Souls Day (Nov 2) is another Christian adaption on the ancient Festival of the Dead. It is observed by the Roman Catholic Church as a sacred day of prayer for souls in purgatory.

 

[AngelAmidala]

Must hijack this thread for one minute....

MISSY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Nice to see you back!!!!!

Okay...ya'll can have the thread back now.

 

[Annabel Lee]

Well hello there, Missy.

 

[MissytheButterfly]

LOL..Angel..I would be careful with the word HIJACK if I were you..LOL!

Hello there Annabel Lee!!! Nice to hear from you!

 

[4thecross]

Greetings,

Originally posted by Higher Truth

We serve a God that is sensitive to sin.

That's the bottom line indeed. In fact, more to the point, we serve a God that hates sin. God is really more concerned with our hearts, not the origins. Halloween is another one of those holidays that centers around "self." Anytime "self" is involved, there is sin. We need to be concerned about the things of Christ, not about how much fun we'll have, or our opinions on the matter.  Too many people do what they want to do, which is opposite to what God wants us to do.  It's the very nature of who we are. 

Much grace,
Kevin

 

[chriso]

I think it is good to have a "fall festival" and let your children dress up as bible characters and play games. Stay away from the Halloween satanic junk that seem to be going around.