Halloween!

[Archivist]

Don't take it that far. I was only talking about the food.

But candy given to trick or treaters can't be compaired to food offered to idols.

Don't start quoting Matt. 18 at me. I'm aware of that. My particular disdain stems from experiences and such.

I didn't quote Matthew 18 at all. Please read what I actually wrote. You were the one who said that you disliked children. I merely asked if you really meant to say that.

 

[Calminian]

However, just as we should not eat the food pagans sacrifice, we should not accept the candy that is devoted to the evil one!!

1 Cor. 10:25-27 Eat anything that is sold in the meat market without asking questions for conscience’ sake; FOR THE EARTH IS THE LORD’S, AND ALL IT CONTAINS. If one of the unbelievers invites you and you want to go, eat anything that is set before you without asking questions for conscience’ sake.

I for one enjoy the candy that they sell at the stores.

However, I dislike the practice of costume wearing, the mind set on morbid things, the television programming, and especially children. So again, . I would like to let you all know I will not be participating in Halloween. EVER!!!

Well, let's face it, the occult is a big theme to halloween. Look at the TV programing, look at the halloween costumes, look at the costume shops. Generally speaking, the older the child the more likely they are to dress in occultic themes. Is there no limit to this? Is there no guidelines we as christian parents should implement?

 

[Freedom63]

Well, let's face it, the occult is a big theme to halloween. Look at the TV programing, look at the halloween costumes, look at the costume shops. Generally speaking, the older the child the more likely they are to dress in occultic themes. Is there no limit to this? Is there no guidelines we as christian parents should implement?

You should set whatever guidelines you believe to be appropriate for your family. And of course you should recognize that for others whose convictions do not match yours...their "guidelines" will be quite different.

 

[MasterpieceMesias]

so apparently because I like Imp and Gremlin masks kids shouldn't? They should just learn not to take it seriously, really. It's not like it was meant solely for devil-worship or whatever, its mostly for fun.

 

[Izzy23]

As a daughter of the Most High God, I personally feel, the celebration of Halloween is not something that I want to participate in. I know people go into it with a spirit of festiveness (I use to enjoy the holiday before I became a servant of Christ). However, we forget that we are fighting a spiritual battle. The enemy is very crafty and comes to us in a form of disguise. I hadn't watched a horror film in a very long time but found myself watching one this very evening. I watched the film all the way thru because it seemed harmless enough but I had a very ugly feeling after the movie was over. Please don't forget that what we watch and choose to celebrate physically, affects us spiritually. Possession is a very real thing and dabbling is very dangerous. The key word is discernment. Beware! Peace to all.

 

[Freedom63]

As a daughter of the Most High God, I personally feel, the celebration of Halloween is not something that I want to participate in. I know people go into it with a spirit of festiveness (I use to enjoy the holiday before I became a servant of Christ). However, we forget that we are fighting a spiritual battle. The enemy is very crafty and comes to us in a form of disguise. I hadn't watched a horror film in a very long time but found myself watching one this very evening. I watched the film all the way thru because it seemed harmless enough but I had a very ugly feeling after the movie was over. Please don't forget that what we watch and choose to celebrate physically, affects us spiritually. Possession is a very real thing and dabbling is very dangerous. The key word is discernment. Beware! Peace to all.

7 But not everyone possesses this knowledge. Some people are still so accustomed to idols that when they eat sacrificial food they think of it as having been sacrificed to a god, and since their conscience is weak, it is defiled. 8 But food does not bring us near to God; we are no worse if we do not eat, and no better if we do.
1 Corinthians 8:7-8

The same principle applies to Halloween. To the pure in heart all things are pure according to the Apostle Paul. Halloween for me is not about Satan because that is not in my heart, just like the meat offered to idols (what could be worse than actual worship of a false god) was simply not in Paul's heart so it presented no problem.

 

[Sageroots]

Okay, Halloween (reguardless of where it came from or whatever) is a day that mostly centers areound death,horror,and fear. Even if that is not what you do with it, that is what it is. God sent his son Yeshua to die on a cross and rise again and redeem us to free us from death and so that we sould not have to be afraid(not to mention all of the scriptures that tell us not to be a fraid), so why would we celebrate a day that centers on it? As far as simply modifying it or setting limits on it (like not letting your kids wear a witch costume or something), why would you take a day that is devoted to something that is so far from Father God's heart and participate in it,wholly(as some people do),or half way(as many others who are not totally comfortable with it do)?

 

[Amber the Duskbringer]

Easter bunny, norse yule log. Nuff said.

 

[Freedom63]

Okay, Halloween (reguardless of where it came from or whatever) is a day that mostly centers areound death,horror,and fear. Even if that is not what you do with it, that is what it is. God sent his son Yeshua to die on a cross and rise again and redeem us to free us from death and so that we sould not have to be afraid(not to mention all of the scriptures that tell us not to be a fraid), so why would we celebrate a day that centers on it? As far as simply modifying it or setting limits on it (like not letting your kids wear a witch costume or something), why would you take a day that is devoted to something that is so far from Father God's heart and participate in it,wholly(as some people do),or half way(as many others who are not totally comfortable with it do)?

What could be more offensive than the act of worshiping false idols? It is a direct violation of the greatest command for a Christian. Why would Paul want to have anything to do with anything associated with such a despicable act? And yet there it is in clear language in the bible. What Paul understood that so many today miss is...Who cares what the idol worshipers believe about the meat? To Paul it meant nothing. Because of this he could eat and enjoy with a clean conscience.

Fear of the unknown is present in all of us. But for the Christian we can rise above it and trust in Jesus our savior. To have a little fun with what for us is irrational fears is not worshiping Satan or inviting his demonic influence in our lives. I enjoy scary moves and laugh at them because for me they represent something as unimportant as the meat offered to idols. The fact that others take it all so seriously means no more to me than the fact the the idol worshipers were very sincere in their blasphemy.

 

[Sageroots]

What could be more offensive than the act of worshiping false idols? It is a direct violation of the greatest command for a Christian. Why would Paul want to have anything to do with anything associated with such a despicable act? And yet there it is in clear language in the bible. What Paul understood that so many today miss is...Who cares what the idol worshipers believe about the meat? To Paul it meant nothing. Because of this he could eat and enjoy with a clean conscience.

Fear of the unknown is present in all of us. But for the Christian we can rise above it and trust in Jesus our savior. To have a little fun with what for us is irrational fears is not worshiping Satan or inviting his demonic influence in our lives. I enjoy scary moves and laugh at them because for me they represent something as unimportant as the meat offered to idols. The fact that others take it all so seriously means no more to me than the fact the the idol worshipers were very sincere in their blasphemy.

What I said had nothing to do with eating meat offered to idols or even the concept. Eating meat is not like celebrating a day devoted to fear and death or like watching horror films which is meditating on death and fear (God tells us to guard our eyes and ears, what kinds of things did we think that applied to?). Trusting in Yeshua to keep us from fear is different than "having a little fun" celebrating a day that has everything to do with things God does not like. What we find to be "fun" has very little to do with what we should and should not do. We are told in the bible to fear not and watching something or participating in something that is supposed to make you afraid(which has more in common with the character of Satan) says that the heart is not like the heart of God and is in fact disobedience.

 

[JRSut1000]

The big problem I have with most holidays Americans celebrate is the pagan infiltration, but I'd have to say Halloween goes a step further because it actually revolves around the devil/demonic. There's no denying that. Here's the thing that I keep saying:

One cannot make what is unholy, holy. One cannot make something evil into something innocent. One can't make something God has called profane into something sacred or even allowable. God says in multiple places that we are not supposed to be like all the other nations, or like the world.

 

[Kirkwhisper]

The big problem I have with most holidays Americans celebrate is the pagan infiltration, but I'd have to say Halloween goes a step further because it actually revolves around the devil/demonic. There's no denying that. Here's the thing that I keep saying:

One cannot make what is unholy, holy. One cannot make something evil into something innocent. One can't make something God has called profane into something sacred or even allowable. God says in multiple places that we are not supposed to be like all the other nations, or like the world.

I agree. We don't celebrate halloween in our church. We have harvest parties. It's just as fun and wholesome for the whole family. No demonic/witch type stuff.

 

[Freedom63]

What I said had nothing to do with eating meat offered to idols or even the concept.

In this point it seems we must agree to disagree. This is ok...we each must act according to our convictions.

Eating meat is not like celebrating a day devoted to fear and death or like watching horror films which is meditating on death and fear (God tells us to guard our eyes and ears, what kinds of things did we think that applied to?). Trusting in Yeshua to keep us from fear is different than "having a little fun" celebrating a day that has everything to do with things God does not like. What we find to be "fun" has very little to do with what we should and should not do. We are told in the bible to fear not and watching something or participating in something that is supposed to make you afraid(which has more in common with the character of Satan) says that the heart is not like the heart of God and is in fact disobedience.

Then by all means follow your convictions on this matter. I find your paragraph above to be very much a lot of unneeded worry about nothing. Your convictions in the matter do indeed make such an act of disobedience for you. In my convictions I find freedom. And as such I follow Paul's advice to not allow my freedom's to be judged by another's conscience. You also follow Paul's advice by obeying your own conscience in the matter.

 

[Sageroots]

In this point it seems we must agree to disagree. This is ok...we each must act according to our convictions.



Then by all means follow your convictions on this matter. I find your paragraph above to be very much a lot of unneeded worry about nothing. Your convictions in the matter do indeed make such an act of disobedience for you. In my convictions I find freedom. And as such I follow Paul's advice to not allow my freedom's to be judged by another's conscience. You also follow Paul's advice by obeying your own conscience in the matter.

I can agree to disagree.

 

[Freedom63]

I can agree to disagree.

Wish that more Christians could understand the need to agree to disagree with this level of civility.

 

[MasterpieceMesias]

lol so apparently there's unanimous agreement that I'm wrong for being a horror nut?? It's called entertainment, it isn't like horror fans actually believe in that stuff or actually go out and do or replicate what they see. It's just for fun. It isn't for everybody, but I happen to enjoy movies like The Exorcist, Silence of the Lambs, Friday the 13th, Nightmare on Elm Street and The Shining. These are all classics, and I've already pointed out that website that has those horrid masks on them,
Pro Silicone Masks™ « Composite Effects | Custom Theatrical Props, Special Makeup Effects, Silicone Masks, Foam Latex Appliances, Mold Making & Casting, Animatronics, Model Sculpting
I like those masks because they look cool to me. Not because I actually dwell on those things, but it's just entertainment to me.

 

[Amber the Duskbringer]

lol so apparently there's unanimous agreement that I'm wrong for being a horror nut?? It's called entertainment, it isn't like horror fans actually believe in that stuff or actually go out and do or replicate what they see. It's just for fun. It isn't for everybody, but I happen to enjoy movies like The Exorcist, Silence of the Lambs, Friday the 13th, Nightmare on Elm Street and The Shining. These are all classics, and I've already pointed out that website that has those horrid masks on them,
Pro Silicone Masks™ « Composite Effects | Custom Theatrical Props, Special Makeup Effects, Silicone Masks, Foam Latex Appliances, Mold Making & Casting, Animatronics, Model Sculpting
I like those masks because they look cool to me. Not because I actually dwell on those things, but it's just entertainment to me.

Dude you are actually one of the cooler peeps here. Don't stress on what people think of you

 

[ViaCrucis]

I agree. We don't celebrate halloween in our church. We have harvest parties. It's just as fun and wholesome for the whole family. No demonic/witch type stuff.

The irony here is that "harvest parties" are definitively pagan. Hallowe'en, on the other hand, is the eve of a Christian feast day, All Saints Day, a remembrance of the lives of all our brothers and sisters in Christ who have gone before us.

A harvest festival, on the other hand, is precisely what the ancient Celtic Pagan celebration of Samhain was.

By all means, if you and your church wish to have a harvest festival instead of Hallowe'en/All Saints Day. That's fine, I'm not going to judge anyone on it. But understand that on a scale from 1 to 10, with 10 being most pagan, a "harvest festival" is at a near perfect 10, while Hallowe'en is closer to a 1. If one is comfortable with that, and one can do this in good conscience to the glory of God then it isn't anyone's place to judge.

-CryptoLutheran

 

[JRSut1000]

It depends what you mean by 'harvest' festival. I have to agree with you that most of the time, it still is pagan. Unless of course you mean the fall feasts of Yahweh (Yom Teruah, Sukkot, etc).

All Saints Day? Very iffy in my opinion!

 

[PaladinValer]

It depends what you mean by 'harvest' festival. I have to agree with you that most of the time, it still is pagan. Unless of course you mean the fall feasts of Yahweh (Yom Teruah, Sukkot, etc).

All of those days are off-limits to Christians as well.

All Saints Day? Very iffy in my opinion!

I find it amazing that certain Protestants think a day to recognize Christ's victory over death and a day to recognize those people who lived a Christ-like life (and thereby honoring Christ), particularly the martyrs and confessors, is "iffy."