View on Halloween

[Mayflower1]

Message Starts about 17 minutes in

What is your take on it? I am by no means judging. I used to wear a witch hat to church, but my family chooses not to participate now.

 

[MehGuy]

A goofy holiday.

My Christian upbringing, my father didn't like it.. but he'd still let me get candy and dress up as something as long as it wasn't "evil" looking. Like a football player or a construction worker.

 

[Tinker Grey]

A goofy holiday.

My Christian upbringing, my father didn't like it.. but he'd still let me get candy and dress up as something as long as it wasn't "evil" looking. Like a football player or a construction worker.

A football player in evil looking? j/k

 

[Sketcher]

I wouldn't wear a costume to church. I'm OK with certain costumes within certain boundaries, generally. I personally do not invest much money into costumes myself, either. Passing out candy to kids is fine.

The way I try to look at Halloween is the way that I gather that unbelievers look at Christmas. They like the decorations, and the gifts, and the family time and some of the music. But as a Christian, Christmas is so much more to me, it is a holy day and remembering and celebrating the Incarnation is the main event. That has spiritual significance. Unbelievers do not experience it the same way, they might poke their heads into a church service, and they enjoy what they enjoy, but they do not celebrate the holiday in its fullness.

I refuse to celebrate Halloween in its fullness. I will not poke my head into a celebration of it by or for those who are into or seek witchcraft. I will not experiment with witchcraft on that day, or ever. I won't celebrate witchcraft or rebellion against God with it. In short, I am missing the fullness of the holiday, and I am missing it on purpose because I belong to God.

 

[ViaCrucis]

Message Starts about 17 minutes in

What is your take on it? I am by no means judging. I used to wear a witch hat to church, but my family chooses not to participate now.

It's the first day in the Christian Triduum of Allhallowstide. Which consists of: All Saints Day Eve (aka All Hallow's Eve, Hallowe'en), the Feast of All Saints, and All Soul's Day.

For Lutherans October 31st is also Reformation Day, and since it is a Sunday, it is Reformation Sunday.

Halloween is simply part of historic Christian practice in the West, the eve before the Feast of All Saints.

All Saints used to be observed in May, (and it is still celebrated in May/June in the Eastern Churches), but in the West was moved to November 1st to commemorate the dedication of an Oratory in Rome which Pope Gregory III made, one of his successors, Gregory IV later made it official on the Western Calendar.

So Halloween is simply to All Saints Day what Christmas Eve is to Christmas.

-CryptoLutheran

 

[MehGuy]

A football player in evil looking? j/k

Actually.. might depend.. my father said he once saw Satan and it looked almost like the Minnesota Viking's logo guy..

Papa Murphy was banned in the house.. because my father said it was decadent. The reason being you got too much pizza for such a low price. The same with Satellite TV. Too much value for your money.. lol.

 

[Tinker Grey]

Actually.. might depend.. my father said he once saw Satan and it looked almost like the Minnesota Viking's logo guy..

Papa Murphy was banned in the house.. because my father said it was decadent. The reason being you got too much pizza for such a low price. The same with Satellite TV. Too much value for your money.. lol.

Sounds like you had an interesting upbringing ... you know, as in "may you live in interesting times".

 

[MehGuy]

Sounds like you had an interesting upbringing ... you know, as in "may you live in interesting times".

Yeah, it was somewhat different. Thankfully it was different than something like the Duggar family. While not sex positive in the modern sense, my father didn't seem to freak about about the female form. Contrary to being sheltered he wanted me to mingle with atheists and other non-religious people. In his mind sheltering was un-biblical. Since the people in the Bible were around non-believers all the time. I don't know.. my father had an interesting take on Christianity.

 

[Tinker Grey]

Yeah, it was somewhat different. Thankfully it was different than something like the Duggar family. While not sex positive in the modern sense, my father didn't seem to freak about about the female form. Contrary to being sheltered he wanted me to mingle with atheists and other non-religious people. In his mind sheltering was un-biblical. Since the people in the Bible were around non-believers all the time. I don't know.. my father had an interesting take on Christianity.

Sounds OK, then. I agree that "sheltering" leaves one unprepared for the real world.

I grew up in an independent fundamentalist baptist church before the modern crop made it worse. When I was very young the pastor had those ideas that seeing Disney's Jungle Book might cause people to stumble and go see Debbie Does Dallas.

As it was just me and my brother, I don't know how uptight my folks would have been about modesty and or differing expectations for females.

All in all, religious or not, I feel pretty lucky overall.

 

[RestoreTheJoy]

Message Starts about 17 minutes in

What is your take on it? I am by no means judging. I used to wear a witch hat to church, but my family chooses not to participate now.

Never participated. But the candy is half price the next day.

 

[Mayflower1]

Never participated. But the candy is half price the next day.

Thankful someone sees it like me. Though I admit it is my second year not participating, I have felt a lot better since giving it up. I just hadn't felt right about it. Had quite a few years conviction before deciding to pull out and now have a church to stand with.

I am appreciating everyone's input. I realize the video is long, I kinda skip over many long videos too. But this is a great message here. He was talking about how many former Satanists and Wiccans talk about how Halloween as their most sacred day of the year. Look up Samhain.

Samhain - Wikipedia

While I pray everyone who goes out stays safe, I feel like I was woke up about it.

Romans 12:1-2
3 John 1:11
1 Thessalonians 5:21-22
Deuteronomy 18:9-14
Ephesians 5:8-11
Acts 19:17-18
Romans 13:11-14
1 Peter 2:11-12
Hosea 4:6

 

[Mayflower1]

Acts 19:17-20
17 When this became known to the Jews and Greeks living in Ephesus, they were all seized with fear, and the name of the Lord Jesus was held in high honor. 18 Many of those who believed now came and openly confessed what they had done. 19 A number who had practiced sorcery brought their scrolls together and burned them publicly. When they calculated the value of the scrolls, the total came to fifty thousand drachmas. 20 In this way the word of the Lord spread widely and grew in power.

 

[Sketcher]

He was talking about how many former Satanists and Wiccans talk about how Halloween as their most sacred day of the year. Look up Samhain.

Samhain - Wikipedia

I know about Samhain. My view is also informed by a couple of believing friends who used to be into Satanism and witchcraft before they converted. As Christians, they were good with Halloween, with boundaries.

 

[Mayflower1]

I think aside from origins, I see people with devil horns and witch hats, things that for normal every day it would be wrong. But on Halloween, kids are encouraged to go to haunted houses for candy and many dress like monsters. I get evangelism and things. This is what I used to do. Just I want to stay away from doing things like the world does. Edit: I don't want my kids to be around that. I feel like in this case, to stay home is the better way. I am not slamming anyone who does, but I do believe it is an important discussion and something to think about. I never thought about it, just because I was always raised trick or treating, which has it's origins in Samhain. Just different things. Anyhow, said my peace.

Past churches I've been at have had haunted houses. I've been a witch and a dressed like a convict to be with the kids. Just... Yeh I look back and glad for where God has convicted my heart for a change. I believe these scriptures that we need to throw out anything tainted by evil as Christians and believe Halloween definitely is.

 

[Bradskii]

A football player in evil looking? j/k

The dangers of a dangling modifier.

 

[Clizby WampusCat]

Message Starts about 17 minutes in

What is your take on it? I am by no means judging. I used to wear a witch hat to church, but my family chooses not to participate now.

I have always liked Halloween but never really the scary stuff. When I was a Christian we celebrated Halloween with our friends with a party and going out to trick or treat. We never allowed any dark or scary stuff, it was mainly dressing up as princesses, super heroes , scooby doo and such and playing games. Now that I am a non believer I still don't like the creepy or dark stuff and don't allow my children to dress up as such but that is more of a personal opinion than anything. My wife and I dressed up as Ted and Garth this year.

 

[dogs4thewin]

I see NOTHING wrong with it. Now, I live with my mother due to my disability we choose not to really do anything except for the kids in our family ( my little cousins), but it is not that we have a problem with it is just that we do not do it because we live in a rural area and there are not a whole lot of kids of what should be trick or treating age.

 

[Bible Highlighter]

I think aside from origins, I see people with devil horns and witch hats, things that for normal every day it would be wrong. But on Halloween, kids are encouraged to go to haunted houses for candy and many dress like monsters. I get evangelism and things. This is what I used to do. Just I want to stay away from doing things like the world does. Edit: I don't want my kids to be around that. I feel like in this case, to stay home is the better way. I am not slamming anyone who does, but I do believe it is an important discussion and something to think about. I never thought about it, just because I was always raised trick or treating, which has it's origins in Samhain. Just different things. Anyhow, said my peace.

Past churches I've been at have had haunted houses. I've been a witch and a dressed like a convict to be with the kids. Just... Yeh I look back and glad for where God has convicted my heart for a change. I believe these scriptures that we need to throw out anything tainted by evil as Christians and believe Halloween definitely is.

I think Christians can evangelize and be holy and separate without having to involve themselves in a pagan worldly holiday (i.e. Halloween) that promotes the sin of witchcraft, murderers, mindless death, demons, etc.; I think Christians do not like to think about how God required witches to be put to death in the Old Testament. But it happened. Granted, in the New Testament, we are to love and do good towards our enemies, but the point here is that Halloween is a glorification of evil. Why would God be in favor us supporting a day where people glorify witches and evil? It’s silly. No offense to anyone here, but those Christians who do not see it are simply worldly focused and they are not seeking to pick up their cross, deny themselves as Jesus said ~ IMO. I know. I used to be in their shoes and think the same way. But at that time in my life, I would consider my focus to be concerned more about myself, and my pleasures, vs. truly seeking God and making Him happy in this life by my thoughts, and actions (According to His Word). In other words, they want Jesus their way, and not on God’s terms.

I don’t think Christians should even hand out candy or open their doors to give tracts on this day because it would be an acknowledgement to the practice of such a day itself (Which is a day of glorifying evil). This is a big one. Does the Lord want us to glorify evil and darkness and be a part of the world?

“Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.” (1 John 2:15-17).

Side Note:

Believers can give tracts or tell others about the gospel in other ways on that day that is not tied to the holiday. They can just give the tracts to a store clerk, or somebody in a store parking lot, etc.; They can love their neighbor in other ways without having to involve themselves in the holiday practice itself. But the draw of this world is strong. To break away from this world is difficult for many. For some, it is impossible, and thus they simply will never see what we are talking about here.

 

[dogs4thewin]

I think Christians can evangelize and be holy and separate without having to involve themselves in a pagan worldly holiday (i.e. Halloween) that promotes the sin of witchcraft, murderers, mindless death, demons, etc.; I think Christians do not like to think about how God required witches to be put to death in the Old Testament. But it happened. Granted, in the New Testament, we are to love and do good towards our enemies, but the point here is that Halloween is a glorification of evil. Why would God be in favor us supporting a day where people glorify witches and evil? It’s silly. No offense to anyone here, but those Christians who do not see it are simply worldly focused and they are not seeking to pick up their cross, deny themselves as Jesus said ~ IMO. I know. I used to be in their shoes and think the same way. But at that time in my life, I would consider my focus to be concerned more about myself, and my pleasures, vs. truly seeking God and making Him happy in this life by my thoughts, and actions (According to His Word). In other words, they want Jesus their way, and not on God’s terms.

I don’t think Christians should even hand out candy or open their doors to give tracts on this day because it would be an acknowledgement to the practice of such a day itself (Which is a day of glorifying evil). This is a big one. Does the Lord want us to glorify evil and darkness and be a part of the world?

“Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.” (1 John 2:15-17).

Side Note:

Believers can give tracts or tell others about the gospel in other ways on that day that is not tied to the holiday. They can just give the tracts to a store clerk, or somebody in a store parking lot, etc.; They can love their neighbor in other ways without having to involve themselves in the holiday practice itself. But the draw of this world is strong. To break away from this world is difficult for many. For some, it is impossible, and thus they simply will never see what we are talking about here.

It is not as if you have to dress up as something "evil". I find it funny that Christians claim that Halloween and yet most churches ( at least around here can't speak for every church in the country of country, but have fall carnivals and things and guess when they usually hit right around Halloween I find that funny the only difference is that it is usually considered to be a safer option in terms of giving out candy ( because most people are not going to put stuff in it and people are supposed to be less likely to hurt the children ( you know these people).

 

[dogs4thewin]

Thankful someone sees it like me. Though I admit it is my second year not participating, I have felt a lot better since giving it up. I just hadn't felt right about it. Had quite a few years conviction before deciding to pull out and now have a church to stand with.

I am appreciating everyone's input. I realize the video is long, I kinda skip over many long videos too. But this is a great message here. He was talking about how many former Satanists and Wiccans talk about how Halloween as their most sacred day of the year. Look up Samhain.

Samhain - Wikipedia

While I pray everyone who goes out stays safe, I feel like I was woke up about it.

Romans 12:1-2
3 John 1:11
1 Thessalonians 5:21-22
Deuteronomy 18:9-14
Ephesians 5:8-11
Acts 19:17-18
Romans 13:11-14
1 Peter 2:11-12
Hosea 4:6

I am not sure people would find devil's horns and witches wrong on other days odd maybe but there is a difference between wrong and "odd".