Google “Should Christians celebrate Halloween” and you’ll get
896 sites with 896 perspectives.
Here’s an 897th perspective based on how the Apostle Paul addressed an equally hot topic of his time.
Should Christians celebrate Halloween?
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October 24, 2005 at 17:49
Ok James! I read your article and I like it! However, I do prefer to avoid Halloween because of the current symbolism being used.
Nonetheless, I do get your point and I will avoid judging other Christians who choose to hang out on that night.
I usually turn kids away when they come by my house for candy but this year I plan to buy some candy with Christian messages. Why not use that night for some evangelism?
Regards,
Donnell Duncan
Founder and President
The Cracked Door
If the Door is Cracked, the Door is Open
October 24, 2005 at 18:34
Is that what Christians are doing – celebrating? Are lttle children being more caught than taught. Giving out candy treats to reward the poor little beggers in the neighborhood join in the trick of the evening. The trick is to not get caught up, but being a separate example by giving out the best gifts you can where the kids all know who is their favorite house to go to. Where they are treated warmly and entreated to praise and hugs for their costumes. You all know that Jesus set the example of the greatest Hallowed eve costume of all: God in an Earthsuit.
October 24, 2005 at 18:54
If someone(Christian or Pagan) offers me a piece of candy and says, “This candy is from Halloween.”, I’m going to take it and say,
“Thank you very much and it sure is tasty.”
(“Halloween: Two of the four high days (“sabbats”) of witchcraft (or more accurately, “wicca” or “Druidism”) are “Samhain” on Halloween and “Yule” on the night of the winter solstice. Samhain is the Celtic New Year celebration that honors the gods of the sun and death. It’s also the name of their god of the dead, who was thought to roam the earth with the dead.” James’ post)
But what I’m not going to do as a “Christian” is go door to door(participating) and saying, “Trick or Treat.”...
( “Trick or treat: The souls of the dead thought to be roaming around outside were also thought to be very hungry, so food was offered to avoid being tricked or cursed by Samhain.” James’ post)
...while wearing a “costume” or dressing my kids(God’s blessings) in a “costume” during the pagan festival…
(“Costumes: Costumed villagers, representing the souls of the dead, paraded out of town to lead the hungry ghosts away.” James’ post)
...because to me… that is more than eating (candy/food) sacrificed to idols by pagans,
it is flat out enjoying the sacrificing while dressing up yourself or your children like them and speaking like them.
October 24, 2005 at 19:00
I agree that we should use the night for some evangelism and fellowship. Instead of locking ourselves indoors, why not attend a church harvest festival? Many Christian stores now offer Halloween/Autumn-related candy and other treats to hand out. Satan would love to have that day to himself. Let’s not give it to him.
October 24, 2005 at 19:24
Satan wouldn’t want the day/evening all to himself! He would just “love” to have “Christians” running around doing the “same thing” as his “blinded”, so the lines of differences would be blurred, if even just for the evening.
(Monica, I’m not saying you are advocating that,
I’m just adding to your post)
October 24, 2005 at 20:19
No matter where Halloween started, it is not Samhain today, just as Christmas is not saturnalia. Children love a day when they can dress up. My son came to school one year as Prince Caspian from the Narnia Chronicles. Another year he was a land shark. We have hilarious snapshots of the kids from over the years dressed as robots, mummys, you name it. It’s the one time of the year where every parent in our neighborhood is out walking the neighborhood streets with their children and talking with other neighbors…it’s a very family oriented thing. Plus you get to see all the neighbor children and they’re so eager to show you their costumes. We love carving pumpkins, everyone in the family has to carve one. And we always roast the pumpkin seeds.
I would hate to be viewed as the one religous curmudgeon, the cranky old religous guy or Ned Flanders, the Simpsons next door neighbor, handing out religous tracts instead of treats. That’s not a witness, that’s a legalistic grump. I don’t mean to be too critical here, these are more feelings than reasoned arguments.
However, I do agree with the Pauline paraphrase, “Don’t worry about the ancient association of these holidays with paganism since we know there are no gods of sun and death, and that the dead don’t roam the earth. You’re not appeasing Samhain when you go “trick-or-treating” or sacrificing to the gods by carving a jack-o-lantern. But if your family or friends have reservations about these things, don’t encourage them to do something they feel is “sinful.”
October 24, 2005 at 20:52
Thanks Brent. That is a good point.
From my own experience, whenever a neighbor passed out reese’s cups or m&m’s with Bible verses on them or a 23 Psalm bookmark attached, I never thought of them as a religous curmudgeon. We thought it was nice, even before we could read the verses or understand them for ourselves. We thought of it was an extra treet that someone took time out for. Lots of people bought and passed out candy from the store, but those people added something special. We would direct other trick or treaters to those houses because they gave out more than just candy.
October 24, 2005 at 21:18
Good posts Brent and Monica! I agree with them totally. I don’t celebrate Halloween as I’ve mentioned in a very similar post last week. However, for those that do…I just wanted to add to what Brent and Monica said and that’s that Halloween is one day out of the year where not only do kids and parents roam the streets trick or treating…but so do rapists, sodomizers, and child molesters. On top of that, Satanists, Wiccans, “Pagans” revere it as their “Holy Day” to this day. So…I think…with that in mind…it is wrong for Christians to celebrate such an evil day…however…if some people do not have the same conviction….that’s fine…they’re definitely not going to hell just b/c they celebrate Halloween, lol! I just think it’s wrong because that has been mine and my family’s personal conviction all my life. God bless!
October 24, 2005 at 22:06
“that Halloween is one day out of the year where not only do kids and parents roam the streets trick or treating…but so do rapists, sodomizers, and child molesters.
Alan, hate to burst your bubble but its not as if there people appear out of no where, if they are around on halloween there are around at other times as well. Could you please avoid such rash generalizations? Its not as though rapists suddenly appear on Oct 31st and then go back into hiding the rest of the year. If these people are in your community, then they are in your community, not just for this one day.
Personally, I find strong resonances with Paul’s direction on eating meat, if it causes you to stumble then fine, I will not lead my kids around, but otherwise I worship no spirits, I encant no devil, instead I wander around as the parent of a child dressed up as a dinosaur.
Also, I also find other events(harvest days, reformation day) fitting depenind upon the scenario. In some city location I don’t want kids running anytime during the night, and therefor a safe alternative is advisable.
Let them eat candy… Additionally, how about are there any latinos/lantinas who celebrate “el dia de los muertos” (The day of the dead) which has specific christian overtones in contrast to America’s halloween.
October 24, 2005 at 22:29
Followers of Jesus need to witness to people at every oppertunity. I’ll pass out tracts along with candy this halloween. I will also make every neighbor a friend by joyfully celebreting each. My motto- Love them all and let God sort them out. Peace, Russ Anderson
October 24, 2005 at 23:48
Here goes the 898th perspective. Three points:
First, I disagree that the Romans passage (14:1-15:13) applies to Halloween. Paul is addressing the issue of legalism vs. freedom among Christians who held differning views on God’s requirements for being righteous. He exhorts those who are mature in faith (mostly Gentile converts, whose conscience is free concerning the Law) not to judge those who are weak in faith (mostly Jewish converts, whose conscience is still bound by the Law). He also instructs the mature to exercise restraint in love for the benefit of those weak believers, but not to doubt their own convictions or condemn themselves. Although you might be able to draw out some indirect principles, none of this passage really applies directly to Halloween.
Second, I would suggest (as I did last week), that the better passage by Paul that applies directly to Halloween is Ephesians 5:6-13 (or, 6-21). There Paul argues that as “children of light” we should have nothing to do with the “unfruitful deeds of darkness,” and not even “speak of the things which are done by [those in darkness] in secret.” Our testimony as believers, who have been delivered from darkness, is to be “light in the Lord.” I would suggest that any association with or tacit approval of the occultic and evil aspects of Halloween, even in “fun,” greatly diminishes our light for the unbelieving world. The real issue of Halloween is our testimony.
Third, rather than ignore it, I think Christians should let their light shine all the more at Halloween, so their light overcomes the darkness. What better night for churches to open wide their doors, and turn the lights on, than this dark night? This is an opportunity to “redeem” Halloween from its enslavement to the occult, and set it free to set others free. We had a “Light the Night” celebration in one church where I ministered, complete with game booths, mazes, movies, hay ride, and more, and much better candy than you could get going to strangers’ houses. And there are many other ways to overcome the Halloween darkness. It’s about so much more than costumes, pumpkins and candy.
Paul exhorts us in Romans 12:2 to “not be conformed to this world.” The picture is that we are not to let our minds be etched (like a schematic drawing) by the prevailing beliefs of our times. Instead, our minds are to be “transformed” (literally, morphed) by truth, so we can “prove” (be a testimony of) God’s “good and acceptable and perfect” will. Whatever we choose to do on the evening of October 31, let it be a testimony of God’s righteousness and reality, “for the fruit of the Light consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth” (Eph. 5:9).
October 25, 2005 at 00:41
So Gabe, I trust you will not have that Christmas tree out this Christmas (saturnalia) or be exchanging gifts. Not to mention easter eggs this spring.
I think passing out tracts WITH candy is a great idea. Let’s take back the calendar and celebrate All Saints Day.
October 25, 2005 at 02:39
I chose to take my children Trick-or-Treating around the neighborhood. Far too often Christians get bogged down and ONLY spend time with other Christians. Halloween is a PERFECT opportunity to walk around your block and actually talk to your neighbors. Remember above all else we are commanded to show love to our neighbors, and not judge them. You nay-sayers give it a try, you might like how it turns out.
October 25, 2005 at 05:24
Well Said Gabe!
and Rick I won’t be having a christmas tree out this Christmas as I have since the time I believed in the One True God who delivered me from all things.
The perfect opportunity is given when they ask you “Why do you not Go trick or treating?” Then you share your genuine faith and Testimony of how God delivered you from all these things. Of how you are whole again and how your Hope is in heaven. We are not citizens of this earth, our citizenship is in heaven. Why risk losing God’s grace just so you can walk around dressed like an “anything”! God is love but He is also Consuming fire. Let us not think that we can water down His Fire by claiming His love for our selves alone. The Fear of God is the beggining of wisdom.
He who loves me keeps my commandments for the rest of my opinion read Gabe’s post 11, with whom I agree completely.
October 25, 2005 at 08:00
Rick Dalbey:
I don’t believe anything I said suggests that I was trying to create some kind of “Christian law” regarding Halloween. My point was simply that: 1) the bigger issue concerning Halloween because of its dark and occultic associations is our testimony as believers, and 2) rather than simply condemn all of it out-of-hand, the church should redeem the night. Individual Christians can do that, too. I only wanted to encourage Christians to consider alternatives to this dark day because, as Paul says, we should be known as “children of Light” and “light in the Lord.”
Halloween is quite different from Christmas and Easter because there is no longer any connection with the pagan holidays behind them. They have been redeemed, although they have also been commercialized. We have a Christmas tree each year, but we have never done “Santa,” even when our children were young. Halloween, on the other hand, is still closely associated with occultic activity—witches, occult, evil, death and all the other “dark” themes. It is considered by Satanists a “holy-day.” Pumpkin carving and candy are not the real issues.
Your post was not a thoughtful response. I hope you will give it more serious consideration.
October 25, 2005 at 09:41
There is an important Truth from Bible that states,
He is not God of the Dead, but of the Living
(Luke 20:38)
We as children of the Light know what is Righteous and Proper. I did that when I was much younger, but do not think it is correct to teach children that today. It is a Pagan Holiday of the “Heathen”
October 25, 2005 at 09:54
I’m sure there would have been plenty of “God’s chosen people” who would condone “dancing around” the “Golden Calf”.
Many people I’m sure said, “I’m not really worshiping the Golden Calf, after all I know it isn’t “really” a god, but I’m just enjoying the dancing and fellowship with neighbors and friends. My kids are having a good time and what am I going to tell them when all their friends ask why we are such a (“religous curmudgeon, the cranky old religious guy or Ned Flanders, the Simpsons next door neighbor, handing out religious tracts instead of treats. That’s not a witness, that’s a legalistic grump.” Rick’s words)
What would we say?
Here is why (your words, Rick) many are always going to dance around the “Golden Calf” of any festival:
“I would hate to be viewed as…”(Rick’s words)
There it is, being looked at as “different” and probably “negative”, “old fashioned”, “legalistic”.
I’m not concerned one bit what anyone says or thinks about me, unless it would be soiling God’s redemtion of me from the rest of the world.
Eve agreed with the “paraphrase” because of the same reason,”...it was good for food…and pleasant to the eye…”
Here is what some might see us as, if we aren’t at the “party”:
A “Chaste Virgin” that Paul wanted us to be espoused to one Husband, as I’m sure many will call that “old fashioned” or “prude” or “no fun at the party”.
“Have a drink honey…and have some real fun with us, after all where is His coming?”
October 25, 2005 at 10:28
Rose,
Here is another,
Proverbs 8:36
“But he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul: all they that hate me love death.”
I don’t find it ironic that “Halloween” is all about “death” and those who by thier actions,
“love death”.
IE; Skulls, bones, grave stones, graves, tombs ghost, spirits, murdered, blood, vampires, goblins, spells and on and on and on…
The only “good” in it is the “candy”. Are we so easily lured? A piece of candy?
“We like to be deceived.” – Pascal
October 25, 2005 at 10:47
Good point, Brent. I don’t think we realize how easily we slip into thinking like the world thinks, because we think our message will be more accepted if we become like them. It’s just not true. Paul warned us in Romans 12:2 not to be “conformed to the world.” I think many Christians think that just means not smoking, drinking, or going to R-rated movies. But the idea behind the word “conformed” means that our thinking becomes “patterned” after the world’s way of thinking, as though our neural pathways were lines in a schematic drawing. And it’s not about the “world system,” or a secular lifestyle, but about the thinking of our “times” (Paul uses aion for “world,” which means an age or time, rather than the more common word for the “world system”). In other words, Paul says we are not to let our thinking become patterend after the prevailing beliefs of the times in which we live. “It’s all just make-believe occult…nobody really believes in witches and demons and all that any more. Since no one else takes it seriously, why should I as a Christian deprive my kids of all the fun?” Satan would love for us to start thinking like that, but then nobody believes in Satan anymore, so…
October 25, 2005 at 11:42
Gabe,
I appreciate your biblical position on this matter.
I would like exhort everyone to re-read Gabes post
#11 for a biblical understanding, rather than just hearing my pleads from a “common sense” manner.
Amen (so be it) Gabe.
October 25, 2005 at 12:08
Here is what Peter has to say about pagan “choices”.
1 Peter 4:3-5
“For you have spent enough time in the past doing what pagans choose to do—living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing and detestable idolatry. They think it strange that you do not plunge with them into the same flood of dissipation, and they heap abuse on you. But they will have to give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.
Dissipation: Diversion,Amusement
The writers of the anti-Godliness show “The Simpsons”, “think it strange the neighbor doesn’t plunge with them into the same “flood of diversion and amusement” , but instead hands out tracts.”
Who do you want to be associated with, the ones with tracts or the ones who “think it strange”?
October 25, 2005 at 12:48
People will only think you strange the first time you do something. After that, they’ll get used to it.
October 25, 2005 at 14:12
Ahh. I know what the problem is Gabe. The author of the article is quoting 1st Corinthians 8, not Romans. I don’t know why you are suggesting my response was not “thoughtful”.
Paul is responding here to a situation much like Halloween. Most meat in Corinth was sold in shops where it was first offered to demonic Greek and Roman Gods. Christians wanted to know if they could eat something that had been offered to a foreign god (or fallen angel on earth…lord or gods). Here is his response:
“So then, about eating food sacrificed to idols: We know that an idol is nothing at all in the world and that there is no God but one. For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as indeed there are many “gods” and many “lords”), yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we live; and there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we live. But not everyone knows this. Some people are still so accustomed to idols that when they eat such food they think of it as having been sacrificed to an idol, and since their conscience is weak, it is defiled. But food does not bring us near to God; we are no worse if we do not eat, and no better if we do”.
Gabe suggests that Christmas (Historically the 25th was saturnalia, a celebration of several Roman god’s births and was also called yule and celebrated by wiccans even today in my town) and Easter have been redeemed enough from their pagan past whereas halloween has not yet. The word Easter comes from “Eostre,” the Teutonic goddess of spring who was thought to bring fertility to the earth. “Eastre” was worshipped by the Anglo-Saxons through her earthly symbol, the rabbit – thus, the Easter bunny. From the earliest times and cultures, the egg was a symbol of rebirth. So, the custom of exchanging eggs in the springtime was centuries old when Easter was first celebrated by Christians as the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
In the eighth century Pope Gregory II moved the church festival honoring martyrs of “All Saints” to November 1 as a Christian alternative to the Celtic New Year celebrations. “All Hallow’s Eve” or “Halloween” means the “evening of holy persons” and was to be used in spiritual preparation for All Saints Day.
So I say, lets take back the day. I never alowed my kids to dress up as witches, they were always robots, sharks, hobos. We used the time to talk to neighbors as the kids collected candy. I think it’s a fine idea to hand out tracts WITH candy (not instead). If you still have a problem with the trappings of Halloween, fine, provide an alternative for your children. The paralells with Paul’s address in Romans 8 are uncanny. I am also agreeing with the original author of this blog topic. So please, don’t suggest I am being unthoughtful.
October 25, 2005 at 14:32
Sorry. One other comment I want to make. When I referred to the religous curmudgeon, the cranky old religious guy or Ned Flanders, the Simpsons next door neighbor, handing out religious tracts instead of treats I was probably being too harsh. I aplolgize to those of you that feel that way.
The key word was tracts INSTEAD of treats. I think it’s great to hand them out WITH treats.
I have been a spirit filled Christian for 34 years and have NEVER been afraid of appearing foolish or strange for the gospel. I have handed out tracts in downtown streets countless times. I have manned a booth during Rose festival that asked “Are you going to heaven or hell?”, I’ve lost many non-christian friends and won many others to the Lord. So my stance on not wanting to be the one neighbor who refuses to hand candy to the neighbor kids has nothing to do with not appearing foolish. It has everything to do with winning them to Jesus. I’m with Donnel and Kelly on this one.
October 25, 2005 at 14:40
I’m dressing up like a Trappist Monk for halloween this year. A Catholic monk who brews beer! That’s my kind of costume.
Seriously though, I grew up as a fundamentalist, going as far as to sit outside the classroom with the Jehovah’s Witnesses whenever they had halloween parties at school. We would turn off all of our lights on halloween night and pretend we weren’t home so no one would ask us for candy. The weird thing was that we still celebrated Christmas and Easter with trees and eggs…which I loved to point out to everyone because it drove them nuts. Christmas trees and Easter Bunnies are “nice.” Halloween stuff is not “nice.” Luckily my parents led us to a different church before I was old enough to really rebel against all that.
October 25, 2005 at 15:07
Rick Dalbey: You’re right. I recant. Not sure how I got derailed to Romans 14, but I stand by my comments nonetheless and would say they apply in kind to 1 Corinthians 8. My point, despite its dulling by my mistake, is still that the issue is testimony, not the trappings (on which, if we had time, we might actually find points of agreement). And I’m sorry, but the sarcasm in your earlier post was not a “thoughtful response,” so of that I don’t recant (although I probably didn’t need to say anything). However, your last post is quite thoughtful, so you redeemed yourself.
I don’t think I’m very good at this, so I think I’m going to retire now. It’s been instructional and fun, but this is taking far too much time from my ministry, and I’m reduced to sneaking in blog posts when my wife isn’t looking. Good blogging and God bless.
October 25, 2005 at 16:32
Joshwall,
About my comment about rapists on Halloween…I was not implying that they ONLY come out on THAT night or anything…of course they prowl around everyday and every night, unfortunately. However, on Halloween, it would be very, very, very, very unwise, illogical, and extremely ignorant and naive to think that they are not more of a threat at time of the year. It is not a “rash generalisation.” Considering the multitudes of children have disappeared by being kidnapped, raped, and/or killed that are of this year alone…and on normal days at that…how much more careful are we to be on Halloween!? In fact, around here where I live, Halloween “trick-or-treating” isn’t even that big anymore. It still is big in the suburbs and rural areas…but…not so much as before when I was younger because…and ONLY because of the ongoing threat of rapists and child molesters! So…my comments were far from being “off.” Also…I’m Puerto Rican…100%! I was born there and everything! So…I know about “El Dia de los Muertos” and let me tell you something…there are NO Christian overtones at all. It is a very evil holiday…probably more so than our “American Halloween.”
October 25, 2005 at 18:36
Alan,
If this is not too off topic, how do Christians respond to El Dia de los Meurtos? Do some of them try to redeem it? I don’t know much about the history of the day and I’ve only heard of it spanish class back in school.
October 25, 2005 at 19:15
We , as a church go out in the street that night with one of our church member dresses in a parade costume outfit with a cross inside a heart and hands out well packed zip lock bags full of goodies plus christian cds, tracks, colouring books(Christian of course) nothing cheap….we have a group praying back at the church, covering this outreach. We have been welcomed out there, last year we had someone drive slowly beside us with praise and worship music playing! You’ve got to have creative evangelism!
October 25, 2005 at 21:38
Jojo,
I like your post and what your church members do. That’s awesome! That should become a national practice among Christians!
Monica,
El dia de los muertos is mainly celebrated in Mexico. Puerto Rico has its own version of it which is more like a spooky version of Mardi Gras…and you know that that’s not a good thing. However, I am extremely well versed in Latin and Puerto Rican history, culture, and language. I not only speak Castilian Spanish fluently, but I also speak some Galician and am decently proficient in Portuguese. Anywho…”The day of the Dead” in Mexico is not celebrated by the Evangelical Christians. The only “Christians” that do celebrate it are the native Catholics of the region which tend to mix Catholic Christianity with indigenous superstition. So…my answer to that…knowing quite a few Mexican Christians…no one tries to “redeem” it there because it is a pagan holiday with not TRUE Christian overtones. I hope that helps. God bless!
October 25, 2005 at 22:10
Alan,
I know several christians (catholics and non-catholics) mexican and those with vague mexican roots that do attempt to redeem it. Not to dispute that its not celebrated by non-christians as well, but I’ve been to several dia del los muertos services, specifically for remembering the dead, our fellow saints who have passed away. So, I’m not objecting to your comment on who else celebrates it, (I can only imagine what a service would be like in secular Mexico) but I’ve met a number of communities that celebrate specifically as Christians.
Additionally, the reason I dubbed your earlier comment a rash generalization was because of something we both agree on. Since rapists and molesters permeate our society to imply, a statement which says this is the one day out of the year that parents and children will come in contact with them seems to imply that they aren’t there the rest of the time. You write,
“that Halloween is one day out of the year where not only do kids and parents roam the streets trick or treating…but so do rapists, sodomizers, and child molesters”
See why I found it… vague and aggressive? While it is true that halloween is the only day that you find parents and children roaming the streets trick or treating with rapists and molesters, the rest of the year they roam the streets going for a walk, taking a jog, walking the dog, buying groceries, playing outside, going to a park, etc… See my point?
I was pretty sure I knew what you meant (that you feel there is a greater threat because of the day) but that’s not what you wrote, and based upon that I dubbed it a rash generalization. I don’t mean to pick a fight, and hope I don’t come across that way. I just wanted to explain why I called you argument what I did.
October 25, 2005 at 22:14
Alan,
My apologizes. I spoke out of ignorance about dia de los muetros, when I said it had specific Xn overtones(my first post), My bad there. Hope all is well.
October 25, 2005 at 22:25
I think Christian families should not celebrate or mark Halloween.
I live in Singapore and we never heard of Halloween when we were growing up. Increasingly though, young Singaporeans are “celebrating” it.
Grotesque masks are being sold – even in our local supermarkets.
From what I have observed, there is nothing Christian about the way people mark Halloween – it’s more like a time for partying.
So what I am saying is that Halloween today, despite its religious roots, has more to do with money and having fun.
I guess the same could be said for Christmas and to some extent, Easter.
Perhaps we must re-appraise the way we mark significant dates; and for Christians – I think only Christmas, Good Friday and Easter Sunday are the key dates. I think the birth, death and resurrection of the Lord are best observed with prayer.
October 26, 2005 at 10:51
Realizing this is somewhat off the main topic, I thought I would reply to the rapists, child molesters etc. thread. While I’m not aware of any specific statistics that would suggest that child predators are on the prowl more on Halloween than on any other evening, it would be nonsensical and negligent for any parent to allow their child to roam the streets after dark by themselves for any reason at any time of year. Intelligent, thinking parents, christian and nonchristian alike, who choose to partake of the trick or treating, accompany their children on their rounds to ensure (as much as humanly possible) that those who might wish to harm their children are not presented with an open opportunity.
October 26, 2005 at 11:50
I agree with the general sense of this that is to avoid what the celebration is about. So my church has decided to celebrate a harvest time. We open the church to any one that is willing to come in. We do games, face painting and have a general good time fellow shipping in the comfort of God’s house. I feel that way our children won’t feel “left out” but don’t participate with the rest of the world either.
God bless all
Troy
October 26, 2005 at 13:28
Thanks Alan. I’m always curious about how Christians in other parts of the world feel about issues. We sometimes get stuck in an American Christian mindset and forget about our brothers and sisters around the world.
October 26, 2005 at 13:48
No problem, Monica! As for you, Joshwall…I didn’t take anything you said in any sort of aggressive way. In fact, regardless of whether I agree or disagree with anything you say…you always say it with grace and a peaceful attitude. Others, like myself, can and do get mad at some comments you say or have said…but…they would be getting mad at the comments…not at you because you’re probably the nicest guy on this site, lol! God bless!
October 27, 2005 at 17:07
I LOVE Halloween! As a child, I loved getting into a costume and collecting lots of candy. As I grew too old for that, I loved carving original and intricate faces on pumpkins, and lighting candles inside them. I love the color, the esthetics, the cool autumn air, the winds, the dry cornstalks in the fields, the trees silhouetted against the setting sun! I love the history, back through the 19th century, the middle ages, the Celts. I know that the Celts did not have pumpkins—these were a North American addition to the holiday. A very austere Orthodox Jewish position could be worked out to denounce Halloween as idolatry, along the lines of “the sacred groves” and worshipping at Beth-El. But I don’t find that necessary.
I have never thought of Halloween as worship, and I have loved Halloween through various parts of my life, raised Christian, experimenting with atheism, agnosticism and paganism, then back through Isaiah and Amos and Micah to Matthew… There is nothing about Halloween that serves as a distraction or offense to Christian faith.
What does upset me is the modern ghoulishness and commercial exploitation that only the modern book publishing industry and Hollywood could come up with. Freddy Kreuger, Silence of the Lambs, Pet Cemetery, are not what Halloween is about.
October 27, 2005 at 20:31
Ummm…yes it is Siarlys!
October 27, 2005 at 20:31
I would hope that you would use this creativity to emphasize the Feast Days of the Lord which are found in Leviticus 23:1-36 and encourage people to Live by every word of God (Matthew 4:4). You have done a very good Job presenting your point but not to a disciple of God.
The bible states clearly in the 2nd commandment found in Exodus 20:4-6 that the Lord thy God am a Jealous God…Also, as it is written in James 4:5, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy?
If you desire to use all of God’s word as instructed in II Timothy 3:16-17 you can join me in reviewing the children of Israel’s behavior in I Kings 12:32 as King Jeroboam changed or should we say added a day of acknowledgement as you are doing with halloween! You will notice in II Kings 17:21-22 King Jeroboam was identified as making Israel sin a great sin. Please dont continue with this behavior.
Don’t be conformed to this world (Romans 12:2), Understand that this is Satan’s World and you are being deceived (II Corinthians 4:3-6 & Revelation 12:9)and please understand that this friendly enjoyment with the world as a harmless time for the kids is indeed a snare established by the master liar to turn you away from the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob (James 4:4).
My pray for all who reads this response is that you might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; that you might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God (Colossians 1:9-10)
October 27, 2005 at 22:14
Will,
That was well said and very gentle. Amen.
What will be sad is, the ones who think there is “nothing wrong with a little bit of fun and candy”
(no matter how wicked the whole thing is) will not even be convicted that they are “no different” than the ones who seem to not know any better. All the while, they justify thier posistion from a “worldly” perspective rather than a Godly or scriptural understanding. One is almost unlearned and the other is desperate for “fun” at any expense, even when they know the details of the history behind this demonic teaching and celebration.
October 28, 2005 at 00:24
The only things that I can think of with this subject is that God tells us friendship with the world is hostility toward God, and that we are to come out from among them and be seperate!
Up til last year I was a very worldly believer. I celebrated all the pagan holidays and now I have no interest in them like I use to. But I have taught my kids to enjoy those things and am finding they are resisting me when I tell them we need to give some of these things up!
October 28, 2005 at 10:18
When are we going to start drawing a line between Holy and UnHoly, Righteous and UnRighteous? Where is the definitive line to be drawn by Christians showing the difference between Saved and Unsaved? How is the Unsaved going to be able to tell the difference between Saved and UnSaved? What hope for salvation are we giving the world when we act just like them? I see Jesus in the Bible turning water into wine and eating with ‘sinners’...however I do NOT see Jesus participating in the pagan festivals of the Roman Empire of which there were many.
October 28, 2005 at 13:47
Interesting.
As usual, there seems to have been a skirting over these particular issues:
1. Necromancy
2. The sacrifices were of human beings, children and such. I guess this particular spirit is what allowed folks to look at a dead woman hanging from a tree was a halloween decoration.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20051027/ap_on_re_us/brf_woman_hanged_3
3. The demonic aspects of halloween remain because that is the spirit of the horrorday.
But, go ahead and do what you want.
I mean, it is better to err on the side of righteousness in CHRIST JESUS, right?
We have syncretized Christianity so much that the unbeliever holds the NAME of the LORD in contempt.
But that’s just me, I guess.
October 28, 2005 at 13:48
“You’re not appeasing Samhain when you go “trick-or-treating” or sacrificing to the gods by carving a jack-o-lantern.” The question then, is what are you doing? The pagan symbolism of the traditions of halloween has not been replaced by Christian symbolism, as in Christmas, where the star on top of the Christmas tree, the nativity scene, etc. have changed the meaning of the evergreen tree, and the reason for giving gifts. The very phrase “trick or treat” is an example of how the meaning of the holiday has not changed. It’s just been obscured. The original customs that governed the Christmas holiday in the past have long since been abandoned, while witches and satan worshipers still choose halloween as the time for special satanic rituals. If, as Christians, we want to redeem halloween, we first need to change the customs. Otherwise, we’re doing nothing but joining in practices which have their origin and find their meaning in things definitely not of God, and the “holiday” of halloween will remain a definitely less than holy day.
October 28, 2005 at 13:52
ha. I just read Gabe’s post. basically, I’m just saying I completely agree with it.
October 28, 2005 at 13:55
Some things cannot be redeemed.
satan is a good example of that.
I’d like to see Christians who are determined to live out their lives in holiness instead of allowing their ‘fleshly desires’ to dictate how they should respond.
October 28, 2005 at 14:03
Well then…why don’t we as Christian celebrate Ramadan!? I mean…if it’s okay to celebrate Halloween, a very pagan and satanic day held in sanctity by satanists, why don’t we also celebrate the holidays of other false religions!? I mean…it’s all fun and games, no? Lets just go out and redeem everything, eh? The point I’m trying to make is simply that we can’t, as Christians, go and participate in evil just because it’s fun. I know it’s going to hurt. I know people are going to criticize you and call you “holy rollers” and “bigots” and “narrow minded” and even worse, your kids might resist you and want to rebel against you…but who cares!?!? Aren’t we supposed to please Christ first and foremost? For Christ said that we would be persecuted for His sake and that people were and are and do hate us! So…simply put…Halloween should not be celebrated. Some alternatives are okay if they don’t consist of dressing up and are geared more towards the Christian history around this time (All Saints Day, 95 Theses, etc.). If people have a problem receiving what I and many others are saying…pray to God to let His Holy Spirit guide you into what He wants you to do…not what your passions and desires for fun and candy want you to do. God bless!
October 28, 2005 at 14:03
true, some things can not be redeemed. I don’t know if halloween is one of those things, but I think if someone wanted to redeem it, that would be the way to try. Personally, I simply prefer to steer completely clear of anything that smacks of the occult. My family always stayed in and watched rented movies on halloween. I do like the idea of passing out tracts, though. whether or not the holiday can be redeemed, at least that way some people can be reached.
October 28, 2005 at 14:24
Well I’m trying to switch my teens into more Godly choices for themselves. I want them to choose to give up the pagan Holidays since they are at an age that God will start holding them accountable.
This eveneing I will be showing them the movie M10:28 which is a more true to life scary story. Has anyone seen it? I know kids love scary stuff, but let’s keep it more real. The only thing we want to fear is God.
Matthew 10:28
Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.
October 28, 2005 at 14:46
I always believe that Halloween is never a good day to celebrate for what it stands for,But i believe we should use this day as an oppertunity to educate & bring awareness to our Christian members on what Halloween represents and that we as a church would provide a subtitute for this night for our kids & young people by showing a movie that speakes on this very issue or have a carnival outlet where they can have some fun for that evening.And if there are those who don’t want to participate in either or, that’s ok too.
October 29, 2005 at 14:22
Well, I certainly have a very different view of Christian faith than just about anyone posted here. I kind of think that most Christians who celebrate Halloween are not bothering to discuss the subject. It must be a rather small number who really get wrapped up in this.
JESUS did not say “I am a jealous God.” Nor did he say that his father is a jealous God. He introduced a novel, unprecedented perspective. He addressed this incredibly, incomprehensibly, omipotent being as “my father” and taught his disciples to do the same. He said that on two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.
So, frankly, as long as I can observe Halloween without violating either of those commandments, I have no problem with it. IF I put some nebulous pagan deity above the one God, then it is a problem. Carving a face on a pumpkin does not do that, UNLESS I worship the result. I don’t. I just admire how beautiful it looks. (Ref. C.S. Lewis in The Screwtape Letters, that God would like a human to design a beautiful cathedral and be no more or less pleased with it than it anyone else had done the same).
King Jeroboam’s great sin was that he set up an idol and called upon his people to worship this idol, because his rival, Solomon’s son, held political control over Jerusalem, where the Temple was. He didn’t want his subjects going to worship in enemy territory. Jesus taught us that we do not need to associate God with a physical or geographic place.
It would also be a problem if I indulged in unabashed HATRED of my neighbor, in the name of this holiday. I don’t do that either. I think.
My sense of Halloween is filtered through childhood in a medium small midwestern city, common rural traditions of the 19th century in North America, and appreciation of, but not worship of, the world called into being for us by the creator. The movies I disparaged, which Alan insists ARE what Halloween is all about, are late 20th century Hollywood images, having little basis in reality, and nothing to do with traditional celebration of the holidays. They are simply the product of some scriptwriter’s sick, warped mind, and knowledge of what his employers were going to pay for. To THAT we should not be conformed.
I have no problem with celebrating Ramadan either. I have a good friend who attends a Baptist Church, works at a middle eastern restaurant, and observes the fasts and feasts of Ramadan. Some of her fellow employees are Muslim, some are not. I don’t choose to follow Islam, because I find it too tangled with rituals, and not so spiritually liberating as the gospels. But it IS a religion that worships The God, not pagan idols. (Ref. the Arabic al-Lah translates The God, it is not a name for any god. So the opening prayer is “there is no god but The God.”) I believe Islam had a divine role too, including calling people away from the degenerate bureaucratic Christianity of the Eastern Roman Empire, and providing a safe haven for Jewish people from persecution by so-called Christians.
Halloween is a beautiful holiday, unless one chooses to make it ugly, which some do.
October 29, 2005 at 18:56
WOW, what an interesting conglomeration of ideas. I, for one, knew nothing of the oddities of Halloween until I really delved into a friend’s extensive research. So, with that in mind, I will join the group that welcomes the little munchkins, but also uses the time for evangelism with tracts along with goodies. Let the little ones have a good time, but I do mean “GOOD.”
October 30, 2005 at 11:15
its wonderful to have read many of the insight posted here on…
Halloween is not a federal holiday. Too bad no one gets a day off. But it’s so popular (at least in the US) that any kids who doesn’t get to go trick or treating will be disappointed.
October 30, 2005 at 12:10
This article was very informative: Quoting the scripture was real evidence on how we can look at such “practices” like Halloween for example and see God’s way of providing a way out! Again…I do not wish to participate in Halloween with my kids and go out all dressed up…but to stay home and pass out candies with tracts..is of course an opportunity to spread the good news.
October 30, 2005 at 18:06
I believe in the Bible regarding Halloween. Dear Christian…please review:
The Bible clearly states in 2 Corinthians 6:17
Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.
1 Corinthians 10:21
Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord’s table, and of the table of devils.
When or if we participate in Halloween, we are guilty of partaking in the food of devils. Halloween cannot in true conscience and intellectual honesty be construed as anything different !!!!!
October 30, 2005 at 20:26
This is the last time I am going to weigh in on this topic, I promise, but the last couple of comments inspire one more observation:
The divine king, the son of the virgin mother, who is slain and resurrected to reign again, is a common icon of pagan ritual and myth dating back at least 5000 years. Shall we therefore cast aside the Nativity, the Crucifixion, and the Resurrection of Jesus, the Christ, as deceptions and ploys of Satan, cleverly grafted onto the pure Christian faith? I don’t think so. Since I am not Roman Catholic, I don’t have to get into what an orthodox Jewish rabbi calls “the idolatrous worship of the Nazarene’s mother.” John Calvin denounced that, and prayers for the intercession of saints, very thoroughly.
I suppose as a Protestant, I might denounce Halloween precisely for being the Eve of All Saints Day. Anglicans celebrate that day, as well as Romans, but the Puritans denounced it as Popish idolatry. I’m not sure where the Methodists stand on it, even though I belong to a Methodist church and served as local historian. I’ll have to look that up. After all, Holiness and Pentecostal theology derives directly from John Wesley. And getting back to the Resurrection, did you know that the Greek Eleusinian Mysteries include a three day period when initiates are sealed into an underground cavern, reminiscent of being buried in a tomb, and emerge on the third day, “re-born”? Maybe some of Paul’s Greek converts got a little carried away making the Gospel of Jesus Christ culturally relevant to themselves?
Taking a step back from the ridiculous, it is obvious that what we believe, by faith, to be the true faith, is expressed through many concepts and images that were inherited from our pagan ancestors. Perhaps the pagans had some grasp of some of the Truth, and simply didn’t see enough to get it right, or perverted what little they did know. Human sacrifice was denounced above almost any other abomination from the earliest Biblical references—although it is a little hard to understand WHAT was on Jeptha’s mind. Or, perhaps an omnipotent Creator addressing puny little hairless bipeds on one little planet, among trillions of galaxies, some 13 billion years from the beginning of space and time, had to use images our ancestors could comprehend to even begin to make himself known. Either way, the mere historical origins of the images of Halloween do not make or break if it is all right to celebrate the day through traditional customs. The spirit in which we observe the day is crucial.
I believe that takes us right back to the citation from Paul that Jim began this discussion with. Paul’s admonitions are more respectful than mine, and mine are highly subjective to my own personal experience and observations. If some Christians, or for that matter some Muslims, or some atheists, find it more wholesome to observe a Harvest Festival, everything I love about Halloween would fit neatly into it.
October 30, 2005 at 21:16
“Any man whos is in Christ is a NEW creature”. It is my opinion that we should not celebrate Halloween. If anything is done on this night – it could be worshing the Lord God Almighty or witnessing to the “lost”
October 31, 2005 at 01:53
It says in the Bible that we are to have nothing to do with witchcraft and the powers of darkness. Halloween is the one day the devil sneaks into even Christian homes, openly invited. God is light, and yes, even the originally pagan Christmas and Easter reflect His light. Halloween is darkness—doesn’t that tell us everything?
October 31, 2005 at 22:29
I appreciate all of the responses I have read thus far. The desire for holiness and the love of people sometimes get at oods with each other sometimes. Anyone in the medical field knows that first hand. It is hard to keep the balance of protecting yourself and at the same time extend a loving hand that is warm and comforting and not rubber or latex. I came into nursing right when HIV began being a real problem for medical professionals. Having to learn to start IV’s with gloves on or taking care to put on gloves whenever there was a risk of body fluid exposure- well you can imagine how uncompfortable. The parallel I am drawing is that there are times that the Lord calls us to get “dirty” to touch someone who needs it. But if we don’t take care of ourselves we could also get a bad spiritual disease. I too have been in prayer today and sadness because of how much of a fellowship we miss when we don’t participate in Halloween activities. The truth is that I would participate in a heartbeat if the meaning and ongoing Satanic rituals did not exist. The part that kills me is that it seems that most churches participate and rename it to not be “left out.” If we took a stand and quit sacrificing our time, money and energy to this paegan holiday, I think we could wipe out the market within five years. But we don’t. We as Christians “support” this holiday. We need to pray that the truth about this holiday be revealed. The Bible says that we who with “unveiled: faces reflect the Lord’s glory not we who with masks on our faces. God has called us out to be His glory not the devils. Aside from the history of this holiday-statistically more children come up missing in the month of October than any other month. Satanic priests have babies that they sacrifice on this holiday. Yes that is the truth- I knew someone who had come out of that and was a mother to one of those infants. These are facts, yet we seem to turn our heads and look the other way so we don’t get “left out” or make someone feel “bad”. Being a Christian requires being called out and set aside for holiness. Maybe we don’t get to participate in those parties or be invited to those gatherings or have to say no to someone asking for candy. I am sorry but that reminds me of an argument I tried to make to my mother when I wanted to be like the “rest” of the kids in school and go to those booze parties and not have a curfew because I did not want to be “left out.” As adults we should know better. The Lord will be faithful to give us other opportunities to bless those around us with goodies.