Halloween (All Halos [Holy] eve) the night before 'All Saints day'. Has been taken over by the world to glorify the demonic. In my opinion Christians should take it back (even technically if it was never theirs) or should abstain.
My parents let us dress up, just not as "un-christian" things. I don't see anything wrong with it. It seems to be another example of taking an object and making it sinful because people say it is.
I appreciate the feedback thus far everybody. And keep it coming! I'm actually hoping to hear a lengthy explanation from someone who's very against Christians having anything to do with the day.
Like Mark, I grew up in a family where we dressed up. We'd usually find a carnival somewhere and go trick-or-treating. And my mom always decorated the house. What my parents do now is wrap up the candy in children's tracts. Who knows if they kids actually read them, of course, but they're pretty appealing, so they might glance at that. The church I grew up usually has a carnival, but it's not real overtly Christian usually. They usually have like 1 booth for making those CEF bracelets, but nothing Christian other than that really.
And a couple of years ago, when I was the children's ministry director at a different church, I coordinated a Halloween Family Night. And my main goal was really to draw in the families in the neighbourhood, because it really is neighbourhood church in that I wonder sometimes if it's violating zoning laws by being there amongst the houses like it is. Anyway, we did a really cool gospel presentation involving pumpkin carving that the kids were totally into. I found it online and printed it out and gave it to the guy with the loud voice who was going to do the carving and gospel with the kids. And we had a photo booth where I took every family's picture and then mailed the photo to them with a thank you note for coming. And we had free food and lots of games and lots of crafts and several drawings with prizes, and then cookie decorating at the end.
Anyway, so it wasn't until I started planning all this, that I started to realize that there are a Christians who are really against celebrating Halloween in any way. Here, I was looking at it as this ministry opportunity to really show love to the community and tell them about Jesus, and there were people who looked down on me, even w/in that specific church. Since then, I'm totally gun shy and afraid of even mentioning to people that I planned this Halloween Family Night at church. I'm tired of getting jumped all over for it!!
I understand where you're coming from, but fail to see how it sinful to minister to other on Halloween (not that you said it is, but this is what I've heard from others).
I suppose that I think about it like this: Anyone who is not a Christian has set apart every day of their lives in service to Satan. Halloween is not the only day that people serve Satan. In my opinion, if we are to say that Christians should not minister to others on Halloween because people serve Satan on that day, we may as well say that Christians ought to never minister because whenever we do we are, in a sense, treading on Satan's territory.
I think there are a lot of other, bigger issues to worry about in the world. Making Halloween one of them seems a bit..silly to me.
Personally, I love Halloween. It falls at my favorite time of year. I'm a big fan of Autumn. I love the colors. I love the smell of apple cider. I love seeing all the carved pumpkins. And attempting to create my own masterpiece. Lol. It usually looks pretty awful but I like to try.
I'm actually pretty bummed I won't be in Maryland this year. Because I have nieces. And they are adorable. Last year, Fiona was a cat and Caitlyn was a tree! The cutest tree in the world, I might add. And Gabby went as a princess that was not disney, as she liked to remind us. Ill be sad to miss their costumes this year. And my friends son...this is his first real Halloween. He is going as a blue crayon.
My friends and I always throw a Halloween bash. We invite neighbors and friends and family to a potluck dinner. And Renee decorates these beautiful cakes. Some people dress up or bring their kids and we hand out candy and dried fruit and bottles of bubbles. We have a pumpkin carving contest. A seed spitting contest. Which usually involves the guys and a bucket in the backyard. Lol. The whole house smells like cinnamon apples and everyone is and its just this great get together.
This year, I am in North Carolina. My housemates son is at his dads. So we girls are getting dressed up and going to another college professors house for a party. I'm going as a hippie. Jenny is going to be a "crazy cat lady". And Christine is going as a solar panel. Lol. Metallic cardboard on a black sweater. Its pretty inventive.
I don't see Halloween as being this taboo day of the year. Where I need to scowl at the neighbors. Or take it so seriously. I know in my heart of hearts that its just a day. And either you make it to be something sinister or you don't. And if you feel its improper, don't participate. But I think holding it against someone else is...mean. Its judgmental.
The Churches around here actually offer a trunk-or-treat night. The adults park in the lot and have goodies in their trunk. Its good in really rural areas and for people with tiny kids. There is cider and games and hot chocolate. Christine took her son last year and he loved it. She said it was nice to see everyone outside of Church and there were homemade treats.
I think people have the ability to turn a night of costumes and goofiness into something terrible. Teens that drive drunk or egg houses. People that cause absolute mayhem. But I think you can say that about anything. Its how you take the day.
I don't feel guilty about handing out candy, throwing a bash with tons of food and friends and laughter, and wearing a silly costume. I don't feel guilty for taking my nieces trick or treating or helping them be the best tree and cat and princess they can be. I don't see it as being sinful or wicked or evil. But I can see how others would feel that way.
Deut 18:14 For these nations, which thou shalt possess, hearkened unto observers of times, and unto diviners: but as for thee, the LORD thy God hath not suffered thee so to do.
Halloween is also refered to as Samhain and is still celebrated as an ancient pagan festival of the dead by wiccans and pagans all over the world. Strange tho not surprising how liberal american Christianity finds no fault w/ it.
Eph 5:11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.
1Cor 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.
An old proverb says, "When you sup with the devil, use a long spoon." Presumably, NO genuine Christian should want to sup with the devil at all and yet many do.
Knowledge is power -One would be wise to seek ALL info they can on a topic like this- or any others they have questions about.. the web is full of info as is the word of God.
What God says in his word will not change-we are called to come out of from among them- to be seprate, not to fellowship with darkness.
There is no touch of gray with GOD
We need to practice 2 Tim 2:15 Our self
This coming Oct 31 is not a good day at all..look at the Satanic calendar, and you will see- you can find it online
There is no such thing with God as just a little bit of dabbling-the bible says the lukewarm will be Vomited OUT..the real question is
Will you Give up ALL to follow HIM-it is ALL or nothing !!!
and its just this great get together.