Halloween Good or Bad ?

[Eda]

Halloween is approaching soon. We see all the Ghostly/Black Cats/Witches etc etc decorations up. Not to mention Child buying the most scariest costumes. As a Religious person how would you go about celebrating this Pagan Celebration? Or is it a Pagan Celebration? Would like to hear from various people on this subject.....Cuidate CaliRican Eda

[El_Jibaro]

Halloween is the shortened phrase for "All Hallow Even" (All Saints' Eve); coined Date: circa 1700.

No doubt that 300 years ago it was a CHRISTIAN celebration, probably CATHOLIC, related to the night after "la Noche de los Muertos". In that context it would have been a night for celebrating ALL CHRISTIAN SAINTS, all the heroes of Christianity, from John the Baptist to the latest missionary killed by cannibals while trying to bring the Gospel of Jesus.

NOWADAYS this is just an excuse for a legal ORGY in the old Roman sense. Anything goes on, from little children innocently asking for candy to a "Black Mass" in some rich Country Club, to a BABY sacrifice by a movie star, to the setting on fire of all the abandoned houses in the poorest neighborhoods.

It is interesting how Christianity has been dumped by SOCIETY in the name of pluralism and has been replaced by ALL-OUT DEBAUCHERY.

Enough said.

In my church we celebrate Reformation Day, the Day in 1517 when Martin Luther nailed 95 propositions (or theses) in Latin on the door of the castle church in Wittenburg as an open invitation to a debate on the merits of PLENARY INDULGENCIES.

As part of that Reformation Day celebration we hold a Harvest Festival at church on the last Saturday Night in October. In that celebration we have Hay rides, Pony rides, face painting and a Biblical Costume Competition for little boys and girls. It is good, clean, Christian fun .

What about Halloween trick or treaters? A few years ago I tried giving out some "Chick Publication Tracts" that turned out to be more spooky than Halloween itself. For a couple of years tric-or-treaters shied away from their "spooky" Christian neighbors. So what to do now? I give out candy: little innocent children have no reason to bear the guilt of what our current Society does. If I find a good-taste Holloween tract I try to put it in with the candy, but then again, little 4 year old kids don't read, only teenagers. LETS REMEMBER THAT GOODNESS AND "CHARITY" ARE FUNDAMENTAL CHRISTIAN VIRTUES. There is no better written and spoken GOSPEL message than to live clean lives for the sakes of Jesus and to show goodwill and mercy towards others, EVEN ON A PAGAN DAY.

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Manuel Alonso

[Lorelei]

We've gone from an extreme position against anything having to do with Halloween to giving out candy and enjoying seeing the little trick-or-treaters that come to our door. It had to do with our Christian walk. Our decisions were influenced by what our church said about these things. Now as (hopefully) mature Christians, we make up our own minds. As a child I used to go trick-or-treating. It wasn't evil then, and I see nothing evil in giving out candy to trick-or-treaters now. If I could go back to the time when my kids were small again, I'd tell that young, eager-to-do-the-right-thing Christian woman that was me, "Relax, there's no harm in it. Let the kids put on some fun costumes and take them trick-or-treating with the other kids." So, that's what I'm telling you.

[m_ramirez]

sorry guys
but wether you want to face rea;lity or not halloween is a pagan tradition....you say you don't see any bad in it? then explain what do you see good in it?

[Lorelei]

No, I think it was a Christian holy day turned into a pagan celebration. What's wrong with it just being plain fun? Let the kids get dressed up and have some candy.

[JuJu_licious]

Halloween is much like Christmas. Sales companies change it to Santa and gifts and that's cool, but you have to take that time to remember the true meaning of the day. HAlloween should be viewed in this same way. Dressing up and eating candy is fun, but remember those that passed and say a prayer or something like that to get to the true meaning of the holiday, even if it's only for a few moments.

[Lorelei]

Here's an article from CBN.com you might enjoy another Christian perspective.

<b>The Enemy’s Victory: Darkened Homes and Harvest Parties</b>

<i>By Andy Freeman<i>

October 23, 2000

(CBN.com) -- I realize this column is going to bring down the wrath of Preacher, teacher, and parent alike. But someone has to break the illusion. Here goes.

The biggest trick played on Halloween is Christian kids and adults being bottled up inside churches or homes all night. That’s right! Hiding from the devil in the family life center and surrendering the neighborhood to little Ghouls, goblins, and witches is a victory for old Beelzebub. He’s got the church right where he wants it: inside the four walls, hunkered down behind the stained glass.

Think about it. How many chances do you get to mix with our neighbors during the year? At my house we are blessed with a 4th of July block party. Otherwise, Halloween may be it for many of you. And what is your relationship evangelism strategy? Either hustle the kids over to church before nightfall or worse, you turn out the lights, don’t answer the children at the door, thereby demonstrating your Christian love and hospitality. But if you do encounter a child in a pink bunny costume it goes something like this:

"We don’t celebrate Halloween! There’s no candy here for you, kid! Now get out of here".

And the parents of the pink bunny waiting at the foot of your sidewalk say:

"Boy, honey. There’s something really different about that mean family that sits in the dark every Halloween. I really want what they have in their life."

Isn’t it time to turn loose a few of those little Moses and Davids into your community?

Imagine the shock when an Angel instead of a devil greets the nice lady down the block. A child who says "please", "thank you" and yes, even "Jesus loves you" and "God bless you" as they receive their mini-Snickers or Candy corn. And please, please, please you well-meaning brethren: give the kids that come to your door the best candy treat on the entire block along with that tract. Some of you give six years olds a little "be warm and filled" treatment every Halloween. Give them something sweet for the palate as well as the soul.

Never forget: Jesus came to serve the sick and broken. He loved being at the well, by the sea, and in the marketplace. He would never have said "run and hide, its Halloween!"

Don’t teach children to fear Satan. Help them understand Christ has overcome the world. He has made us victors in Him. He loves all of His creation.

Remember what He said:

" You are the light of the world – like a city on a mountain, glowing in the night for all to see. Don’t hide your light under a basket (or in a dark house, or at a harvest party with church kids)! Instead, put it on a stand and let it shine for all. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father". Matthew 5:14-16

Jesus wants us to engage our neighbors and culture not hide from them this Oct. 31st.