OK, let me say
this first as I
tackle this...this
is A Christian's
perspective (my
perspective, not
all Christians).
A lot of people
are ready to lump
all people
together so I feel
the need for a
disclaimer. Many
Christian's do not
share my viewpoint
and many do.
I only speak for
myself.
Halloween does
have a very dark
side to it.
There is a rich
heritage of Satan
worship, the
Occult,
Witchcraft, Wicca,
and so forth
associated to the
holiday.
Even the Hollywood
version of it is
overrun with gore,
murder, and lust
to have control
over others. These
things are
concerning to me
and focus on
things based on
sin and evil.
For this reason,
many Christians
consider the
holiday as worldly
and we should have
nothing to do with
it. If they
have spent time in
researching and
praying about this
matter and feel
strongly it is
wrong for them to
partake of the
holiday, I
celebrate that for
you and do not
wish to be a
stumbling block.
According to
Romans 14, there
are some issues
not specifically
addressed in the
Word that take
great care and
prayer for people
to find if
something is wrong
for them to
partake in
(the example Paul
uses is certain
types of food).
I feel (at this
point in my
search) this is
one of those
issues.
For some, they
even feel that
churches offering
Halloween
alternatives are
wrong. They
feel these events
are trying to do
things in a
worldly way
instead of using
Halloween as a way
to reach out to
the world.
So my perspective
is, I have no
problem with
people celebrating
Halloween. I
have very fond
memories of
watching a "It's
the Great Pumpkin
Charlie Brown and
being in costume
contests. I
got second place
once as a
carpenter when I
was 10. I
was so pumped
until they listed
me in the local
paper as "Tammy"
Hypes. Grrrrrrrr......This
continued with
taking my son out
on beggar’s night
and will continue
with our daughter.
And tonight, we
will be on our
front porch
handing out candy.
I do have a
concern with the
evils of this
night. Those
who use it to
dabble or dive
into practices
that are of
darkness.
Those who even use
it as an excuse to
vandalize or
abuse. There
are innocent
looking ways for
the occult, Wicca,
or others to
introduce people
to their groups
during this time
so there must be
great care and
discernment on how
we celebrate and
how we communicate
to our kids.
So how do you draw
the lines if
you're like me and
open to the
positive elements
of Halloween?
1 Thessalonians
5:21-22
"Test everything.
Hold on to the
good. Avoid
every kind of
evil."
To some, Halloween
is evil and throw
it out. To
me, elements of
Halloween are evil
but don't throw
out the baby with
the wash water.
We have a night
together as
family, sitting on
the front porch
interacting with
our community.
We get to tell
kids how great
they look and give
them a boost that
maybe they don't
get in some homes.
We talk to parents
and teens and get
a chance to build
rapport. And
I get to steal a
piece of candy or
two out of our own
dish.
As far as
Halloween
alternatives, we
get to be where
the world is
hurting and show
them the
difference Christ
makes. It
reminds me of John
1: 3 "And the
Light shines on in
the darkness, for
the darkness has
never overpowered
it.". I
would rather be in
the mix showing
the light in the
darkness than
sitting at home
hiding from it and
missing out on
putting out a
loving hand to the
hurting.
I throw these out
as thoughts for
people to consider
as they look at
their own position
and welcome
differing thoughts
back as I explore
mine.
Let me throw out a
sidebar to my
Christian brothers
and sisters (those
who accepted Jesus
as Leader and
Forgiver ...Romans
10:9 "That if you
confess with your
mouth, "Jesus is
Lord," and believe
in your heart that
God raised him
from the dead, you
will be saved.)
We need to be
consistent........if
you feel you need
to throw out every
aspect of
Halloween because
of it's origins
instead of
addressing issue
by issue...then
how can we justify
having Christmas
trees that have
their origin in
the pagan
religion? I
love out tree and
the positive side
of Halloween so
I'm not trying to
save trees here
but I do think we
have to be careful
about consistency.
If not, we are
setting ourselves
up to continue
being seen as
hypocrites.
Just a thought.
OK, let it
fly....I am
totally open to
those who disagree
with me and there
are a lot of
angles here to
approach.
Not to mention
these are random
thoughts as I sit
and type so I'm
sure I could end
up disagreeing
with myself if I
really
tried......If not,
then let me just
say Happy
Halloween and may
be the good of God
and not the lies
of the evil one.
Tom Hypes
The Shepherd’s
Fellowship
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