Do You Think It's Alright For Christians to Celebrate Halloween?

[HeIsRisen2018]

I am probably playing with fire for asking this question but I know that this has already come up quite a bit already. I personally think that there's nothing wrong with dressing up, eating candy, carving pumpkins, going to parties etc. I realize that there is a dark side to Halloween, but I don't think that part is really much celebrated anymore. So anyways, what do you guys think? And If you do celebrate it how many trick-or-treaters do you guys get? We usually get around six to ten if we're lucky so not a whole lot actually.

 

[Michael74]

A lot of people hold church related activities on that day, to give people an alternative. Walking the streets in the dark is just not safe for children in some places. Depends on the city I suppose. Detroit might be a good place for people to take their children to church on that day.

 

[JohnnyWishbone]

Honesty, do people realize how toxic sugar is. Talk about setting up your children for a fall, stuff them full of garbage & wonder why so many of them grow up as addict's.

 

[stovebolts]

Honesty, do people realize how toxic sugar is. Talk about setting up your children for a fall, stuff them full of garbage & wonder why so many of them grow up as addict's.

Hey, now your describing the role of grandparent!
We jack the grandkids full of sugar then send them home!

 

[sunflower]

As I shared in the Ladies Locker Room..we don't get them here in our senior park. (not sure why as they are not prevented) so for some years I have gone to my daughter's house to help give out goodies. Last two years we counted over 100. I don't honor the macabre or scary side..e.g. horror movies, witches, etc., but do think that this has become sort of an American tradition which began in (I think) Europe..as a church celebration of the Eve of All Saint's Day or All Soul's Day...not sure which, but definitely began in something church related back then..

I so enjoy seeing the little ones come in their colorful costumes. These past few years I have seen more and more of the celebration side of it..like kids in colorful costumes of all sorts, not just a "Scream" mask or witch outfits. I always ask the Lord to bless them and their parents. Unlike when I was a kid and my kids were kids most kids are accompanied by their parents at least in her neighborhood. When I was a kid "trick or treat" meant just that. If you didn't treat ...then you might get a trick like if not home..soaped windows. During the early 1900's when my father was a little boy..they actually turned over out houses on Halloween. Way overboard! Excuse that pun! Things are much better now. Of course, we don't have outhouses~

 

[JohnDB]

November 1 is a great holiday...but the services were/are kinda boring.
So some sympathetic people created a reason to "scare" people into church by having the day before filled with all kinds of demons and talk about scary things that God could protect them from. Hence legends of people who couldn't die if they drank blood (communion overtones) normal people who turned into wolves (Jesus talked about wolves in Sheep's clothing) and don't forget about the witch that Saul went to visit and all kinds of things. Now people couldn't afford metal lanterns or even spoons...so often people ate off of wooden spoons and used pumpkins or gourds as lanterns.

Today the gossip Mill and imaginations have turned Halloween into a fun holiday...and just about no one remembers All Saints Day on November 1.

So...the holiday is what you make of it...it can be fun or evil...kinda like what people do with Christmas.

 

[HeIsRisen2018]

A lot of people hold church related activities on that day, to give people an alternative. Walking the streets in the dark is just not safe for children in some places. Depends on the city I suppose. Detroit might be a good place for people to take their children to church on that day.

Actually there is something that I'm worried about more than children walking around the street in the dark which I will post the video at the end.

Honesty, do people realize how toxic sugar is. Talk about setting up your children for a fall, stuff them full of garbage & wonder why so many of them grow up as addict's.

So wait,.. are you saying that they will grow up to be drug addicts or addicted to candy? If it's the latter than I am totally guilty as charged!

November 1 is a great holiday...but the services were/are kinda boring.
So some sympathetic people created a reason to "scare" people into church by having the day before filled with all kinds of demons and talk about scary things that God could protect them from. Hence legends of people who couldn't die if they drank blood (communion overtones) normal people who turned into wolves (Jesus talked about wolves in Sheep's clothing) and don't forget about the witch that Saul went to visit and all kinds of things. Now people couldn't afford metal lanterns or even spoons...so often people ate off of wooden spoons and used pumpkins or gourds as lanterns.

Today the gossip Mill and imaginations have turned Halloween into a fun holiday...and just about no one remembers All Saints Day on November 1.

So...the holiday is what you make of it...it can be fun or evil...kinda like what people do with Christmas.

That's a good point. After watching this movie,.. I swore that I couldn't trust the big old fat man.

 

[Truthfrees]

imo there are a lot of good things christians can celebrate - things that are lovely holy righteous praiseworthy excellent glorifying to God making people think of Jesus and the goodness of God - Philippians 4:8 -and halloween is none of those things

1 Corinthians 10:31 says to do everything to glorify God - i don't see God being glorified in halloween - i see witches - ghouls - ghosts - mummies - skeletons - dark and unlovely things being glorified

Colossians 3:17 says to do everything in the name of Jesus - through Jesus - giving thanks to God - if i was thinking of Jesus and doing something through Jesus - something i could give thanks to God about it would be something beautiful full of light heavenly pleasant - something that makes me think of our awesome God -

halloween doesn't make anyone think of God His goodness His creation His beauty - it actually takes MOST people's minds and hearts in a dark direction

the proof is in the costumes - when do you see costumes that make you think of God?

most costumes make you think of the darkness in this world and in the world of the dead

 

[sunflower]

So...the holiday is what you make of it...it can be fun or evil...kinda like what people do with Christmas.

 

[Tessa]

imo there are a lot of good things christians can celebrate - things that are lovely holy righteous praiseworthy excellent glorifying to God making people think of Jesus and the goodness of God - Philippians 4:8 -and halloween is none of those things

1 Corinthians 10:31 says to do everything to glorify God - i don't see God being glorified in halloween - i see witches - ghouls - ghosts - mummies - skeletons - dark and unlovely things being glorified

Colossians 3:17 says to do everything in the name of Jesus - through Jesus - giving thanks to God - if i was thinking of Jesus and doing something through Jesus - something i could give thanks to God about it would be something beautiful full of light heavenly pleasant - something that makes me think of our awesome God -

halloween doesn't make anyone think of God His goodness His creation His beauty - it actually takes MOST people's minds and hearts in a dark direction

the proof is in the costumes - when do you see costumes that make you think of God?

most costumes make you think of the darkness in this world and in the world of the dead

 

[jasonc]

Honesty, do people realize how toxic sugar is. Talk about setting up your children for a fall, stuff them full of garbage & wonder why so many of them grow up as addict's.

Balence, why enjoy life it's deadly.

I waa reading up on the shoulder ,the anotomy book Said its easy to strain it for over use.plenty of sports can cause that.

I have tenditinitus from my use on my right shoulder .balence again

 

[Tessa]

We can't compromise with God.

 

[tdidymas]

I am probably playing with fire for asking this question but I know that this has already come up quite a bit already. I personally think that there's nothing wrong with dressing up, eating candy, carving pumpkins, going to parties etc. I realize that there is a dark side to Halloween, but I don't think that part is really much celebrated anymore. So anyways, what do you guys think? And If you do celebrate it how many trick-or-treaters do you guys get? We usually get around six to ten if we're lucky so not a whole lot actually.

Halloween can be a time to reflect on the evils of the sinful nature. Like anything, it can be used for good or bad. Some people like to use the holiday as an excuse for vandalism or other crimes, like an evil opportunist. Some people are addicted to imaginations of all kinds of supernatural evil. It could also be used as a yearly unhealthy indulgence of candy. The Halloween mask, like any costume party, is a role-play game. For a short time, people can "hide themselves" behind a mask and costume to role play a different identity. It serves to help express an excitement not normally expressed.

This is how one preacher used the mask and costume: William Grimshaw was a preacher in Haworth, UK who liked theatrics. When a man refused to marry his pregnant girlfriend Grimshaw dressed up like the devil in dark clothing, horns and a tail and he concealed himself near the fence ladder where this man walked home at dusk. As he mounted the ladder Grimshaw rose from the shadows with terrifying grip and threatened to take him to Hell if he refused to marry the girl. The trembling man promised to do the right thing.

Halloween can be used to consider how we fear the unknowns about ourselves. Do we fear becoming the very monster that scares us? Or worse, that we already are that monster, if our eyes are opened to see ourselves in the mirror? As long as our sins are kept secret because we refuse to confess, it will hold us in bondage to that fear. Here is the perfect song for Halloween regarding confession of sin, and the secrets kept:

TD

 

[Truthfrees]

We can't compromise with God.

amen

when we go for God's best we get the blessings that come with it

compromise causes us to miss something good that we could have had

 

[evenifigoalone]

For me it's an excuse for socially acceptable cosplay--dressing up as fictional characters. Though, I only own one costume. They're expensive, they either have to be made, or bought from independent makers.

 

[ezra]

I am probably playing with fire for asking this question but I know that this has already come up quite a bit already. I personally think that there's nothing wrong with dressing up, eating candy, carving pumpkins, going to parties etc. I realize that there is a dark side to Halloween, but I don't think that part is really much celebrated anymore. So anyways, what do you guys think? And If you do celebrate it how many trick-or-treaters do you guys get? We usually get around six to ten if we're lucky so not a whole lot actually.

i see nothing and i do mean nothing wrong with children dressing up in costumes for Halloween and getting candy .this does NOT mean they are celebrating the evil dark side of it . it is getting to the point it is not safe going house to house like i did when i was a kid..... where i live we never get any we live out in the country .many churches has fun nights for kids where they can dress up and have fun in a safe environment this subject is like hunting Easter eggs is it of the devil ..why do you want to give the devil some much credit ..how many go to Walmart or a 24/7 store for gas etc and walk buy the alcohol section ? evil takes place every day do you keep your kids home 24/7? there are ways of doing things and not being evil

 

[HeIsRisen2018]

i see nothing and i do mean nothing wrong with children dressing up in costumes for Halloween and getting candy .this does NOT mean they are celebrating the evil dark side of it . it is getting to the point it is not safe going house to house like i did when i was a kid..... where i live we never get any we live out in the country .many churches has fun nights for kids where they can dress up and have fun in a safe environment this subject is like hunting Easter eggs is it of the devil ..why do you want to give the devil some much credit ..how many go to Walmart or a 24/7 store for gas etc and walk buy the alcohol section ? evil takes place every day do you keep your kids home 24/7? there are ways of doing things and not being evil

You get half a like for this post.

 

[HeIsRisen2018]

Sorry, I'm just not a huge fan of helicopter parenting that's all.

 

[ezra]

i see nothing and i do mean nothing wrong with children dressing up in costumes for Halloween and getting candy .this does NOT mean they are celebrating the evil dark side of it . it is getting to the point it is not safe going house to house like i did when i was a kid..... where i live we never get any we live out in the country .many churches has fun nights for kids where they can dress up and have fun in a safe environment this subject is like hunting Easter eggs is it of the devil ..why do you want to give the devil some much credit ..how many go to Walmart or a 24/7 store for gas etc and walk buy the alcohol section ? evil takes place every day do you keep your kids home 24/7? there are ways of doing things and not being evil

ok i willup the Annie how many watch t.v shows where the cuss drink and smoke? anyone like john wayne ?

 

[HeIsRisen2018]

ok i willup the Annie how many watch t.v shows where the cuss drink and smoke? anyone like john wayne ?

Not as much as TV shows but movies.