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TreasureDigger

Active member
In an attempt to get some conversation going, I have a question that I'd like for EVERYONE to weigh in on. No arguing, no bickering; just a simple answer (and maybe even a WHY). If it turns into a bickering fest, I will just ask Mike to take the post down.

I know what MY beliefs are and I used to do quiet a bit of indepth teaching on the subject(s). I was often invited to many different churches, especially this time of year, to teach on Halloween, satanism, witchcraft, the occult, etc. What are YOUR thoughts, beliefs and convictions about Christians participating in Halloween, Trick or Treat, decorating for Halloween, etc? Please give us your opinions and feel free to back it up with scripture (or anything else) if you would like to do so. Feel free to ask questions of other posters but remember, at the first sign of a big disagreement, fuss, fight, argument, being too/overly judgemental...... I will ask Mike to pull the plug and take it down. SURLY, we, as adults can have a controversial conversation without resorting to bickering. That hasn't always been the case in the past - BUT IT WILL BE THE CASE THIS TIME or this post is history. I'm just interested in hearing what our forum family has to say on this subject.

Lisa
 
It is my belief that those who profess to follow Jesus Christ, as Lord and Savior, shouldn't have anything to do with pagan holidays in any shape or form. My church and many others have game night, at our churches for the young ones and their parents. It's open to those who belong to the church and it's especially open to those who aren't or don't know Jesus. Therefore I do not believe in staying home and passing out candy and participating in the event. I'd rather spend the evening with Christian friends studying God's Word or other Christian activities.
 
Hey girl, I will weigh in on this one. I don't have time to back up my thoughts with scripture tonight...I logged on for a few for some stress relief as I have a huge exam I need to submit tonight. So anyways.....we do not decorate for Halloween and I do not approve of doing so. We have a lovely little fall scene in the yard that Loren very much loves putting together...we include beautiful mums, bales of straw, pumpkins and gourds and a It's fall y'all sign. I have a few pumpkins sitting around, but they are not carved. We will carve a couple, but they will not have anything scary or demon-like on them. PERIOD! We celebrate the lovely weather of fall and use it as a time to teach about harvest and thankfulness where Loren is concerned. Loren will be trick-or-treating (to be honest I'm convicted by the title), but we do not let her dress up as anything scary or as a witch (whether nice or otherwise). We allow her to go to family only and we drive her everywhere. We probably hit up about ten houses, if that. We have had our experiences with demonic forces and know it is nothing to mess around with...it is real. I believe you can invite things in your home and lives without even being aware at times. At church, we have a fall harvest party and many local churched offer trunk or treating. I could go on for awhile, but I have to get back to business. I look forward to reading everyone's replies. Thank you, Lisa for taking the time to start this thread!
 
Nope, I don't have anything to do with it. We are called out people, set apart to honor the Lord and to be a witness to the world. Hard to do that when participating in something like Halloween, or going to movies full of sex and violence, hanging out in bars or a number of other things I'll leave out for now!

Our son learned early on that to be a Christian meant he was going to be different from much of the world if he followed Jesus. Thankfully at 35 he hasn't forgotten that. We did go to some fall festivals when he was young but by the age of ten he was living on a boat full time with us and living the life of a missions kid. So the whole thing this time of year became a non starter even with him.

Living a sold out life means we are going to be different from the world and our children need to see that. One day they are going to have to decide for themselves how far they will go in joining the world. I believe that when they see what it means to honor the Lord as a family it is a great foundation to build on and it is issues like this which are blocks in that foundation.
 
One of our biggest Missionary churches has trunk or treat in the parking lot to keep the kids safe but they do dress up. I really don't have an issue with it personally. It is interesting though how times change. I remember when I was a kid all the kids were out and there was costumes everywhere you look. It seems to be a dying tradition.

Anyway. It does seem by everything I have read about it that witchcraft was created before christianity. BUT BUT BUT, DIFFERENT bible translations are an issue about it and I won't speculate on that.

King James version of Deuteronomy 18:10-12 is different than others but its one place scripture.

Interesting subject to read about though and has got me thinking and wanting to learn more. Thank you.
 
Well, Lisa, before I truly became a born again believer, although I knew of Jesus but not as my own personal Savior, I did participate with Halloween by allowing my oldest two to go trick or treating with me or with friends and their parents! They didn't go very far when young and it wasn't as bad then as when my youngest daughter, Tami, became of age to have Halloween! The danger of razor blades and pins and needles were put in candy and became a great scare and even sometimes drugs! Tami went here around the neighborhood and I went with her when she was young or she went with her friends and a parent or two! The kids loved to get candy and I have to admit I enjoyed the sweeties too! Cliff and I never went trick or treating when we lived in the city when young and then on the farm! We never turned over outhouses, soaped windows and such, as dad wouldn't allow us to go and would have skinned us alive if we had done any of the bad stuff! And as far as I know none of my children did either...anyway I hope not!

But I did enjoy giving candy at the door and listening to the little ones with their songs or little ditty's of being funny and they were usually thankful and nice....did have a few teenagers, but they were funny, too, and usually ended up laughing for they knew they were too old to be trick or treating! After all my kids grew up and left home, I gave out candy for a few years, but then stopped as most of the kids were going to their churches and having parties there, for their safety! As it became very dangerous after the 80's for little kids or older ones to be out after dark or go to strangers homes! When Tami was home before she grew up, we used to have loads and loads of kids in our neighborhoods, as they brought them in from the city and Jeff County into the better subdivisions! Tami went to a Halloween party in one of her Sunday School teacher's home but I wouldn't let her go to anything for Halloween any more for I don't participate at all after becoming truly saved and I love Jesus and want to obey HIm and I don't believe in celebrating ghosts, witches and goblins and so forth! It is too easy to have them enter your home and cause a lot of problems which satan wants; therefore, no more Halloweens for me!

I do know some people put Jesus tracts in the children's sacks and etc. and that is a good thing and a candy bar or two wouldn't hurt to show kindness along with the tract! Most churches and Malls around here have the children gather together in them and have foods and treats for the younger ones, which is much safer for them now days! The little ones dress up as princesses and fairies and etc.

When I didn't know the Bible and Jesus Christ like I do now, although I had always attended church even as a very young child, I did things that I sure wouldn't do now, since I am a radical believer and servant of my Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ! But now, NO, I don't agree celebrating it at all! But until people understand what Halloween really stands far, they will probably continue in having parties and going trick or treating until they are well educated with the Bible by studying it diligently to be approved as a workmen of God who is saved in Jesus first, Who is God with us!

Well, I never make short writings on a subject, so maybe I gave everyone, who reads all my posting, something to think about and what is required of us, for we are peculiar people, who are in the world but not of it....so we are to stay away from all sin and evil because of our weak flesh....although our spirits are willing to live righteous lives like Jesus by drawing closer and closer to Him by faith and godly wisdom, daily! Amen! :angel: Ma Betty
 
Let us know how the exam goes!
You go girl!
 
I do let my kids go trick or treat only to people I know they don't wear anything bad, cause most of my neighbors expect me to bring the kids there and they both enjoy visiting. HHH.
 
I do not dig the "holiday". Often makes me an unpopular person. However I do think that we must be careful not to separate ourselves to far from the festivities. We can (and must) be involved without being part of the satanic side of the day of death. We really need to make sure that we continue to carry our faith and speak the truth and sometimes that means we find ourselves in places we may rather not be, but we have the ability, through Christ, to do so and not be a part of the culture. We all (I assume) have friends who are a part this and are not strangers in this world.

BIG BROWN TRUCK XTERRA'S BACK XTERRA'S BACK

sorry sidetracked

Strangers in this world yes that is what we are as sold out followers of Christ and we all, I hope, have friends who are not. What that means to me is that we ought to find ourselves in places where our non Christ following friends are. Now I do think we can do that with out following the way of the world. No I am not going to go hang out in the topless club, but I may find my way into a bar once in a great while. I do have the ability to drink a soda and eat a burger. Although it has been a fairly long time since I have done so (been in a pub not eaten a burger). By doing this eventually we have an impact on the lost by sharing the hope Christ gives us and our travels done in his name. NO I do not think any of us should find our selves in bars on anything even closely resembling frequency, and I do not recommend that any of you do either. My point is this, some times we remove ourselves so far from society that our lives become sterile and many of us really share the word only with other Christians.

We MUST find ways to be involved in the lives of the DEAD. Not every one who needs salvation is a homeless man.

TRY THIS ONE
When you are standing in a crowd or are in a place where you can see a fair amount of people, ASK GOD to show you the dead, if he chooses to show you I would like to discuss that with you in a PM or an email. (you may not want to do this one in your church, that could be painful)

Jeff
 
Lisa, this one is really a can of worms, and should force every one of us to consider our own relevance and walk. For Me this is a question which simply has a higher profile at Halloween.

Jeff
 
Turnmaster, we agree pretty closely. Where I have a problem is when those who are saved still live the old life of bars, secular entertainment, etc for "fun". Had a friend who actually did outreach in bars. He never drank but when he felt lead to walk into a bar every time he lead someone to the Lord.

We worked for years in small boat ministry among water front people and cruising sailors. You had to be one of them to reach them. We had the hardest time explaining to classic evangelists that their approach would not work in this people group. You show up in a suit, clean cut and start trying straight up evangelism they scatter like roaches when the light comes on.

But living among them and becoming one of them but on a Christian standard opened the door. Can't tell the number of times I heard "You know, you're one of us and yet different in a good way. What is it about you?" The open door. We didn't drink, do drugs, fool around on our spouse or engage in unchristian behavior. But we were always there when there was trouble or hurt. Lived the life and earned a reputation as a solid seaman. We didn't shun them just because they were rough or broke or running from personal trouble or any other reason. Several still are unsaved and close to us, we're still reaching out to them after years. But everyone knew where we stood and knew we wouldn't involve ourselves in anything they did that was unchristian.
 
I think it is a contradiction to Biblical teachings, and it can't send good "vibes" to our children, but that's just my opinion. This time of year, the TV shows are full of horror-type content, which I don't and won't watch. As a kid, my opinion would differ from what it is now, of course..:shrug:
 
Thank you to all who chimed in with their opinions. Back when I used to do a lot of teaching on this subject I really ruffled some feathers with the ones who see nothing wrong, whatsoever, with going all out for this holiday. Oh well. LOL I wont go in to any of it here.

Lisa
 
I also think that back years ago, when a home was really a home, morals were high, kids were good, and before the "video game arrivals" , kids knew not to incorporate "evil" into halloween. It was simply viewed as fun for one night, and the next day, it was forgotten about. Times have really changed now, and there IS more evil amongst us. Just my 2 cents...
 
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