HALLOWEEN AND CHRISTIANS...

It's that time of year again.  And ... again I'm struggling with this particular holiday.  I read an article this morning on FB - "Should Christians Celebrate Halloween" and I'm still struggling.  Then I wondered, why is this holiday still alive in our Christian culture?
I believe it is because:

*  it's an industry, a money-maker
*  it's entertaining for parents and children
*  children see other children in costume & receiving bags of candy
*  churches use it for an "alternative celebration"
*  churches draw huge crowds on Halloween festivities
*  churches simply rename the event
*  adults (believers) would be viewed as "weird" if they opposed involvement

The article stated that there's no lasting benefit to ignore a holiday that exists around us ... but it also does harm to celebrate Halloween as it has originated and grown over the centuries....so, they suggest... Christians should be teaching children that evil is from Satan and there's a spiritual world filled with goodness from God - that christians have power over darkness....etc....

The author says that we counter the evil influence by joining together and celebrate the reality of heroic Christian saints ...and rather than 'hide' from this day, we should create a positive and uplifting alternative.  Make it heaps of fun!

How does the celebration affect or draw us closer to Christ or keep us in the highway of holiness?  

Anton LaVey quotes:
"I'm glad that Christian parents let their children worship the devil at least one night out of the year"
"But the average person doesn't have that much imagination.  They just want to be entertained."
"Satan has been the best friend the church has ever had, as he has kept it in business all these years!"

Ouch! ....you may ask, "Are you saying that I allow my child to worship the devil on Halloween?" No.  But I am saying that we are keeping the holiday alive and the merchants prosperous.   It seems the holiday is not diminishing, but thriving, thanks to christians and churches.  I dare say that any pastor who refused to give observance on this day would be tarred and feathered by the holy saints on his pews.

I Thessalonians 5:21-23  "Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.  22)  Abstain from all appearance of evil   23) And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be presented blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Prayerfully read Matthew Henry's commentary on these verses.

The doctrines of human infallibility, implicit faith, and blind obedience, are not the doctrines of the Bible.  Every Christian as and ought to have, the judgment of discretion, and should have his senses exercised in discerning between good and evil, truth and falsehood, Hebrews 5:13,14.

We must not always be seekers, or fluctuating in our minds, like children tossed to and from with every wind of doctrine.  Abstain from all appearance of evil (vs. 22).  This is a good means to prevent our being deceived with false doctrines, or unsettled in our faith; for our Savior has told us (John 7:17) "If a man will do His will, he shall know of the doctrine whether it be of God."

Corrupt affections indulged in the heart, and evil practices allowed of in the life, will greatly tend to promote fatal errors in the mind; whereas purity of heart, and integrity of life, will dispose men to receive the truth in the love of it.  We should therefore abstain from evil and all appearances of evil, from sin, and that which looks like sin, leads to it, and borders upon it.  He who is not shy of the appearances of sin, who shuns not the occasions of sin, and who avoid not the temptations and approaches to sin, will not long abstain from the actual commission of sin.

I know....we are not blatantly or knowingly teaching our children to sin by dressing them up in a costume and bringing home a treasure of candy,  BUT.... DO CHURCHES:

* enhance the holiday
* fuel the industry
* deny evil
* present Jesus

NOTE:  Wicca proclaims this as one of their very special 'holy' days.

The Wiccan, Pagan and Witchcraft year runs from Oct 31st through Oct 30th

*  Oct 31st is Samhain - their 3rd and final harvest
*  symbols are: gourds, apples, black cats, jack-o-lanterns, besoms
*  the mundane laws of time and space are temporarily suspended and the Thin   Veil between the worlds are lifted.  
*  communicating with ancestors and departed loved ones is easy at this time, for they journey through this world on their way to the Summerlands.  
*  it's a time to study the Dark Mysteries and honor the Dark Mother and the Dark Father, symbolized by the Crone and her aged Consort...

Perhaps my problem ... my struggle with Halloween exists mainly because we still recognize the holiday ... as do the Wiccans ... and, I'll admit, I am suspect of just how much Truth is actually taught to our children during the celebration.

Yes, I still struggle with this ...

    

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