halloween.

[timnorman]

Excited children masquerading as witches, pirates, devils, ghosts, Dracula and other creatures bounding through the neighborhood, going from door to door shouting, "Trick or Treat" the party at school or a friend’s house where they tell ghost stories, bob for apples or tell fortunes the visit to the community "haunted house" and homes decorated with witches, skeletons and eerie looking grinning Jack O Lanterns...it must be halloween!

happy children getting sweets, satisfied grown-ups giving out chocolate.

is it all that simple ?

what do you think about halloween ?

timnorman

 

[mounty]

i use to love halloween ,and this is my first year as a christian so i am a bit confuesed about what to do.
I agreed to allow my daughter to dress up as an angel ,and go to our close neighbours house
Would love some advice on this

 

[Word of Life]

I found this, this may help you. I couldn't post The symbols, they were pictures of mainly, witches, bats, broomsticks, pumpkins etc

Halloween helps breathe new life into the dark rituals and symbols of past civilizations. Many of its symbols are universal; they are familiar to people in many parts of the world. Yet, each cultural group sees the images from its own perspectives.

To one group, they symbolize various forms of death: physical and spiritual, scary or affirming.

To another, they point to the innocuous thrills and titillations that go with what they believe to be little more than a fun, fantasy world.

To a third group, they represent genuine evil -- the lures of an occult world view manipulated by Satan, who now as always masquerades as "an angel of light." In other words, the meaning depends on a person's beliefs and world view.

The symbols below include images from Aztec religious art, from Magic the Gathering cards, from a Japanese Sailor Moon comic book, from a Dungeons & Dragons manual and from ads for Halloween treats and costumes. This mix shows the global popularity of these symbols and reminds us that, while Halloween clashes with God's guidelines, it fits the world and human nature very well.

That's why the mastermind behind this spiritual war keeps using the same tactics through the centuries. Satan's main strategy has always been to tempt people to love what God hates, prompt them to pursue his enticing path, and deceive them into thinking that his "new" way is as good, or even better, than the old ways God has shown us. Since his strategies don't change, God's warning in Proverbs 14:12 is as relevant now as it was in King Solomon's days: "There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death." (Proverbs 14:12)

Most people follow the masses, and the masses follow the media -- especially when it promotes thrills and adventures that feed the lust for forbidden thrills. The occult has always focused on gory images of violence, death and destruction. We see it in today's media, music, and movies. As people become desensitized to occult violence and horror, the images in popular entertainment grow increasingly and indescribably evil. Yet, this is old news. Thousands of years ago, God warned us, "All those who hate Me love death." (Proverbs 8:36)

 

[timnorman]

so what you are saying mounty is that for a christian hallowen is wrong....??

 

[scottie75]

For me, Halloween is distinctly wrong as a Christian! To acknowledge the presence of 'ghosts' 'gouls' 'phantoms' is (in my opinion) to deny the presence of God - there is heaven, there is hell, there is nothing in between - ghosts etc are 'spirits walking the earth who have not found there way to their resting place' for me this is completely unscriptural.

I think there is a hidden deeper danger in this day and age to encourage children in this practise - there are too many poeple in this world who feel that occult pratices, 'religious' people becoming 'withces' and communing with the dead and deceased, and to allow our children to participate in tis nonsense is saying that these things rre 'okay' and the Bible clearly warns us that witchraft etc is a HUGE no go area!! Let no one be found among you who sacrifices his son or daughter in the fire, who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, Deuteronomy 18:10 (NIV) as one example.

I think it is best to avoid such things as halloween and it's 'pagan' links and encourage our children (and indeed adults) to look towards Christ at this time of year - I know a few churches and fellowships, that actively hold 'alternative halloween' nights.

 

[Faithful Son]

Amen Word of Life and scottie75 God bless you both.

 

[stephen]

I found this, this may help you. I couldn't post The symbols, they were pictures of mainly, witches, bats, broomsticks, pumpkins etc

Halloween helps breathe new life into the dark rituals and symbols of past civilizations. Many of its symbols are universal; they are familiar to people in many parts of the world. Yet, each cultural group sees the images from its own perspectives.

To one group, they symbolize various forms of death: physical and spiritual, scary or affirming.

To another, they point to the innocuous thrills and titillations that go with what they believe to be little more than a fun, fantasy world.

To a third group, they represent genuine evil -- the lures of an occult world view manipulated by Satan, who now as always masquerades as "an angel of light." In other words, the meaning depends on a person's beliefs and world view.

The symbols below include images from Aztec religious art, from Magic the Gathering cards, from a Japanese Sailor Moon comic book, from a Dungeons & Dragons manual and from ads for Halloween treats and costumes. This mix shows the global popularity of these symbols and reminds us that, while Halloween clashes with God's guidelines, it fits the world and human nature very well.

That's why the mastermind behind this spiritual war keeps using the same tactics through the centuries. Satan's main strategy has always been to tempt people to love what God hates, prompt them to pursue his enticing path, and deceive them into thinking that his "new" way is as good, or even better, than the old ways God has shown us. Since his strategies don't change, God's warning in Proverbs 14:12 is as relevant now as it was in King Solomon's days: "There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death." (Proverbs 14:12)

Most people follow the masses, and the masses follow the media -- especially when it promotes thrills and adventures that feed the lust for forbidden thrills. The occult has always focused on gory images of violence, death and destruction. We see it in today's media, music, and movies. As people become desensitized to occult violence and horror, the images in popular entertainment grow increasingly and indescribably evil. Yet, this is old news. Thousands of years ago, God warned us, "All those who hate Me love death." (Proverbs 8:36)

Excellent post from a Christian perspective.

I agree 100% with what you say.

 

[gladstone]

As Halloween is a relatively new festival (as in celebrating it!) in England, I find that the supermarkets here are really pushing parties, costumes, food, everything black and orange. It makes me cross.

As a child my parents took us to Church instead for a light of the world party where we had a few fireworks, and hotdogs and nothing to do with Halloween.

I really don't think it's a good idea on a Christian level at all, and on a safety level either.

 

[Dreamer]

It's wrong. Halloween is dead wrong. My heart and my gut tell me that. I painted a cardboard mural that I set out front of the house in the fall. It says, "Happy Fall, Y'all". It has happy pictures painted on it, not scary.

I get trick-or-treaters to our door and I give them candy or microwave popcorn snack-size packets. Last year I made something cute to put on the popcorns, and had a bible verse attached.

I don't focus on Halloween. I focus on using the beautiful fall colors and nice weather to minister to people and show them that as christians, we are friendly and fun.....but we are also different.

 

[timnorman]

alright .
thank you