Halloween, Right or Wrong?
Someone recently asked me the following question and I honestly did not know the best way to answer it. This is why I have decided to bring it to you and hear your take on it. Here it goes:
Based on the origin of Halloween, should Christians celebrate it? Why or why not?
Go ahead! Comment!
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I guess either everybody’s out celebrating or they’re afraid to post ’cause it’s a touchy subject… so i’ll be the brave one to start…
If I were to answer this based on what I was raised, then the motto in my house was “say no to halloween”…
as I grew up (and began to question everything), I sort of decided on my own that my parents were right… and I don’t think it’s something christians should be directly endorsing because of what it was originally (see: http://www.history.com/topics/halloween http://www.allaboutpopularissues.org/history-of-halloween-faq.htm)
some people may think it’s just a fun way to get dressed up & have another reason to hang out & have fun with others, but the origin & root of why people celebrated it in the first place, was not based on something that was so “nice”… and to this day, some ppl still celebrate it with its original intentions
i respect other people who have different convictions about it, and understand why some churches want to make it a safe & fun family event as an alternative to what pop culture celebrates…
but, in 27 years, i haven’t celebrated it once, and i really don’t think i’m missing out on much; i feel that if I’ve been convicted about the issue, then, in obedience, i should stay away…. but really, I won’t judge anyone who celebrates it…
i guess it depends on 1) how you’ve been raised;
2) the mentality you have as you do/don’t celebrate it &
3) how the Holy Spirit leads you
Mirth - October 31, 2010 at 4:05 pm |
I agree a lot with Mirza. I think I’m the person you refer to that asked you. After much reading, asking around and drawing from my own point of view I came to the conclusion that me personally, I don’t feel peace with celebrating it. By no means do I judge individuals or churches who do, but like mirza said Im not missing out on anything and in the hispanic culture celebrating it might be a hinderance for witnessing rather than a blessing.
One thing that really popped out to me was that in most christian holidays, the world has pretty much created an alternative. For chirstmas, I don’t mind Santa Claus because the inspiration itself was a Christian man and even with Santa being so big churches still emphasize the birth of Jesus and most holiday songs are more Jesus related that Santa related. Easter I kind of have a problem with because most people today think of a bunny that some how lays eggs and have no idea about what Easter really meant and how much it impacted the world when Jesus resurrected. With holloween being a night before all saints day (a day that celebrates martyrs) it bothers me that not only does it celebrate the dead but also when Christians started celebrating all saints day they changed a lot of all hollows eve to celebrate not just spirits and the dead but now demons and the devil. So in a way it is even more ant-christian.
In my eyes anything that leads away from God I’ll stay away, if it creates confusion, I’ll stay away. There are more important things to preach and teach this generation. Churches that provide a safe activity, more power to you as long as the people leave with a seed being sown and not just leaving having had a “fun night” which would make it no different than any other party. As for churches that create “hell houses” and “freak shows” etc. Im not a big believer in scaring people into Christ, I rather preach about his love.
Mirza your three points i loved! 1. How we were raised, 2. Mentality, and 3. What you feel in your heart from the HS
PS I love my bro and sis and can’t wait to be an uncle!
Tonitz - October 31, 2010 at 6:09 pm |
As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. No halloween for me, please. Thanks.
sharon - October 31, 2010 at 8:54 pm |
This is one of those subjects that it’s almost like people don’t want to talk about, because it can get pretty crazy. But, here’s what I think… Mirza pointed out some amazing points.
Since my dads birthday falls on halloween, we’ve always had something to celebrate, and as kids we weren’t allowed to go trick or treating, we always had some sort of church function to go to, and dress up as bible characters, and so on. Since we moved to Ocala, and have the kids now, it’s a little different, and we look at it differently, not that we have changed who we are, or what we believe, we just have a new set of looking glasses, so to speak. We allow the boys to dress up as something fun and creative, this year they were super joshie and super landen. We also pass out candy, which the boys love to do more than to get the candy, and so we were able to use that as a little “life lesson” on how it’s so important to give to others and so on… I feel like there is a balance for each and every home and every person, and each one must live up to the convictions for their house hold. Every year my family does Mickey’s Not So Scary, and it is a blast, it’s just a totally different thing to do, and again, the whole point through the parade and other shows they put on, it’s about believing in your self, and how good over comes evil, and they do such a good job at keeping the balance of it all.
As Mirza said, it was something she came to on her own, and after being out of her parents house, and I love how she said, ” i feel that if I’ve been convicted about the issue, then, in obedience, i should stay away…. but really, I won’t judge anyone who celebrates it…”
I agree with your brother on the whole Easter thing, I feel that holidays are becoming so, “commercialized” it’s become more about that holidays “figure” (i.e. the Easter Bunny, Cupid, whatever it may be) to draw kids in for the stuff, the Easter candy, the easter eggs, and so on, again, it’s about balance, and maintaining that balance can be hard, but so important. Easter for us, we get up go to church, come home, have a nice meal, and color hard boiled eggs, and hide them for the kids, it’s simple, and yet just a little celebration. Again I agree with Tony, because Churches do want to draw people in, with their fun games and all, but there has got to be something there for the seeds to be planted, for several years the church we were at here, had a fall festival, and they had games set up, but each game had some sort of bible correlation to it… like the fishing game, they tied into some of the stories about Jesus, and the time he fed the people with the fish and so on. and at the end everyone gather around for give aways, and before they start the give aways a pastor comes up and does a little five minute talking about Jesus, and his freedom and then an alter call, and then they do the give aways. Anyways, now that I have posted an entirely too long comment… I personally feel it all comes back to balance, and maintaining the balance.
janamercier - November 1, 2010 at 3:45 pm |
My Mom just corrected me, she said she used to take me to Tallahassee Mall for candy as a young kid. I don’t even remember that. But that is a different story. haha.
oops. All of us girls thought different. lol
janamercier - November 1, 2010 at 6:25 pm |
Some interesting thoughts here. I have never celebrated Halloween personally, but based on some reasons given for not celebrating it, I would question why one would also choose to celebrate Christmas. The two holidays share similar origins, and Christmas, one could argue is worse than Halloween with an origin of worshipping and fear of false gods. http://www.history.com/topics/christmas
Thoughts?
portorikan - November 2, 2010 at 2:29 am |