Halloween!! The worst time of the year !!

I think it is obvious why it is wrong, and it is no surprise to me that Halloween derived from the Roman Catholic Church.

However, every year Christians go into panic mode because Halloween is right around the corner. While I am all for praying against the evil things of this world, I personally do not get my shorts in a knot over Halloween. I do not think churches have any business hosting or condoning Halloween parties, but I have no problem with harvest parties as an alternative. In many churches the kids dress up like Bible characters. There is nothing wrong with that. I have a 3 year old son who runs around wearing a cape, a football helmet, rubber boots and a toy sword on a daily basis. Kids like to play dress-up.

Should kids participate in Trick-or-Treat? No, I dont think so because that did derive from pagan origins. Not to mention it isnt safe in our sick society for kids to go door to door and get candy. Should they dress up like monsters and ghosts? No... we should be thinking things that are holy and pure.

Should they dress up like Moses and go on a hay ride? Yea, why not? Knock yourself out.

Should adult believers panic about Satan having a night where he goes wild? Hey... I watch the news everyday and I dont think he is anymore active on October 31 than he is any other day! But God is still on the throne, and He rules my heart. Satan is powerless over me. I will always pray against the devil, and against the evil of this world... but I wont get myself into a tizzy because Oct 31 is 2 weeks away.

I'm just asking for a little balance and reasonableness.

Krispy

oh I concur!! Lord knows i concur.

How I loathe halloween.

this year it falls on tuesday, Praise God, thats during my "weekend", and I intend on staying in.

Look at all the stores, with their enormous displays of stuff.

But lemme just say what holidays I love, obviously Christmas and Easter, as days of the faith......

But there are two "American" holidays that are my personal favorites that we can link up WITH the faith......Independence Day, the 4th of July, and Thanksgiving.

Independence from darkness, during the warm summer, have a nice meal, family time, think of God's blessings that we can read WHAT we want, worship WHO we want, a blessed time. Patriotic displays, either fireworks or gunplay (safe gunplay) Independence from tryanny, and that can include, independence from sin and the deeds of darkness.

Thanksgiving: thankful to God for all that He has given us, His redeeming Blood, and generous provision, oh to eat, and eat heartily. Praise God that my dear son is flying in ON Thanksgiving!! can't wait...and you know why the lad is flying ON the day? coz he wants the perfect attendance award, doesnt want to miss ONE day of school! I love that spirit, the boy wants me to make duck this year...ok, I will.

Tell ya what the "holidays" I think are positively dark and depraved.

halloween, st patricks day and new years eve..

telling ya bro, I stay buried up in the house during those three evenings...let the devil take the hindmost on those days, all the amateur drunks are out that night....yeeek...street preachers and evangelists, go get 'em, minister to them, and my prayer is that the Lord shield and protect you all with love.

"harvest parties?" God bless the churches that engage in such an outreach, but i dont feel anykind of leading this way. My church in Cali would do a "harvest party" and I would work it, just to be in submission to pastor Ted, and they would do it as an outreach, but something in my heart just felt ........I dunno....lets put it this way, I wasnt DRAWN to such a ministry.

Squid

God bless you, great idea!!

But soemthing in the Spirit tells me you bake an awesome corn muffin.....why would I know that?

lol.

why not give 'em a corn muffin, or cookie in Jesus' love with a tract?(coz I know you bake great cookies too, tell me if I'm wrong..)

but loved sister, as the Lord leads you, but thanks for the leading, I just went to American Tract Society and bought this item, they assure me it will be here in time for that accursed "holiday"......

[url=http://shop2.gospelcom.net/epages/atsdirect.storefront/4533a61d000139a6271d45579e7c0631/Product/View/60920]link[/url]

([i]*Moderator note- Shrunk this url down as it was causing the page to go 'wide'[/i])

I am going to give the wee ones a bit of candy, just coz I have a boy and I know how they love candy.

much much love to you in Christ, bartle

While I am agreement that we should not celebrate Halloween (as I probably didnt get across too clearly in my first post. I was merely trying to point out the absurd level of panic among believers about Halloween)... I would like to point out that along about December 1st there will be a thread or five started that will inform us that we are wrong to celebrate Christmas (a holiday rooted in paganism and popularized by the Roman Catholic Pagan Church).

If one holiday rooted in paganism is wrong, why arent they all wrong?

(I love Christmas, by the way... what are y'all getting me???)

:-)

Krispy

I would like to point out that along about December 1st there will be a thread or five started that will inform us that we are wrong to celebrate Christmas (a holiday rooted in paganism and popularized by the Roman Catholic Pagan Church

oh no. really? Lord have mercy.

I'm gonna be alone on Christmas, so maybe I'm just gonna spend the whole day worshipping the Lord and His birth...AND not participate in those threads.....

squid

Halloween: I've decided not to hide in my basement with my lights out while the wee ones come knocking on my door. I'm gonna treat them all to a big fat juicy apple and a sticker, a big smile, and some conversation. Demons go a way, because I love the kids in my village - they are precious in HIS sight.

Amen...!! That is how we should respond to Halloween!

Think of it this way... the mission field is coming right to your door! It's better than the JW's or Mormons! Instead of burying your heads under your couch cushions, be a light in the darkness!

Krispy

Well... I live back in the woods. We [i]might[/i] get one trick-or-treater. I'm not planning to do anything different that evening than any other evening. We're taking the kids to a homeschool harvest party that our county homeschool association is having on that Saturday... and it's not a dress up thing. Just activities and a nice cookout style dinner... hotdogs etc.

Krispy

and thank you for the encouragement regarding my dear boy, May the Lord protect him today. I miss him so bad, it hurts, deeply.

Thats the advice his mother in California gave to me, get the duck from Chinatown. so your the second person thats told me that, (maybe the third, sometimes my elevator doesnt go to the top floor when I hit "penthouse"...lol)

I'll take it as a word of Godly advice, and that day I will pray for you and your family also.

two ducks...why not? just splurge.

God bless you is my prayer,
bartle in chicago

yep, that's probably the soundest advice I'd ever given to anyone my entire life ! them delicious crispy ducks !!

Ummm... shouldnt that be... [b]krispy[/b] ducks??

LOL

Krispy

I'm just wondering if their is anyone here who has the problem of halloween in thier church other than mine? Our youth pastor dresses up as frankenstien and his wife dresses like Bat Woman and their not the only ones. It's really sick....

Nellay wrote:

Rivqah,

Your Pastor is allowing this.
Since you said it was the Youth Pastor and his wife.
There is a Pastor over him.
It is called bringing the World into the Church.
Father, help us all.
God Bless
Nellie

I realize that but it's good to be reminded.

Miccah wrote:

Rivqah wrote:

I'm just wondering if their is anyone here who has the problem of halloween in thier church other than mine? Our youth pastor dresses up as frankenstien and his wife dresses like Bat Woman and their not the only ones. It's really sick....

Respectfully, what does this tell you about the leadership that allows this to take place under their authority?

Oh, sorry I missed your post brother, Miccah. That's what I would like to know. I guess only God knows the heart but how one deals with these issues is another story. I think a youth leader dressing like frankenstien is a bit pushing it and your right it's the leadership who voted him in even after my husband wrote them a letter.

Nelli and ginnyrose,

Speaking of screwing up the spelling on peoples names I really picked this Hebrew spelling of the name "Rebecca" because it was the only one available on SI, it turns out it was the right one.:-) I didn't know that was how you spelled Rebecca.

I would like to read up more on this but I guess that's another thread. There is actually a youtube video called "Rivqah". Ha, Ha....

My kids like to hand out candy and tracts when people come to the door.

Sometimes they also go door to door, and hand out tracts when they are given candy.

It is an exciting time of year for them, because they love these other kids and find the opportunity compelling.

everything about halloween scares her terrifically.

Well, that's not hard to understand.

God wants to mature us emotionally and spiritually before He sends us into the "rat holes" of life to reach people with His love.

Everyone runs to their church building on Halloween. You're not going to find the lost in church. Actually, that is not quite true is it? Most of the church is full of lost people.

Ok, what I meant is you don't find the adulterers, drug addicts, alcoholics, blasphemers, etc, in the church.

Ooops, I am gonna stand corrected on that one, too. That is exactly what todays' church looks like.

I have an idea. Forget the Halloween tracts for the church people (because they are not taken in by that wicked Halloween stuff). On Halloween, leave the little "satanic" people alone and let them go from house to house doing their trick or treating, and we can get tracks on adultery, gossip, slander, backbiting, covetousness, anger, blaspheming, greed, pride, etc., and bring them to our churches Oct 31 party instead. I'm sure the church leadership will really appreciate and commend your evangelical and loving attitude to reach lost people.

And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted. Luke 18:9-10

your right, it is a great time to hand out tracks and show the love of Jesus. I do it too. But I still hate the day. A good day to be praying and let our light shine as the Lord brings people to us

Yes, I quite agree. I don't particularly like the day either, but what a great opportunity. They are actually coming to my house to take things I want to give them. I have had many great comments on the tracts when I hand out them out with a chocolate bar.

I don't particularly like St. Patty's Day either or Mardi Gras but it is a great opportunity to go out on the streets and talk to people too.

I once joined a bunch of Christians (100's) from other states in what was called SOS San Francisco. Maybe some of the old timers here will remember that. We all went to SF to witness for the entire week of Gay Pride Week right there on Polk/Castro intersection and fanned out from there. Intense does not describe it. We probably spent at least 10 hours a day on the streets. You want to see something that is absolutely revolting, go there and try telling them about the love of Jesus. I may share experiences later. Anyway, makes Halloween look like a walk in the park. I guess it is all about your reference point.

My wife has gone to Mardi Gras to witness. Same thing as SOS SF. Absolutely decadent. She and I, separately for each of these outreaches spent 2 months in prayer and fasting before going. You don't just do something like this without preparing (it's war) first in prayer.

Come to think of it, you should not try living in this world for the Lord, without prayer and sometimes fasting.

Well, tonights the night. I may even dress up as a Pilgrim.

Pilgrim

If I was going to hand out tracts, I'd still have a little fun with it and put something on, something clowny (don't need much, I am scary as it is). But the tract thing is really a neat idea, I never thought of that. We usually do up baggies of candy and adding a tract in there is absolutely neat.

Even though this is just candy, this is one of those yearly celebrations that kids that don't have anything can get something for free. I remember my Mother telling me when she grew up in abject poverty, that she was so thankful as a child to be able to go out and get candy from house to house (she still has her teeth).

The scripture tells us to give thanks in ALL THINGS through Christ our Lord.

Now does, "All" mean "All". In this scripture, a hearty amen.

Yep, this afternoon, my kids will be putting english tracts and spanish tracts in sandwich bags along with a choice and high quality piece of candy.

There are some real creative tracts out there, too.

Here are some links for next year.

One Million Tracts
http://www.onemilliontracts.com/

Gospel Tracts
http://www.mwtb.org/pages/home.php

Chick Tracts
http://www.chick.com

And basically, just google "Christian Tracts"

You can always write up something yourself and if you are a good artist can draw something that might peak someone's interest. The Holy Spirit is very creative.

this thread originated in 2006...which for some reason i find amusing...i dont know why, but i do.

myself, i ignore halloween, and since, like former Vice President Cheney, i live in a bunker at an undisclosed location, the wee ones dont ring, though i love them, and pray that the LORD mark each and very one of them, "HOLY UNTO THE LORD".

churches hold "harvest parties", which i try not to judge, though as the Spirit leads, gives me pause. Something off about that all, but who am i to question any outreach?

I read only a few posts, and i enjoyed Pilgrim's testimony about his days in San Francisco. indeed, that must have been 'intense'.

oh, i bless God for any saint that is led and can minister in the cities, as i long for the desolate area's, rural.

there is one feast i love, always have, the Feast of Booths, Succoth.

some of these "national holidays" really make me cringe, New Years Eve, "St. Patricks" day, and halloween, all excuses to engage in prodigous liquor consumption, mayhem and violence, but i do Bless God that there are saints called to be salt and light amongst these hellish evenings, may God protect them all.

Merry Christmas everybody!