"Why All Good Christians Should Celebrate Halloween"

[annsni]

"The reason I propose that good Christians celebrate Halloween and stay home from the “Christian alternatives” is that Halloween is the only night of the year in our culture where lost people actually go door-to-door to saved people’s homes . . . and you’re down at the church hanging out with all your other good Christian friends having clean fellowship with the non-pagans."


http://betweenthetimes.com/2010/09/28/why-all-good-christians-should-celebrate-halloween/

 

[Zenas]

I never thought of it that way but you do have a good point. :thumbsup:

 

[annsni]

I never thought of it that way but you do have a good point. :thumbsup:

Yeah - I thought it was a different perspective although it's one that my husband has had for a while.

 

[SolaSaint]

Yeah, that's a good point, but I live in the country and never get any kids come by.

Also it's Reformation Day and that is what I celebrate.

 

[ktn4eg]

I suppose I'm a bad Christian since I don't celebrate Halloween.

I'm a single person whose shift is from 1600 to midnight.

I cannot recall anyone coming to my door on Halloween.

 

[lori4dogs]

I have never heard of anyone bringing up this point before other than knowing people who hand out age appropriate Christian tracts in addition to candy. It is an opportunity for outreach.

 

[Melanie]

31 October is the last Sunday in October so will be the Feast of Christ the King which is a big deal where I live and then the 1 November is All Saints followed by All Souls.

Most years where 31st October does not fall on a Sunday there would be a Vigil leading up to the Feast of All Saints.

Halloween has never been much in the Antipodes, though here in En Zed they adore Guy Fawks Night....usually wet so the bangers go fizzph rather than boom

 

[Thinkingstuff]

I think its wrong to celebrate Samhain. I don't care how you dress it up! Just like I think its wrong to celebrate Sol Invictus. So out goes October 31st and December 25th. October 31 was orignially celebrated over a period of several days marking the end of the lighter half of the year and the begining of the darker half of the year. Some scholars believe this was the begining of the next year in gaelic circles. The holiday is devoted to harvest festival and the festival of the dead. Bon fires were an essential part of the holiday and slaughtered cattle would often be thrown on these fires.

 

[menageriekeeper]

The holiday is devoted to harvest festival and the festival of the dead. Bon fires were an essential part of the holiday and slaughtered cattle would often be thrown on these fires.

Is there something wrong with celebrating the harvest? Is it not our God who gives the increase?

Remind me, who hold the keys to death? Has God not already won the victory?

Our halloween festivities look nothing like those of past years, when ignorance abounded. I have yet to slaughter any cattle. For us, halloween is a celebration of what Christ has accomplished; a celebration that we no longer have to fear these things that held our ancestors in such horrid bondage.

I think the OP has quite a good idea.

 

[annsni]

Actually, in my home, we'll be celebrating my son's 10th birthday on Halloween. Yep - he's my pumpkin. LOL I had a planned C-section and the doctor tried to get me scheduled on the 30th but the OR was booked so he asked me if the 31st was OK since he was going away on the 1st. I said that I didn't care - it was fine so now we have a Halloween birthday.

 

[menageriekeeper]

Awww, tell him happy birthday! (early)

 

[Thinkingstuff]

Is there something wrong with celebrating the harvest? Is it not our God who gives the increase?

Remind me, who hold the keys to death? Has God not already won the victory?

Our halloween festivities look nothing like those of past years, when ignorance abounded. I have yet to slaughter any cattle. For us, halloween is a celebration of what Christ has accomplished; a celebration that we no longer have to fear these things that held our ancestors in such horrid bondage.

I think the OP has quite a good idea.

EVIL. Samhain celebration of the dead wasn't a tribute to life but to the dead they gave food to the dead which the NT prohibits. Druids would sometimes ritually strangle a young man and throw them into a bog. ITS JUST EVIL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

like the DEVIL JUST D' EVIL

 

[annsni]

EVIL. Samhain celebration of the dead wasn't a tribute to life but to the dead they gave food to the dead which the NT prohibits. Druids would sometimes ritually strangle a young man and throw them into a bog. ITS JUST EVIL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

like the DEVIL JUST D' EVIL

Well, I guess I'll ditch our tradition of tossing Robby into the bog but instead will just give him orange cupcakes.

 

[menageriekeeper]

Thinkingstuff, really it was evil. But more than that, it was a sign of how in bondage to sin those people were. Only by the grace of God have we been saved from the same fate.

But since we have been saved our celebrations have been renewed for the glory of God who holds the keys to death and hell! We no longer fear those that can kill the body, but only He who can destroy both. We are no longer in bondage to those fears and traditions. PTL!

Well, I guess I'll ditch our tradition of tossing Robby into the bog but instead will just give him orange cupcakes.

Ann, that was just plain funny and I'm glad I wasn't drinking anything when I read it! :laugh:

 

[Thinkingstuff]

Thinkingstuff, really it was evil. But more than that, it was a sign of how in bondage to sin those people were. Only by the grace of God have we been saved from the same fate.

But since we have been saved our celebrations have been renewed for the glory of God who holds the keys to death and hell! We no longer fear those that can kill the body, but only He who can destroy both. We are no longer in bondage to those fears and traditions. PTL!



Ann, that was just plain funny and I'm glad I wasn't drinking anything when I read it! :laugh:

So ultimately, if we Christianize a holiday it makes the Holiday ok? Or if we Christianize a practice it becomes ok? So the Celebration of Samhain is ok if we focus the day on Christ and the celebration of Sol Invictus is ok if we dedicate it to the birth of Christ? Then if this is your reasoning all the things you blame on (in correctly btw) Constantine as where things went wrong with Christianity you yourself would have done?
Isn't there some inconsistancy with this?

 

[annsni]

I can honestly say that the vast majority of people who "celebrate" Halloween do not celebrate Samhain. You cannot celebrate that which you do not know. Instead, they are all celebrating a day of fun - of dressing up in costumes, getting some free candy, maybe making a little mischeif (yeah, some do more than that but it's a small percentage) and having fun with friends and neighbors.

I know that I'm going to be home that day after church. We're going to have candy to give out to the kids. We're going to exclaim over their costumes and say "Hi" to some neighbors we don't see a lot. Later that night, we'll have a family birthday for Robby (his friend birthday will be the day before) with those orange cupcakes. Our goal will be that God will be glorified in all that we do that day.

 

[Steven2006]

I can honestly say that the vast majority of people who "celebrate" Halloween do not celebrate Samhain. You cannot celebrate that which you do not know. Instead, they are all celebrating a day of fun - of dressing up in costumes, getting some free candy, maybe making a little mischeif (yeah, some do more than that but it's a small percentage) and having fun with friends and neighbors.

I know that I'm going to be home that day after church. We're going to have candy to give out to the kids. We're going to exclaim over their costumes and say "Hi" to some neighbors we don't see a lot. Later that night, we'll have a family birthday for Robby (his friend birthday will be the day before) with those orange cupcakes. Our goal will be that God will be glorified in all that we do that day.

You often save me from typing a lot. I just have to agree with you. :thumbsup:

 

[menageriekeeper]

So ultimately, if we Christianize a holiday it makes the Holiday ok? Or if we Christianize a practice it becomes ok?

When Christ Christianized us, what did we become?

What am I blaming Constatine for?

 

[Thinkingstuff]

When Christ Christianized us, what did we become?

I'm not saying you're making a relevant point. However, are you consistent? I mean if we're christianize then what's wrong with Orthodox and Catholic Statues? or prayer beads? Should be nothing right?

 

[Thinkingstuff]

I can honestly say that the vast majority of people who "celebrate" Halloween do not celebrate Samhain. You cannot celebrate that which you do not know. Instead, they are all celebrating a day of fun - of dressing up in costumes, getting some free candy, maybe making a little mischeif (yeah, some do more than that but it's a small percentage) and having fun with friends and neighbors.

I know that I'm going to be home that day after church. We're going to have candy to give out to the kids. We're going to exclaim over their costumes and say "Hi" to some neighbors we don't see a lot. Later that night, we'll have a family birthday for Robby (his friend birthday will be the day before) with those orange cupcakes. Our goal will be that God will be glorified in all that we do that day.

Well, I'm going to make a tabernacle in my home to the goddess Hera and christianize her make her less than a God and call her Mary and pray to her. Because in this day an age who really knows anything about Hera? I mean really? But since, I've re-dressed the goddess in Christian clothing it should be ok right?