BLUE VIEWPOINT
Why do "Christians" even celebrate this holiday?
The site at Wikipedia says this about Halloween:
Halloween or Hallowe'en (a contraction of All Hallows' Evening), also known as Allhalloween, All Hallows' Eve, or All Saints' Eve, is a celebration observed in a number of countries on 31 October, the eve of the Western Christian feast of All Hallows' Day and the Reformation Day. It begins the three-day observance of Allhallowtide, the time in the liturgical year dedicated to remembering the dead, including saints (hallows), martyrs, and all the faithful departed.
It is widely believed that many Halloween traditions originated from Celtic harvest festivals with pagan roots, particularly the Gaelic festival Samhain, and that this festival was much later Christianized as Halloween. Some academics, however, support the view that Halloween began independently as a solely Christian holiday. (site reference notes removed for readability)
As I mentioned on the main Holiday page, "in the definition above, the last paragraph tries to say that some "smart" people (academics) say that Halloween began as a Christian holiday. Wow. Wouldn't the average "dumb" guy like me think that a Christian holiday would mention things like God, church, love, happiness, and, oh yes, almost forgot, Christ"?
Now, not to get too Christian about this, but see if you can show me one mention of any sort of holiday in the Bible that celebrates the existence of demons, witches, spooks, ghosts, walking skeletons, and super-heroes. The site at TimeandDate.com says this about symbols of Halloween:
There are various symbols associated with Halloween. These include the spooks, ghosts and walking skeletons that represent the contact between the spiritual and physical world and between the living and the dead. Human figures that are often represented on Halloween are witches and wizards, who are seen to have the power to contact the spirit world. Bats, black cats and spiders are often connected with this holiday. These animals are associated with the night and darkness and often accompany witches and wizards.
There are also a range of objects associated with Halloween. These include blood, fire, gravestones, pumpkins, bones and skulls. They all have connections with death, the spirit world or protecting property from evil spirits. Many of these objects are now available in stores as decorations for the Halloween season.
What's the purpose?
To go one step further, what is the purpose of Halloween? Let's go to a Christian site and see what they say. First, let's try Bibleinfo and see what they say. Their first paragraphs state this:
What is Halloween?
The popularity of Halloween is growing exponentially. Americans spend over $5 billion dollars annually on Halloween, making it the country's second largest commercial holiday. In addition, a quarter of all annual candy sales occur during the Halloween season in the United States. What is it about Halloween that makes October 31 so popular? Perhaps it's the mystery--or just the candy? Perhaps the excitement of a new costume?
Whatever the draw, Halloween is here to stay. But what does the Bible say about it? Is Halloween wrong or evil? Are there any clues in the Bible as to whether a Christian should celebrate Halloween?
So, money, but what else...?
So, the first thing we find out is that a lot of people make money on it. Well, that alone is not necessarily evil, but is it Christian? The same site goes on to say:
Should Christians Celebrate Halloween?
As a logical thinking person, consider for a moment what you are celebrating and what Halloween is all about. Is the holiday uplifting? Is Halloween pure? Is it lovely, praiseworthy, or of good report? Philippians 4:8 says, "Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things." Is Halloween based on godly themes such as the idea of peace, freedom and salvation or does the holiday bring to mind feelings of fear, obsession and bondage?
Additionally, does the Bible sanction witchcraft, witches, and sorcery? On the contrary, the Bible makes it clear that these practices are an abomination to the Lord. The Bible goes on to say in Leviticus 20:27 that anyone who practiced witchcraft, soothsaying, sorcery should be killed. Deuteronomy 18:9-13 adds, "When you come into the land which the Lord your God is giving you, you shall not learn to follow the abominations of those nations. There shall not be found among you ... one who practices witchcraft, or a soothsayer, or one who interprets omens, or a sorcerer, or one who conjures spells, or a medium, or a spiritist, or one who calls up the dead. For all who do these things are an abomination to the Lord."
Ah, that's what I needed to know.
And finally, is it the wrong thing to do as a Christian? Again, from the same site we see:
Is it wrong to celebrate Halloween?
Let's look at what the Bible adds to this topic in Ephesians 5:11, "And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them." This text is calling us to not only have no association with any type of dark activity BUT ALSO to shed light upon this topic to those around us. As stated earlier in this article, Halloween was not exposed by the church for what it was, but rather was incorporated into church holy days. Are Christians responding in the same way today?
As you think about Halloween - its origins and what it stands for - would it be best to spend time dwelling upon its themes or to shed light upon what lies below the surface of this holiday's celebration. God is calling humanity to follow Him and to "come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing" (2 Corinthians 6:17).
These are all comments from the same site, but it goes to show that this is not the only "whacko" site out here that feels that God has given us some information and commands that nearly every Christian ignores to their own detriment. "Nearly every?", you ask?
Look around. In fact, are there Halloween decorations up at your church? Ask your pastor. He will assure you that this is not pagan worship. He will assure you that Christians are just trying to "Christianize" the "holiday" by introducing the people to Christ. He will tell you it doesn't hurt anyone. And the churches are buying this in droves, just like they do with Easter and Christmas. And what do they actually do in order to "Christianize" the "holiday? They give out candy instead of pointing out to the parents the inherent disobedience of the celebration. But, all you really have to do is ask that pastor where it is mentioned in the Bible.
Sure, it is hard to take a stand, but if you at least refuse to join in the "festivities"(turn out the porch lights and don't answer the door on that evening), at least people will get the idea that you, for some reason, do not join in. Then if any neighbor asks why you didn't, there is your chance to take a stand for the word of God. Otherwise, you are just paganizing your Christian values.
Disagree? Find an error? Contact us at glenjjr@gmail.com and give us your view.
