Halloween...ack.

Tis the season for discussions concerning whether or not we celebrate Halloween.  I honestly don’t care what other people do with their families.  I don’t care what your reasons are for celebrating the holiday.  I have heard several reasons why it is alright for Christian families to celebrate the holiday. …it is just a holiday to have fun and dress up…there is no harm in doing this.  As long as we keep it kid-friendly, it is o.k.  Our church does it, so it must be o.k.  Again, I don’t care what you do.  I am hoping you have made the best decision for your family.  For our family, Sean and I, have decided that it is best that we don’t celebrate the holiday.  So I don’t ramble, I am going to break up our reasons in numbered form.

1.      Most holidays that we celebrate, Halloween, Easter, Christmas all have pagan roots.  However with the holidays Christmas and Easter there are some Christian roots…mostly pagan, but some Christian roots and these holidays can open people’s eyes and lead them to salvation.  Halloween…what does that lead one to?  Hmmmm….not sure.

2.   It is all just fun and games?  I love watching my kids play dress up.  I really do think it would be a fun thing to put together costumes for our kids.  I can picture myself sewing a cool costume and showing it off to friends and family.  Taking lots of pictures.  My kids love to play dress up and I am sure they would have tons of fun going out in public in costume…and better yet get a ton of candy.  So what happens when they are beyond that innocent kid stage?  So do we slowly let them go to parties without us?  Do we say…well you are mature enough, go ahead and wear that demonic costume…you can make your own decisions now.  What do you say when they get older?  When does it stop being kid friendly and move over to the demonic, satanic roots of witches, goblins, ghosts, blood, and ghore?  You know it does.  So at what age…10, 11, 12? 

 3.  My parents let me celebrate Halloween.  I think I turned out ok.  So bad example, but let me tell you some horrible things that I witnessed when I was growing up.  My parents read this blog and will be mortified after reading this.  They trusted me when I went over to my friends’ house for Halloween parties.  They especially trusted me when my friends  were from believing homes, but would you believe that some of those Halloween get togethers---at Christian homes-- - involved Ouija boards...involved games such as light as a feather, stiff as a bone…and their parents bought these games and watched us do them.  I did not take part….I was sick to my stomach that my friends did.  I made it through “the tunnel” but some of my old friends have gone down hill from there.  I am talking about things that happened when I was 11 years old.....11!

  4.  The Bible does not speak of Halloween…the Bible doesn’t cover every single holiday out there..4^th of July, Thanksgiving, Presidents day etc., but it does say quiet a few things about witches, sorcery, demonic activities:

Ephesians 5:7-12:
Don't participate in the things these people do. For though your hearts were once full of darkness, now you are full of light from the Lord, and your behavior should show it! For this light within you produces only what is good and right and true.  Try to find out what is pleasing to the Lord. Take no part in the worthless deeds of evil and darkness; instead, rebuke and expose them. It is shameful even to talk about the things that ungodly people do in secret.

     Leviticus 19:31:  

    “Do not turn to mediums or necromancers; do not seek them out, and so make yourselves unclean by them: I am the Lord your God.  

2 Corinthians 11:14-15: 

And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. 15 So it is no surprise if his servants, also, disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their deeds.

Deuteronomy 18:10-12
Never sacrifice your son or daughter as a burnt offering. And do not let your people practice fortune-telling or sorcery, or allow them to interpret omens, or engage in witchcraft, or cast spells, or function as mediums or psychics, or call forth the spirits of the dead. Anyone who does these things is an object of horror and disgust to the Lord.

But we should:  Phillipians 1:27—Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind, striving side by side for the faith of the gospel.

         5.  Our church does it...so it has to be ok.  I hear that a lot.  Our church doesn't have any type of Halloween festival...no one celebrates the holiday, but think about it...most  people do celebrate...so if a church, especially with paid staff, chooses to not celebrate the holiday, and not do something....it would be going against the common practices of their members.  Members = money at most churches.  Members = jobs if their is a paid staff.  Doing what most people are in favor of = members.  So if you church decided it was the cool thing to only wear white...would you go along with it?  I know a silly example, but just because your church says jump...don't ask "how high?"  Think about what it means to your family. Your kids.  Not the common good of your church.

6.   So what is so good about witches, demonic activities, voodoo, skeletons, people dressing up as to what they think Satan looks like, blood, ghore?  I will let you answer that question yourself.  Remember your kids will grow up.

Lovely...huh?

Ok…again, I want to stress…I don’t care what you do.  Well I do kind of.  But I am trusting you have made the best decision for your family, based on your faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and understanding of the Bible…or lack of understanding.  If you do celebrate the Halloween, pray that your kids aren’t led astray, especially as they get older.  Pray some more….and more.   It is a tough world out there.  I know it is hard to not do something, because everyone else is doing it.  If you know me…we beat to our own drummer here.  Don’t do things that EVERYONE else does, if you are finding conviction in heart.  I am not ashamed to tell our reasons for not doing something….that is just me.  I know it is harder for other people to explain to others their beliefs…so they just go along.  

Also, don’t feel weird about showing me pictures of your cuties in their costumes…I should take some pictures of my kids in their everyday dress up clothes…oh wait, I already do.