As Christians living in this world today, we have so many "worldly" things that give us the task to decide whether or not to participate. I am a firm believer in researching and being intelligent about different things before automatically praising them or denouncing them.
This brings me to Halloween...Today is a day that is celebrated by thousands of children and adults all over. I believe that most children are getting excited and dressing up in the hopes of getting a basket full of candy and NOT to worship idols and participate in satanic rituals. However, this also reminds me, that soon, Brian and I, along with all parents out there will have the extreme responsibility to educate their children about the things of this world and remind them that Jesus does not want us to worship idols or to exist solely for the brief pleasures that we can get from this earth.
Therefore, as our children grow, it is our responsibility to let them know why people do the things they do and why certain traditions are practiced. Furthermore, I personally don't believe cutting a pumpkin open and putting a silly face on it is any different than decorating a pine tree in December or hanging a stocking above the fireplace. It is what is in your heart that matters the most!
Therefore, tonight, Brian and I will be passing out candy that has scripture verses attached to them, while also praying over the children that come to our doorstep, hoping that they will know
JESUS is the ONLY LIGHT THAT CAN BRING THEM OUT OF DARKNESS! As Christians, shutting our selves off from the world is never the right choice. We all must be individual lights in a world filled with darkness, not just on Halloween, but every day!
I pray all of you have safe and fun evenings tonight.
Blessings!
Here is some history on the tradition of Halloween found at
CBN.com -This information was sent out through our school email server.
"Hundreds of years before the birth of Christ, the Celts, inhabitants of Britain and Ireland, observed a festival on October 31. Unlike modern-day Halloween, theirs was no children’s holiday. The Celts and their priests, the Druids, celebrated Samhain, a festival that marked the eve of the Celtic New Year, which began on November 1.
The Celts believed that during Samhain the veil separating the living from the dead was at its thinnest. They believed that on the evening of October 31 evil spirits and the souls of the dead passed through the barrier and entered the world of the living. Departed family members would revisit their earthly homes.
The Celts believed these spirits and dead souls could torment the living. Crops might be destroyed, babies stolen, farm animals killed. But this was also an opportunity to commune with the spirits – and divine the future. The devil, the lord of darkness, was ordinarily feared, but during Samhain, his power would be called on to foretell the future.
The Druids were charged with appeasing the goblins and preventing harm to the people. Huge Samhain bonfires were lit to guide the way of the spirits. Various sacrifices – including human – were performed to assure a good year. Several ancient authors commented on the gory religious rites of the Druids. It is believed that, like many pagan cultures around the world, the Celts left food out for the spirits, hoping that a “treat” would prevent an evil “trick.”
Centuries later, descendants of the Celts continued to observe the Samhain festival by dressing as evil spirits. They roamed from house to house demanding food in exchange for the “spirits” leaving the home unharmed. They carved demon faces in hollowed-out turnips and lighted them with candles.
That night, they also practiced many customs designed to divine the future. Young people roasted nuts in Samhain fires to see which would crack first – and tell them who they would marry. The person who retrieved the apple by his mouth from a tub of water was assured of a lucky year. Obviously, some of these customs (like “apple bobbing”) have remained with us, strictly as amusement.
In the 700s, the Church decided to combat this festival by replacing it with a celebration of the Lord of life. Instead of honoring evil spirits and the souls of the dead, the Church chose to recognize the saints – or hallowed ones – who had lived godly lives. The Church seemed to be saying, “All right, if you must have a day to celebrate the dead, then celebrate those who died and are now with the Lord.”
So November 1 came to be called All Saints’ Day, also called All Hallows’ Day. The evening before was called All Hallows’ Evening. From that, we get the modern name of Halloween.
But pagan customs continued. And with the growth of witchcraft in the Middle Ages, additional symbols became associated with Halloween – black cats, witches, bats, and skulls.Irish immigrants in the mid-1800s brought to America the Halloween customs we’re familiar with – costumes, trick-or-treat, carved Jack-o-lanterns, etc. The Jack-o-lantern is simply an American version of the hollowed-out turnip, mentioned earlier. The pumpkin did not grow in Ireland, but in Britain. Unfortunately, they also brought “tricks” with them – which often involved breaking windows and over-turning sheds and outhouses.
Even though the practice of actually performing a trick if no treat is given has faded, the custom of children going “trick-or-treating” has become an established American tradition. Only in recent years have parents hesitated to send their children into the streets because of the increased danger of accidents, poisoned food, and menacing strangers.
Nonetheless, despite the dangers associated with trick-or-treating, Halloween is celebrated more than ever. In fact, the night is the second most popular party night of the year (after December 31) for “baby-boomer” adults. Many adults look at it as the one night of the year they can dress up and act foolish."
Read more @
CBN Halloween Special Another Perspective from Lori
D'Augostine at
CBN:
In Matthew 19:14 (NIV) Jesus instructed: "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these."
Did you ever wonder why Halloween seems to primarily feed off of a market of 3-13 year olds? This is a Satanic ploy for our children. I don't think that Christian children should completely abstain from the festivities of costumes and candy, because they can be a light through their alternative behavior. [I personally plan on dressing my children up in Biblical and God-honoring characters that will draw people to ask questions.]
I'm talking to those of you who will be opening up your door to children of whom you do not know the state of their soul. Consider the gift that you offer them at your doorstep.
Matthew 7:11 (NIV) says:
"If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask Him!"
Consider your options. There are many message-driven alternatives to offer, other than a bowl full of candy. For instance, there are Gospel tracts designed for trick-or-treaters that can be purchased online or at your Christian bookstore. You might also want to consider designing your own tracts or attaching scripture messages to the treats.
Scripture Candy, the makers of Fish Mints™ contain wrappers that have scriptural text. Also, EvangeCandy, "the only candy with color-coded Gospels on every wrapper" are fun for children.
This Halloween, spiritually invest in your neighborhood children and don't make the mistake that I have made of ignoring the doorbell. Please do not shut yourself off to this generation. You have a unique opportunity to invest in the Kingdom of God without even leaving your home. Suffer not these little children and consider how you can protect them from the hauntings of the Enemy."
Read the full article at Suffer Not the Trick-or-Treaters
The whole Team!
