Talking Halloween

[Running Gator]

On 7/30/2017 at 8:01 AM, Steve_K said:

Yeah, I know, its still July, but I've got a bug in my ear to talk about Halloween and share some thoughts.

I'm not going to cut and paste the entire history of Halloween because Wiki has all you need to know. BUT, suffice to say its a controversial topic among Christians.

Getting to the point, I don't have an issue with those churches or Christians who choose to have Halloween parties or go with the kids out to trick or treat. 

Paul said, (1st Cor. 6:12) "All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any."

We have freedom in Christ, from the law. And we are free to decide for ourselves what honors God in our lives and what doesn't. As Paul says. not everything I do may not be good for me. This is why I think its best to leave Halloween up to the individual conscience. Yeah I know,  Halloween is "evil", etc. But I'm not about to condemn someone to the abyss because their kid is in a Halloween costume. 

In my church. the kids are given Halloween candy but are taught about the Protestant Reformation and Martin Luther. I've always thought it was a great idea. So, there are ways to get around celebrating Halloween in the strictest sense.

Again, I just don't have a problem with kids being involved with Halloween activities.

 

Hi Steve,

   I have no issues with Halloween at all, I am of the mind that every day can be made the "Lord's Day" and that to surrender any day to the world is a victory for Satan.   There is no reason we cannot take Halloween make it a day to celebrate Jesus instead of hiding in our homes and churches and pretending it does not exist. 

  The last church I attended holds a "Trunk and Treat" every year as a safe alternative to children going house to house.  The parking lot is filled with cars with their trunks open and decorated in ways to celebrate our Lord Jesus.   Hot Dogs, pop corn and hot chocolate are all there for the taking.   Some years they do a bouncy house even.  Even though I no longer attend this church I still support this ministry with donations of candy and other supplies. 

   When I was there I was over the children's programs and this was a great way to get the word out to families that would have never come otherwise.  There are at least two set of parents that I know found Jesus thanks to their kids coming to Trunk and Treat and learning about our kids program and talking their parents into letting them come to them. 

  Our city also does a Halloween Parade and many churches have a float in this event with a bible theme.  Otherwise all anyone would see is things of this world.   The last year I was with the church we walked along the route with the float handing out bottles of water with a bible verse and our address attached to them.  People were so appreciative for the free water and word spread and we were the talk of the parade on Facebook and other places. 

Edited July 31, 2017 by Running Gator

[LadyKay]

8 hours ago, Abby-Joy said:

“Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.”

 I just don't think that dressing up in a silly costume and knocking on your neighbor's door asking for candy somehow goes against this passage of scripture. 

[George]

On 7/31/2017 at 0:06 AM, Blueyedjewel said:

Chomping at the bit to take a jab? Go for it. Knock yourself out.

Let's try to avoid jabs -- life is too short!    Though the Lord came full of truth -- he was also full of GRACE.   Let's try to be gracious to one another.

[Guest]

5 hours ago, George said:

Let's try to avoid jabs -- life is too short!    Though the Lord came full of truth -- he was also full of GRACE.   Let's try to be gracious to one another.

I agree with you 100%! I was responding to this comment that was misplaced conjecture in its entirety.

"You know that children who are brought up by parents who are obsessed with 'sin', are more likley to stray into sexual weirdness ,than those with a softer wiser guiding manner .  America is the capital of the world for pornography , but has the highest number or registered 'christians '.  "

[frienduff thaylorde]

23 hours ago, Blueyedjewel said:

I agree with you 100%! I was responding to this comment that was misplaced conjecture in its entirety.

"You know that children who are brought up by parents who are obsessed with 'sin', are more likley to stray into sexual weirdness ,than those with a softer wiser guiding manner .  America is the capital of the world for pornography , but has the highest number or registered 'christians '.  "

This is something so many no longer see.  Heck today its if you SAY you christain and SEEM FRIENDLY, by golly you are one.

American christains have waxed fat and kicked, for the most part.  THOUGH a few remain Loyal.   TO GOD and HIS KINGDOM ONLY.

You want to hear something sad.................a survey was done , if memory serves me correct, it was around two years ago.

IN mainline churches.   and it was a phone survey so I guess with out others watching they were free to be them honest selves.

But anyway.   the survey was based on two questions. NUMBER ONE , DO YOU SUPPORT gay marriage

Number two do you think even a pastor should be fined for NOT marrying them.

The percentage on number one will shock you.  now remember this was asked to Church goers.   the percent of number ones  question who said YES..........was almost SIXTY.

the percent on number too should shock many and also show , what I have been warning about is TRUE. WE WILL BE BETRAYED by even those who claim HIS name.

Was it ten percent who said they should be fined.......................NO SIRS and mams..........IT WAS BARLEY OVER FIFTY FIFTY FIFTY percent.  SHOWS TOLERANCE EHHH>

THESE WERE SO CALLED CHRISTAINS.

[frienduff thaylorde]

GUESS the hug em and don't correct BACKFIRED.   the church became AS THEM.

TIS WHY GOD SAYS..............DO NOT Be UNEQUALLY YOKED TOGETHER WITH UNBELEIVERS.    BUT SEEKER FRIENDLY ALL INCLUSIVE WON OUT IN THE CHURCHES.

[Guest Teditis]

I personally know plenty of ppl, who as children, went trick or treating and turned out to be fine, upstanding Christians.

It didn't harm them in the least.

[Guest]

3 minutes ago, frienduff thaylorde said:

This is something so many no longer see.  Heck today its if you SAY you christain and SEEM FRIENDLY, by golly you are one.

American christains have waxed fat and kicked, for the most part.  THOUGH a few remain Loyal.   TO GOD and HIS KINGDOM ONLY.

You want to hear something sad.................a survey was done , if memory serves me correct, it was around two years ago.

IN mainline churches.   and it was a phone survey so I guess with out others watching they were free to be them honest selves.

But anyway.   the survey was based on two questions. NUMBER ONE , DO YOU SUPPORT gay marriage

Number two do you think even a pastor should be fined for NOT marrying them.

The percentage on number one will shock you.  now remember this was asked to Church goers.   the percent of number ones  question who said YES..........was almost SIXTY.

the percent on number too should shock many and also show , what I have been warning about is TRUE. WE WILL BE BETRAYED by even those who claim HIS name.

Was it ten percent who said they should be fined.......................NO SIRS and mams..........IT WAS BARLEY OVER FIFTY FIFTY FIFTY percent.  SHOWS TOLERANCE EHHH>

THESE WERE SO CALLED CHRISTAINS.

Im not surprised at all!  LIBERTY!    Grace has been perverted.  Many are aligning with the world or never left it! Their hearts dictate that there may have  never been a conversion.   Why arent their consciences being pricked? 

 

Galatians 5:13
For you, brothers, were called to freedom; but do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh. Rather, serve one another in love.

People who stay in the world  have no idea who God is. They are not reverent to the Sovereign LORD!! They walk the broad road.  Well scripture tells us that few make it and the road is narrow. We are a peculiar people. That means we dont do as the world does.  

Proverbs 9:10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.

Today,walking a narrow road of obedience and reverence has been defined as LEGALISM to those who pervert the grace of the Lord.  Glorifying the LORD in all we do has gone out the window with MANY. How many stumble because "christians" look the same as the world? 

 

This issue with halloween is a fine example. I find those who are liberal in some areas are liberal in alot of areas!  Why arent they convicted of  winking at participating in satans holiday? Somehow teaching children about halloween being rooted in evil is legalistic ! Somehow goblins and witches are harmless. Oh but if you change those costumes to a disney costume or batman  it isnt so bad ?  Are they celebrating on a day that is glorifying the LORD?  

Jude 1: 3Beloved, although I made every effort to write you about the salvation we share, I felt it necessary to write and urge you to contend earnestly for the faith entrusted once for all to the saints. 4For certain men have crept in among you unnoticed — ungodly ones who were designated long ago for condemnation.They turn the grace of our God into a license for immorality, and they deny our only Masterand Lord, Jesus Christ.

?For whatpartnership can righteousness have withwickedness? Or what fellowship does light have with darkness? 15What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? 

Ephesians 5:11
Have no fellowship with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them.

1 John 1:6
If we say we have fellowship with Him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.

 

 

[LadyKay]

7 minutes ago, Teditis said:

I personally know plenty of ppl, who as children, went trick or treating and turned out to be fine, upstanding Christians.

It didn't harm them in the least.

ME! RIGHT HERE ME! 

[LadyKay]

1 hour ago, frienduff thaylorde said:

This is something so many no longer see.  Heck today its if you SAY you christain and SEEM FRIENDLY, by golly you are one.

American christains have waxed fat and kicked, for the most part.  THOUGH a few remain Loyal.   TO GOD and HIS KINGDOM ONLY.

You want to hear something sad.................a survey was done , if memory serves me correct, it was around two years ago.

IN mainline churches.   and it was a phone survey so I guess with out others watching they were free to be them honest selves.

But anyway.   the survey was based on two questions. NUMBER ONE , DO YOU SUPPORT gay marriage

Number two do you think even a pastor should be fined for NOT marrying them.

The percentage on number one will shock you.  now remember this was asked to Church goers.   the percent of number ones  question who said YES..........was almost SIXTY.

the percent on number too should shock many and also show , what I have been warning about is TRUE. WE WILL BE BETRAYED by even those who claim HIS name.

Was it ten percent who said they should be fined.......................NO SIRS and mams..........IT WAS BARLEY OVER FIFTY FIFTY FIFTY percent.  SHOWS TOLERANCE EHHH>

THESE WERE SO CALLED CHRISTAINS.

I thought this was the Halloween thread how did we get on gay marriage?