Is not celebrating Halloween a matter of conscience or sin?

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Thomas_Goodwin

Puritan Board Freshman
I am personally convicted of it being sin, however I do know some brothers and sisters in Christ who celebrate. How should I remain loving and caring to my brothers and sisters without being a whitewashed tomb while also being firm where I need to be firm. In other words is this issue a matter of conscience.
 
Given the chance (i.e. I'm not spoiling for a fight) I'll ask, "Why celebrate death when it is the enemy?" It's kind of like new believers (or the new-to-the-reformed-perspective) talking about the NFL. I'm not going to jump up and say: "You lawless heathen!" though if asked about my favorite team I'll mention the Georgia Bulldogs because they play on Saturdays. Now I definitely consider Halloween candy meat sacrificed to idols. The day after, I'll buy up stuff on sale and declare a candy day in the house.
 
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Hi Thomas, please create a signature per PB rules. You can click on the signature link below and follow the directions to create one.
 
Practically, are there any clashes with other Christians due to your convictions? They send kids your way to get candy?
 
Given the chance (i.e. I'm not spoiling for a fight) I'll ask, "Why celebrate death when it is the enemy?" It's kind of like new believers (or the new-to-the-reformed-perspective) talking about the NFL. I'm not going to jump up and say: "You lawless heathen!" though if asked about my favorite team I'll mention the Georgia Bulldogs because they play on Saturdays. Now I definitely consider Halloween candy meat sacrificed to idols. The day after, I'll buy up stuff on sale and declare a candy day in the house.
I'm not fighting or arguing in any way friend, I would just be curious to know why you think those celebrating Halloween are celebrating death? Our family does Halloween, and we don't think about death at all. We wear innocent costumes, receive candy, have fun with spooky stories, carve pumpkins, and stuff like that.

In my studies I have understood the Bible in commanding us to avoid darkness, as speaking of sin, like sexual immorality, greed, and other sins. Not a fun holiday done in innocence.

Just my thoughts :)
 
I am personally convicted of it being sin, however I do know some brothers and sisters in Christ who celebrate. How should I remain loving and caring to my brothers and sisters without being a whitewashed tomb while also being firm where I need to be firm. In other words is this issue a matter of conscience.
Think of it like any other American social day. Valentine’s day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving.

I view Halloween as a day that we can take break from our lives spent huddled in our houses and get out and meet our neighbors. It’s socially acceptable to go door to door, greet your neighbors, meet your neighbors, and hand out a gift to their children.

To me, notwithstanding the “dark” theme of the day, it’s somewhat needed in our society.
 
I suppose the question that must be answered is this: Can you truly separate the now purely social event of present-day Halloween from its dark origins? The same question must be asked of Christmas, as well, in my estimation. I would imagine that both sides of this debate recognize that Halloween in most communities, as celebrated by most people, is purely social. The disagreement, I think, lies in whether the day can ever really be separated from its origins.
 
I suppose the question that must be answered is this: Can you truly separate the now purely social event of present-day Halloween from its dark origins? The same question must be asked of Christmas, as well, in my estimation. I would imagine that both sides of this debate recognize that Halloween in most communities, as celebrated by most people, is purely social. The disagreement, I think, lies in whether the day can ever really be separated from its origins.
What I've been taught is that there isn't any real evidence to trace Halloween back to any sort of origins with certainty. That the history is basically speculation and the dots can't be connected in regards to how we got to today with the holiday.

Have you heard otherwise?
 
One person in my neighborhood had this big demonic looking grim reaper holding a child up, lifting up off the ground with two hands clenched. Reminds me somewhat of the worthless idol molek
 
Pretty sure Halloween’s the devil, but Xmas is even worse with its pretense of being about holy matters.

- p.s. candy corn is keen
 
I can understand the fun of cute costumes, etc., and kids certainly get excited about dressing up. So many of the themes revolve around skeletons, ghosts, the macabre, gravestones, etc. The ideas of witches and witchcraft are certainly in the realm of what the scriptures prohibit. When I ask questions about this event, it should encourage people to think rather than just blindly go along with the practice.

It just now popped to mind that as Christians, we have such a different view of the body even in death. The person in the grave is no less the person that walked the earth except for the odd state of having the physical and spirit separated. We know that Christ is still united with us, even in death, and we have such a hope of the resurrection. The undead, disturbed spirits, etc. are such distortions of these truths.
 
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What I've been taught is that there isn't any real evidence to trace Halloween back to any sort of origins with certainty. That the history is basically speculation and the dots can't be connected in regards to how we got to today with the holiday.

Have you heard otherwise?
Then you my friend, have not read the Chick tract, cleverly titled 'Boo'.:)
 
Given the chance (i.e. I'm not spoiling for a fight) I'll ask, "Why celebrate death when it is the enemy?" It's kind of like new believers (or the new-to-the-reformed-perspective) talking about the NFL. I'm not going to jump up and say: "You lawless heathen!" though if asked about my favorite team I'll mention the Georgia Bulldogs because they play on Saturdays. Now I definitely consider Halloween candy meat sacrificed to idols. The day after, I'll buy up stuff on sale and declare a candy day in the house.
You eschew celebration of death and darkness, yet you intentionally watch and root for the Georgia Bulldogs?:eek:
 
We do not celebrate Halloween, however, we do hand out candy and sometimes tracts (not chick) and watch movies about the Reformation or Martin Luther or something similar through the week.

On another note my 13 year old son went to school dressed as Martin Luther today. :)
 
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You eschew celebration of death and darkness, yet you intentionally watch and root for the Georgia Bulldogs?:eek:
Well, I guess if you had to stare across the line of scrimmage at that defense you'd have to embrace destructive forces.
 
I don't know. All I was saying is that such a question is perhaps one of the central ones that must be asked and answered.
And what if the origins are not so dark?

There are a lot of misconceptions about the origins of Hallowe'en. Any close connection with the ancient Irish Samhain, for instance, is tenuous.
 
Please excuse my typos as I have been doing voice to text. For me, it is a matter of looking at the principles the Bible teaches in regards to Halloween. Sin is wrong. So any Halloween activities that involve sin are automatically wrong. Sexual immorality, drunkenness, mischief, etc. The Bible also condemns witchcraft and sorcery, so these things must be avoided as well. Then there is possibly the topic of glorification of death and horror. These things I avoid as well. As far as the origins, I have been taught that there really is not enough evidence to say this holiday comes from something evil, and that its practices come from evil origins. I know this is all debatable stuff, but in regards to the original post, I would not be quick to label this as sin.
 
As far as the origins, I have been taught that there really is not enough evidence to say this holiday comes from something evil, and that its practices come from evil origins.
I thought it was pretty well established that "All Hallows Eve" preceded "All Hallows Day." The RC church, at least in many locations, celebrated that day as a day to honor the souls who finally got to leave purgatory.

Which, of course, led to all other sorts of superstitions depending upon where one lived.
 
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