Halloween has become the second highest consumer spending holiday in America, passed up only by Christmas. People buy decorations for the rooms in their home, decorations for the outside of their home, costumes, candy and if they host a halloween party, they have additional expenses.
The treatment of halloween varies among Christians. Many recognize the pagan roots of this holiday and choose not to do anything to celebrate or recognize a day dedicated to things that oppose God. Other Christians are unaware of its origins or background and participate in the activities that interest them. Some Christians are aware of halloween's background, but feel that what is celebrated today is dressing up in fun, festive characters and going trick or treating.They believe the pagan roots no longer bear any significance or hold over their participation.
So, which view is correct? Is it a pagan holiday that Christians should not participate or okay because it has become just a fun day? Yes. The answer is yes.
Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ addressed a similar situation among the Christians in Rome. Some considered one day more holy than another and others were convinced to not eat meat as a sign of holiness. Paul writes that their convictions should be something that is lived out for the Lord and not as a point of judging one another.
Romans 14:6,14
6 Whoever regards one day as special does so to the Lord. Whoever eats meat does so to the Lord, for they give thanks to God; and whoever abstains does so to the Lord and gives thanks to God.
14 I am convinced, being fully persuaded in the Lord Jesus, that nothing is unclean in itself. But if anyone regards something as unclean, then for that person it is unclean.
Our family and church chooses to invade the darkness surrounding halloween by handing out candy, bibles and child appropriate gospel tracts to trick-or-treaters.
Whether you turn off the lights on halloween or advance the light - do it all for the Lord!
The treatment of halloween varies among Christians. Many recognize the pagan roots of this holiday and choose not to do anything to celebrate or recognize a day dedicated to things that oppose God. Other Christians are unaware of its origins or background and participate in the activities that interest them. Some Christians are aware of halloween's background, but feel that what is celebrated today is dressing up in fun, festive characters and going trick or treating.They believe the pagan roots no longer bear any significance or hold over their participation.
So, which view is correct? Is it a pagan holiday that Christians should not participate or okay because it has become just a fun day? Yes. The answer is yes.
Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ addressed a similar situation among the Christians in Rome. Some considered one day more holy than another and others were convinced to not eat meat as a sign of holiness. Paul writes that their convictions should be something that is lived out for the Lord and not as a point of judging one another.
Romans 14:6,14
6 Whoever regards one day as special does so to the Lord. Whoever eats meat does so to the Lord, for they give thanks to God; and whoever abstains does so to the Lord and gives thanks to God.
14 I am convinced, being fully persuaded in the Lord Jesus, that nothing is unclean in itself. But if anyone regards something as unclean, then for that person it is unclean.
Our family and church chooses to invade the darkness surrounding halloween by handing out candy, bibles and child appropriate gospel tracts to trick-or-treaters.
Whether you turn off the lights on halloween or advance the light - do it all for the Lord!
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