To Halloween with my Opinion
My Opinion on Halloween…for what its worth?
{Before I give my full opinion on this matter let me preface this post with the fact that I know that there are many feelings and other opinions on this subject than mine and I am not trying to sway anyone any way. On the contrary I hope this brings some new views on this for some people and a greater ability to have grace on those with different opinions and reduce the outright condemnation that believers put on other believers because there is a difference.}
Now onto my opinion. The origins of Halloween is easy to find, though it is a blend of several cultures the origin of the rituals from these cultures in not fully known. So if you have a computer and the amazingness of the world wide web you can check the details out for your self (try www.wikipedia.org its 89% more accurate than the Encyclopedia Britannica) . However at the core of its origins it is an evil holiday based out of pagan worship and rituals. It is very commercialized and westernized, it’s a Hallmark holiday of the ancient celebrations. Its origins and core are from the worship of false gods and idols. So what does the Word of God say about things used to worship idols and false gods?
When the Apostle Paul is speaking in 1Corinthians 8:1-13 (for the sake of our time please visit this set of verses on your own) he paints an amazing picture of believers doing what some other believers might view as evil, wicked or sinful…. eating things offered to idols. Paul knew fully well of all the pagan acts, ceremonies and rituals that would have been preformed over that food in the act of offering it to the false god / idol. Yet he says, “we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is no other God but one. For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as there are many gods and many lords), yet for us there is one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we for Him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, through whom are all things, and through whom we live.” Simply put, even if it was offed to an idol in some demonic or pagan ritual know that it doesn’t matter because the idol is not a god; we serve and live for and are alive through the only God, so eat up.
BUT, “some with the consciousness of the idol eat it as a thing offered to an idol; and their conscience is defiled.” In other words you view the idol as something and to food having been made evil or bad to eat that because of the idol than don’t eat it. And for those who are fine with the food don’t let your liberty become an offense to your brother. Because even though you know that the idol is nothing your brother will perish.
The problem I see is not with Halloween itself, its when most believers begin to look at the precious little kids and their parents as participating in pagan worship, seeing them as the costumes they are wearing and not being able to see that they are people. The second problem I see is that again most believers who disagree with any participation of the “Halloween” holiday in America view those believers who participate in any way as evil and joining in some act of pagan worship. Which is farthest from the truth! And this is where all the condemnation comes in. If you dress up, attend a “Harvest Party”, or are out of your house doing just about anything your participating in something bad. Well, in my opinion this is one of the best days in our 365 day year to be “in the world but not of it”.
My opinion is that I wouldn’t take my kids door to door trick-or-treating, however I will not condem or belittle other brothers or sisters who do (Romans 12:9-21). I will let my kids dress up and handout candy, hot chocolate and hot dogs to the community. I will let them know we are Christians, we love them, and just because they celebrate Halloween we don’t think there are some pagan worshipers. I will be all things to all people that some might be reached. I will lead my family in the quest to reconcile the world to God, even on Halloween. I will let my kids join in a Harvest Party.
REMINDER!!!!! This is just my opinion. You don’t have to agree with me, I still love you and understand your opinion and respect it too. The main thing is……………be passionate for Jesus; full of zeal but tempered with His wisdom and be gracious to others!
