Personally, I have found that many Christians who do celebrate it do not understand the roots of it. I have shared my views, when asked, and scripture relating to such practices in a non-judgemental way with 4 of my friends, who after learning about the history of the "holiday" and what scripture says about participating in such practices, have decided to quit doing Halloween. Sometimes it is just a matter of ignorance to the facts. I say ignorance in the sense of being uneducated about it, not as an offense. I don't judge others who participate, but I do feel, if asked, that I have an obligation to share God's Word with them on the matter and leave it in their hands to decide. Afterall, their relationship with God is just that: THEIRS! I am tired of some Christians trying to convince me that it is OK. To me, it is clearly not! Like you said MonkeyMamma, what I do in my house is none of anyone's business!
Heartsathome...I also get so tired of Christians trying to convince me it is okay. How is that their business? yet they get offended when I say that I don't think anyone should celebrate who is a Christian. That's my opinion. I don't go around finding Christians to push that on but I certainly get grief for my stand. Funny thing...the non-Christians that I have known assumed that I did not celebrate it because I was a Christian. I also get sick of people telling me that my kids are missing out. I once had someone tell me that my kids would think costumes were evil if I didn't let them dress up. How idiotic is that? This was a person who was once against Halloween but changed her mind. That family changed their mind when my new preacher came on the scene. They said that it was wrong to not participate in the church harvest junk if the pastor did. Whatever. Next time I pray to my pastor I'll consider his thoughts on how God directs me.
What are they missing out on seriously? Do our kids never get candy any other time of year? Do we not permit them to play dress up? Are we to teach our kids not to talk to strangers or take candy from them, every other day, but it is OK on that day? That doesn't make sense. This world is scary. If I wasn't a Christian and I thought Halloween was OK, I wouldn't partake. It is NOT SAFE to go door to door! If you DO participate, please consider a safer way, go to a church, a mall, etc. But don't take your children to stranger's homes.
Thank you, and Amen! And on that note...I am going out to get my children's costumes tonight! :lol: Aiden wants to be a fire fighter, like his daddy, and Tanner wants to be Darth Vader. But I'm not going until after our ritualistic devil worshipping, because we all know anyone who allows their children to dress up in costumes on Halloween MUST NOT be a Christian or educated/ignorant about the roots of the day/scripture.:roll:
Samantha and two of her friends are going as Charlie's Angels! I think it is a great idea! There is a Halloween party for the dance team at the directors home the week before Halloween and there will be a costume contest they want to win. They had a sleepover together after Friday's football game and watched the movie several times. I need to go get them toy guns to go with their outfits. Grace wants to be a dead cat which I think it a bit odd but whatever she wants! Sam can do some great stage makeup for Grace. Oh and we will be going to strangers homes. We live in the country and have decided to take the girls to the closest neighborhood which is the dance directors neighborhood and it is nice - they should have some nice treats! I am considering dressing up too but don't know what to be. I was a vampire last year. Not the devilworshipping kind mind you. Just a plain old bloodsucker.:lol:
Like I said before I am certainly NOT going to tell anyone what to do BUT I think this is silly. I'm sorry and I don't mean to offend you at all but it's my opinion. Are we to think our kids are too stupid to know the difference between a strange man coming up to them on the street and offering them candy to go along with them and a day when everyone dresses up and goes with their parents and friends to decorated homes with people passing out candy? I know my kids know the difference and taking them trick or treating isn't telling my kids it is ok to take candy from strangers.
I guess I should have explained that one a little more! I used to work at a shopping mall. Every Halloween, all of the stores gave out candy. It was only the stores who handed it out. It was meant to be a safer alternative to hitting the streets. As far as my comment about taking candy from strangers, well, I don't offend easy....so no worries! Still, IMO the people who you get it from are strangers and I would not feel comfortable with my children eating candy that could have been injected with something. Not that all of your neighbors are serial killers or child molesters, but I live in a really nice area and there are still sex offenders everywhere within a mile or two from me! (There is a map you can look at online, a good thing to check out if you go trick or treating).
Your whole point was about strangers. Regardless if it's only the employees or not...they are STILL strangers unless your kids know every single employee. My kids don't even know every person who goes to our church...so still...you're dealing with the stranger issue. Furthermore, you could also still be dealing with the pedaphile issue due to the fact that just because someone goes to church, doesn't make them 'safe'. I'm just saying...
Amen. Years before I came to my church, my preacher had to kick a man out of church for fondling a kid in the coat closet.
My point exactly! It is just not safe! It would seem safer to me, IF I were to participate, to go to a place like a mall, where the stores are handing out the candy, or to a church. BUT, yes, they are still strangers. Why take the chance? Just my opinion!
I do not celebrate halloween...but growing up we did. My parents always went trick or treating with us until we were about 10...which was probably too old and the last time we did it. At that point we had a huge group of kids. In my neighborhood the parents are always with the kids. I don't think you can be 100% sure of safety anywhere or for any event. A child has just as much chance of being kidnapped or hurt at a festival as he does trick or treating. Maybe I'm wrong...I just don't hear of too many horror stories about this on Halloween..or more than any other time. My problem with Halloween is not the trick or treating. If we celebrated...I would go door to door.
That sickens me Ava. The same thing happened at our old church. It hit close to home too, as this man was someone who I worked with as a young girl. Thankfully nothing happened to me, but a few boys were abused in the process. Horrible. Case in point...as you can see, evil lurks everywhere! You can pretty much take anything in life and find SOMETHING bad about it. This is exactly why it's important for everyone to make the appropriate decision for their own family, while at the same time not having to deal with others pointing fingers or calling others 'unChristian' or uneducated about scripture. I allow my children to go trick or treating for two reasons. #1, because I see nothing wrong with it. Just because someone else interprets something one way doesn't mean everyone else interprets it the same way. No different than having different denominations... And #2, because we have figured out a safe way that suites our family. I would rather my children go around our neighborhood that is small and relatively 'safe' than go to the church up the road that is filled with many more people they do not know. Just because something is at a church doesn't mean it's safe. We also go with them as a family...my children NEVER go alone.
No matter where you go, whether it's trick or treating or not, there is always evil lurking around. That doesn't mean I am going to be an extremist or live in a bubble. I know what I feel is safe for my kids based on where I live, and you do yours. A mall around here would be clearly more unsafe. Maybe not where YOU live, but it would be here. I'm near MILWAUKEE for pete's sake where one mall has security guards due to the gang violence! Um...how is THAT more safe? My neighborhood on the other hand that is outside in a more rural area, more safe. ANYTHING you do, you are taking a chance. Riding in a car, taking a plane, going to the store, etc. etc. etc. I'm sorry, but I choose to be worried about things that matter most to me...and my children going trick or treating is not at the top of my worry list. Making sure my kids know Christ as their savior...now THAT is something at the top of my list!
The Spot needs a LIKE button! Or at least a smiley that claps. Very well said. I don't tell people to go trick or treat if they don't want to and I don't appreciate being told I am uneducated about scripture or be made to feel "not christian enough" because we trick or treat. Like I said before why can't we all just do our thing without pointing fingers and telling others what is right in their eyes.
I have often thought about a like button too! :lol: Many times I have wanted to press 'like' when I read someone's post but then realize we are not on Facebook. lol
I don't think anyone is pointing a finger at you on here. If you read the title of this thread, it was being "directed" to people who do NOT celebrate. So, naturally, when you jump in and say you do, you will find those who don't may have strong feelings about not participating. I have a very good friend that does, along with others I am friends with that do, likewise I have several friends who don't. I know what I believe and I don't try to cram it down anyone's throat. I will share my opinions when asked. BTW, the area I live in has a lot of crime. Although I am in the suburbs in a safe neighborhood (as far as I know), it IS safer at the mall here than in most neighborhoods, but I can see how it wouldn't be in some areas.
