Makes you go 'hmmm....'

Today is Halloween, or as I like to put it, 'Hollow-een'. The idea of Halloween has been a controversial subject for centuries. All I have to say is, you better have some time to read this post (and the links in it). It's time to challenge your paradigm. Before we begin this discourse on Hollow-een, let's look at another popular holiday. But let me precede the following with this little advice: Let's make sure we are consistent in our approach to any holiday. First, I think you should read Christmas Superstitions. Next, move on to read Christmas Day. Do you see that just about every part of our Christmas celebrations are rooted in pagan superstition? Most people also think that the Three Wisemen visited Jesus as He lay in the manger. Not so. Now, why do I bring up Christmas when today is Hollow-een? I bring it up because people (in general) are more critical about Hollow-een than Christmas - not necessarily rightfully so, but ignorantly - to put it bluntly. The very nature of our Christmas traditions is just as mixed into pagan rituals as Hollow-een - the only difference is the overall tone. Christmas has a 'Christian' overtone while Hollow-een has a 'pagan/satanic' overtone. Ok. We've done some reading on Christmas; let's read about the History and Customs of Halloween. Do you see a parallel in how these two holidays came to be? I think the last sentence says it all. "After all, the day itself is only as evil as one cares to make it." What's my point? Don't look down at people celebrating Hallow-een when you yourself go through the 'Christian' rituals of Christmas - unthinking. Why not take back the 'evil' of Halloween and do something for Christ? It's ok to dress up. It's ok to hand out candy. But have you ever thought about handing out tracts? Take advantage of the holiday! This is a great time to share the Gospel! Remember, Holloween (and Christmas) is just another day of the 365 (366 in leap-year) days of the year. It's the meaning(s) you place upon it. Doesn't the Bible teach us that doing something or participating in something does not draw us to God or keep us from God? What (or better asked 'Who') gives us the proper/right standing before God we so desire? In a word, Christ. There is nothing innately wrong in participating. Now if the events cross Biblical morality - then you shouldn't participate. I'm leaving that statement open. :) Besides if you are so wrapped up into 'Holloween is bad' then stop participating in the unthinking rituals of Christmas. Let me put it this way, if you celebrate Christmas with all of the 'pagan' rituals it holds, you are a hypocrite - plain and simple when you balk at participating in Holloween. Why apply your 'paradigm' to one holiday and exclude another? The big question you must answer now is "Do the positive (Christian) or negative (satanic) religious overtones really make a difference?" I know what you're thinking. Christmas is about Christ! Then why not take a different 'holiday' and celebrate Christ? - including Holloween. Remember to redeem the time! That doesn't only pertain to time management. :) Also remember, if you participate in full faith, then it is right for you to participate. If you can't do it in full faith, to you it is sin. ok - I'm done with the discourse, but I want to explain 'participate'. Halloween - Bobbing for apples Christmas - Decorating a tree Halloween - Dressing up in a costume Christmas - Exchanging gifts Halloween - Carving out a pumpkin and putting a light in it Christmas - Mistletoe When it comes to participating in Halloween, I don't mean the ritual murders (against Biblical morality), or sexual connotations of certain acts (against Biblical morality), etc... I hope you get what I'm saying.