Should Christians Celebrate Halloween?

Asking for a Friend

Begin with events

New Series—Asking for a Friend: Tough Questions You’re Not Suppose to Ask at Church

Subtitle—purposefully misleading

1. Q&R Night

I believe church is a great place to ask questions

2. Brighton asking really good questions

Why do we use the expression, “I’m asking for a friend?”

Often times—not wanting that person to know you’re the ones wondering

This person may feel the question they are asking is: Embarrassing—awkward

This is why Q&R night = success, questions were anonymous

In this group—no question is uninvited

Subtitle—purposefully misleading

I believe church is a great place to ask questions

We may disagree but that does not mean I do not love nor listen

Many believe that disagreeing = being judgmental

When truly being judgmental is being critically

“I can’t believe you think that way!” “What’s wrong with you?”

When you disagree with someone—you show them grace

Continue to act favorably towards them

Where did Halloween come from?

I am 25 years old—I have been a part of a church for 25 years

Not bragging—just how it is

In 25 years of worshipping on Sundays/Wednesdays—haven’t heard anything on the question we answering tonight

Should Christians celebrate Halloween?

By far—most controversial question in series

Last week when introducing questions—I wish I was recording your faces when I read this question

Some looked normal, concerned, shook head yes or no, interested

The reason why everyone had different facial expressions—everyone has an opinion

Most of your thoughts about this question come from parents,

The hardest part—Bible does not talk about Halloween

No—it does not say ya or na on this subject

Bible touches on a lot of topics but it doesn’t cover everything

What guidance may God and the authors of the Bible have for us concerning this question?

Before answer this question let me ask one myself—where did Halloween come from?

Anyone know?

It is widely believed that many Halloween traditions originated from ancient Celtic harvest festivals, particularly the Gaelic festival Samhain; that such festivals may have had pagan roots; and that Samhain itself was Christianized as Halloween by the early Church.[12][13][14][15][16] Some believe, however, that Halloween began solely as a Christian holiday, separate from ancient festivals like Samhain.[17][18][19][20]

It is widely believed that many Halloween traditions originated from ancient European harvest festivals

There was one festival/party in Ireland and Scotland named Samhain (sow-in)

Samhain marked the end of harvest season and the beginning of winter

Can anyone guess the date of this festival? Oct. 31st

Samhain itself was Christianized as Halloween by the early Church.[12][13][14][15][16] Some believe, however, that Halloween began solely as a Christian holiday, separate from ancient festivals like Samhain.[17][18][19][20]

The word itself means “Saints’ evening”

Particularly the Gaelic festival Samhain and that Samhain itself was Christianized as Halloween by the early Church.[12][13][14][15][16] Some believe, however, that Halloween began solely as a Christian holiday, separate from ancient festivals like Samhain.[17][18][19][20]

They believed that during this festival the dead could walk among the living and the living could visit with the dead

I do not know why they believed this but they did

They would wear ghost-like costumes so the spirits would leave them alone

Others offered sweats to the spirits to appease them (Got from book Halloween​—An American Holiday, An American History)

Fast Forward—Pope Gregory III (731-741) designated November 1 as All Saints Day

In the eighth century, Pope Gregory III designated November 1 as a time to honor all saints; soon, All Saints Day incorporated some of the traditions of Samhain.

Pope—leader of the Catholic Church

All saints day is a day were they honor and remember great Christians in the past

All saints day soon began to incorporate some of the traditions of Samhain

Dressing up and candy

Fast forward to 1745—see the word Halloween starts being used

Halloween literally means “Saints’ eve”

Much like Christmas eve—Halloween is the day before all saints day

Christians throughout the centuries have celebrated the eve of all saints day (Halloween) by lighting candles and pray for their loved ones

In America—Halloween became commercialized

When Halloween was brought to America-

Halloween—like Black Friday and other holidays—is all about $$$

USA Today reports we spent $9 billion dollars on Halloween stuff in 2018 (candy, customs, decor, etc.)

Compare that to the UK—they spent $418 million in 2018

2 of the 9 billion was spent on candy

Americans love their sugar

Should Christians Celebrate Halloween?

Now it’s time to answer the question you have all been waiting for

Should Christians Celebrate Halloween?

I underlined celebrate because I want to be clear

Shoou

When I use the word celebrate—I’m talking trick or treating

Dressing up, having fun, getting candy

Trick or treating—this kind of celebrating is all about fun

There are those who are okay with this idea—others are not okay with it b/c of the origins of Halloween

Some celebrate Halloween differently—they don’t trick or treat

There are still people today who celebrate by devil worship, talking with the dead, witchcraft

This incorporates devil worship, praying to the dead, witchcraft

When I use the word celebrate—I’m talking about dressing up, getting candy

I am not asking “Is it okay to worship the devil, talk to the dead, and witchcraft”

I have told you before—I believe God cares, loves, and wants what is best for us

In a book in the OT call Deut. we see God asking Israel:

New Living Translation Chapter 18

9 “When you enter the land the LORD your God is giving you, be very careful not to imitate the detestable customs of the nations living there. 10 For example, never sacrifice your son or daughter as a burnt offering. And do not let your people practice fortune-telling, or use sorcery, or interpret omens, or engage in witchcraft, 11 or cast spells, or function as mediums or psychics, or call forth the spirits of the dead.

Why does God ask them not to do these things?—no good for us

Paul—church leader—wrote a bunch of letters in NT—wrote this to one church:

New Living Translation Chapter 4

8 And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.

Anything that is good, right, pure—think and do those things

You will have more peace, you will be happier

Last week—talked about health—you will be healthier overall

The Answer

Now we finally arrive to the answer --2 answers in fact — not yes or no

When someone asks me this question I give 2 pieces of advice:

Drum role please...

1. Respect your parents

2. Respect others

I tell people in marriage counseling all the time—your priority relationship, until you get married is mom/dad or whoever cares for you

When you get married—1st priority is husband/wife—before then—parents

Paul wrote this in one of his letters to a church:

New Living Translation Chapter 6

Children, obey your parents because you belong to the Lord, for this is the right thing to do. 2 “Honor your father and mother.” This is the first commandment with a promise: 3 If you honor your father and mother, “things will go well for you, and you will have a long life on the earth.”

“Honor mom and dad” from 10 commandments in OT

Paul points out there is a benefit to respecting what they say—long life

This does not guarantee that you will live forever—life will be a lot better

Some would say—my parents aren’t worthy of respect

I know there are abusive and absent parents—that’s a whole other conversation

Let me say—no child comes with instructions

Parenting is hard—parents are not perfect because they are people

When they do make mistakes—they should apologize

I know not all of them do—let’s show them grace

I also know there are abusive and absent parents—not talking about extreme cases

Every parent has a certain view on celebrating Halloween

Respect that view—if they say no to trick or treating then respect it

My parents allow me to trick or treat to a certain age

Even as a teenager I wanted to get candy—they said no

As your pastor—my opinion does not matter—respect your parents

Second answer—respect others

Everyone has an opinion about Halloween

You may respect your parents—you still have an opinion

Paul wrote this:

New Living Translation Chapter 14

Accept other believers who are weak in faith, and don’t argue with them about what they think is right or wrong.

New Living Translation Chapter 14

Accept other believers who are weak in faith, and don’t argue with them about what they think is right or wrong.

Here Paul is talking about personal convictions

God covers a lot of topics in the Bible but not all of them

Some decisions are left up to your personal convictions—your conscience

When someone thinks differently from you:

When right or wrong is not clear and someone thinks differently from you—show respect

Don’t step all over them—telling them how wrong you think they are

You may think trick or treating is bad—that’s fine—don’t judge others who don’t agree

For those who think trick or treating is okay and you come across someone who doesn’t

There is no use in criticizing them

Your not perfect and there is something they could do the same to you

Another translation of says treat each other gently

This is something this group can get better at

We joke around—have fun—that’s fine/good

People like gentle people

And even when we disagree—a gentle person brings no shame—no judgement

Should Christians Celebrate Halloween?

1. Respect parents

2. Respect others