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10 30 2008, 5:29 pm / In love
It seems that a large portion of the Christian population sees Halloween as a negative thing.
But if here in America we are to throw out this originally pagan holiday then we better get rid of our Easter Bunnies (which come from a 2nd century spring festival of fertility) and our Christmas trees as well. And if you wonder about the Christmas trees you can look in the Bible at Jeremiah 10: 1-4.
Yet people don't like throwing away their traditions, they never have. And that's why people of faith have absorbed old celebrations and put a twist on them. In doing this it made Christianity and Catholicism more palatable for the Pagans to adapt to.
Now if you look at Halloween in America and how it's practiced today, for the children, the pagan roots are all but forgotten. And for them it's a time for creativity to flourish, children to happily release their energy by yelling trick or treat as loud as they can and an opportunity for them to be taught first-hand one of the most important lessons in life.
Halloween can be used in one of the ways that Christmas is; to teach children the importance of giving and sharing.
Because for every little kid with their hand out tomorrow hoping for candy, there is a generous person that will be happy to fill their hand up. Not because it directly benefits them to hand out candy, but because they want to be a part of making it a fun and memorable night for the children.
And I know a pastor who will be coming by my house with his children tomorrow night. And I already know what he'll bring me. As I let his kids dig into my candy bowl, he'll be handing me a battery for my smoke detector and taped to that will be a verse from the Bible.
He's taking advantage of the night and using it as a way to share some of God's love with all of his neighbors. And the same can be true for all of us.
I don't know that Christians need to run from this celebration or be afraid of it in any way. I think if we're strong Christians we can continue to transform it into something that honors the Lord.
But hopefully we can keep it as happy and fun as it ever has been!
Yet if you can't accept this tradition and you're looking for alternatives, just call some of your local churches. It sure seems like plenty of them have activities lined up that sound a lot better than just walking around neighborhoods and yelling, "Trick or treat!"
But then don't go bobbing for apples ... that's a pagan tradition as well.
With all of my wishes for a positive night for the children...
kenneth w.
www.BibleRhymes.com
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