 | Dr. John Click, has been the Pastor of Immanuel Baptist Church for 27 years now he is the pastor emeritus. He’s a graduate of Baylor University with a BA and Southwestern Seminary with a BD. He received his DMin at Midwestern Seminary. He has served in numerous positions in the Southern Baptist Convention, including: President of the Kansas/Nebraska Convention, Executive Committee of SBC, North American Mission Board, International Mission Board, and Houston Baptist University Board. He has traveled to preach in Europe, Central and South America and the Far East. Dr. Click is the founder and first President of Harvest Communications, which is a TV production company specializing in producing teaching materials for Para- Church organizations. You may contact him for comments or questions by e-mail at: Jcclick99@aol.com. |
Religion
2008-10-01 15:56:00
Wrong to celebrate Halloween?
Question: Is it wrong for a Christian to celebrate Halloween?
Answer: This depends on what you mean by “celebrate”. There was a time when many people in England celebrated Halloween by trying to contact the dead, or trying to avoid “spooks”, i.e.,visits by the dead. The name, Halloween, means the “een” (evening) before “All Hallows” (All Saints) Day. This holy day of the Church was corrupted by belief in visits by the dead or demons just before All Saints Day. You can see why Christians opposed this activity.
However, as the centuries have passed, most people do not live in fear of spooks, and Halloween is simply a time for masquerade parties. But we still see goblins, haunted houses and vampire castle activity at Halloween.
Some wonder if there is danger of encouraging belief in visits by ghosts and “spooks”. Children who do not have strong Christian teaching are most vulnerable to such frightening and harmful ideas...things that waken them in the night. So some parents are properly afraid of Halloween.
Also, Satanic worshippers have resurrected many of the ancient cults’ Halloween practices. Moses warned, “Do not turn to mediums or seek out spiritists, for you will be defiled by them.” Lev. 9:31. And Paul warned “that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons.” I Tim:1
Your question’s answer may depend somewhat on where you live. We might hope that Halloween has lost it’s original harmful meaning, just as Christmas has regrettably lost its good Christian meaning for many Americans
