I hope this isnt too far off topic for this site, but I felt a need to vent and this IS a forum. Plus there are a lot of halloween thingys in WoW right now anyway. I would appreciate your opinion on the matter, especially if you disagree.
There has been a lot of talk in my area this year about Halloween, and whether it is a sin to participate. A lot of ppl have given all kinds of reasons and feelings on the subject. I for one am not about following my feelings, but following the Bible. So I went to the Bible to see what I could find on the subject. 1 Corinthians Chapter 8 stood out to me. The concept of food sacrificed to Idols.
History: Corinth was a very sinful city! Romans considered Corinthians of this time as an immoral people, so that should tell you the deal. A lot of food (maybe even most) served or sold in Corinth was "processed", "blessed", "dedicated", ect at pagan temples. Eating food sacrificed to idols was commonplace for that society.
How I think it applies to Halloween: If you want to read Chapter 8, it will help you see where I'm going. In the first 6 verses Paul basically says, we know it means nothing, its just food. And he's right (not because I say so, but because he's God's Apostle), but does it apply to Halloween? I think it does in that the "darker" side of the holiday, practiced by Pagans, is meaningless. It's just a fun time for the kids. Now if we were a people about doing whats best for ourselves, I'd stop there, but we are a Royal Priesthood doing our Fathers work, so we cant ignore the rest of the chapter. In verses 7 through 10 Paul points out that for some Christians, it does have a meaning, it is sin to them and if they follow you into that activity they would be sinning, even though you, by the act itself, are not. Here is one of those places where the rubber meets the road in Christianity. In verses 11 - 15 Paul points out that we have a responcibility to keep our brother from sin. Cane asked, "am I my brother's keeper?", the answer is yes, we are all eachothers. If by doing an act that some around us think is sin, even though it is opinion and not doctrine, we risk sinning by causing them to sin before God, by being rebellous towards God in their act that is sin to them *1. This concept applies to many things in a Christian's life. But it basically comes down to sacrifice. If we follow the law then we are concerned with what we shouldnt do. The example of Jesus is to complete the law in sacrifice for others. Another words, we are concerned with what we should do.... for others.
So..... my short answer is yes and no. if the believers around you have no problem with Halloween, then have fun, and do it in a way to Honor God. And if it's not the case then sacrifice it for the Lord and your brother (or sister). What's your opinion on the matter?
*1: This sin is like a child who sneaks up ot a new toy laid out for him. The child could just run up and take it, since it is for him, but he wants it and sneaks up to it and "steals" it. The sin is not the taking of the toy, but the disobedience to a perceived "rule" and to his parents.
Note 2: I had a woman who recently left her husband, son and daughter for another man, and is still living in sin, tell me that we Christian's should not participate in halloween. This offended me. This is one of the things the Corinthian Church was guilty of, pointing outward at the sins of others, without concerning themselves with their own sin.
sorry so long
Dan
There has been a lot of talk in my area this year about Halloween, and whether it is a sin to participate. A lot of ppl have given all kinds of reasons and feelings on the subject. I for one am not about following my feelings, but following the Bible. So I went to the Bible to see what I could find on the subject. 1 Corinthians Chapter 8 stood out to me. The concept of food sacrificed to Idols.
History: Corinth was a very sinful city! Romans considered Corinthians of this time as an immoral people, so that should tell you the deal. A lot of food (maybe even most) served or sold in Corinth was "processed", "blessed", "dedicated", ect at pagan temples. Eating food sacrificed to idols was commonplace for that society.
How I think it applies to Halloween: If you want to read Chapter 8, it will help you see where I'm going. In the first 6 verses Paul basically says, we know it means nothing, its just food. And he's right (not because I say so, but because he's God's Apostle), but does it apply to Halloween? I think it does in that the "darker" side of the holiday, practiced by Pagans, is meaningless. It's just a fun time for the kids. Now if we were a people about doing whats best for ourselves, I'd stop there, but we are a Royal Priesthood doing our Fathers work, so we cant ignore the rest of the chapter. In verses 7 through 10 Paul points out that for some Christians, it does have a meaning, it is sin to them and if they follow you into that activity they would be sinning, even though you, by the act itself, are not. Here is one of those places where the rubber meets the road in Christianity. In verses 11 - 15 Paul points out that we have a responcibility to keep our brother from sin. Cane asked, "am I my brother's keeper?", the answer is yes, we are all eachothers. If by doing an act that some around us think is sin, even though it is opinion and not doctrine, we risk sinning by causing them to sin before God, by being rebellous towards God in their act that is sin to them *1. This concept applies to many things in a Christian's life. But it basically comes down to sacrifice. If we follow the law then we are concerned with what we shouldnt do. The example of Jesus is to complete the law in sacrifice for others. Another words, we are concerned with what we should do.... for others.
So..... my short answer is yes and no. if the believers around you have no problem with Halloween, then have fun, and do it in a way to Honor God. And if it's not the case then sacrifice it for the Lord and your brother (or sister). What's your opinion on the matter?
*1: This sin is like a child who sneaks up ot a new toy laid out for him. The child could just run up and take it, since it is for him, but he wants it and sneaks up to it and "steals" it. The sin is not the taking of the toy, but the disobedience to a perceived "rule" and to his parents.
Note 2: I had a woman who recently left her husband, son and daughter for another man, and is still living in sin, tell me that we Christian's should not participate in halloween. This offended me. This is one of the things the Corinthian Church was guilty of, pointing outward at the sins of others, without concerning themselves with their own sin.
sorry so long
Dan