Christian Halloween




Christian Halloween – Understand the Origins


Christian Halloween? Halloween is undoubtedly more misunderstood than any other holiday event. Is it hocus-pocus superstition or truly Christian focused?

It can appear to be nothing more than a pagan event dreamed up by some deviant opportunist and/or candy and costume manufacturer, but All Hallows Eve was actually intended to be a righteous opportunity purposed in history past to commemorate old saints.

We encourage you to carefully examine the history of Halloween. Halloween, which comes from the word All Hallows Eve is tied directly to All Saints Day celebrated on November 1 of each year to commemorate the old saints who have past on. These “saints” were heroes and martyrs for the Christian Faith.

Christian Halloween – The Pros and Cons?


We understand that much of Halloween has manipulated and “tricked” by the secular pagan world and much of what happens on Halloween is far from spiritual. In fact, some of the Halloween traditions have pagan origins.

The Bible doesn’t speak directly about Halloween, but some biblical principles apply. One things is clear -- all pagan practices are to be avoided. Witchcraft, occult practices, sorcery, etc. are strictly forbidding in the Bible (Exodus 22:18; Acts 8:9-24; Acts 16, 19). It is obvious that a small child dressing up as a princess or a cowboy isn’t involving themselves with witchcraft, so what is a biblical stance on Halloween?

Parents, the decision is up to you. If you decide Halloween is something fun for your children, make sure they are kept far away from the evil aspects of Halloween. When believers participate in anything (even Halloween), their attitudes, dress, and behavior should glorify Christ (Philippians 1:27)

Christian Halloween – Take Advantage!

• Halloween can be a “hands on” learning opportunity about God’s control over Satan and the fallen angels. God keeps them held powerless according to His will. Christian Halloween and All Saints Day come together in purposeful unity as the one protects and covers the other. It is a time for the Gospel to devour the ghouls.
• Consider trying these Christian Halloween ideas, handing out Christian Halloween poems, and using fun Christian tracts with the kids who trick or treat in your neighborhood. Find stimulating and fun ways to reach out to kids and adults in your community who might not normally be contacted through out the year.
• Encourage your church to hold a party on Halloween night. Many parents would rather their children be inside and away from danger. Use this as an opportunity to tell these families about Jesus and about your church.

http://www.allaboutgod.com/christian-halloween.htm

Why Harvest Day Instead of Halloween

Harvest Day Parties are a Positive Christian Alternative to Halloween



It is a common scene after dark: small costume-clad figures floating through neighborhoods with a loot bag in one hand and their parent's hand in the other. Thousands of children across America participate in the decades-old tradition of trick-or-treating, a favorite Halloween pastime. Even parents join in the excitement, knowing that once the children go to bed, the loot bag must be checked and relieved of the surplus of miniature Snickers and Tootsie Rolls.

Unfortunately, with all of its goblins and fairies, treats and tomfoolery, Halloween has become an annual ritual that all children look forward to but don't fully understand. This is where the Christian parent can step in and educate their children about the secular holiday and as a Christian family determine whether or not they will continue participating in traditional Halloween activities.

The purpose of the following information is not to condemn any believer who chooses to celebrate Halloween, but rather to educate them in its pagan origins, and to offer positive alternatives for those who choose to no longer participate.

In Ephesians 6:12, the Apostle Paul instructs the church that their battle is not with enemies in the flesh, but rather "against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places." Since humans live in a physical world they can see, hear, touch, taste, and smell, many people often rely on their physical senses to make judgments. But when it comes to the tactics of Satan, he often will disguise something that appears relatively innocent and harmless to the eyes, but carries heavy connections with the demonic realm. Halloween fits that description.

In today's society, those that are part of the occult view Halloween as an important holiday for practicing the black arts. Seances, Ouija boards and tarot cards are as much a part of their observance of Halloween as decorated trees, colored lights and fruitcake are of Christmas. While most Christian families will strongly agree that God does not approve of such activities, they may not realize that by participating in the celebration of Halloween they are identifying themselves with the holiday that echoes a pagan belief in other gods and goddesses.

It should be understood among Christian families that Halloween is a time that was set aside for the purpose of looking to and honoring a god other than the One true God. The original festivals included contacting the spirits of the dead, divination, animal sacrifices and other sacred rituals.

Even though those activities may not be as prevalent today, what does take place does not represent the ministry of Jesus Christ. Whether it is thanking Mother Nature for the bountiful harvest, or pacifying ancient Celtic fairies, Halloween was never intended to be a Christ-centered holiday and therefore should be replaced with more wholesome and positive activities instead of dressing in ghoulish and gory costumes and touring haunted houses. The following are some suggestions for a more Christ-centered observance of the end of October. A family could choose to do just one, or all in one day, for a fun and memorable fall event:


Have a Family Fun night, complete with movie, hot apple cider and old-fashioned popcorn.
Make fall-oriented treats to enjoy together, like popcorn balls, caramel apples, pumpkin pie or homemade taffy.
Design the home in fall decorations, like wreaths made from real dried leaves, miniature gourds and pumpkins, Indian corn and dishes of fun candies like candy corn, cinnamon drops and mini peanut butter cups.

Participate in a Harvest Carnival or Harvest Party at a local church. This is an excellent alternative to trick-or-treating. Children can still dress up in wholesome costumes, like pirates and princesses, and come home with a whole bag of treats given out at the carnival.
Spend the afternoon at a local farm where there are animals, pumpkin patches, corn mazes, face painting and more. This kind of activity gets the whole family excited about fall and the approaching Thanksgiving season.

Unfortunately, because many holidays occur the same time year after year, they have lost much of their original meaning and significance and become simply traditions that people take for granted. Halloween is one such holiday, an Americanized and commercialized version of a pagan holiday that is based on the beliefs and practices of the ancient Celts. But Christians have the opportunity to celebrate the harvest season by giving it new meaning and significance, one that promotes positive spiritual growth, and is grounded in their faith in Jesus Christ.

Written by: Amy Miller

SOURCE: http://www.faithclipart.com/guide/secular-...-halloween.html

Halloween-The Truth Told

An excerpt From CBN.com 2007

The Celts believed . Departed family members would revisit their earthly homes.The Celts believed these spirits and dead souls could torment the living. Crops might be destroyed, babies stolen, farm animals killed.The Druids were charged with appeasing the goblins and preventing harm to the people. Huge Samhain bonfires were lit to guide the way of the spirits. Various sacrifices – including human – were performed to assure a good year.

Several ancient authors commented on the gory religious rites of the Druids.

It is believed that, like many pagan cultures around the world, the Celts left food out for the spirits, hoping that a "treat" would prevent an evil "trick."Centuries later, descendants of the Celts continued to observe the Samhain festival by dressing as evil spirits. They roamed from house to house demanding food in exchange for the "spirits" leaving the home unharmed. They carved demon faces in hollowed-out turnips
and lighted them with candles.





Hundreds of years before the birth of Christ, the Celts, inhabitants of Britain and Ireland, observed a festival on October 31.Unlike modern-day Halloween, theirs was no children's holiday. The Celts and their priests, the Druids, celebrated Samhain, a festival that marked the eve of the Celtic New Year, which began on November 1.The fall harvest was complete and the winter loomed ahead. The Celts believed the power of the sun was fading. For the next several months, darkness would prevail.The Celts believed that during Samhain the veil separating the living from the dead was at its thinnest. They believed that on the evening of October 31 evil spirits and the souls of the dead passed through the barrier and entered the world of the living. Departed family members would revisit their earthly homes.The thought was frightening – and exciting!The Celts believed these spirits and dead souls could torment the living. Crops might be destroyed, babies stolen, farm animals killed. But this was also an opportunity to commune with the spirits – and divine the future. The devil, the lord of darkness, was ordinarily feared, but during Samhain, his power would be called on to foretell the future.

The Druids were charged with appeasing the goblins and preventing harm to the people. Huge Samhain bonfires were lit to guide the way of the spirits. Various sacrifices – including human – were performed to assure a good year.

Several ancient authors commented on the gory religious rites of the Druids.

It is believed that, like many pagan cultures around the world, the Celts left food out for the spirits, hoping that a "treat" would prevent an evil "trick."

Centuries later, descendants of the Celts continued to observe the Samhain festival by dressing as evil spirits. They roamed from house to house demanding food in exchange for the "spirits" leaving the home unharmed. They carved demon faces in hollowed-out turnips and lighted them with candles.

That night, they also practiced many customs designed to divine the future. Young people roasted nuts in Samhain fires to see which would crack first – and tell them who they would marry. The person who retrieved the apple by his mouth from a tub of water was assured of a lucky year. Obviously, some of these customs (like "apple bobbing") have remained with us, strictly as amusement.When Christianity began to spread through Europe in the third and fourth centuries, the pagan temples were torn down. But pagan worship never completely disappeared. The festival of Samhain remained a primary pagan festival.

Belief in spirits may have waned, but many of the old Samhain traditions continued to be practiced – especially by the children. Primarily in Ireland, children dressed as spirits went from house to house demanding a treat. If they received none, they performed an unwelcome trick. They were play-acting the part of evil spirits that had to be appeased, just as in the old Samhain festival the people believed they really did have to appease spirits.

In the 700s, the Church decided to combat this festival by replacing it with a celebration of the Lord of life. Instead of honoring evil spirits and the souls of the dead, the Church chose to recognize the saints – or hallowed ones – who had lived godly lives. The Church seemed to be saying, "All right, if you must have a day to celebrate the dead, then celebrate those who died and are now with the Lord."

So November 1 came to be called All Saints' Day, also called All Hallows' Day. The evening before was called All Hallows' Evening. From that, we get the modern name of Halloween.

But pagan customs continued. And with the growth of witchcraft in the Middle Ages, additional symbols became associated with Halloween – black cats, witches, bats, and skulls. Irish immigrants in the mid-1800s brought to America the Halloween customs we're familiar with – costumes, trick-or-treat, carved Jack-o-lanterns, etc. The Jack-o-lantern is simply an American version of the hollowed-out turnip, mentioned earlier. The pumpkin did not grow in Ireland, but in Britain. Unfortunately, they also brought "tricks" with them – which often involved breaking windows and over-turning sheds and outhouses.

Even though the practice of actually performing a trick if no treat is given has faded, the custom of children going "trick-or-treating" has become an established American tradition. Only in recent years have parents hesitated to send their children into the streets because of the increased danger of accidents, poisoned food, and menacing strangers.

Nonetheless, despite the dangers associated with trick-or-treating, Halloween is celebrated more than ever. In fact, the night is the second most popular party night of the year (after December 31) for "baby-boomer" adults. Many adults look at it as the one night of the year they can dress up and act foolish.

But while children and adults innocently imitate ancient Celtic customs, darker practices persist. Witches and Satanists still consider Halloween to be one of the strongest times during the year to cast a spell. On Halloween, most witchcraft practitioners participate in a ritual called "drawing down the moon." In this, the chief witch of the coven (group of witches) becomes, they believe, a channel for the moon goddess. During this ritual, the participants, both male and female, are "sky-clad" – that is, naked.Stonehenge, the mysterious ancient stone formation in England, is often the site for bizarre gatherings of the occultists, some of whom believe they are modern-day Druids. Many people believe that Stonehenge was a Druid religious site. And evidence persists that some Satanist and voodoo groups offer sacrifices – usually animals, but possibly human babies. Witches and Satanists are, of course, a small minority. Few people who celebrate Halloween these days ever think about the darkness that underlies most Halloween practices.

A beaming child dressed in a black pointed hat and matching gown – with a wart carefully drawn on her nose and trick-or-treat bag held tightly in her hand – is hardly thinking of death or the spirits of departed relatives. Nor should she be.

She's thinking of candy and fun. She's glowing because of her delight in her special costume. And she's anticipating the adventure of her house-to-house pilgrimage.

Merchants also look forward to October 31. The sale of candy, costumes, decorations and party goods make Halloween one of the major retail seasons of the year.

Sure, no one can deny children or adults all the Halloween fun simply because of its unsavory history. Can there really be anything wrong with this lighthearted revelry?

Does the Bible have anything to say about celebrating Halloween?

In Corinth, meat that had been sacrificed to idols was sold in the market. People who bought it then ate it in honor of that particular pagan god. Speaking of his freedom to eat food that a pagan had dedicated to an idol, the apostle Paul said, "Everything is permissible" (1 Corinthians 10:23). After all, he didn't believe the pagan gods really existed.

If we apply Paul's statement to the celebration of Halloween, then one could argue that Christians can dress in ghostly costumes and practice the traditions that have been passed down from the ancient Celts. After all, the supernatural powers they tried to appease don't have power over those who belong to Christ.

The Bible says that Jesus destroyed the power of death when He went to the cross. By Jesus' death and resurrection, anyone who gives his or her life to Jesus doesn't need to fear evil.

But Paul didn't stop with a statement of his freedom. He said, "'Everything is permissible' – but not everything is beneficial" (1 Corinthians 10:23).

It is in this light that Christians need to examine how to observe Halloween. 1. What may not hurt you may hurt others.
Paul said that it wouldn't harm a Christian to eat meat sacrificed to an idol. After all, the pagan gods that the meat had been sacrificed to weren't real gods. In the same light, he probably would say that Christians are not prohibited from dressing in costumes and going trick-or-treating or attending Halloween parties. After all, "We know that an idol is nothing at all in the world and that there is no God but one" (1 Corinthians 8:4).But Paul went on to say that by doing what the believer was free in the Lord to do, the believer may be distressing another believer who doesn't realize he has this freedom. "Be careful, however, that the exercise of your freedom does not become a stumbling block to the weak" (1 Corinthians 8:9). The weak ones would be those who still had problems with the idea of eating the food sacrificed to idols.During Halloween, little children in particular are the weak ones. On TV, in movies, in school, and with their playmates, many children today are exposed to occult influences. We may be opening our children to these influences if we approve of these things in Halloween fun. We adults may be fully aware that we are only spoofing witches and ghosts, but the young may not be so sure.If we have given our lives to Jesus Christ, then our eternal destiny is safe in the hands of the Almighty God. But that's not true of most people around us.There is a valid reason for most people to fear a "lord of death" – even if they don't take him seriously on Halloween. We who have found life in Jesus should be careful that our freedom doesn't keep others from finding that same eternal life.2. Some permissible things may hinder your Christian growth.
The Bible encourages us to "throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus" (Hebrews 12:1-2).This one night of the year, most eyes are not fixed on Jesus but on a darker image. The Christian's "race of faith" leads him to eternal life, to a joy that has no shadow. Should we really be focusing on the devil, witches, and other dark beings, even for one night?3. God says, "Don't imitate evil!"
"When you enter the land the Lord your God is giving you, do not learn to imitate the detestable ways of the nations there. Let no one be found among you who … practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead" (Deuteronomy 18:9-11).If our children dress as witches and sorcerers, if we hang cardboard ghosts in our windows, if we entertain with tales of ghouls and haunted houses – what are we doing but imitating that which is evil? We need to make it clear as Christians that witches and evil spirits are not funny and not harmless, even if the people in witch costumes are only play-acting. As Christians, we have plenty of reason to celebrate! While the world around us focuses on activities honoring fear and death, we can celebrate the One who brings life.The following ideas might help you celebrate October 31 in a way that's joyful for you and your family:1. Light the night.
Don't hide inside – open up your yard to a big neighborhood party! On October 31, people come to our doors expecting to receive something. This is the perfect opportunity to give them God's love! Be creative about decorating your yard with lights that attract the neighbors – minister to them with prayer and the Word of God.

Most Christian bookstores carry small pamphlets about the Lord – designed especially for children on Halloween. These can be taped to candy and dropped into each trick-or-treater's bag.To find out more about this alternative, visit: http://www.lightthenight.net. 2. Celebrate All Saints' Day.
Protestants shy away from honoring saints. Their reluctance generally is based on a fear that the honor will cross the line into worship or prayer to saints. We are to worship and pray to no one but God.

However, there is good biblical basis for looking to those who have faithfully followed God in the past. Hebrews 11 has a roll call of believers who have set examples for us. But in his Letters to the Corinthians, Paul makes it abundantly clear that he and other saints are only servants – men and women like ourselves who are following God. And it is God and God alone to whom we look in our worship and prayers.

But with nearly 2000 years of Church history, we can well remember many faithful believers whose lives can encourage us in our walk with the Lord. That can include not only famous figures from the Church's history, but also the saints we have known personally – people in our own family and our own church who are now with the Lord. While the Celts trembled at the thought of their departed kin returning on Samhain, we can celebrate Halloween and All Saints' Day by joyfully recalling our own departed saints. (Christians from many Protestant traditions may want to recall that October 31 is also Reformation Day, celebrating Martin Luther's beginning the Reformation by posting his "Ninety-five Theses" on the church door.)3. Have a different kind of party.
You can have a fall harvest party, an All Saints' Day party, or simply a costume party. Have children (and maybe adults, too) dress up as biblical characters and/or figures from Christian history. Or find some other positive theme. Some Christians plan a "Fools for Christ" party (see 1 Corinthians 4:10). This involves costumes and craziness, but none of the traditional symbols of death and witchcraft. Whatever you choose, avoid the usual Halloween symbols in decorations and activities. The way to "celebrate the dead" is by honoring God's saints, already in heaven, part of the body of Christ that the living saints are also a part of.4. Hold a Bible study on what God says about the occult and witchcraft.
This might be especially good for teenagers, since they are possibly coming into frequent contact with influences of this type. There has been an amazing growth of witchcraft and Satanism in the U.S. in recent years. Some cultists are attracted especially to the ideas of tapping the "powers of the universe" and of controlling our own destinies.5. Gather for a prayer and praise meeting.
During this night when Satanists and witches' covens meet to cast their spells and perform grotesque rituals, it seems appropriate for believers to gather to praise the one and only God.

Praise God for His victory over death, Satan, hell and all evil. (Recall Paul's words in Romans 16:20: "The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet.") And pray for all the people who don't know that Jesus Christ wants to give them peace with God and eternal life. Pray that Jesus will reveal Himself to their minds and spirits.Whatever you choose to do on Halloween, use this biblical guideline as you make your plans: "Whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God" (1 Corinthians 10:31).

http://www.worldprayercenter.us/school/ind...&Itemid=511

There is no need for Christs people to take thought on the abominations of the world. Since we don't take part with the world in their abominations. No Christmas. No Easter, No Halloween, No birthday parties, No anniversaries.


James 4:4
Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.

Galatians 4
9 But now after you have known God, or rather are known by God, how is it that you turn again to the weak and beggarly elements, to which you desire again to be in bondage?
10 You observe days and months and seasons and years.
11 I am afraid for you, lest I have labored for you in vain.

QUOTE (endtime @ Oct 27 2008, 12:55 PM)

There is no need for Christs people to take thought on the abominations of the world. Since we don't take part with the world in their abominations. No Christmas. No Easter, No Halloween, No birthday parties, No anniversaries.
James 4:4
Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.
Galatians 4
9 But now after you have known God, or rather are known by God, how is it that you turn again to the weak and beggarly elements, to which you desire again to be in bondage?
10 You observe days and months and seasons and years.
11 I am afraid for you, lest I have labored for you in vain.

Should Christians Celebrate or Observe Halloween?



Every since I became a Christian in 1988, I have loathed the Halloween holiday. While I love some horror movies, a good haunted house and even monsters, gouls and ghosts in general, something about celebrating a holiday that is steeped in pagan rites and rituals just doesn’t sit right with me as a follower of Christ. So the question of whether to celebrate or even observe a holiday that in the United States has become the second most popular holiday next to Christmas can be a difficult one to deal with.

What about the Christian reading this? Do you celebrate or not? If not actually celebrating, do you participate and if so to what degree? Before we answer these questions, let’s take a look at where Halloween came from in the first place.



Halloween has its origins in the ancient Celtic festival known as Samhain. The festival of Samhain is a celebration of the end of the harvest season in Gaelic culture, and is sometimes regarded as the “Celtic New Year”. Traditionally, the festival was a time used by the ancient pagans to take stock of supplies and slaughter livestock for winter stores.

The ancient Gaels believed that on October 31, now known as Halloween, the boundary between the alive and the deceased dissolved, and the dead become dangerous for the living by causing problems such as sickness or damaged crops. The festivals would frequently involve bonfires, into which bones of slaughtered livestock were thrown. Costumes and masks were also worn at the festivals in an attempt to mimic the evil spirits or placate them. Believe it or not, most of our Halloween practices can be traced back to these old pagan rites and superstitions.

As for the name “Halloween” it is shortened from All Hallows’ Even (both “even” and “eve” are abbreviations of “evening”, but “Halloween” gets its “n” from “even”) as it is the eve of “All Hallows’ Day”, which is now also known as All Saints’ Day. It was a day of religious festivities in various northern European Pagan traditions, until Popes Gregory III and Gregory IV moved the old Christian feast of All Saints’ Day from May 13 (which had itself been the date of a pagan holiday, the Feast of the Lemures) to November 1.






In the ninth century, the Church measured the day as starting at sunset, in accordance with the Florentine calendar. Although All Saints’ Day is now considered to occur one day after Halloween, the two holidays were, at that time, celebrated on the same day. Liturgically, the Church traditionally celebrated that day as the Vigil of All Saints, and, until 1970, a day of fasting as well. Like other vigils, it was celebrated on the previous day if it fell on a Sunday, although secular celebrations of the holiday remained on the 31st. The Vigil was suppressed in 1955, but was later restored in the post-Vatican II calendar.

Now one might argue that the Halloween we celebrate today, at least in the United States is nothing like the pagan rituals it was derived from but rather an innocent time of the year to dress up in costumes, trick-or-treat, host or attend Halloween parties, visit haunted houses and mazes, watch horror flicks and otherwise enjoy the dark side of humanity including ghosts, witches, gouls, monsters and demons. And while that may sound innocent enough and non-seroius to most, Halloween is a very sacred holiday to others.

For example, those who follow the Wicca religion consider Halloween to be one of eight holy days they observe throughout the year. “Halloween, plain and simple is our favorite time of year,” writes one follower of Wicca on witchway.net. In fact they feel it is a true time for witches, Witchcraft itself, and Wiccans alike who feel that on this night the separation between the physical and spiritual realities is it’s least guarded and it’s veil the thinnest.

That same person goes on to write, “It is a time for dimensional openings and workings, it is a somber holiday, one of dark clothes and thoughts for the dead, it is said to be the time when those of necromantic talents can speak with the dead and it is certainly a time to remember ones own dead. Witches believe it is a time of endings of relationships and bad situations and it is the time when one can see the glimmer of hope in the future. There are as many concepts attached to this holiday as any other, truly a time of remembrance of our ancestors and all those who have gone before.”

What about other organizations? Is Wicca the only group of people that view Halloween in this manner? Anton LaVey, author of The Satanic Bible and high priest of the Church of Satan states, “Satanists consider Halloween the most important day of the year. Satanic, occult and witchcraft powers are at their highest potency level…Satan and his powers are at their best that night.”

So if we know that Halloween is derived from anchient pagan rites and rituals and that at least two very non-Christian groups consider Halloween a sacred and holy day, should we as Christians celebrate it? If we do celebrate it, does that not violate 1Thessalonians 5:22 where it says, “Abstain from all appearance of evil” or even the common knowledge that to follow Christ is to be like Him and not live our lives in a paganistic fashion?

One would argue, “What about Christmas? That is a holiday derived from paganism as well,” to which I’d answer that I have my reservations about that holiday as well - Christ was not born on December 25th or even in the winter and the commercialism of Christmas with its Santa Clauses, elves, snowmen, reindeer, gift-giving and the like have nothing to do with the birth of the Son of God. But that is an entirely other post.




So what should a Christian do? I leave you to your own convictions but I choose certainly not to celebrate it and only to participate in it as little as I have to meaning, I give candy to trick-or-treaters. And that is mostly because I don’t want my house vandalized.

Yes I have visited haunted houses and even have visited Knott’s Scary Farm (Knott’s Berry Farm when it is hounted in October of each yar) twice but I do not do these things in celebration of the holiday. It is simply that October is the time of year when these events are running.

An alternative to celebrating Halloween would be to have a Octoberfest or Fall party where you gather with friends and family and celebrate with food and fun. And that does not have to be necessarily held on October3 1st either. Or do as I do and stay at home, hand out candy to the few trick-or-treaters that stop by and watch some good horror flicks (I say good because there are certain horrow flicks no Christian should watch).

To celebrate the holiday to me is to contradict my faith and give praise to what is most definitely a darker side of humanity. I think we Christians today do enough of that already when we constantly fall prey to embracing the world around us as opposed to Christ.

How about you? If you are a Christian, do you feel my convictions are just a bunch of nonsense, stooped in silly superstitions? Or do you agree and either resist celebrating the holiday or find alternatives? If you are not a Christian, do you think Christians should celebrate this holiday? I’d love to hear some various opinions and may I remind you that what I have written here are my own convictions. I do not force them on anyone but only ask if you are a follower of Christ, to prayfully consider the facts that surround this holiday.


http://www.jesussite.com/blog/2008/10/shou...erve-halloween/

QUOTE (endtime @ Oct 27 2008, 12:55 PM)

There is no need for Christs people to take thought on the abominations of the world. Since we don't take part with the world in their abominations. No Christmas. No Easter, No Halloween, No birthday parties, No anniversaries.
James 4:4
Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.
Galatians 4
9 But now after you have known God, or rather are known by God, how is it that you turn again to the weak and beggarly elements, to which you desire again to be in bondage?
10 You observe days and months and seasons and years.
11 I am afraid for you, lest I have labored for you in vain.

Should Christians celebrate birthdays?

'Question: "Should Christians celebrate birthdays?"


Answer: There is no specific prohibition against celebrating birthdays in Scripture, nor is there anything to indicate we should celebrate them. Scripturally speaking, it is a non-issue. The Bible does mention two individuals celebrating birthdays; the Egyptian Pharaoh in Joseph's time (Genesis 40:20), and King Herod in the time of Jesus (Matthew 14:6; Mark 6:21). Some point to these non-believing individuals as evidence that celebrating birthdays is wrong, some form of pagan ritual. However, the Bible does not state, or even hint, that it was wrong for Pharaoh or Herod to celebrate their birthdays. Neither does Scripture anywhere discourage anyone from celebrating a birthday.

In his epistle to the Romans, Paul is addressing the issue of which day should be the day of worship, but this could also apply to birthday celebrations: "One man considers one day more sacred than another; another man considers every day alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind. He who regards one day as special, does so to the Lord. He who eats meat, eats to the Lord, for he gives thanks to God; and he who abstains, does so to the Lord and gives thanks to God. For none of us lives to himself alone and none of us dies to himself alone. If we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord" (Romans 14:5-8).

The bottom line for Paul is that each man should be fully convinced that he is doing what God wants him to do. If one person chooses to celebrate birthdays and he sees nothing wrong with it, he should celebrate with a clear conscience. If, however, he feels celebrating is against his conscience, he should not celebrate. Conversely, if one does not celebrate birthdays for reasons of conscience, that is fine, as long as it does not become a source of pride and he does not look down on those who do celebrate. As with all issues not specifically addressed in Scripture, we have the freedom to celebrate or not celebrate birthdays, according to personal preference.
not celebrate birthdays, according to personal preference.

http://www.gotquestions.org/Christian-birthdays.html



Question -

Do you guys celebrate birthdays? Why or why not? Why do Jehovah's Witnesses not celebrate birthdays?

The Jehovah's Witnesses believe that birthday celebrations originated in pagan customs, such as blowing out of the candles on a birthday cake. They reject anything connected, however remotely, to pagan practices. They also believe that birthdays give excessive importance to an individual, which they feel is contrary to a humble attitude. The Bible records that people have celebrated birthdays, though the ones mentioned were not godly people. Pharaoh had a birthday party (Genesis 40:20) as did Herod (Matthew 14:6-11). Some make a big deal that people lost their lives at these events. However, the time of the event in both cases were not the cause of the deaths, it just gives us a time reference. The baker lost his life most likely because investigations showed that he made an attempt on Pharaoh's life. Remember that the wine taster was restored on the same occasion. John lost his head because Herodias took advantage of a drunk husband who made a bad offer to give his step-daughter anything she wanted, up to half his kingdom. The occasion explains why Herod was drunk, but the death of John was not directly connected to Herod's birthday. In other words, it wasn't birthday that was the problem, but that worldly men used it as excuse to become drunk and have lewd entertainment.

A bit more obscure, it appears that Job's children celebrated the birthdays of their siblings. "And his sons would go and feast in their houses, each on his appointed day, and would send and invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them. So it was, when the days of feasting had run their course, that Job would send and sanctify them, and he would rise early in the morning and offer burnt offerings according to the number of them all. For Job said, "It may be that my sons have sinned and cursed God in their hearts." Thus Job did regularly" (Job 1:4-5). It appears Job remembered his children's birthdays with blessings and sacrifices on their behalf.

Birthdays were remembered, as seen with Moses, "And he said to them: "I am one hundred and twenty years old today. I can no longer go out and come in. Also the LORD has said to me, 'You shall not cross over this Jordan.'" (Deuteronomy 31:2).

Though the occasions, if any are needed, are not mentioned, the Bible does mention parents giving gifts to their children. "If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!" (Matthew 7:11).

The conclusion is that birthdays and birthday celebrations are mentioned in the Bible, but they are mentioned as events without condemnation. In Herod's birthday party, evil things took place at the party, but there is no mention that the party itself was wrong.

See also: Questions and Answers regarding Jehovah's Witnesses
Articles about Jehovah's Witnesses

http://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/LVans...2005/07-27a.htm

....wow....
your idea of Christianity is REALLY boring.

In my opinion, Haloween is just a fun day of the year when kids can go around, dress up in costumes, and get free candy. Personally, I don't think that holidays affect the people, the people affect the holidays. What I mean is, it's how you celebrate the holiday that matters. Even though Haloween is generally acossiated with Satanism, Christians can celebrate it in a way that brings honor and glory to God.

Reported for trolling.

The Israelites tried to Celebrate once declaring the Golden calf they made and their orgy a "feast of the Lord".
The capacity of the human mind to rationalize and justify things is truely a testimony in itself to the Great Power of God and that it is nothing to fool around with.

Amen rays...

And the way l see it. God can use a fall party and save someone because they know nothing and yet turn around and use the same party to judge another. He does things like that..Christian TV is like that. He hasn't weeded it cause he's still using it...Churches are like that. He allows things to go on for the sake of the babes and those called according to his purpose that haven't yet heard.
I'm careful what l say as those very babes are a tender shoot and must be protected from the harsh weather of words...But when the big storm comes God will cut everything down and sort it according to his own righteousness...putting his wheat in the barn and leaving the tares in the field to be burned.

hi~

do you not know what goes on this day? this is a day of sorrow, mourning & weeping & there is absolutely nothing to be joyous about. beyond the veil of this "tradition" is the very thing the LORD commanded not to do, the very thing that caused Israel to sin which is now in the hands of the ruling caste, the wealthy, the powerful who think they are beyond the LORD's reach when they actually are seen by Him since the beginning. for those that are held in thrall by the glamour of "happy" treats & costumes & glowing squashes, snap out of it. of a truth, pray to the LORD for protection of all children all across the earth this day, & this night well passed until this cursed time ends. yea, ask yourself - do you really believe the LORD God in heaven would approve of this day & all that goes on therein?

what part do any of you have with the LORD if you claim yes - even so much as a footbreath?

behold the Word of the LORD regarding this, from 2 Corinthians 6:14 - 18 (akjv), 6:14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? 15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? 16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you. 18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.

of a truth, there is no justification to partake of this tradition lightly, for it is evil exceeding as it glorifies death & hell in "innocent" guise.

~levite-7

I do agree with you L-7..but God will still deliver the innocent by any means...even if it's at a harvest party.. May the Lord have mercy on the innocent and the ignorant.

Halloween is a counterfeit party, hence it is called Holloween. Is it not easy to see through?

hi~

this day, i am zealous for our God concerning this & the Spirit of the LORD is fiercely upon me. you have well said, Miki ~ for the LORD will hear us & shall do everything for they that stand with Him. i testify & pray to the LORD this day that the limbs of any & all occultists go limp & dry up that have intent in harming any child in worship to their idols & that their fires shall never be kindled, more-so the weather beat fiercely against them & that their altars are cleaved asunder by the hand of the LORD.

children are precious, may the hand of the LORD defend them from evil - AMEN.

~levite-7

And l come into agreement in Jesus name! As it is said let it be done...

Seattle Christian radio plays Christmas music today. What a balm to the soul.

Micheal W. Smith is singing 'Gloria' right now!

QUOTE

QUOTE

QUOTE

"When you come into the land which the LORD your God is giving you, you shall not learn to follow the abominations of those nations. There shall not be found among you anyone who makes his son or his daughter pass through the fire , or one who practices witchcraft, or a soothsayer, or one who interprets omens, or a sorcerer, or one who conjures spells, or a medium, or a spiritist, or one who calls up the dead. For all who do these things are an abomination to the LORD..."
-Deuteronomy 18:9-12

Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, 20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, 21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
-Galations 5:19-21

God warns of the ultimate punishment.


Revelation 21:8 says of "...those who practice magic arts ...their place will be in the fiery lake of burning sulfur... the second death"

These practices are anti-God and are in rebellion against Him.

Oh yes Miki, here too...

Also I was given a poem by a Christian women today...

and the title is HAPPY FALL...no not Happy Halloween

it seems the tricks on us this year, and those guilty of the crimes keep getting treated and even flaunting it in our faces.

anyways this was refreshing.

Happy Fall

From one pumpkin to another!!!

A woman was asked by another woman. "What is it like to be a Christian?"

The women replied, " It is like being a pumpkin.

God picks you from the patch, brings you in, and washes all the dirt off you.

Then he cuts off the top and scoops out all the yucky stuff.

He removes the seeds of doubt, and gives us a new heart and renews our spirit with a Holy Spirit resting in HIM. Jesus is LORD

Then he carves you a new smiling face and puts HIS LIGHT inside of you to SHINE FOR ALL THE WORLD TO SEE.

blessings to all.

7Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.

8Howbeit then, when ye knew not God, ye did service unto them which by nature are no gods.

9But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage?

10Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years.

11I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain.

12Brethren, I beseech you, be as I am; for I am as ye are: ye have not injured me at all.

13Ye know how through infirmity of the flesh I preached the gospel unto you at the first.

14And my temptation which was in my flesh ye despised not, nor rejected; but received me as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus.

15Where is then the blessedness ye spake of? for I bear you record, that, if it had been possible, ye would have plucked out your own eyes, and have given them to me.

16Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth?


Galatians 4:7:16

In an attempt to avoid paganism, there are many now trying to follow the doctrine of the Jehovah's Witnesses (JW) and the Muslims on the observance of birthdays. The JW followers reject observing birthdays based upon two scriptural events:

The Scriptures:
1.) The Pharaoh of Egypt on his birthday killed his baker (Gen 40:20);

2.)King Herod on his birthday killed John the Baptist. (Matt 14:6).

Paganism or mental fantasy:
At issue here is if observing birthdays is of pagan origin? Second, is there a Biblical doctrine AGAINST observing birthdays? Are many being subjected to mental fantasy and trying to make this into religious faith?

Is there a Biblical doctrine against observing birthdays?

No!

No one has presented one. All they have presented is a man-made theory. They will not confess that this doctrine came from the Jehovah's Witnesses and Charles Taze Russell got it from his Muslim studies as a member of the Masonic lodge.

Did observing or counting birthdays come from paganism?

No!

And anyone who claims they did needs to repent. The fact of counting years of living from one's birth is in the Bible before there was what we know as paganism.

I have been a student of the Bible since 1968, and although I learned of the JW doctrine that year, I was not convinced birthdays had a pagan origin based upon the two events of Pharaoh and Herod. There was nothing in these passages that indicated birthdays were of pagan origin. What was evident, is that two men, separated by nearly 1,600 years held their birthday as a special event to celebrate. On the face of this reality, it became obvious these two men of record were observing a day associated with themselves and not an idol or pagan god. Paganism has at its root, idolatrous religious practices and beliefs that are condemned in the Word of God.

For a teaching to be SOUND DOCTRINE, it must have a Biblical basis. There is not one Scripture in the whole Bible that condemns birthdays, observing the annual day, or counting them. Each and every time I have had to confront the accusations I am allowing paganism, I have asked for Bible and not one person yet has produced a single verse where the celebration is condemned. Most often, the issue of observing birthdays is brought up by novices trying to go past the Pastor in his doctrine and standards, and then use it to cast doubt on his ministry. I have seen people attack their Pastor, spread evil against him among the saints, and split churches over the one issue of observing birthdays. The evil that was used to destroy a church was much more evil then observing birthdays. But, once a person wants to destroy a Pastor any excuse will suffice, observing birthdays just one of them.

The Law:
There is nothing in the 613 precepts of the Law about birthdays. If God does not specifically condemn or prohibit something, then man has no authority to create a law and bind it upon others for obedience and faith. Man-made edicts and religious laws have no Scriptural authority. No one is obligated to follow or observe what is not found in the Word of God by principle or by direct reference. There is nothing in the Word of God that by principle or direct reference condemns observing birthdays.

The New Testament:
There is not one verse of Scripture in the New Testament against observing birthdays. Even when John was beheaded on Herod's birthday, the Church did not issue a warrant in form of doctrine to exclude those from the Church who observed theirs.

Candles, round cakes, etc.
I was given a silly piece of internet junk the other day that claimed birthdays were pagan because candles representing each year of a person's life was used to decorate the round cake. In this anti-birthday article it was claimed that round birthday cakes were a symbol of the sun god. I read through the print-out and was amused at how this was so neatly woven with falsehood and yet so many believe this kind of stuff has Divine sanction and blessing. There is absolutely no historical record that candles on a birthday cake are of pagan origin. Nothing that round birthday cakes represent the sun or the sun god. Most cakes are square or rectangle. These are all fantastic suppositions that have no historical foundation.

God used seven candles in the Tabernacle and also twelve round loaves of bread on the Showbread Table. It is true the Menorah was not actually made of wax candles, but they nevertheless were still representative of lamps of fire and are called candlesticks in the Word of God. While it is true, these seven candlesticks of fire are not used for birthday observance, we do not know in their full revelation what all they represent. These are symbolic just as the Showbread represented something. While I am not agreeing with the following I do believe it has some merit. It is asserted that the Candlesticks and Showbread represent the two direct means of revelation: 1.) illumination by light (knowledge) as given directly by the Spirit; and 2.) understanding and revelation by the Word of God. Thus, these two emblematic symbols represent the two different means God uses to reveal Truth. The Spirit and the Word are the two methods God uses to fellowship with man. The Candlesticks are further thought to represent the seven days of creation wherein all things are created or born of the power of God. Thus, the creation of a new man/woman in Christ is observed as being "born again", a specific day to be remembered and celebrated when God made us a new creation. What has all this got to do with birthdays? Really a lot! It does go to show, there can be more to an issue then the cry paganism when it comes to the use of candles and what they might represent. The fact that candles may be used to represent each year of a person's life from the time they were born, cannot be labeled paganism so easily. It may be claimed, but has yet to be proven after 175 years of JW's trying to spread their false doctrine. It is believed, and with good suspicion, that Charles Taze Russell, founder of the JWs, got his doctrine against observing birthdays from his association with the Masonic Lodge, and directly from Islamic influence. Yes, there is an abundance of Islamic teaching veiled in many rituals of the Lodge. Muslims do not believe in observing birthdays and devout Caliphs do not observe the birthday of Mohammed. Russell had even more reason to crank out a doctrine against birthday celebration with his stand against Christmas, the alleged birthday of Jesus. It was from this event on December 25 that Russell forged his doctrine against pagan holidays and birthdays, all in one neat package. He could teach against the birthday of the Son of God and go back and pick up the ancient festival of the birthday of the sun, or sun god, and show where they were mixed.

Dies Natalis Invicti or Sol Invictus:
So far as we can determine, Dies Natalis Invicti was first celebrated in Rome by order of the Emperor Aurelian around 270AD. Attempts to connect this to the worship of Baal or to sun-god worship lacks proof. Even Hislop presents a sloppy and undocumented account, painting his picture based upon his own theories. Never once does he cite a source that backs up his claims. He uses his own hand-drawn pictures and makes comparisions and from these convinces others he has done his research. The fact is, he has not documented anything unless he can specifically make a tie and prove this with testimony. The Dies Natalis Invicti or birth of the unconquered sun, is not a celebration of birthday at all! What was celebrated in this pagan observance?

The entire annual celebration was centered around the winter solstice, the shortest day of the year. Meaning, of the 24 hours in a day, there was much more darkness then daylight. The winter solstice was the shortest day of the year. Ancient astronomers had already discovered there were two days of the year when there was exactly the same amount of daylight and darkness. This was called an equinox day. They discovered there was one day of the year where there was more darkness then light and a day when there was more light then darkness. The winter solstice was the day there was more darkness then daylight. This day marked the reverse tilt of the earth on its axis when the days would slowly get longer and the nighttime shorter. On this day, when the sun began to gain back its dominance of the 24 hour period, it was celebrated as the REBIRTH of the sun, not the sun's birthday. Herein is something the anti-birthday people will not admit. Biblically, we know the birthday of the sun was NOT ON THE FIRST DAY OF THE CREATION WEEK! God did indeed say:"let there be light" on the first day of the week, but this was not the birthday of the sun. According to the Genesis account the sun was created on the fourth day of creation. The crying that has been going on about worship of the birthday of the sun is nothing but false tears. If we compare the creation week with our present week, the first day called Sunday would not be the day of the sun, but rather Wednesday, the 4th day of the week would be called the day of the birth of the sun. While this would be a weekly observance we are looking for the annual event this might be held. It is unreasonable to think God created the sun and gave darkness more time of the day then the sun had. It is far better to think that when God made the sun and the moon, he gave equal time to light and darkness. Thus, a more accurate and reasonable time of the year to celebrate the birth or creation of the sun would be on one of the two equinox dates.

Whatever the case, the Latin observance of Dies Natalis Invicti was indeed replaced by the Catholic Church with the observance of the birth of Jesus. It is true Christmas is a pagan holiday and the practice holds much of the ancient Saturnalia. Other then the falsehood the birth of Jesus was on this date and used to replace a pagan holiday, where is there any truth that birthdays are pagan? There is none!

Biblical observance of birthdays:
I have remarked to many over the years that counting how old a person is, starting from their birthday, is observing one's birth date. It does not mean you had cake and ice cream and received gifts when you were born. That is true. Nevertheless, to even count a birth date as an event to determine one's solar or sun-year of life, would be observing it is some manner or fashion. The year is based upon the sun and its annual circuit through the universe. We mark off these 365 days to make the complete circle and divide them into months and these into weeks and then into seven days. Counting your birthdays is then observing the law of the universe that God set in motion when he said the two great lights would be for "signs, seasons, days, and years." Now God said all this! A year is a revolution of time. I was doing some research into the Hebrew word "days" (yowm: Strong's #3117), many years ago and noticed that it not only described sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next sunset (evening and morning were the first day--sunset to sunset); but that certain days had annual significance. For instance, God commanded Passover to be observed on the exact same day of the lunar month every year. Likewise with the day of the Feast of Pentecost and the day of Atonement. Other annual days were commanded. These future days of celebration and observance were tied to one day in history where God wrought a beautiful and wonderful thing. These annual days were born from incidents to be remembered. Because of this, the Hebrew word "yowm" included days of "birth." Go and look for yourself!

Hebrew 3117. yowm, yome; from an unused root mean. to be hot; a day (as the warm hours), whether lit. (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or fig. (a space of time defined by an associated term), [often used adv.]:-age, + always, + chronicles, continually (-ance), daily, ([birth-], each, to) day, (now a, two) days (agone), + elder, X end, + evening, + (for) ever (-lasting, -more), X full, life, as (so) long as (...live), (even) now, + old, + outlived, + perpetually, presently, + remaineth, X required, season, X since, space, then, (process of) time, + as at other times, + in trouble, weather, (as) when, (a, the, within a) while (that), X whole (+ age), (full) year (-ly), + younger.

One thing cannot be denied: the ages of people in the Bible, beginning with Adam, are counted from the day of birth. This is observing birthdays no matter if there is candles, cake, and ice cream! In addition to this, celebration on the very day of a child's birth would also carry the stigma of being pagan if we permit the same things done on this day, on the annual anniversary afterward. Are there celebrations on the day a child is born in the Bible?

What of Eve when Cain was born? She rejoiced at the birth of the first human being. She spoke with praise and exaltation, saying: "I have gotten a man from the Lord" (Genesis 4:1). She was excited about this new baby. Excitement shows up in many places in the Word of God at the birth of a son or daughter. What is being celebrated? It is life! God has shown his creative power in the life of a baby. A baby's birthday is nothing more then remembrance of the day God gave life to the child. Birthdays that do not hold in memory that God gave life is in my opinion disrespectful to God. Even the life that we "now live" after conversion, we give credit and honor to God in the person of Jesus Messieh-Christ. On days when souls are born of the Spirit, there is a frenzy of worshippers rejoicing, shouting, and praising the Lord. This is an observance of a BIRTHDAY! Our annual remembrance of that one day is not pagan and did not derive from paganism rooted in worship of idols and false gods.

The Birth of Jesus:
We know Jesus was not born in December and so the Christmas festivity celebrating this is false. We do know he was born in September. Do we have any record the Apostles observed the birthday of Jesus? No, there is no record. But there is also no record of them performing a wedding ceremony! There is no record of them conducting a funeral. There is no record of them concerning wedding anniversaries. There is nothing about bridal or baby showers . And, there is no actual Church service that shows use of musical instruments. There is nothing about indoor toilets, offering plates, or song books. There are no choirs, no fifth sunday dinner's on the ground, or women's meetings. There are no Church garage or yard sales, no fund raising for missions, no prison ministries for sinners, and no hospital visits for sinners who are sick. There are no home Bible studies for sinners. So far as we know, there were no church buildings owned by Christians. They met in homes and in other places. There were no baptismal tanks or other devices used for immersion of converts, but rather baptisms were done in streams, rivers, or natural ponds. There were no New Testament Bibles in the possession of the Saints or Church members. Few had the Old Testament or could even afford to own one that was available. The most they could do was look upon the scrolls in the Synagogue or Temple and hear them read there. There are no business owners in the New Testament among Church members, and so far as we know, no one who held employment working for another. We could go on and on and list the things NOT FOUND in the practice of the Apostles and use the absence of these to place bondage upon Believers. To do so is insanity. That is why we are enjoined to RIGHTLY DIVIDE THE WORD OF GOD. This is not the work of novices. If there is evil, sin, or wrong in a thing we have no reservations, we will oppose it. But we must have Bible for the sin or evil that is in a thing. What about the birth of Jesus, was there evil in this event?

Angels worshiped. Yes, here is what the Word of God says about the angles on the birthday of Jesus:

"And again, when he bringeth in the firstbegotten into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him" (Heb 1:6).

Then again, on the very BIRTHDAY of Jesus here is what the Word of God declares:

"Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me" (Heb 10:5).

The very moment Jesus was born Angels worshipped, God spoke his Divine counsel. And the Son of God, who was to be the incarnation of God, could look back and say: "A BODY HAST THOU PREPARED ME."

Yes, a birthday can have its spiritual connection to God. It was God who formed us in the womb of our mother, and he who caused us at the right moment in eternity to come forth into life. The Creator of the body in the womb, gives a separate existence of life to the baby on its birthday. The birthday is then the celebration of life. Each annual day is one more year that has passed of this life. We do not count birthdays after a person dies. We end the count and so mark their tombstones (Born 00/00/0000 and Died 00/00/0000). There are no birthdays celebrated after a person dies because they are rightly observed while living as an annual day of remembrance of the birthday. There is only ONE BIRTHDAY! All annual remembrances are just observing that ONE DAY!

The shepherds abiding in the field came to the birthday of Jesus. Did they celebrate it every year after that? No, but they were there on his birthday. We do know according to Job 20:15 it was a custom to carry the news of a child's birth to all who had a reason to know.

Conclusion:
What does the Bible say against celebrating birthdays? NOTHING!
Is it pagan to celebrate a birthday? NO!
Has anyone proven birthday celebrations began with pagans? NO!
Will you go to hell for celebrating your birthday? NO!
Is it a sin to celebrate your New Birth in Christ on its annual day? NO!

Is it a lie to teach the Bible is against celebrating birthdays? YES!
Is it a lie that birthdays began within paganism? YES!
Did people in the Bible count their birthdays? YES!
Did Jews celebrate the 12th birthday of boys and girls? YES! Bar Mitzvah and Bat Mitzvah
Did the parents of Jesus take him on his 12th birthday to Jerusalem and celebrate his Bar Mitzvah? YES!
Did Levites on their 30th birthday celebrate becoming a priest? YES!

Anyone who teaches celebrating a birthday is pagan is lying and for this, they will go to hell if they do not repent.

So, who will go to hell: the person observing their birthday, or the person who claims birthdays are pagan?

http://jesus-messiah.com/html/birthdays.html

Voice,

Gee whiz you don't believe in having fun; do ya? Perhaps you need to allow your child side to let loose and have a good belly laugh.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g9Dz5yui0Rc...feature=related

Have a good night and Blessings!

Al

Here is a Christian Song that will make the monsters disappear.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iTkkUIfIZ-o...feature=related

Hell houses, judgment houses™ etc.

http://www.suntimes.com/lifestyles/religio...HELL31.article#

http://www.religioustolerance.org/hallo_he.htm

Gee whiz you don't believe in having fun; do ya? Perhaps you need to allow your child side to let loose and have a good belly laugh.

No kidding, literally. Lighten up.

QUOTE (Eli @ Nov 2 2008, 04:40 AM)

QUOTE (Voice @ Nov 1 2008, 03:34 PM)

QUOTE (Adeline @ Nov 1 2008, 11:02 AM)

Voice,
Gee whiz you don't believe in having fun; do ya? Perhaps you need to allow your child side to let loose and have a good belly laugh.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g9Dz5yui0Rc...feature=related
Have a good night and Blessings!
Al

QUOTE (chrio39 @ Oct 28 2008, 11:06 AM)

I have deleted many contentious posts and a few good ones that quoted those posts as well. Lets keep it clean folks, without the personal attacks

Gee whiz you don't believe in having fun; do ya? Perhaps you need to allow your child side to let loose and have a good belly laugh.
No kidding, literally. Lighten up, Dave.

QUOTE (chrio39 @ Oct 28 2008, 11:06 AM) I have deleted many contentious posts and a few good ones that quoted those posts as well. Lets keep it clean folks, without the personal attacks

Voice accused me of being part of a cult called the latter rain movement.

Voice assoiated me with the Nazis who killed all those people in the holocaust.

• » summary
• tech specs
• buy the dvd

Hell House
a film by George Ratliff Hell Houses are a distinctly American phenomenon which began in 1990 just outside of Dallas, at the Trinity Assembly of God Church. The original Hell House was conceived as a modern-day fire-and-brimstone sermon. Today, this religious ceremony of sorts is replete with actors, extensive lighting equipment and full audio-visual tech crews. Inside the Hell House, tour guides dressed as demons take visitors from room to room to view depictions of school massacres, date rape, AIDS-related deaths, fatal drunk driving crashes, and botched abortions. Hell Houses have now spread to hundreds of churches worldwide.

With full access to the behind-the-scenes action, HELL HOUSE follows the process from the first script meeting until the last of the 10,000 visitors passes through the Hell House doors. The movie gives a verite window into the whole process of creating this over-the-top sermon, while showing an intimate portrait of the people who fervently believe its message. The film also features a score by Bubba and Matthew Kadane, formerly of the band Bedhead.

HELL HOUSE has been wowing film festival audiences and has become one of the most talked-about documentaries of the year, and the film received a Golden Gate Award at the 2002 San Francisco International Film Festival.

Director George Ratliff, a Texas native, began his career in journalism. His feature documentary, PLUTONIUM CIRCUS, won awards at the San Francisco International Film Festival, was a finalist at the International Documentary Association Awards, and won Best Documentary Feature at the South by Southwest Film Festival. Prior to HELL HOUSE, Ratliff worked as a segment Producer/Director for Split Screen on the Independent Film Channel.
related video
Hell House Trailer
http://www.plexifilm.com/title.php?id=7

Voice accused me of being part of a cult called the latter rain movement.

Voice assoiated me with the Nazis who killed all those people in the holocaust.

These were very personal attacks against myself by Voice.

This behavior is more frightening than any Christian's celebrating Halloween.