Should Christians Celebrate Halloween?
Asking for a friend • Sermon • Submitted
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· 11 viewsThe message seeks to answer the question, "Should Christians celebrate Halloween?"
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Asking for a Friend
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?
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?
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
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