Today,
reply is on Christian beliefs, spiritual confusion, and the
celebration of Halloween. Christianity is to appear among mankind as
correct expression of accountability, maturity, sacred knowledge,
and spirit content imparted from the makeup of GOD. The observance
of Halloween and other holiday celebrations have been examined by
Christian adults, and are now increasingly challenged regarding their
value for sinners coming to Christ by repentance, and for the gradual
growth and development of youth receiving Christ as their
inheritance. In addition to promoting conflict and division among
believers, holidays, celebrations, customs, and cultural traditions
promoting parties and social behavior also encourage compromise,
disbelief, hedonism, and skepticism. It is written: Luke 14:
25-27, King James Version (KJV): 25 And there went great multitudes
with him: and he turned, and said unto them, 26 If any man
come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and
children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he
cannot be my disciple. 27 And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and
come after me, cannot be my disciple. A writer in the “Yahoo!
Answers” public forum on Religion and Spirituality who uses the ID
“Ember (Level 1 with 78 points, a member since October 16, 2019)
posted the following:
How
do I tell my parents I don't celebrate Halloween when I'm the only
Christian in that household? My family are pagan and I'm not.?
I
have told them I converted before but they took it as if I was being
disrespectful and they've been mean, and my mom didn't take it well.
They didn't take me telling them I converted well.. . Idk what to do
THE
GOLDEN ARROW: Then answered Peter and said unto him, Behold, we have
forsaken all, and followed thee; what shall we have therefore? And
Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have
followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the
throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging
the twelve tribes of Israel. And every one that hath forsaken
houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or
children, or lands, for my name’s
sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting
life. But many that are first shall be last; and the last
shall be first. (Matthew 19: 27-28, KJV)
THE
DOUBLE DAGGER: Heathen and Pagan Ways (09/01/2019); Jesus In This
Environment? (04/30/2019); Anger Against Our Parents? (01/10/2019);
Why Paul Observed Tradition (07/10/2018); Sacred Ministry or
Parenting? (05/10/2018); The Joy of Christmas (01/05/2017); The
Meaning of Christmas? (12/22/2016); A Day For Forgiveness?
(12/25/2015)
“Ember”,
the meaning and value of holidays during our stages of childhood must
change as we develop and grow. Even so, for many Christian families
the occasions for public celebration and the observance of holidays
are increasingly becoming recognized as toxic for the home and within
the community of faith. Like welcoming a wolf in sheep’s
clothing, acknowledging things from the popular culture, customs,
family law, and traditions of the world always entails great risk
disguised as affirming and bonding community, child-like innocence,
play, and recreation. Rather than proclaiming the things of
redemption and salvation through Jesus Christ, often those who
embrace Halloween further the expression of things carnal, material,
and demonic along with the occult, sorcery, the supernatural, and
superstition. A use and focus on graphic images, icons, and symbols
are promoted that contend against balance, faith, godliness, and
maturity. Death, destruction, division, fear, and accepting the
operations of sin unknowingly are endorsed and promoted. The
recognition of such events as anniversaries, birthdays, and the
completion of harvest also have become tainted by elements promoting
depression, excess, gluttony, and imbalance. Major feasts such as
dia de los Muertos, Saint Patrick’s
day, Christmas, Thanksgiving, and Easter are in danger of losing all
piety, righteousness, and their saintly spirit character. While you
are in the home of your parents, you must respect their right to
freely express their own beliefs and values without having to answer
continual condemnation, criticism, or disrespect from their children
and other members of the household. You are to “win them over”
by acknowledging and displaying such aspects of sacred spirit as
faith, longsuffering, lovingkindness, meekness, and wisdom. Consider
again the following that uses language from the Bible, and a
presentation from the music ministry of John Michael Talbot:
(1.)
1st Corinthians 13: 11-12, King James Version (KJV): 11
When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I
thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish
things. 12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to
face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am
known.
(2.)
Galatians 2: 16, KJV: 16 Knowing that a man is not justified by
the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have
believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of
Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law
shall no flesh be justified.
(3.)
Galatians 5: 16-23, KJV: 16 This I say then, Walk in the
Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. 17 For the
flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh:
and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do
the things that ye would. 18 But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are
not under the law. 19 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. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit
is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23
Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
There
is far more that should be said, correctly examined, and spiritually
apprehended. (For example, (4.)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UmwRnDa-iXM&list=PLN-HWgUQXbLMTSzGiuTABz_u7Lqbc7AF8&index=5&t=0s.)
Even so, I trust this fragment
will be useful. Be it unto you according to your faith.
Image
downloaded 2:50 PM, October 23, 2019 @
https://www.nationalgeographic.com.au/people/why-do-we-celebrate-halloween.aspx
AN
AFTERTHOUGHT: For most Christians, the benefits and rejoicing
through sacred and secular celebrations are not the same. Christmas
should not be compared against Kwanzaa; family reunion should not be
compared to Resurrection Sunday; Sabbath should not be compared with
Sunday. Anniversaries and memorials of sacred events (we often say,
miracles) should acknowledge acts of GOD and mysteries from the past,
yet also invoke and call forth (1) the same benefits, blessings,
duties, and gifts provided earlier, (2) completion, fulfillment, or
repetition of the original works, (3) re-dedication and revival as of
ones assembly and the full church as well as (4) renewal of each
believer’s own relationship with
divinity. Commanded expectations (hope) and sacred purpose are
reignited and reinvigorated; and those who labor preparing the
harvest to be taken up at the coming of Jesus Christ as Lord receive
needed rest and refreshing.
Washington,
DC
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