Should Christians celebrate or recognize Halloween?  

I know Halloween has always been a BIG event in America but it never was here in Australia until more recent years. This year it seems bigger than ever.

I am a Christian and I refuse anything to do with Halloween. However, what other people do is entirely up to them. I just see no point at all in witches, bats, curses and all the other hullaballoo. I would never encourage children to participate in Halloween activities and will not accommodate them if they knock on my door.

Hi beautifulBrooke,Well, I am sorry to say ,A true christian did not celebrate nor reconize the word holloween.That is only a catholic tradition,and that is not written in the Bible.Good day!

The early Christians as recorded in the Bible (Acts)didn't have many celebrations and festivals as we see today. They gather themselves just to worship God and anticipate His Coming back for them. Personally I look at Halloween as just pure fun for children and some adults. If people want to celebrate it, that's their choice. It doesn't have anything to do with Christianity or being a Christian.
I see people who call themselves Christians celebrate Halloween, that's entirely up to them. The Church today have gone a long way from the early church. To each his own.


cheers!

I think Halloween is just fun and child's play. I am sure it is much more for people who take it out of context. We are Christian and we always celebrated it in my house growing up. I actually personally do not know anyone who does not celebrate it.

While growing up it was just a fun making belief it was all scary. Now that I am grown and read about what actually can happen on Halloween night I am not so in favor of it. My girls were never really crazy about it when they were young. We never spent any money on decorations and don't even put out a pumpkin. The town tried the parking lot hand out but I guess it didn't really work so a few kids do come by. If we don't want to participate all we have to do is turn off the lights. A lot of churches will try to have something for the children to keep them safe and still have fun.

We don't 'celebrate' Halloween really. We just let the kids go out and have some fun. I don't let them wear anything 'scary' or witchy or bloody. They have to find something pretty fun and neutral. And now that they are older, the 19, 16 and 13 year old don't 'trick or treat'. they might go to a party with friends or something. this year we will probably only take the 11 and 10 year olds out.
I may be more 'worldly' than some christian parents becasue I let them go trick or treating but I still love God and do the best I can.

Halloween is a celebration that started in the Celtic countries of Ireland, Britain and Western Europe where they put on masks so that the old demonic gods would not harm them. So it is a celebration of idolatry. It is also to do with dead worship, that is the ancient Celts worshiped their dead ancestors. It started out probably as a festival to celebrate the end of harvest, but deteriorated into something else and became in essence a festival for the dead. I would not say it is satanism but it also has to do with threats of tricks (trick or treat) if one does not give candy to the children who are dressed as weird characters coming to the door.
My husband has already had me get candy for the children. I am rather reluctant to do so not only because it fosters greed, but also I hate to have them all have to visit the dentist soon after. So I am reluctant on its origin and its danger to the dental health, but I hate to turn children away who have no idea of Halloween's origins. If I had my way and after my husband dies, I will keep the light off, but that will not happen that soon.

I don't see anything wrong with it. I was raised in a strict catholic home and we always celebrated Halloween. To us it was just a fun holiday and nothing to be taken serious at all. I had friends from other religions that also went out trick or treating with us. It is just a fun time for the kids unless the parents make it otherwise.

I think no one can really say what a Christian should or should not celebrate especially in matters that are considered "debatable" or gray areas in the Bible. These are the minor things and should not be a cause for divisions among Christians. Each one should respect another person's convictions about Halloween rather than take a legalistic and divisive stand against those who do not agree with one's own convictions.

What is best would be to take this occasion as a opportunity for the gospel, for sharing Christ to others instead of dwelling on the law. I think we should take care not to judge other Christians if they observe or not observe Halloween.

Blessings!

Well as a Christian I was raised to dress up in something nice, Trick or Treat only to the neighbors and we never decorated. As I became a parent then all of a sudden my parents decided to inform me on the history of the event we call Halloween, or All Hallo's Eve. Through the years I have learned more and morea bout it.
I made a decision to not participate as I once did because I cannot call myself a Christian and WILLINGLY support darkness.
I love to dress up and fortunately I am the Children's Pastor and get to be in costume every Sunday. I feel there is a HUGE difference betwen dressing in character for a purpose of fun or teaching and dressing as gouls and demons to scare other demons. I believe that I don't need a msk to scare them away. My Bible says greater is HE that is in me and that HE can scare the demons away.
We try to do everything in the light as He is in the light. We do not have a costume party at church. We do have a fall festival that night to give a safe alternative to anyone that wants safe, clean fun with nothing scary. We do a TRUNK or treat out in the open, under lights, nothing scary and we ask nothing in return for gifts we give to children. I see TOT as completely different than TTICK or Treat, but I guess that's a seperate debate...
I'm still struggling, but I know that God's Word is clear that we are to have NOTHING to do with witchcraft or divination. I think knowing that Halloween has absolutely nothing to do with Christ is a reason to not be a part of it.
We could say that stealing as a joke is just child's play... but is it really? At some point we are either for or against this event. I'm not sure you can dabble.This one is dangerously sourrounded in lies that is it just child's play. Who better to decieve than trusting children? You get them, you get an entire generation of decieved adults making decisions based on deception.
This is just for me and I don't judge anyone who is somewhere else in their faith or lack of. However, as followers of Christ, Christians should walk in the light as He is in the light. We are salt and light and shouldn't be transformed by the world no matter how good it looks.
Great disscussion! (Hope that didn't hurt anyone personally. This was all about ME and where I am.)