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I don't know Cinder.
She responded to us with a verse about judging God's servants and esteeming one day over another. That was perfect for 90% of the holiday topics. I just disagree about this application of that chosen reference. Once you get to Leviticus you see stern commands against heathen practices. That would include the Druid celebrations. After that, the OT is filled with judgements from God Himself upon His people for that. I don't want anyone here to be judged of God. It's good you all know the Bible and resort to it with me for our answers. I too need reminded at times about many topics.
She responded to us with a verse about judging God's servants and esteeming one day over another. That was perfect for 90% of the holiday topics. I just disagree about this application of that chosen reference. Once you get to Leviticus you see stern commands against heathen practices. That would include the Druid celebrations. After that, the OT is filled with judgements from God Himself upon His people for that. I don't want anyone here to be judged of God. It's good you all know the Bible and resort to it with me for our answers. I too need reminded at times about many topics.
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Very few people intentionally celebrate how they did in the OT. You don't find people consciously burning incense to pagan deities or participating in rites or anything like that. Not believers at least and even those who many think are nominal (believers) would certainly shy away and likely run full tilt from if they encountered it.
At worst harvest festivals, pumpkin carving, and dressing up slightly echo this but not much beyond that. I do NOT think that is their intention and I do think that's a personal decision.
That said I think that participating in the window dressing for the occult (ghouls, goblins, witches, etc.) doesn't "avoid the appearance of evil." So it should definitely be cause for consternation to believers that think it's harmless for your children to be cultivating a spirit of fear (Haunted houses, horror films, ghost stories, certain costumes, etc.)
The whole point when I was younger was to push the envelope and be "scary" which I can't fathom promoting as an adult.
Ephesians 5:11-12:
"And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them. For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret."
So yeah, there are undertones but I don't think I should be explicit. "Mostly" it's just free candy and costumes.
The churches that respond by trunk-o-treat, festivals, dress up contests and such that keep in mind propriety and offer an alternative to the secular I don't have much of a problem with. I think boundaries should still be considered and sexualized or "scary" costumes prohibited but if someone missed the memo and their child dressed up like a ghost or something I wouldn't eject them from the event necessarily. Anything sexualized sure...that's a whole discussion in itself though.
Providing a safer environment and alternative for teens is also a great idea.
There's definitely a scary side to God which is certainly worth talking about but it doesn't fit this context at all. There are many frightening environments that are natural (think a cave full of mole crickets and house centipedes for example)... Shark cages?
Please bear in mind that some people are going to struggle with being attracted to what's beneath the window dressing of h'ween so be careful with being too cavalier.
I'm willing to talk about it privately if anyone struggles there.
Otherwise...work out your own salvation
At worst harvest festivals, pumpkin carving, and dressing up slightly echo this but not much beyond that. I do NOT think that is their intention and I do think that's a personal decision.
That said I think that participating in the window dressing for the occult (ghouls, goblins, witches, etc.) doesn't "avoid the appearance of evil." So it should definitely be cause for consternation to believers that think it's harmless for your children to be cultivating a spirit of fear (Haunted houses, horror films, ghost stories, certain costumes, etc.)
The whole point when I was younger was to push the envelope and be "scary" which I can't fathom promoting as an adult.
Ephesians 5:11-12:
"And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them. For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret."
So yeah, there are undertones but I don't think I should be explicit. "Mostly" it's just free candy and costumes.
The churches that respond by trunk-o-treat, festivals, dress up contests and such that keep in mind propriety and offer an alternative to the secular I don't have much of a problem with. I think boundaries should still be considered and sexualized or "scary" costumes prohibited but if someone missed the memo and their child dressed up like a ghost or something I wouldn't eject them from the event necessarily. Anything sexualized sure...that's a whole discussion in itself though.
Providing a safer environment and alternative for teens is also a great idea.
There's definitely a scary side to God which is certainly worth talking about but it doesn't fit this context at all. There are many frightening environments that are natural (think a cave full of mole crickets and house centipedes for example)... Shark cages?
Please bear in mind that some people are going to struggle with being attracted to what's beneath the window dressing of h'ween so be careful with being too cavalier.
I'm willing to talk about it privately if anyone struggles there.
Otherwise...work out your own salvation
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am sure simple sheep has brains enough to figure out if something is evil or not.
Candy tastes nice and gives you a high...can only be good right? whats the worst that can happen?
Dressing up as a witch/demon/zombie...totally representing goodness and kindness! Cos Jesus just loved the darkness didnt he?
Candy tastes nice and gives you a high...can only be good right? whats the worst that can happen?
Dressing up as a witch/demon/zombie...totally representing goodness and kindness! Cos Jesus just loved the darkness didnt he?
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Our church renamed it HarvestFest like many churches have and it is a blast. We volunteers dress up and pass out candy. There are games booths and lots of food. My favorite outfit to wear is a secondhand bride's dress with veil and a bouquet. The only problem was I kinda stole the show, lol, people wanted pics with their kids and people congratulating me, so I won't be doing that this year.
If you want to hand out candy put a sign out that says Blessed HarvestFest, lol something like that.
If you want to hand out candy put a sign out that says Blessed HarvestFest, lol something like that.
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Check this out @SimpleSheep.
Do you know what kind of bat was in the first video I posted?
Here's some video clips from a rehabilitator.
I used to be a rehabilitator too. Just as a hobby and out of necessity because I hate to see anything suffer. I didn't rehab bats, but birds, and local wildlife.
Misunderstood creatures like bats, snakes and spiders get a bad rap for looking so unusual. I can understand how people get scared and creeped out by something. But I've found that people can overcome their fears if they want to and simply by learning about them.
This little Flying Fox is munching on watermelon, her favorite!
Do you know what kind of bat was in the first video I posted?
Here's some video clips from a rehabilitator.
I used to be a rehabilitator too. Just as a hobby and out of necessity because I hate to see anything suffer. I didn't rehab bats, but birds, and local wildlife.
Misunderstood creatures like bats, snakes and spiders get a bad rap for looking so unusual. I can understand how people get scared and creeped out by something. But I've found that people can overcome their fears if they want to and simply by learning about them.
This little Flying Fox is munching on watermelon, her favorite!
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S
Thank you all for the replies! I really appreciate it. I've been busy with work lately but I am still reading through the thread. Thanks @HealthAndHappiness for the videos.
@zeroturbulence thank you for the bday wishes...it's not till October but I appreciate it! I used to be Molly and LittleMermaid. You know who I am. When I had a facebook, we were friends. I still have that fb but I'm not activated right now. Hope all is well with you!
@zeroturbulence thank you for the bday wishes...it's not till October but I appreciate it! I used to be Molly and LittleMermaid. You know who I am. When I had a facebook, we were friends. I still have that fb but I'm not activated right now. Hope all is well with you!
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