The Petra Zone

Halloween and Christianity??? We have left our Church on account of it celebrating Halloween this year, calling it Trunk or Treat...

Unbelievable... In this world not of it...

Anyone else gone to one of these churches that try to water down Halloween?

http://www.examiner.com/article/should- ... mation-day

They are actually celebrating Halloween or having some type of safe alternative? We have a fall festival every year with a lot of assortment of kids things to do; everyone is encouraged to wear costumes . Our church it being large(5k attending each Sunday) has funding to pull this off and plus its not only a safe, clean & moral alternative to Halloween it also can be used as a great witnessing tool to bring the neighborhood in to know about Jesus and Christianity. If your church is actually celebrating Halloween then yes I would question it and probably would have come to the same conclusion that you did.

Daniel wrote:Halloween and Christianity??? We have left our Church on account of it celebrating Halloween this year, calling it Trunk or Treat...

Unbelievable... In this world not of it...

Anyone else gone to one of these churches that try to water down Halloween?

http://www.examiner.com/article/should- ... mation-day

The first response I posted before reading your link and would have to say I agree with their assessment on Halloween, but disagree with their thinking on Fall festivals. I see no problems in wearing costumes, but I do feel that the Gospel has to be presented which at our church that is the case. This is a way for our church to open the doors in a non threating way to the neighborhood to people that would otherwise never come to the church. In the context that we are doing it I see no problem with it and on the positive side over the years I know of several families that have now have an active walk in Christianity and attend our church directly because of our Fall festival.

I disagree completely, I think a Fall Festival is sugar coating for a pagan holiday, it's hardly an outreach... "look we are just like the rest of world!"

Terry watch this when you get time:


American Christianity is in for a rude awakening on judgement day.

Christmas traditions have a lot of "pagan" origins too. We celebrate holidays like July Fourth and Texas independence, and neither of those are religous days. I lump certain portions of Halloween in with non Christian holidays.

What's in the heart?

I used to be hardcore like that, not getting into trunk or treat night. Our church has one. The neighborhood appreciates it because it is sell lit, safe, food is provided, and there are no scary costumes allowed. I don't see anything wrong with the church providing an alternative.

Genesis was a response, an alternative if you will, to the pagan thoughts about how the world came into being. Christian rock was a response, alternative, to the world's music, Jesus is an alternative to the death.

Daniel wrote:I disagree completely, I think a Fall Festival is sugar coating for a pagan holiday, it's hardly an outreach... "look we are just like the rest of world!"

Terry watch this when you get time:


American Christianity is in for a rude awakening on judgement day.

Like Jonathan said in the above post "what's in the heart?" Our church like many churches has used something that is very pagan and changed it around to make it something to reach the masses for Jesus. To somewhat counter your argument would be something like music, TV, movies, or even sports; all of these items can be used for evil or for good; what makes these things evil or good? The substance.

Wow you guys... I am so shocked... Where is the heart? What! Do you understand what Halloween is? And how using parts of it is so dangerous?

The thing is, even though is has a similar name, it is not the same name, nor is it celebrated as originally intended.

Daniel wrote:Wow you guys... I am so shocked... Where is the heart? What! Do you understand what Halloween is? And how using parts of it is so dangerous?

Like I said before our celebration has nothing to do with Halloween and is called Fall Festival; Ours is a complete alternative to Halloween and totally represents a Christian backed theme. Anything is this world can be used for evil or good and we have chosen to use it as good in getting the Gospel to some that just maybe would have never been to our church or any other church for that matter. BTW I grew up in a Christian home and we never celebrated Halloween but have always had activities on the night that represented Christianity.

Well that leaves me confused.

Dude, we have talked about this on the phone before. Offering kids some candy in a church parking lot, under good lighting, in a safe, friendly atmosphere, is not an anti-Christian thing.

The American culture at large does not know the true meaning of Halloween. They cannot see beyond the commercialism, cute costumes for kinds, candy, and adult office parties. The intention of the people is not to ward off evil spirits. The original intention of the day is silly IMO.

Check it out. No evil spirit could be spooked off by humans. They are smarter than we are. They know more than we do. Fallen angels were once angels. Angels were with God and saw him in all of His Glory. They know more of God than we do now and yet rebelled. THAT rebellion is far above and beyond any rebellion we can stumble into, in my opinion, because our knowledge and understanding is small by comparison. So, even those that did practice it were stupid.

We dress up a certain way to go to church. We put on a church face. We put on a church personality. I propose there is much more Halloween going in church, spooking off the Holy Spirit!!!

I know nothing about your particular church, but I do know that evil intent from the top is among few things worth leaving a church over. If this event was created for good, such as outreach or fellowship, I'd at least talk to an elder or a pastor (if you haven't already) with a spirit of wanting resolution versus schism.

There are decent arguments about Halloween both pro and con. Can Christians celebrate Halloween or All Saints Day and still enter Heaven? Is it wrong to dress up in a costume for fun? Is it a bad thing to interact with peopl/friends in your neighborhood? Are there dangers associated with running around at night? Do crazy people poison candy? How bout vandals, do they take advantage of the day? Is it safer to stay in your house and not answer the door? Is there a chance that someone might join a cult because they were negatively influenced by Halloween? Does it glorify God? Some yes and no answers I suppose... just like July 4th, Christmas, Thanksgiving, St. Patrick's Day, etc....

Regardless of your Halloween policy I hope everyone is safe this year. Get ready for Thanksgiving!