THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, November 2, 1996 TAG: 9611010097
SECTION: DAILY BREAK PAGE: E5 EDITION: FINAL
COLUMN: Issues of Faith
SOURCE: Betsy Wright
LENGTH: 76 lines
Last Week's Issue of Faith: Should Christians celebrate Halloween?
This Week's Reader Responses:
From Ann Shildt of Suffolk: ``Christmas and Easter are celebrated in the light of day. A lot of good and truth come to light during these times. Halloween is celebrated in the dark of night. A lot of evil and bad events occur during just those few hours.
``Are the tricks worth the treats?''
From John Hanke of Chesapeake: I just want to say, `Ditto, ditto, ditto' to your column (last week). That's exactly how we have celebrated Halloween and looked at Halloween all the time our children have been small and now that they're into their teen-age years. We have friends who, likewise, do the same, but we also have friends who believe that the best thing a Christian could do is lock the doors and pull down the shade. To me that is doing exactly as you said, giving the day to the devil . . .
``We take a very positive approach to it, hanging a pumpkin from the tree with a sign that says exactly that, and we go ahead and have a regular Halloween celebration. I think some of the churches that object to Halloween haven't been around long enough to know that you can't defeat it that way. They've tried but it just keeps growing in popularity . . . We should take control of it and let it be exactly what it was intended to be: Hallowed Eve, the eve before All Saints Day.''
From Susan Teall of Virginia Beach: ``. . . Human sacrifice, as well as animal sacrifice: This is what really happens on this day, throughout the world. I might add: death, murder, evil, Satanic rituals.
``Satan can come as an Angel of Light. Don't kid yourself that this is `fun'!''
From Cindy West of Chesapeake: ``. . . Amen . . . Christians need to make more of an effort to reach out to the world on Halloween so we can offer the love of Jesus, and accomplish an important victory over Satan and his angels. I truly wish that more of our area churches would provide an alternative activity at the church on Halloween for all of God's children to enjoy. Halloween can indeed be changed to be a more positive and fun time for our children.''
From Lauren Guin of Norfolk: ``. . . The Bible says (1 Thessalonians 5:22) that we should `abstain from any appearance of evil.' If there is a holiday that should be rejected by Christians, it is Halloween. I will not be like Judas and betray my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ . . . The definition of `Christian' is `to be Christ-like.' Can you see Jesus Christ dressing up and participating in Halloween?''
From Jim Grace, lay speaker at Francis Asbury United Methodist Church, Virginia Beach: ``I suggest that it is a sin of the heart to not let a child be a child in the church environment. The earthly result of this sin is that children will perceive the church as somewhere they are not wanted. Spiritually, Jesus himself warned us against this in Matthew when he said woe be unto those who stand between the children and the kingdom of God. They have not yet put away their childish things. Let's not take those childish things away from (the children) before it is time.''
From Rachel M. Buschert of Virginia Beach: `` . . . Innocent fun and games? That is exactly what Satan wants you to believe because he knows that Christians have all power and authority over him. The more we accept things and let things slide by, (then the more) we as Christians are failing to take that authority and the responsibility to spread the awesome news and the real truth about God.''
From Doris M. Ferguson of Murfreesboro, N.C.: ``Your column on the origins of Halloween will be helpful to many people who see only the negative and over-commercialization of what could be an even greater Christian fun and worthwhile Halloween celebration. For many years, churches - along with the fun - helped children (at this time of year) learn about the United Nations Childrens' Fund, or UNICEF. They were able to contribute to a very worthwhile Christian cause . . . For further information about it, write to UNICEF, P.O. Box 182233, Chattanooga, TN 37422, or call (800) FOR-KIDS.''
From Alisa Adams of Chesapeake: `` . . . The House of the Living God should in no way, shape or form be associated with the Lord of Darkness . . . Do not mislead those who are vulnerable into (thinking) that it's OK for churches to celebrate (Halloween) . . . We cannot and must not celebrate this type of event in God's Holy House . . . '' by CNB