October/Halloween...

[houston]

Originally Posted by renee819

Thank you, the one's that stood behind me. You that take your children out “trick or Treat” you need to do more study on what the practice means, and where it came from. I used to do it myself, in my ignorance, but then I started studying. It is the Devils night.

FERD...



Lol

[Sasha]

I don't have an issue with passing out candy or having kids dress up in costume. What things started out as means nothing to me. The swastika started out as a symbol of good fortune and wellness, but I don't see people today reclaiming what once was theirs. Yet when something starts out with bad intentions, people want to hold on to that. I don't, and I won't.

Eating meat offered to idols means nothing to me either.

[RandyWayne]

Originally Posted by renee819

Thank you, the one's that stood behind me.

You that take your children out “trick or Treat” you need to do more study on what the practice means, and where it came from.

I used to do it myself, in my ignorance, but then I started studying. It is the Devils night.

We live in a very nice, mostly Mormon, neighborhood and there is quite a bit of trick or treating here. I suppose I could slap every kid who comes to our door on the head and rebuke them for being the hell spawn of satan that they are all pretending to be.

Then we will give them our normal, very generous, portion of candy that we are known for.

Oh yes, besides the candy all the little kids make sure to stop by and see what our dogs are dressed up as (a monkey and an elephant this year). It is a tradition on our block.

[RandyWayne]

Gail and myself were thinking about going as The Lone Ranger and Tonto.

[Luke]

Originally Posted by renee819

KWSS, What a wonderful message. I loved the preaching. I don't care who preached it, it was good. And so true and timely.

A few days ago, my ggdaughter, age 5, mentioned Holloween.
I said, "Mammaw doesn't like Holloween. She asked why.
I told her, "It is the Devil's night."
She looked at me in shock. "Mammaw, you don't believe that there is a real Devil, do you?"
"Oh yes, honey, there is a real Devil."
"Aunt Sara, told me a story about the Grim Reaper, is that the Devil?"
"Well, the Devil likes to kill people, but he is more than that."

Soon, I plan on starting with Adam and Eve and tell her the whole story. I don't know what her mother, (my granddaughter) will say, but she loves me and I love her so I think we can work it out.

Great job Renee even though we have disagreed on somethings I have to stand with you on this one. If someone ask a question you a spiritual question you should do your best to give an honest answer. No one has ever been hurt by knowing there is an enemy of their soul seeking their destruction. How can you tell of Jesus and not warn of the devil? That is like telling of heaven without warning of hell. VERY LOPSIDED!!! The devil is just as interested in the young as in the old. My niece has a friend that that claims to see and feel spirits and they are both around 10-11 yrs old someone needs to warn that child before she gets possessed.

[renee819]

Thank you Luke.

[renee819]

Originally Posted by Timmy

Have you told her what will happen after the devil kills her?

Timmy, get your story straight.

I never told her that the Devil would kill her. Now let's back up.

She said, “Aunt Sara told her a story about the grim reaper. Was the Devil the grim reaper.”

I said, “Uhh I don't know about that, but the Devil likes to kill people.”

Is it that you, Jimmy don't believe there is a Devil? Or do you not believe that he 'comes to steal, kill, and destroy," but don't tell her that there is a real Devil

Aunt Sara could tell her about the scary grim reaper, which was probably full of fantasy and lies, but don't tell her that there is a real Devil?

They see all kinds of scary things on TV, but don't tell them there is a real devil. Not one with a red suit and horns, but may be lurking, in evil thoughts, hate, greed, lies.

[Real Realism]

Originally Posted by Sasha

I don't have an issue with passing out candy or having kids dress up in costume.

Nope, me neither. The acts of those things themselves aren't harmful.

Originally Posted by Sasha

What things started out as means nothing to me. The swastika started out as a symbol of good fortune and wellness, but I don't see people today reclaiming what once was theirs.

Completely agree on this, too. My family was once non-Christmas, and once I came of age, I decided this was my very stance on the issue. Christmas today - while still very commercial - is also very "Christian" in its celebration of Jesus Christ. There's a reason some atheists and Muslims and non-Christians don't like the holiday. It's not because it's a celebration of Saturnalia. It's because it's a celebration of Jesus Christ.

Originally Posted by Sasha

Yet when something starts out with bad intentions, people want to hold on to that. I don't, and I won't.

Eating meat offered to idols means nothing to me either.

Okay now - here's my issue w/ Halloween. What is it a celebration of? There's still a "darkness" and spiritual element to it. Death (skeletons, spiders), spirits (ghosts, witches) - no matter how fantasized and caricatured it may be - are still at the center of this holiday. It's not a celebration of "good things" it's a celebration of ghoulish things.

Yes, there's nothing wrong with a 5 year old dressing up as spider man and asking for candy. But there's still "spooks" and "goblins" that are a part of this night. For that reason, we have decided that we won't celebrate Halloween with our children, no matter how innocent the act of dressing up and begging for candy.

That doesn't mean we will criticize those who do. But when asked about Halloween, I do have to be honest and say it's something we choose not to celebrate - because at the heart of it today, it doesn't celebrate "good things." I wouldn't go so far as to say it's the Devil's night...but...on the other hand, if a 5 year old has been told fantasy stories about the grim reaper, why shouldn't she know about the reality of the enemy of our souls?

It must be so difficult being a loving grand-parent who wants to see her grand-children and great-grand-children come to know Jesus. I agree w/ ndavid, I'd be careful not to tread on too many topics that might be "distractions" and cause fissures in the family - I'd probably focus more on the good news than on personal convictions. But only Renee knows her family dynamics, so hopefully it will be a productive conversation that will make her ggdaugther think down the road.

[rgcraig]

I'm a bit confused on "the devil likes to kill people".......

[n david]

Originally Posted by rgcraig

I'm a bit confused on "the devil likes to kill people".......

I heard he went down to Georgia for a soul to steal...didn't know he killed people, too.