Halloween. Should believers in Christ celebrate it?<\\/h2>\\n \\n<\\/p> Some say no. Some say yes. Most believers say they do, but not with intent to celebrate evil. God knows their heart, they say. Others say it\\u2019s a church day, celebrating the Saints, while others yet, claim they\\u2019re celebrating Martin Luther\\u2019s Reformation Day.<\\/p>\\n \\n<\\/p> The thing is, Halloween is a day for celebrating the dead. A day that Celtic Pagans once believed was the one time each year the veil between the living and the dead was torn, and the two could mingle together.<\\/p>\\n \\n<\\/p>

{"id":143,"date":"2023-10-31T14:05:35","date_gmt":"2023-10-31T18:05:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/torahistheword\/?p=143"},"modified":"2023-10-31T14:05:35","modified_gmt":"2023-10-31T18:05:35","slug":"halloween-a-matter-of-conscience","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/torahistheword\/2023\/10\/halloween-a-matter-of-conscience\/","title":{"rendered":"Halloween: A Matter Of Conscience"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>

Halloween. Should believers in Christ celebrate it?<\/h2>\n \n<\/p> Some say no. Some say yes. Most believers say they do, but not with intent to celebrate evil. God knows their heart, they say. Others say it\u2019s a church day, celebrating the Saints, while others yet, claim they\u2019re celebrating Martin Luther\u2019s Reformation Day.<\/p>\n \n<\/p> The thing is, Halloween is a day for celebrating the dead. A day that Celtic Pagans once believed was the one time each year the veil between the living and the dead was torn, and the two could mingle together.<\/p>\n \n<\/p>

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Halloween Customs<\/h2>\n \n<\/p> Many customs stem from that belief of the undead mixing with the living.<\/p>\n \n<\/p> Costumes were made of monsters so that the living could blend in with the ghost and zombies that walked the night.<\/p>\n \n<\/p> The carving of pumpkins, or Jack-o\u2019-lanterns, comes from Celtic tradition of carving turnips. It was thought they would keep spirits at bay.<\/p>\n \n<\/p> The Druids used this night to build fire rings and chant runes.<\/p>\n \n<\/p> And the Romans held a feast to Pomona, the goddess of orchards.<\/p>\n \n<\/p> In Catholicism, October 31 is a fast day \u2013 the Eve of All Saints. November 1 being All Saints Day, and November 2, All Souls Day, a time for remembering and praying for those in Purgatory.<\/p>\n \n<\/p> So, as you can see, in past centuries, among different pagans, and even among some Christian denominations, Halloween is about celebrating or honoring death.<\/p>\n

Reformation Day<\/h2>\n Speaking of Christian denominations, October 31 is also know as Reformation Day. It\u2019s the day Martin Luther nailed his Theses on the door of the church (Catholic) in Wittenberg, Germany.<\/p>\n \n<\/p> In his call for reformation, he challenged the church on doctrine such as the existence of Purgatory. He called for a reformation to more Biblical doctrines. But did his call for reform go far enough?<\/p>\n \n<\/p> Luther called the church out on many things, but never on topics such as idol worship and the changing of the seventh day Sabbath. As a matter of fact, he taught that a seventh day Sabbath was for Jews alone and no Christian should observe it, or fashion any of their worship after that of the Jews or Messianic Believers. Luther actually denounced Sabbatarian Christian groups as \u201cfoolish,\u201d and he maintained a terribly anti-Semitic attitude.<\/p>\n \n<\/p> In recent years, I\u2019ve read posts from Torah Observant Christians, wanting to \u201ctake back\u201d Halloween by putting emphasis on Reformation Day. But what they fail to understand or refuse to acknowledge is Luther, if he were here, would wish death upon them for their Torah Observant Lifestyle.<\/p>\n \n<\/p> \n<\/p> " Martin Luther and the\u00a0Sabbath<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n "