Letters 11/6: Home for Halloween
Updated Dec 08, 2001
Appalled by John Fischer Articles
I was appalled, as I usually am at John Fischer’s articles. He does nothing but water down the Word of God. He says to participate in the most evil holiday of all. What is wrong with that? As a Christian, I believe Halloween to be shunned in every way. Fischer's morals are to be questioned when reading his articles. The Bible says something about being in the world, but not of it. Perhaps Mr. Fischer should study or rely on his Bible a little more than being politically correct, and compromising his faith. The Bible also says not to associate with sinners. John says to associate with the devil himself. Come on now, does anyone else not agree with me?
Jason Woodward
Halloween Satan’s Holiday
I have great concern reading your article about being home for Halloween this year. Yes, we as Christians are in the world to be part of the world to shine a light, but I do not understand how a true, bible believing Christian can even consider taking part in Satan’s holiday.
Yes, the world believes this is a harmless holiday. Yes, the world believes it is just for fun. Yes the world ignores the overtones and the roots of Halloween. But we as Christians are not supposed to live as the world lives. We should be part of the world to shine the Light of Christ, and as a Christian, I feel your energy is mis-directed. Instead of dressing your child up in a penguin suit, you should be witnessing to Auntie Gay that made the costume on the reasons why you don’t celebrate Satan’s holiday and bring her to a deep relationship with our Savior.
John Fluty
Coral Springs, Florida
Hand Out Tracks on Halloween
I would like to comment on the article I read today “Are you Home for Halloween” by John Fischer. One Sunday several years ago there was a sermon on Halloween and I found myself debating whether I should be joining in with others to celebrate this kid's day. I do remember when my children went out, there was a woman on our block that would also hand out a children's tract along with the candy. I have kept that in my mind all these years and even though my children are grown and have children of their own, I now hand out tracts or pencils with a scripture verse on it. I want people to remember whose house they received it from and hope they come back the next year.
Sharyn McDonald
Have No Part of the World
I totally disagree with John Fisher. He says that we as Christians should be part of the world and participate to bring Jesus to the world. Jesus specifically commanded that we are not part of this world but are children of God once we are saved. With Mr. Fisher's logic, we should also frequent brothels, adult book stores and bars so that we can bring Jesus into the world. With his logic, we are wrong to boycott Disney and other businesses run with a homosexual agenda.
We cannot bring Jesus to the world by openly participating in evil and sinful events. That's not how it works. It just tells the world and our kids that we agree with and condone it. We boycott things like Halloween and places like Disney to show that we don't agree with them. How is he spreading the message of Jesus by handing out candy to little kids dressed in devil costumes? Does he spread the word of Jesus by talking to these kids about Jesus when they come to the door? Does he hand them information about being saved or share some scripture with them?
I just don't see how participation in an event that is really the Devil's holiday does anything other than make Christians look like hypocrites. We go to church on Sunday and denounce Satan and then on Halloween we celebrate the existence of Satan and his evil spirits. Its wrong!
Eric Newton
Long Beach, Mississippi
Harvest Party a Better Idea
I am shocked that Crosswalk.com, being a Christian organization, even considered printing this article in light of everything that has happened to this country in the past month and a half.
I happen to have had children that I brought to my church for the 'Harvest Party', because I didn't want to follow the pagan holiday. At the party, children went 'door to door' in the church, and were asked age appropriate questions and then were given candy. Something I did that was safe for my children.
Is Mr. Fischer unaware that Halloween is a satanic holiday? It is called Sanhaim. It is the pagan New Year. They get together in the 'inner circle' and chant, and contact the dead. They also leave 'treats' for the spirits who happen to be traveling by on their way to 'the other side'. There is documented evidence of human sacrifices on this day also. The attitude of Mr. Fischer is one that insults my Christianity. If this man is around my age, or older, he should remember well why an 'alternative' was provided. Children received candy laced with drugs, razor blades, some children went a little farther with the 'tricks' than the treats.
Now we are hearing that Christians are 'hiding', and that we should be salt and light. So, how does Mr. Fischer feel about home schooling families? Does he lump all Christian that home school their children into one group, 'Afraid'? I believe God commands us to be 'salt and light' in the world, but not to do as the world does. We are to be separate from the world.
Jo
Connecticut
Try a ‘Block Party’ Instead
I just cannot disagree more with John Fisher and his point of view of
Oct 31. It is unequivocally the highest holy day of Satan. Once again the world has taken this day and turned it into a "fun filled night of harmless costume and sweets". My family and I have always (yes even when our children were very small) made it strictly a family night with a take out supper and a family video. If Mr. Fisher is so concerned that the neighbors need that "togetherness" feeling and that all is safe, then may I suggest a block party with everyone in normal dress so they can recognize each other. The enemy is the enemy and he delights in our tendency to make evil into something good... it is called DECEPTION. He is a master at it. Wake up Christians and be who Christ admonishes us to be, righteous in our actions and our speech.
Connie Wilke
San Antonio, Texas
Using Halloween to Reach the Inner City
I am a youth pastor at an inner city church in Kansas City, MO. We are going to have our 2nd Halloween program tonight at own church and it is different from the others you mentioned in that we are targeting inner city kids. You know, the ones from broken homes, drug addicted parent, absent father or mother, poor etc.
Last year God put it my heart to have a Halloween program to reach these kids. So we examined the following issues. What to call it. We got same standard answers from some folks. Believe me, I've heard 'em all: "We should ignore it; it's giving in to the Devil" and "We tried that before and no one came". Then I heard "let's call it a harvest party" some said. Others "how about fall festival?" I must admit I did cause some to nearly gasp when I remained adamant about including the "Halloween" in the name.
And I have a problem with believers who think they can fight the enemy by turning their back on them. In war, when you turn your back on the enemy he is liable to stick a knife in it. Our #1 job as disciples is to proclaim the Gospel to the lost. The Devil doesn't care what tactics he uses to get you. I personally struggled with what to call the party and it finally came to me the answer to the question "Who would God have us reach?" The answer is the lost! I immediately determined that our mission was not to placate "mature in Christ"; it was to reach the lost! You see, if I'm a kid out Trick or Treating and I'm not saved and someone stands on one corner and invites me to a Halloween party and another stands on the other and invites me to a Harvest party which do you think I will choose?
R. Allen Stancil
Kansas City, Missouri
I was appalled, as I usually am at John Fischer’s articles. He does nothing but water down the Word of God. He says to participate in the most evil holiday of all. What is wrong with that? As a Christian, I believe Halloween to be shunned in every way. Fischer's morals are to be questioned when reading his articles. The Bible says something about being in the world, but not of it. Perhaps Mr. Fischer should study or rely on his Bible a little more than being politically correct, and compromising his faith. The Bible also says not to associate with sinners. John says to associate with the devil himself. Come on now, does anyone else not agree with me?
Jason Woodward
Halloween Satan’s Holiday
I have great concern reading your article about being home for Halloween this year. Yes, we as Christians are in the world to be part of the world to shine a light, but I do not understand how a true, bible believing Christian can even consider taking part in Satan’s holiday.
Yes, the world believes this is a harmless holiday. Yes, the world believes it is just for fun. Yes the world ignores the overtones and the roots of Halloween. But we as Christians are not supposed to live as the world lives. We should be part of the world to shine the Light of Christ, and as a Christian, I feel your energy is mis-directed. Instead of dressing your child up in a penguin suit, you should be witnessing to Auntie Gay that made the costume on the reasons why you don’t celebrate Satan’s holiday and bring her to a deep relationship with our Savior.
John Fluty
Coral Springs, Florida
Hand Out Tracks on Halloween
I would like to comment on the article I read today “Are you Home for Halloween” by John Fischer. One Sunday several years ago there was a sermon on Halloween and I found myself debating whether I should be joining in with others to celebrate this kid's day. I do remember when my children went out, there was a woman on our block that would also hand out a children's tract along with the candy. I have kept that in my mind all these years and even though my children are grown and have children of their own, I now hand out tracts or pencils with a scripture verse on it. I want people to remember whose house they received it from and hope they come back the next year.
Sharyn McDonald
Have No Part of the World
I totally disagree with John Fisher. He says that we as Christians should be part of the world and participate to bring Jesus to the world. Jesus specifically commanded that we are not part of this world but are children of God once we are saved. With Mr. Fisher's logic, we should also frequent brothels, adult book stores and bars so that we can bring Jesus into the world. With his logic, we are wrong to boycott Disney and other businesses run with a homosexual agenda.
We cannot bring Jesus to the world by openly participating in evil and sinful events. That's not how it works. It just tells the world and our kids that we agree with and condone it. We boycott things like Halloween and places like Disney to show that we don't agree with them. How is he spreading the message of Jesus by handing out candy to little kids dressed in devil costumes? Does he spread the word of Jesus by talking to these kids about Jesus when they come to the door? Does he hand them information about being saved or share some scripture with them?
I just don't see how participation in an event that is really the Devil's holiday does anything other than make Christians look like hypocrites. We go to church on Sunday and denounce Satan and then on Halloween we celebrate the existence of Satan and his evil spirits. Its wrong!
Eric Newton
Long Beach, Mississippi
Harvest Party a Better Idea
I am shocked that Crosswalk.com, being a Christian organization, even considered printing this article in light of everything that has happened to this country in the past month and a half.
I happen to have had children that I brought to my church for the 'Harvest Party', because I didn't want to follow the pagan holiday. At the party, children went 'door to door' in the church, and were asked age appropriate questions and then were given candy. Something I did that was safe for my children.
Is Mr. Fischer unaware that Halloween is a satanic holiday? It is called Sanhaim. It is the pagan New Year. They get together in the 'inner circle' and chant, and contact the dead. They also leave 'treats' for the spirits who happen to be traveling by on their way to 'the other side'. There is documented evidence of human sacrifices on this day also. The attitude of Mr. Fischer is one that insults my Christianity. If this man is around my age, or older, he should remember well why an 'alternative' was provided. Children received candy laced with drugs, razor blades, some children went a little farther with the 'tricks' than the treats.
Now we are hearing that Christians are 'hiding', and that we should be salt and light. So, how does Mr. Fischer feel about home schooling families? Does he lump all Christian that home school their children into one group, 'Afraid'? I believe God commands us to be 'salt and light' in the world, but not to do as the world does. We are to be separate from the world.
Jo
Connecticut
Try a ‘Block Party’ Instead
I just cannot disagree more with John Fisher and his point of view of
Oct 31. It is unequivocally the highest holy day of Satan. Once again the world has taken this day and turned it into a "fun filled night of harmless costume and sweets". My family and I have always (yes even when our children were very small) made it strictly a family night with a take out supper and a family video. If Mr. Fisher is so concerned that the neighbors need that "togetherness" feeling and that all is safe, then may I suggest a block party with everyone in normal dress so they can recognize each other. The enemy is the enemy and he delights in our tendency to make evil into something good... it is called DECEPTION. He is a master at it. Wake up Christians and be who Christ admonishes us to be, righteous in our actions and our speech.
Connie Wilke
San Antonio, Texas
Using Halloween to Reach the Inner City
I am a youth pastor at an inner city church in Kansas City, MO. We are going to have our 2nd Halloween program tonight at own church and it is different from the others you mentioned in that we are targeting inner city kids. You know, the ones from broken homes, drug addicted parent, absent father or mother, poor etc.
Last year God put it my heart to have a Halloween program to reach these kids. So we examined the following issues. What to call it. We got same standard answers from some folks. Believe me, I've heard 'em all: "We should ignore it; it's giving in to the Devil" and "We tried that before and no one came". Then I heard "let's call it a harvest party" some said. Others "how about fall festival?" I must admit I did cause some to nearly gasp when I remained adamant about including the "Halloween" in the name.
And I have a problem with believers who think they can fight the enemy by turning their back on them. In war, when you turn your back on the enemy he is liable to stick a knife in it. Our #1 job as disciples is to proclaim the Gospel to the lost. The Devil doesn't care what tactics he uses to get you. I personally struggled with what to call the party and it finally came to me the answer to the question "Who would God have us reach?" The answer is the lost! I immediately determined that our mission was not to placate "mature in Christ"; it was to reach the lost! You see, if I'm a kid out Trick or Treating and I'm not saved and someone stands on one corner and invites me to a Halloween party and another stands on the other and invites me to a Harvest party which do you think I will choose?
R. Allen Stancil
Kansas City, Missouri
Originally published December 08, 2001.
