I haven't celebrated Halloween since my family became Christian. It was just something we were told was wrong. I remember going on radio programs and explaining the origins of the holiday when I was like 16 years old.
This year Halloween is on the same day we have our youth group. A couple of times I said we're not going to do anything. I just didn't feel comfortable. Then one day in one of those random conversations I have with myself. I said, "Mark you're such a fool! This is the perfect opportunity to reach teens." So Yep on Halloween we're having a full blown party at Liquid. I thought about calling it a Masquerade... And when I was designing the flyer, Bob walked into my office and said, "Mark why don't you get over it and just call it a Halloween party."
I was like man cause I can't get over all the stuff they told me when I was a kid, the movies they made me watch, the Jack Chick tracts that haunted and all the other stuff...
I asked him why did Christians make such a big deal about it, and he asked me bro why do Christians make such a big deal about everything?
That statement cured me...
WHAT ARE YOU THOUGHTS ON HALLOWEEN?
HALLOWEEN, are you crazy? Seriously, we have hosted Hallelujah Night for several years. I just took over about 18 months ago, so last year we again had Hallelujah Night. Then, after Easter I had an amazing conversation via blog with
Casey (The Pastor at Catayst in Greenville, SC) and he challenged me to change the way I think about this holiday. Yes, I think many people use it for evil, but isn't it another environment that we can use? So, thus we changed the name to Hallowest (a western theme) and in a few years we will just say a Neighborhood Halloween Party. Some of our congregation was unhappy about the change, but I think it is a great way we reach out to our community. Let kids dress up and have a good time. Let them act like kids. They are only kids for such a short time. Why do we try to take the imagination away from them?
Posted by: Tina Harkey | October 27, 2007 at 01:43 PM
I totally agree with you tina... just to let you know what I'm dealing with... I took my kid to a pumpkin patch today... and my dad gave me a super hard time... he said you know that use those pumpkins to make jack-0-lanterns...
o well...
Posted by: mark rodriguez | October 27, 2007 at 08:19 PM
Halloween... Halloween is the devil Bobby Boucher!
=:-o
;)
Posted by: Rudy Garrido | October 28, 2007 at 08:31 AM
Hey Mark,
I am a youth pastor up here in Va. I was running into the same problem that you were facing. Our church has a massive party for the younger kids (complete with rock wall, tea cups and pony rides). I decided to have my youth work the party. They are helping set up and tear down and then they are running the games. I wanted to have the youth worship do a set also. Now they can be somewhere safe and bless the families of the church. Cause we all know that the ones that serve at something like this are the parents of the little kids, so this gives them a break. Keep up the great work you are doing.
Turner.
Posted by: Hooch | October 29, 2007 at 07:56 PM
ESO ES DEL DIABLO....
Christmas trees are pagan....
We cant have any fun,....didnt you know that
Posted by: luis A | October 31, 2007 at 10:45 AM
my thoughts generally align with Bob's thoughts
and in this case
they do
Posted by: revolutionfl | November 09, 2007 at 04:28 PM
Hey Mark,
My mom would say the same thing as she sits in her house enjoying those reece cups... Tell your dad they also make great pies.
No, don't. I understand. I wasn't allowed to swim with opposite sex, listen to rock music, etc. when I was younger. And guess what I was a rebel. If my mom only knew. I think we try to shelter our Christian kids from the world and they don't know how live in the world but not be of it. If being a Christian is no fun and living in the world is fun, what are you going to choose. I think we can have fun and be Christian.
Our parents minds probably won't be changed..but he's your little boy. Raise him the way you think and tell your dad you appreciate his imput. Our parents were raised to use guilt. Let's just break the cycle now. We can learn not to use it on our kids.
Posted by: Tina Harkey | November 10, 2007 at 06:37 PM
hey mark,
well yea... i diss-agree with halloween....completely wrong..atleast thats my personal opinon....its a celebration of evil..
http://www.christianaction.org.za/articles/thebibleandhalloween.htm
go to this site, this is pretty much the same way ill explain... it...
Posted by: MoE | August 15, 2008 at 03:26 PM