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Show Halloween or All Hallowed Eve? By REV. ERIC V. KAELBERER Pastor of Cross of Christ Lutheran Church In a few short days we will be sending our kids out and having many others come to our doorsteps to celebrate the holiday we call "Halloween." For whatever reason, we will see witches, warlocks, goblins, ghouls, mummies, skeletons, and a host of other costumes which give honor to death and the things of. darkness. Indeed, this night is considered con-sidered by the Church of Satan to be their holiest day of the year. Yet historically, this was the evening before All Saints Day, which is November 1. Thus it was given the name, "All Hallowed Eve." This name, along with its significance, became distorted and shortened into "Halloween." The Lutheran Church has nothing no-thing against dressing up and going around asking for candy. This is a fun night for many of our children. But it would be wonderful if parents pa-rents and children alike would restore res-tore this fun evening to its rightful place and proper status a time to honor God, not the devil. On All Hallowed Eve, the Christian Church honors the faith in God of the Saints who died defending de-fending the truth that Jesus Christ was crucified for the sins of the world and was raised to life on Easter Eas-ter Morning, to give not just the blueprint for salvation, but to offer the complete gift of salvation: Life with the Father in Heaven. Why not honor the true God and the true intent of this holiday. Send your children out, but do so having them dressed in costumes which honor the God who loves them enough to have died on the cross for them. Dressing in something that honors life, not death, is much more appropriate for those who serve the Living God. May the true God of the Bible bless your celebration of All Hallowed Hal-lowed Eve. |