Landmark Baptist

Brother Faulkner,
I am concerned with churches having events to coincide with Halloween and other worldly events, attempting to "capitalize" on the date. However, I am not opposed to churches having events that REPLACE worldly events and that look NOTHING like that of the world.

If a church would have a Fall celebration/fellowship to totally REPLACE Halloween not having any resemblance of Halloween, it would be fine. I've been apart of Alternative Prom before. It is a perfect Christian alternative to the worldly prom. There were no couples, no dancing, and no immodest dress. I think churches could take the same approach to REPLACE worldly events.

Bro. Ridings,

I want to say I appreciate your post. I would like to know more about how your church did the Alternative Prom. I would have loved to have events like that when I was going to school. I didn't go to the prom and other events because of all the worldliness. I heard awful stories of what went on at the prom parties. I also didn't join the FCA because of the ecumenical nature. I think it is a great idea to help our kids and stay true to the Lord as you said with fellowships that REPLACE the worldly ones but in no way RESEMBLE them.

Why do we have to take any cue whatsoever from the world and come up with something to replace any activity of the world?
Be original, instead of just dressing up some world activity with so-called Christian clothes.

I am not for the church being an entertainment center. I am not for such things as rock-n-roll in worship service or every ministry dealing with youth having to have a catchy name to attract them. I would consider myself more conservative. That being said, I think we need to help our youth in every godly way possible because we are living in very dark times indeed and they are under heavy pressures, both intellectually and morally. I have a deep respect for those who feel that the best way to educate their children is at home because of the things I see that kids are subjected to being taught in many places. Thankfully, the school where I went to high school was more conservative. Also, a REASONABLE amount of activities if they don't attempt to bring the blood bought church of God down to the level of the world in my view is in order. Neither should any activity EVER take the place of the preaching of the Word. I have heard it said, "The lessons are a bit long; I think they need more activities." I think that is in the wrong spirit.

I just attended the Alternative Prom. It was awesome! Couples strongly discouraged. The host Church rented a Hotel Banquet hall and catered a 1st class meal. We then headed to the Church and did a lock in; girls at the parsonage, guys at the Church. The $30 price included Magic Mountain the following day. This was done by the Pixley Church..... BTW, our Church is praying about doing one in '09 for So. Cal.

Mike, concerning your original post, I think that people who substitute a Harvest Festival or something like that for Halloween have good intentions and have no meaning of promoting or legitimizing Halloween. Nevertheless I think it does have some effect of acknowledging and legimitizing Halloween by acting as if there is supposed to be some kind of holiday or celebration on that day.

Concerning substitute days or activities, whether it be Harvest Festival, Alternative Prom, or whatever else; what is a church's New Testament directive to find other days or activities to celebrate -- whether newly made up or substituting for worldly holidays?

Bro. Cbut, I don't doubt that is the purpose, and that most are motivated by good "reasoning" when they desire these things. Perhaps we are just too tied up in the world to start with when Christian children think they are deprived of something like Halloween? Seems like in most of our cases we are "in" trying to get "out".

Bro. Faulkner,
I don't disagree that we should deal with the fleshly desires of our Youth (in our adulthood likewise). But, Ephesians 4 and Colossians 3, I believe, would challenge your total exclusion thought. What is ungodly about putting off a worldly prom, and putting on a godly fellowship where Missionary Baptist youths could fellowship together and find a Missionary Baptist mate? Also, what is ungodly about putting off celebrating Halloween and putting on a christian fellowship?

Put off sin (old man), put on righteousness.

desertpreacher77:

Would you please explain how Ephesians 4 & Colossians 3 prove what you are trying to get across.
You wrote:

I don't disagree that we should deal with the fleshly desires of our Youth (in our adulthood likewise). But, Ephesians 4 and Colossians 3, I believe, would challenge your total exclusion thought. What is ungodly about putting off a worldly prom, and putting on a godly fellowship where Missionary Baptist youths could fellowship together and find a Missionary Baptist mate? Also, what is ungodly about putting off celebrating Halloween and putting on a christian fellowship?

Put off sin (old man), put on righteousness.

Fellowshipping/getting together can be great, I will not argue that.

But how do the things/events you mention accomplish the church commission?

I agree with Bro. Vaughn's assessment that the intent is good. However, intent does not necessarily translate into the correct thing to do.

As far as this topic goes, I cannot really see the good that comes from celebrating Halloween. Dressing up like witches and goblins just doesn't seem like a Christian thing to do. However, I believe that most Christian parents see it as just a way for the little ones to have fun. I went trick-or-treating as a kid myself and we were not trying to be pagan. However, what could it hurt to hand out a tract? Even if you choose not to celebrate it yourself, perhaps you could still hand out candy with the tracts if any little trick-or-treaters happen up at your door. I think that you will come across as disliking kids and will do more harm than good if you don't acknowledge the kids (not the holiday). After we had stopped doing it ourselves, we had some kids from our community come to the door looking for candy one year. We didn't give them any and the next morning on the school bus, the little girl just thought my mom was liar when she said we didn't have any candy. Again, I firmly believe in keeping the main thing the main thing, and we should NEVER subsitute an activity for the preaching of the gospel (whether it be at the same time or by the emphasis). That doesn't mean, either, that we give the kids whatever kind of activities they want, either. However, kids need fellowship too. For example, what is wrong with a wiener roast, or a softball game (as long as it's with other churches of like faith and order), or Christmas caroling, or bowling, or many other similar activities (I'm not talking about rock-n-roll music)?

I think church activities are good. They promote fellowship. A church that prays together, and plays together, stays together.

J. L. Looney III wrote:desertpreacher77:

Would you please explain how Ephesians 4 & Colossians 3 prove what you are trying to get across.
You wrote:

I don't disagree that we should deal with the fleshly desires of our Youth (in our adulthood likewise). But, Ephesians 4 and Colossians 3, I believe, would challenge your total exclusion thought. What is ungodly about putting off a worldly prom, and putting on a godly fellowship where Missionary Baptist youths could fellowship together and find a Missionary Baptist mate? Also, what is ungodly about putting off celebrating Halloween and putting on a christian fellowship?

Put off sin (old man), put on righteousness.

Fellowshipping/getting together can be great, I will not argue that.

But how do the things/events you mention accomplish the church commission?

I agree with Bro. Vaughn's assessment that the intent is good. However, intent does not necessarily translate into the correct thing to do.

I guess I didn't explain the full expanse of my thoughts....

One of the things I always tried to do in Youth Ministry, and still try to do today, is to teach Christians to replace sinful behaviors with godly ones. Godly behaviors that look nothing like the sinful ones. For example: a young teenage boy had an issue with internet pornography, so I encouraged the parents to take safeguards on the computer, but I encouraged the young man to fill his time that he was tempted with godly behaviors like praying about the temptation and opening up the scriptures or even practical things like mowing the lawn or jogging down the street. (idol hands are the devils workshop). With that same thought, turn Halloween in to ministry. Give out tracts w/ candy at home, have some type of community outreach on Halloween to maximize on the kids walking through the neighborhood. Turn prom time into a ministry. When kids are asked at school, "who are you going t prom with" they can boldly reply "no one, I'm going to a church fellowship".

That was my line of thinking.... Put off, and Put on...

Were coming to that time again perhaps a renewal of the discussion is in order?

I am still opposed this year as well. But what do I know.

Bro Faulkner