October 2007
Monthly Archive
October 29, 2007
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“Should Christians celebrate Halloween?”
We recognize that this can be a very controversial topic. Some Christians view Halloween simply as a day to dress up in a costume and have fun. Other Christians regard Halloween as a satanic holiday designed to worship evil spirits and promote darkness and wickedness. So, who is right? Is it possible for Christians to participate in Halloween without compromising their faith?
Halloween, no matter how commercialized, has almost completely pagan origins. As innocent as it may seem to some, it is not something to be taken lightly. Christians tend to have various ways to celebrate or not to celebrate Halloween. For some, it means having an “alternative” Harvest Party. For others, it is staying away from the ghosts, witches, goblins, etc., and wearing less evil or pagan costumes e.g., little princesses, clowns, cowboys, super-heroes, etc. Some choose not to do anything, electing to lock themselves in the house with the lights off. With your freedom as a Christian, you are at liberty to decide how you react.
Scripture does not directly speak at all about Halloween, but it does give us some principles on which we can make a decision. In Old Testament Israel, witchcraft was a crime punishable by death (Exodus 22:18, Leviticus 19:31; 20:6, 27). The New Testament teaching about the occult is clear. Acts 8:9-24, the story of Simon, shows that occultism and Christianity don’t mix. The account of Elymas the sorcerer in Acts 13:6-11 reveals that sorcery is violently opposed to Christianity. Paul called him a child of the devil, and enemy of righteousness and perverter of the ways of God. In Acts 16, at Philippi, a fortune-telling girl lost her demon powers when the evil spirit was cast out by Paul. The interesting matter here is that Paul refused to allow even good statements to come from a demon-influenced person. Acts 19 shows new converts who have abruptly broke with their former occultism by confessing, showing their evil deeds, bringing their magic paraphernalia, and burning it before everyone (Acts 19:19).
So, should a Christian celebrate Halloween? Is there anything evil about a Christian dressing up as a princess or cowboy and going around the block asking for candy? No, there is not. Are there things about Halloween that are anti-Christian and should be avoided? Absolutely! Parents, if you are going to allow your children to participate in Halloween, make sure you keep them from getting involved in the darker aspects of the day. If a Christian is going to take part in Halloween, their attitude, dress, and most importantly, their behavior, should still reflect a redeemed life (Philippians 1:27). There are many churches who hold “harvest festivals” and incorporate costumes, but in a godly environment. There are many Christians who hand out tracts that share the Gospel along with the Halloween candy. The decision is ultimately yours to make. God’s view on the subject is clear: “Be Holy, as I am Holy” (1 Peter 1:16). “God is light and in Him is no darkness at all” (1 John 1:5b).
October 19, 2007
As a Christian you probably have some “standards” in what you’re looking for in a spouse. It probably includes things like religious faith, political beliefs, how he or she looks, etc. Today, get a little more specific about what you’re looking for in a future spouse. What would the “dream man” or “dream woman” look like for you? Pray about what kind of spouse God would want you to have, and then make a list of standards using these questions as a guideline:
- What kind of hobbies would your perfect man/woman like to do?
- What kind of relationship with his or her father and mother would you like them to have? Relationship with brothers and sisters?
- What kind of heart for God would he or she have? How does he or she feel about God’s work for the kingdom?
- Many Christians have different types of theology, or interpretation of the Scriptures. What kind of theology would your perfect man or woman have?
- How would your perfect man or woman handle money?
Once you’re prayed about the qualities you would want in a spouse and have established what these desires are, write them down on a list and place that list where you will see it frequently. As you pray for a spouse, ask God to send you a man or woman with these qualities.
October 11, 2007
How do I stop my child from cursing and using inappropriate speech?
by Dennis and Barbara Rainey
Lately my 11-year-old son has been repeating words he heard at school. Sometimes they are curse words, and other times they are just inappropriate. What can I do to stop him?
Dennis: Don’t be shocked if your son or daughter brings home some words that they’ve heard from friends. The words used may not be bad per se, but talking about throwing up and other bodily functions in a coarse way is not acceptable for conversation. Our boys heard more than one version of a mini-sermon entitled “That’s Not the Way We Talk in This House.”
Barbara: You can’t just let garbage run free in your home. If you don’t train your children to control their tongues, they will be absolutely wild. You may be doing more harm to your children by not correcting the problem.
Dennis: Bad language is not always a black and white issue, but as a parent, you have got to decide today where you’re going to draw the line on these issues. There needs to be some boundaries, so you need to set a standard and some limits.
We gave our kids some grace, realizing that in some cases, they might not even know what some of the words meant. But when certain words cause you to pause, more than likely you need to step in and say, “We don’t use that word here, and if you use it again, it’s going to cost you.”
Barbara: And in our house, it did cost them! Many parents have used soap to wash out their children’s mouths. I haven’t used soap, but we used other punishments. One punishment that works with teenagers is to charge them money. This doesn’t work as well for children because they have no money, but to a teenager, money means a lot. There was a time when we charged $5 for a “cut down,” which is when one child said something hurtful to another, and our children would think twice about a comment before facing the cost.
Dennis: Don’t ever think that training your child’s language is in vain. Ephesians 4:29a says, “Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification.” In other words, we are to use language that builds up another, not use words that are unwholesome. We need to help our children realize that to cuss out another person is to use words that are inappropriate towards a person who is made in the image of God.
Barbara: In addition, at some point you need to explain to your child that quite a few curse words are related to sex or bodily functions. Take the time to explain this and impress on him or her that such language demeans the beauty of the sex act as well as the prize of God’s creation—the human body.
October 9, 2007
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When was the last time you sat down and wrote an encouraging note to a friend? Isn’t it about time you did it again? Everyone needs a little “love letter” now and then. Just think of the last time someone sat down to tell you how much they appreciate you.
This week, take the time to handwrite a nice long letter to a single friend who has touched your life. Maybe even write several, and start a new trend among your friends of encouraging each other.
October 2, 2007
When you have one income, it’s easy to become selfish with your money, spending it only on yourself and forgetting that the income you have been given is a gift from God. Today, choose to spend money on someone else. Jesus says in Luke 6:38, “Give, and it will be given to you. They will pour into your lap a good measure—pressed down, shaken together, and running over. For by your standard of measure it will be measured to you in return.”
Here are some suggestions of how to give:
- Buy a gift for a friend for no reason.
- Donate to a ministry or organization that you believe is making a difference.
- Give an extra offering to your church.
- Send an anonymous financial gift to someone in need.
- Support a ministry like SoLo Lives! Ministry .
October 1, 2007
Many singles lament not being able to have children, but that doesn’t mean you can’t leave a legacy. Today, start investigating how you can leave a spiritual legacy. Seek out a teenager or young person to mentor, sign up to volunteer for youth activities, or become a regular volunteer at your local orphanage. Having your own children isn’t the only way to have an influence over the life of another person. What ways can you minister that would leave an influence on others?
October 1, 2007
Do you remember the old Simon and Garfunkle song, “The Sounds of Silence”? When did you last listen to silence? Technology has taken over our lives to the point where something electronic is always on—from television sets and radios to MP3 players and even cell phones.
Take a day to listen to silence by turning everything off. Then listen to the songs of the birds or the breeze blowing through the trees. If you live in a neighborhood, listen to the children playing in the streets. Take this time to meditate on God’s creation as it sings forth His praises (Psalm 96:12, Psalm 65:13).
SoLo Lives! Ministry 