The following is from Around the World with Ken Ham: Each year on October 31, many in the U.S. celebrate Halloween. Children dressed up as everything from princes and princesses to goblins and ghouls knock on your door asking for tricks or treats. And many of those trick-or-treaters likely haven’t received the gift of salvation. This year, Answers in Genesis is offering an informative new booklet on Halloween--A Biblical and Historical Look at Halloween by Bodie Hodge ... Read more: http://blogs.answersingenesis.org/blogs/ken-ham/2013/10/29/a-biblical-look-at-halloween/ |
Originally posted 10/30/2013
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Originally posted 10/31/2013 The following is from ICR: The Devil and Halloween by John D. Morris, Ph.D. “Neither give place to the devil.” (Ephesians 4:27) Halloween has long been claimed as the high, holy day of Satan worship. This is the day when witches and warlocks gather to praise their leader and extend his work on Earth. Festivities are marked by unprecedented evil and blasphemy, with blood sacrifices and hedonistic practices playing prominent parts. To far too great an extent, Christian families participate in the same, with children (and parents, too) dressing up as demons, ghosts, skeletons, wizards, etc. We can only surmise how much pleasure Satan derives from this deception. Originally posted 10/30/2013 The following is from Gotquestions.org:
What is All Souls’ Day? All Souls’ Day is a church holiday designed to commemorate loved ones who have died. The different branches of the church have different histories with All Souls’ Day. Roman Catholicism: The official name of All Souls’ Day in the Roman Catholic Church is “The Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed.” Originally, this feast day was celebrated around Easter time, but was eventually moved to November 2, the day after All Saints’ Day (unless the 2nd falls on a Sunday, in which case All Souls’ Day is moved to the 3rd). Roman Catholics pray, celebrate Mass, visit cemeteries, and give alms in memory of those believers who they believe are held in purgatory, in hopes that their souls will be released to heaven. The rest of November is also spent praying for the dead. Who was the real “St. Patrick”? by Richard Bennett Ireland has a very distinctive history. It was an island untouched by the Roman legions, and Patrick, the Evangelist, brought to it the Gospel of grace. Patrick was himself descended from a family that had been, for two generations at least, in Christ Jesus. His father, he tells us was “the deacon Calpurnius, son of the late Potitus, a presbyter, of the settlement of Bannaven Taburniae.” [1] These facts are recorded in Patrick's own testimony of faith. This authentic document is preserved in five manuscripts: one in the Book of Armagh of the seventh century, the second in the Cotton Library of the tenth century, a third in the French monastery of St. Vedastus, and two more in the Cathedral Library of Salisbury. This authenticated document is the main source of both the person and the mission of Patrick, and also his clear statement of the Gospel of grace. Read more: http://christiananswers.net/q-eden/patrick.html The following is from Got Questions Ministries: What is the meaning of Lent? Lent is a period of fasting, moderation, and self-denial traditionally observed by Catholics and some Protestant denominations. It begins with Ash Wednesday and ends with Easter Sunday. The length of the Lenten fast was established in the 4th century as 46 days (40 days, not counting Sundays). During Lent, participants eat sparingly or give up a particular food or habit. It’s not uncommon for people to give up smoking during Lent, or to swear off watching television or eating candy or telling lies. It’s six weeks of self-discipline. Read more: http://www.gotquestions.org/what-is-Lent.html *** Transcript:
Question: "What is the meahning of Lent?” In this video we’ll see what the Bible has to say, and after - I’ll point you to some helpful resources, so stick around to the end. Lent is a period of fasting, moderation, and self-denial traditionally observed by Catholics and some Protestant denominations. It begins with Ash Wednesday and ends with Easter Sunday. The length of the Lenten fast was established in the 4th century as 46 days (40 days, not counting Sundays). During Lent, participants eat sparingly or give up a particular food or habit. It’s not uncommon for people to give up smoking during Lent, or to swear off watching television or eating candy or telling lies. It’s six weeks of self-discipline. Lent began as a way for Catholics to remind themselves of the value of repentance. The austerity of the Lenten season was seen as similar to how people in the Old Testament fasted and repented in sackcloth and ashes (Esther 4:1-3; Jeremiah 6:26; Daniel 9:3). However, over the centuries Lenten observances have developed a much more "sacramental" value. Many Catholics believe that giving something up for Lent is a way to attain God’s blessing. But the Bible teaches that grace cannot be earned; grace is “the gift of righteousness” (Romans 5:17). Also, Jesus taught that fasting should be done discreetly: “When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to men that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen” (Matthew 6:16-18). Jesus’ command to “wash your face” seems to conflict with the practice of rubbing ashes on one’s face on Ash Wednesday. Fasting can be a good thing, and God is pleased when we repent of sinful habits. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with setting aside some time to focus on Jesus' death and resurrection. However, repenting of sin is something we should be doing every day of the year, not just for the 46 days of Lent. If a Christian wishes to observe Lent, he is free to do so. The key is to focus on repenting of sin and consecrating oneself to God. Lent should not be a time of boasting of one’s sacrifice or trying to earn God's favor or increasing His love. God’s love for us could not be any greater than it already is. The following is from Got Questions Ministries: What is Ash Wednesday? Ash Wednesday is the first day of Lent. Its official name is “Day of Ashes,” so called because of the practice of rubbing ashes on one’s forehead in the sign of a cross. Since it is exactly 40 days (excluding Sundays) before Easter Sunday, it will always fall on a Wednesday—there cannot be an “Ash Thursday” or “Ash Monday.” The Bible never mentions Ash Wednesday—for that matter, it never mentions Lent. Read more: http://www.gotquestions.org/Ash-Wednesday.html *** Transcript:
Question: “What is Ash Wednesday?” In this video we’ll see what the Bible has to say, and after - I’ll point you to some helpful resources, so stick around to the end. Ash Wednesday is the first day of Lent. Its official name is “Day of Ashes,” so called because of the practice of rubbing ashes on one’s forehead in the sign of a cross. Since it is exactly 40 days (excluding Sundays) before Easter Sunday, it will always fall on a Wednesday—there cannot be an “Ash Thursday” or “Ash Monday.” The Bible never mentions Ash Wednesday—for that matter, it never mentions Lent. Lent is intended to be a time of self-denial, moderation, fasting, and the forsaking of sinful activities and habits. Ash Wednesday commences this period of spiritual discipline. Ash Wednesday and Lent are observed by most Catholics and some Protestant denominations. The Eastern Orthodox Church does not observe Ash Wednesday; instead, they start Lent on “Clean Monday.” While the Bible does not mention Ash Wednesday, it does record accounts of people in the Old Testament using dust and ashes as symbols of repentance and/or mourning. The modern tradition of rubbing a cross on a person’s forehead supposedly identifies that person with Jesus Christ. Should a Christian observe Ash Wednesday? Since the Bible nowhere explicitly commands or condemns such a practice, Christians are at liberty to prayerfully decide whether or not to observe Ash Wednesday. If a Christian decides to observe Ash Wednesday and/or Lent, it is important to have a biblical perspective. Jesus warned us against making a show of our fasting: “When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to men that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen.” (Matthew 6:16-18) We must not allow spiritual discipline to become spiritual pride. It is a good thing to repent of sinful activities, but that’s something Christians should do every day, not just during Lent. It’s a good thing to clearly identify oneself as a Christian, but, again, this should be an everyday identification. And it is good to remember that no ritual can make one’s heart right with God. Updated 3/6/2019 The following is from Got Questions Ministries: What is the origin of Fat Tuesday / Mardi Gras? Mardi Gras, which is French for “Fat Tuesday,” is the last day of a season called “Carnival.” The Carnival season is characterized by merrymaking, feasting, and dancing. Mardi Gras is the culmination of festivities and features parades, masquerades, and, unfortunately, often drunkenness and shameless debauchery. Carnival is typically celebrated in Catholic countries of southern Europe and Latin America. The excess of Carnival may not seem to have much in common with the austerity of Lent, but the two seasons are inseparable. The day after Fat Tuesday is Ash Wednesday; therefore, the end of Carnival is followed immediately by the beginning of Lent. Lent is a time of fasting and penance in preparation for Easter. Carnival, then, can rightly be seen as the indulgence before the fast. It is one last “binge” before having to give something up for 40 days. Read more: http://www.gotquestions.org/Mardi-Gras-Fat-Tuesday.html Carnival: origins of the world’s biggest party - The Economist (Warning: This video does contain some immodestly dressed women but nothing more than what you'd see on PBS.) Carnival is a pagan celebration though it is celebrated by professing Christians (particularly Roman Catholics) worldwide as a "one last hoorah" celebration before the Lenten fast. Transcript (excerpt): Carnival originated as a pagan festival in ancient Egypt, to usher out winter and celebrate the beginning of spring. When Alexander the Great conquered Egypt, the Ancient Greeks adopted the festival. The Romans assimilated the festival from the Greeks, and it was later overlaid with [Catholic] meaning to become the festival of “Carne Vale” The word, “carne” means “meat” in Latin and “vale”, means “farewell”. In the Catholic calendar “carne vale” - farewell to meat, is a feast before the fast of Lent. In 18th century Italy, people preparing for Lent would throw indulgent fancy-dress parties and gorge before the fast. As [Roman Catholicism] spread throughout Europe, so too did the celebration of carnival. Colonisation exported it across the world.
The Real Meaning of Christmas (Living Waters / The Way of the Master) This animation is produced by Cedric Hohnstadt from http://www.cedricstudio.com For more information about Christ and Living Waters, the ministry of Ray Comfort--the people behind this video, visit: http://www.livingwaters.com SAVE YOURSELF SOME PAIN
"Happy Thanksgiving! The LORD is good... Give thanks to Him; bless His Name!" The following is from Christian Ministries International : Fast Facts on the Religious Beliefs of the Pilgrims
This was originally posted Nov. 14, 2012, but the same thing also happened again this year (2013). Talk about the number of people who are so willing to embrace a false religion....yikes! |
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