Sacred days in the Christian calendar are misused for gain by our American culture. Take Christmas for example. There is an all out assault to take Christ out of Christmas. Who would have ever thought thirty or forty years ago that the Christian celebration of Christmas would be found to be a Constitutional violation of the separation of church and state by American courts.
Every manger scene is subject to a law suit if a government entity displays one. Just a few years ago, the beautiful manger scene at the Columbia County Fire Station on Fury’s Ferry Rd. in Evans, Georgia in my home county had to be taken down and has not been seen since. Why? The threat of a law suit.
Christmas has been made into a commercial to buy and lavish family and friends with gifts ignoring the Christian celebration of “A Savior is born.” This has happened in my life-time. My late Mother who was born in 1926 told me many times that all they received at Christmas was an orange and apple and maybe a doll. Now Christmas is secularized and a billion dollar business.
Halloween is another Christian event perverted by our culture. November 1 is “All Saints Day.” "All Saints Day" has its roots in the Apostles’ Creed in the statement, “I believe…in the communion of saints.” The history of this celebration dates back to 373AD. It was and is supposed to be a time to remember the “saints” or Christians who have gone on before us including family members who were believers and to thank the Lord for the Christian heritage they and others have passed to us. Services were often held at a cemetery. The celebration also celebrated the sure hope of resurrection.
The night before All Saints Day was called "Hallowed Eve" and early Christians often fasted and prayed through the night in thanksgiving for the testimony and sometimes martyrdom of Christians and loved ones. Like Christmas, "Hallowed Eve" has been perverted into money-making Halloween. Movies, video games, and retailers make tons of money using themes of evil, the devil, and horror to commemorate this aberration of "Hallowed Eve."
So let us take back our Christian heritage and celebration of "Hallowed Eve" and during times of meditation or at an All Saints Day church sponosred worship service in this season. Thank God for those in your family now gone on to be with the Lord and for all those who passed the faith to you.
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Last night we had some 'Trick or Treaters' rang the door bell. Because I had read your article, I was able to share the story of 'All Saints' day with them. In that group I spoke with was a child from my son's class. How timely was this article! It proves that we are all connected to each other and so what we do affects others. Keep teaching...Thanks again and God bless!
Thank you for this educative piece. I'm often on the search for articles for the younger generation to understand this topic. I've found one I can use--Thank you and God bless you.
