Quote from Forum Archives on October 31, 2002, 11:35 am

Posted by: masinick <masinick@...>

Dear friends,

Today is a day that many people, particularly children, celebrate
as Halloween. I received a number of different devotional
messages in my Email for today about Halloween, once called "All
Hallows Eve". Most of the messages warned about the potential
evils associated with the stuff that goes on. Rather than go
into depth about that or share one of those messages, I'd just
like to give you some history - not too in depth, but just a few
general comments, then share some scripture with you and allow
you to come to your own conclusions about it. My personal
opinion is that we ought to be purposeful about any event that we
celebrate and why we do so. I don't necessarily advocate cutting
off celebrations like Halloween entirely, but I do advocate
thinking about the things we do and the choices we make. We can
celebrate, yet do so in a wholesome manner and by doing things
that set us distinctly apart from others.

Many holidays that we celebrate today were originally pagan
rituals, in one form or another. I don't have all the details
handy on Halloween, but I'd guess that there were probably
pumpkin and other harvest times that occurred and celebrations
were constructed around them.

The day after Halloween, November 1, is known on some Christian
calendars as All Saints Day. It is a day in which we celebrate
the Christians who have devoted their lives in service to
Christ. All Hallows Eve, in that context, is the day before that
time of celebration.

Let's take a look into Ephesians to see what the apostle Paul
wrote to the early church there. Note in particular the words he
had to say about "the Saints".

Ephesians 1

1Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God,
To the saints in Ephesus,[1] the faithful[2] in Christ Jesus:
2Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Spiritual Blessings in Christ

3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who
has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual
blessing in Christ. 4 For he chose us in him before the creation
of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love 5
he[3] predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus
Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will-- 6 to the
praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in
the One he loves.

7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness
of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace 8 that he
lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding. 9 And he[4]
made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good
pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, 10 to be put into effect
when the times will have reached their fulfillment--to bring all
things in heaven and on earth together under one head, even
Christ. 11 In him we were also chosen,[5] having been
predestined according to the plan of him who works out
everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, 12 in
order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, might be
for the praise of his glory. 13 And you also were included in
Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your
salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal,
the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is a deposit guaranteeing our
inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's
possession--to the praise of his glory.

Thanksgiving and Prayer

15 For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the
Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, 16 I have not
stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. 17
I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the
glorious Father, may give you the Spirit[6] of wisdom and
revelation, so that you may know him better. 18 I pray also that
the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may
know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his
glorious inheritance in the saints, 19 and his incomparably
great power for us who believe. That power is like the working
of his mighty strength, 20 which he exerted in Christ when he
raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the
heavenly realms, 21 far above all rule and authority, power and
dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the
present age but also in the one to come. 22 And God placed all
things under his feet and appointed him to be head over
everything for the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of
him who fills everything in every way.

Footnotes

1. 1:1 Some early manuscripts do not have in Ephesus.
2. 1:1 Or believers who are
3. 1:5 Or sight in love. 5 He
4. 1:9 Or us. With all wisdom and understanding, 9 he
5. 1:11 Or were made heirs
6. 1:17 Or a spirit

Scripture quoted from the Bible Gateway, New International
Version, found at
bible.gospelcom.net/cgi-bin/bible?passage=EPH+1&language=english&version=NIV&showfn=on&showxref=on

(c) Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society
All rights reserved worldwide

I want you to know that I'm nobody in particular. I just have a
passion for Christ, a paassion that I share with you. I believe
that God cultivates that passion in us when we are willing to go
where He wants us to be and do what He wants us to do.

So my question to you is, "Are you listening to God today?"

Your Brother in Christ,
Brian

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Traditional Christian Hymn, "For All the Saints", in its fullest
form that I've been able to find:

For all the saints, who from their labors rest,
who thee by faith before the world confessed,
thy Name, O Jesus, be forever blessed.
Alleluia, Alleluia!

Thou wast their Rock, their Fortress and their Might;
thou, Lord, their Captain in the well fought fight;
thou, in the darkness drear, their one true Light.
Alleluia, Alleluia!

For the apostles' glorious company,
who bearing forth the cross o'er land and sea,
shook all the mighty world, we sing to Thee:
Alleluia, Alleluia!

For the Evangelists, by whose blest word,
like fourfold streams, the garden of the Lord,
is fair and fruitful, be thy Name adored.
Alleluia, Alleluia!

For Martyrs, who with rapture kindled eye,
saw the bright crown descending from the sky,
and seeing, grasped it, thee we glorify.
Alleluia, Alleluia!

O may thy soldiers, faithful, true, and bold,
fight as the saints who nobly fought of old,
and win, with them the victor's crown of gold.
Alleluia, Alleluia!

O blest communion, fellowship divine!
we feebly struggle, they in glory shine;
all are one in thee, for all are thine.
Alleluia, Alleluia!

And when the strife is fierce, the warfare long,
steals on the ear the distant triumph song,
and hearts are brave, again, and arms are strong.
Alleluia, Alleluia!

The golden evening brightens in the west;
soon, soon to faithful warriors comes their rest;
sweet is the calm of paradise the blessed.
Alleluia, Alleluia!

But lo! there breaks a yet more glorious day;
the saints triumphant rise in bright array;
the King of glory passes on his way.
Alleluia, Alleluia!

>From earth's wide bounds, from ocean's farthest coast,
through gates of pearl streams in the countless host,
and singing to Father, Son and Holy Ghost:
Alleluia, Alleluia!

=====
--
Brian Masinick, mailto:masinick@yahoo.com
Home page: www.geocities.com/masinick/

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