I think there is a big difference between hearts that scripture says are far from God whose lips offer praise, and engaging in activities/holidays that are rooted in pagan worship while saying we don't support the meaning.

I've heard Christians both defend and despise Halloween and give reasons to participate and to not. Here are two different takes: one supporting; and one despising; They both have their points and problems (just like my posts). I think though that when it comes to Halloween there's too much of a tendency to dismiss it and play the "Be all things to all people" card. I say this because I don't tend to see Christians who participate using it as an opportunity to advance God's kingdom.

It's in our flesh to default to the side of "it's not a big deal". I think Halloween is a big deal. I also think there may be a way to participate, but when it comes to preparing for it, talking about, and challenging ourselves, we don't. At least not with much vigor or seriousness. I've received more shoulder shrugging when I ask people who participate than what I would hope would be a thoughtful, scipture supported explanation as to why they allow their families to go along with the culture.

Each church should be clear about what it thinks of the origins and dark side of Halloween to its members. There is definately a link to evil, and if we go the route of simply saying we participate but don't celebrate it, well, that doesn't provide much confidence in how seriously we take the presence of evil in the world.

Ron,
You write,
"I think there is a big difference between hearts that scripture says are far from God whose lips offer praise, and engaging in activities/holidays that are rooted in pagan worship while saying we don't support the meaning." What are the 'big' differences? I don't see them.

I think it's very different when you consider the disposition of the two cases. The nature of the two hearts are contradictory to each other. The regenerate are called to discern out of a desire to be righteous. The empty heart will only discern for its own selfish purposes. I'm assuming the empty heart is not regenerate. It does not and cannot have concern to be obedient for the Lord's sake.

When Paul says he will become what is necessary to save some he has limits on what that would be. He would not sin to do that. The empty heart will and does sin by it's own testimony.

If in our discernment we decide to engage in something like Halloween or Mardi Gras that promotes evil or debauchery, we'd better have solid reasons (which we may very well have) other than we don't "celebrate" it. Otherwise what is the holy, righteous life that we are called live?

Ron,
When I mentioned 1 Corinthians 8-10, I was primarily dealing with Paul's discussion of food sacrificed to idols. Paul seems to have the distinction I am talking about in the post, so that Paul can say on can eat food that was a part of a sacrifice, and not be participating in the sacrifice. He also, says there is a line that must be drawn, so that once one crosses the line, they are actually participating in idolatry. Do you see some of these distinctions? Would they not hold true for 'pagan' holiday?

From the direction of food sacrificed to idols, it's an easy answer if the question is can someone eat Halloween candy. Sure they can. Can we go to someones house who prays to Allah and eat their food. Sure. Should we then begin to go to mosques and engage in rituals and worship?

Let's go back to the original post. You wrote:

In other words participation in the elements of worship, without a heart devoted to the Lord is not worship.
What this means, it seems to me, is that we need to make this allowance
consistent in other areas of life.

I'm having a problem converting a condemnation of false worship, into permission to engage in a pagan activity. Let's make that overtly pagan activity. For instance you bring up movies and alcohol. They are not necessarily pagan in nature. Sometimes they are, and sometimes not (my opinion). Halloween, by I would think general observation, has an overtly pagan flavor to it. It a different game. And once again, maybe there is reason to participate. It seems though that most Chritians I know don't take it that way. As I wrote in a previous post they shrug it off. The church I think should stress focused prayer to the time coming up to Halloween.

My opinion is that yes, we have great freedom in Christ. We can do things that would make the typical legalist freak out. But, we do have eyes to see and ears to hear. We have a capacity to measure things. That's the only point I'm really trying to make. Movies, drinking, dancing, I think they exist in what could be considered neutral ground (unless they are part of a ritual or activity that promotes sin or evil) E.g. A bar and its alcohol is not inherently evil unless the patrons make it so. Halloween and certain other things, I think they are outside of neutral because of their current nature. If Halloween could be captured by Christians and changed to something that would point towards Christ (like the Christmas tree) I'm all for it. I do think though that churches need to better prepare people than they do in general. If I keep hearing sermons like I did today, well, my hope is increasing.

(I love this kind of topic. I know I need to keep learning. Thank you for bringing it up.)

Forgot to add the links to my last post. Here they are:

for

against