Befriend Muslims
Thanks to Samford’s Divinity School, Dean Timothy George’s reasonable words are now in print to counteract the vitriol of extreme fundamentalists whose rantings are replayed throughout the Muslim world in erroneously spreading poison that America hates Islam.
George’s recent publication “Is the Father of Jesus the God of Muhammad?” reflects the attitude of an inerrant Christian theologian with a moderate spirit. He doesn’t think it’s helpful for extremists to cast aspersions against Muhammad. He urges Christians to befriend Muslims and concludes that the two religions deserve to be studied and compared to enhance understanding.
John A. Vanderford
Jacksonville, Ala.
Satanist Holiday
While reading the front page article of the Oct. 31 edition of The Alabama Baptist, a question came to mind. Are we really offering alternatives to Halloween by “trunk or treats,” Fall Festivals, etc, or are we compromising our faith?
The roots of Halloween can be traced back to a group of Pagans known as the Druids. The bonfires we see on Halloween have as their origin the “bone fires” that these pagans held in order to destroy the remains of those sacrificed.
Early church leaders, such a Pope Gregory III, moved Christian festivals and holidays to coincide with these established pagan celebrations.
The article points out that All Saints’ Day was moved to “Christianize” such a festival. Even though most scholars agree that Jesus was born in the spring, we celebrate His birth in December. Again, early church leaders placed this religious holiday to coincide with a pagan festival.
As the article points out, Halloween’s association with the occult did not materialize until much later, but does that make it right for all believers to participate in the “high holy day” for the Satanist? Certainly, I can see the need for Judgment Houses and their evangelistic theme. But I believe we must ask ourselves if these other activities at the church are alternatives or mergers with the world.
Elsewhere in Oct. 31 edition, it speaks of a “Satansim Club” formed at a high school in California. Naturally local clergy are concerned. However, one local Catholic priest is quoted as saying, “The best thing to do is not make it a big deal.” It has been this attitude that has ushered in Satan’s foothold that we see in our country today. Isn’t the church taking part in Halloween this same thing?
Believers today take their Christianity far too casually and Satan’s threat far too lightly. According to 1 Thessalonians 5:22, as Christians, should we not “abstain from all appearance of evil?”
David W. Boyd
Weaver, Ala.
Share with others: