Honoring the Witnesses: All Saints’ Day

<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW55024432 BCX4"> <p><span data-contrast="auto">Every autumn, in a sort of seasonal ritual, the leaves start turning, the air turns chilly, and Christians argue over whether to celebrate Halloween. While I’ve never been a huge fan of the dark, sketchy costumes (and I’m talking about what adults wear), there’s</span> <a href= "https://www.breakpoint.org/allhallowtide/"><span data-contrast= "none">a whole history to this day, unknown to most people</span></a><span data-contrast="auto">. In fact, there’s an even more amazing history behind tomorrow, All Saints’ Day.  </span><span data-ccp-props= "{"134233279":true,"201341983":0,"335559731":720,"335559739":0,"335559740":480}"> </span></p> <p><span data-contrast="auto">Back in 2007, Chuck Colson described that history in a</span> <em><span data-contrast= "auto">Breakpoint</span></em> <span data-contrast="auto">he called, “Honoring the Witnesses.” Here’s Chuck Colson:</span><span data-ccp-props= "{"134233279":true,"201341983":0,"335559731":720,"335559739":0,"335559740":480}"> </span></p> <p><span data-contrast="auto">"It is Halloween again, and to be frank, I really don’t look forward to talking about it on</span> <span data-contrast="auto">Breakpoint</span> <span data-contrast= "auto">every year. At best, Halloween has become an excuse to ask total strangers for candy. At worst, it’s a celebration of the mindless paganism our ancestors wisely turned their backs on. So, this year, I’d like to turn your attention to the often overlooked celebration that Halloween calls to mind. In case you’ve missed it before, the name</span><span data-contrast= "auto"> </span><span data-contrast= "auto">Halloween</span><span data-contrast= "auto"> </span><span data-contrast="auto">is a shortening of All Hallows’ Eve and signifies the night before All Saints’ Day. For centuries on All Saints’ Day, the Church celebrated the lives of Christians who went before us. And rightly so: We can learn so much from those whom the author of Hebrews calls that great c