November 1 is All Saints Day, a day we remember those Christians who have died during the past year. All Saints Day and Halloween have ties to the Celtic pagan holiday of Samhain. Instead of condemning Celts who held on to the Samhain tradition even after they converted to Christianity, the church reclaimed the festival as an opportunity to honor the saints, and a new tradition was born. LinC looks at the role of tradition in Christianity and thinks critically about the origin and meaning of some of our sacred celebrations. Key Scriptures: Deuteronomy 5:6-10; Acts 17:16-31; 1 Corinthians 11:17-26; Hebrews 12:1-2. Two weeks ago the Heene family of Colorado set off a frantic, large-scale search for their six-year-old son, Falcon, whom they alleged had climbed into their experimental weather balloon and was carried into the sky. Later that day the nation learned that Falcon had been safe inside the family’s home all along. And days later the nation also learned that the entire episode had been a hoax. The Heenes had taken advantage of a concerned public. Next week LinC looks at the dangers of taking advantage of others and talks about how Jesus shows us a better way.
