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Oct. 28, 2009
Former Wiccan and Self-Proclaimed Witch Explain Why, as Christians, They No Longer Celebrate Halloween. Should Christians Celebrate Halloween? What Every Believer Should Know!
Many Christians embrace and celebrate Halloween either in ignorance of what the holiday truly means or in deliberate rebellion, ignoring Scripture that speaks on the subject or justifying their actions based on feelings. Since many Christians do not see Halloween for what it truly is, I decided to hold a simple Q&A session with two women who have a very unique perspective on this holiday. Both women are now Believers in Jesus, but these women were previously involved in the occult – either as Wiccans or as self-proclaimed witches.
As always, compare all human thoughts and opinions against God’s Word. However, do take into account the unique aspect that these two women bring to this discussion on whether or not Christians should celebrate Halloween.
Q. How did you get involved in Wicca or witchcraft? What was the attraction to it in the first place?
A. After my family left the Mormon Church when I was around ten years old, I continued attending with a friend until I was twelve or so. After stopping, I quickly adopted my parents burgeoning New-Age worldview. My father was heavily involved in rune magic at the time, and it didn’t take long before I was happily dawdling down the road to paganism behind him. **Jennifer**
I was raised in a very nominally Catholic family (though part of the extended family was Jewish)...we went to church periodically, and I went to both Catholic school in early elementary and later Catechism when I started attending public school. Unlike my family, I have always had a strong desire and hunger for spiritual things. My parents and brother found this to be quite a joke, and they teased me over it mercilessly as I grew up. I started to also be disappointed in my faith. I didn't really understand why Jesus died at this point; I was just saying I was a Christian because I thought I was from going to church. Around this same time (mid 80s I think?) the whole televangelist scandals happened, with preachers found to have mistresses and million dollar homes, and that made me cynical. Added to this was the drive by groups to ban or censor music, and it seemed like Christians were always protesting something...and it made me think, "If Christianity is always about being uptight and grouchy about other people having fun, I want nothing to do with it". This was my 15 year old, unsaved mind's reasoning. To this day I guard my involvement in political activities carefully, as I don't want to be a stumbling block to someone else.
At this same time, I had an assignment in an English class. We were reading "The Crucible", which was about the Salem Witch Trials. We were each told to pick one part of the trials, such as "Puritanism" or "Salem" or "Massachusetts colony". I drew my card out of the hat and drew out "Witchcraft". Being a thorough, studious sort of kid, I did some research. I actually went to a Wiccan bookstore that had just opened, and bought a used book on Witchcraft. I had been curious about the bookstore, especially since all of the Christians were protesting it, so this gave me an "excuse" to go there. I became friends with people there, and started to embrace Wicca.
The book I bought and the people I met compared and contrasted the stuffy, boring, uptight, judgmental Christians with the loving, sweet, nature-loving, and tolerant Wiccans, and used that to really suck me in. I need to repeat that though I grew up in a church, I had never heard, understood, or received for myself the saving power of God through the Blood of Christ, and so I was still a "natural man". I was only looking on the outside. After I asked someone at our Parish why Witchcraft is wrong and all she could say was "It's Satan worship and you'll go to hell for it!" or something to that effect...and I knew that the wiccans did not (directly) worship Satan, I thought, "Ok, so Christians really are ignorant, knee jerk reactionists! Sign me up for Wicca!" **Kimberly**
Q. How long did you practice Wicca or witchcraft?
A. I was involved in pagan/magic-working practices from the time I was a young teen until I was saved. I didn’t self-identify as a witch until three to four years before my conversion. So In total I’d been involved with the occult for approximately 13 years. **Jennifer**
From about 1985 until I got saved in August 1990. **Kimberly**
Q.When you were practicing pagan religions, what did you do on Halloween? What was significant or important about Halloween?
A. As a young child it did seem just innocent fun until I started investigating the roots of modern witchcraft for myself as an adult. Even as an occult-involved teen I never gave much thought to the underlying meaning of Halloween and just enjoyed myself. After becoming a practicing Witch as an adult, I recognized Halloween as the high-holy day of the Witches Year. It is referred to as Samhain – Soween – within the Celtic pagan community. It is identified as the time period where the veil between the worlds is thinnest, this time of year is revered as ideal for communication with the dead, heightened ‘spiritual’ awareness, and so forth. Pagans often chortle about the secularization, and even Christianization of pagan holy-days, and Halloween is amongst the most obvious. The fascination with death and spirits that continues to surround Halloween is evidence of this connection (think of the traditional costumes: ghosts, skeletons, witches, demons, murderers, etc.) Here’s an interesting wiki-listing http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samhain that points out how Halloween is directly linked to the practices of Celtic-polytheism (workshop of many gods). **Jennifer**
The only thing that I loved about Halloween is the costumes, because I love costumes. I worked in a theater as a costumes seamstress, so this was my "thing". Before I became a Wiccan, it was just about dressing up and getting candy.
This may be hard to understand, but the way society celebrates Halloween and the way the Wiccans celebrate Halloween are two different things. You could say that it's like the way our materialistic culture has morphed Christmas into a selfish spend-fest where everyone is stressed out and excessively busy, and we as Christians bemoan the fact that the real observance --- the remembrance of God becoming flesh and dwelling among us --- has been lost to society, Wiccans feel the same way about "their" holiday, and frankly, who can blame them.
Wiccans see Halloween as one of the most sacred holidays on their calendar, as it is associated with the rise of the "god", and the going down of the "goddess" (signified by it becoming colder, darker, leaves falling off the trees, shorter days, etc.). Society (originating in England) celebrates it as dressing up in ghoulish (or worse) costumes and begging for candy, with some emphasis on the evil side of it, characteristic of witches riding broomsticks with pointy hats and green skin and other "spooky stuff".
Initially as a Wiccan, I practiced as a solitary Wiccan, as there was not covens open for new members at the time in my area. I did meet with a more experienced Wiccan woman often. I once went to a Halloween celebration as an observer only (they need a specific number for the magical practices inside of the circle). Later I was in a coven, but still only observed the circles.
[On Halloween] I mostly prayed incantations regarding the "rising of the god" and coming of winter, and later was an observer of coven circles. The things that went on there are not printable on a family blog. **Kimberly**
Q. When and how did you come to know the Lord?
A. I have such a hard time sharing my testimony in a short form! Briefly, God began drawing my heart towards His son through nearly every circumstance in my life. He combined my burden of sin with external promptings that pointed me towards Jesus continually. This was a slow process, and after two years of this torturous drawing I told Jesus to take my life, that I didn’t want it anymore, and he could do with it whatever he wished. If you’d like the long version, you can read it here: http://quiverfullfamily.com/2008/05/03/my-testimony/ **Jennifer**
The primarily tenet of Wicca is "As is none harm done, do it". In other words, everything is permissible if you are not hurting anyone else. Of course, no man is an island, and we may think we don't hurt those around us but we can and do hurt them by our sin. In obeying this tenet, I started down a path that eventually lead to a cynical hedonism while in my later years of college, some of this related to a roommate I had who introduced me to some things that I took a liking too. I basically went off the rails with anything and everything. By the time I finished college, I was not even invited to the coven (and didn't care), though I still self-identified with Wicca. I was drunk and high and everything else imaginable.
I will have my testimony actually published on www.Boundless.org on November 9th, but essentially, I took off for Eastern Europe, hitchhiked and traveled, chipped off pieces of the Berlin wall, and partied everywhere I went. I met a girl who was singing in a park, and though we didn't speak a common language well, she drew me pictures and witnessed to me in broken English. I left her, and later found myself stumbling into a Campus Crusade for Christ open air revival in Jan Huss square in downtown Prague, where somehow the Gospel penetrated my heart, and I got saved. **Kimberly**
Q. Why don't you participate in Halloween any longer?
A. So many of our Western ‘holidays’ are secularized/Christianized pagan holy-days. As a one-time pagan who mocked Christians who took part in these adulterated holidays, I can in no way celebrate them with my family. Halloween is only one on a list of holidays that have been co-opted from pagan belief systems: Christmas, Easter, Halloween – they may all be widely accepted, and the former two have had Jesus thrown into the mix, but their origins and symbolism remain largely pagan in nature.
I believe that reading these scriptures and applying them to any area of occult influence, whether it is a pagan holiday, or reading fiction that portrays witches and wizards in a positive light – these passages are broadly applicable for Christian living and remaining separate from pagan practices.
Ephesians 5:8-14 “For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord. Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. For it is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. But everything exposed by the light becomes visible, for it is light that makes everything visible. This is why it is said: "Wake up, O sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you."
2 Corinthians 6:14-18 “Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? What harmony is there between Christ and Belial[a]? What does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: ‘I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people.’ ‘Therefore come out from them and be separate,’ says the Lord. ‘Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you. I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.’" **Jennifer**
There are several reasons. The first one, I don't see the point as to why we should. To me, it originates with a very directly pagan observance.
I find the emphasis on being "afraid" and promoting fear, scary stuff, etc. to be contrary to the fact that we have not been given a spirit of fear, but of power, love and a sound mind (2 Tim 1). Why emphasize death? Christ conquered death and the grave! I also feel that this "fun" exposure to the scary, terror stuff can inoculate young children to violence and evil. It's like how violent films desensitize us to violence.
Safety. It's hard enough to keep an eye on active young children, but put a costume on them, go for a walk in the dark with hundreds of other young kids in similar costumes on the street, in neighborhoods that are more often than not full of sex offenders (check your communities listing).
Is it a good precedent to teach children to essentially "beg" door to door? The Bible says that God's children don't "beg" (Psalm 37:25)...we have a society that is always looking for a handout and while I don't think that this is because of Halloween and trick or treating, I don't like encouraging kids to be beggars.
Essentially, I found trick or treating to be like a washed out version of what the real holiday was about for a Wiccan, so I didn't participate in that any more, and I was older anyway by that point. I've not gone trick or treating at all since that time. **Kimberly**
Q. Are there specific experiences that you had as a Wiccan who celebrated Halloween that led to your decisions as why you don't celebrate it any longer?
A. I can’t say that there is any specific experience I can point to, but rather the general understanding of Christianity and the holidays Christians celebrate that I held as a pagan.
Brothers and sisters, know that there are pagans watching you and laughing. That may seem harsh, but it is true – the adopt of pagan holidays into the life of a Christian has in no way strengthened the faith or made it more palatable in the eyes of unbelievers, it has only weakened it, and made it seem derivative. I can so clearly remember explaining to others that Jesus is just another manifestation of the sacrificial Summer-King who dies to ensure the well-being of his people – that this is evident through his portrayal in being born at Winter Solstice (as the sun-god is), dying and rising again at Easter (Eostre) as the green-god, the consort of the goddess does in the Spring as he is planted into the ground and dies only to be born again as the grain crop.
I always knew that the gods I worshipped were the creations of man, false gods, and now that I belong to Him I know the deep, everlasting reality of His life, His truth, His love. It breaks my heart to know that pagans misunderstand Jesus because of tacking him onto pagan celebrations – but that is a post for another day! Even holidays that are still primarily pagan are in no ways appropriate for Christians to celebrate, as it mars their witness to partake in a pagan celebration.
I have to make something clear – I don’t believe there’s anything wrong with candy, or wearing princess dress-up clothes, we do both of those things in our home. However, when we do these things within the context of a pagan celebration, we are in essence behaving like the un-Godly culture that surrounds us. Both in the Old and New Testaments God carefully shepherds His people, asking them to abstain from pagan expressions of faith and celebration. Unfortunately, Christians who partake in Halloween are partaking in a pagan celebration.
I realize that there are many sincere brothers and sisters in the faith that celebrate Halloween out of a sense of family tradition, or culturally normative – I’d like to encourage you to examine the scriptures in light of this celebration, to seek God’s face, and to pray His will be done in your life. I hope you’ll read these words in the spirit they are intended – I have no desire to condemn you and yours as you continue to grow in your walk with the Lord.
Do our actions really matter in relation to Halloween or is it just innocent fun? Yes, unreservedly, yes. As parents we are responsible for planting seeds in the lives of our children. Halloween and its emphasis upon the dark spiritual world may unknowingly plant a seed that later blooms into a fascination with the occult.
As previously mentioned, our Christian witness before pagans is marred due to our involvement with their ‘holy days’
Most importantly, as the above scriptures make clear, God wants us to walk in the light. As His children we should not seek to partake of the works of darkness or to commune with them. All children seek to emulate their father – having been adopted into God’s family, we are no longer children of Satan, and we should no longer walk as such.**Jennifer**
Not really, other than knowing where it originated. What I mean is...not directly. Because of my involvement in [things of the] occult in the past, I avoid things that just "feel" demonic to me. It's hard to say, but my spirit just cringes this time of year. It's like putting a smiling, happy face on the demonic.
I think you'll find this to be true in most of us who were once Wiccans...it goes beyond Halloween, to a greater sensitivity in this realm in general. It's the whole Romans 14 argument about the weaker brother. I am a weaker brother when it comes to anything that has occult overtones because I know the draw that once had on me, and in a moment of weakness it could possibly be a stumbling block again. **Kimberly**
Thank you to Jennifer Bogart and Kimberly Eddy for sharing your hearts on this subject of Halloween. Please take some time to read the below verses and meditate on how these verses relate to celebrating Halloween. Also, remember to be a WITNESS amongst the lost, but also remember that Jesus worked AMONG the heathen, but he did not take up their customs and practices, which is exactly what one is doing in celebrating Halloween. You can be AMONGST the "heathen", without IMITATING them in their pagan rituals.
Romans 1:18, 21, 24, 28 "The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness...For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened...Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires...Furthermore, since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, he gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done."
Matthew 5:14-16 "You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven."
Leviticus 20:23-24, 26 "You must not live according to the customs of the nations I am going to drive out before you. Because they did all these things, I abhorred them...I am the LORD your God, who has set you apart from the nations....You are to be holy to me because I, the LORD, am holy, and I have set you apart from the nations to be my own."
Proverbs 4:18 "The path of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, shining ever brighter till the full light of day." We are to be a shining light, a city on a hill. We are to be DIFFERENT!
2 Corinthians 6:14-18 "Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? What does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God...Therefore come out from them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you. I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.'"
Jeremiah 10:2 "Learn not the way of the heathen."
For more information on the origins of Halloween, please visit the below links!
Devotional/Sermon/Teaching Ideas
Ideas for Halloween Outreach(suggested only for teens, as the scary costumes can really frighten small children or "create appetites" for Halloween that are not biblical)
History of Halloween
Satanism & Halloween
Christians Celebrating Halloween
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Oct. 23, 2009
Reformation Day Activities - Loads of ideas, projects & why some Christians don't celebrate Halloween
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Our family does not take part in Halloween celebrations for many reasons, but we do take part in Reformation Day, which we hold on the 31st! Here are some websites that will help you plan your own Reformation Day activities. If you, too, choose not to celebrate Halloween and would like to explain WHY you do this, here are 2 great books. Halloween - Is It For Real? and Mommy, Why Don't We Celebrate Halloween
Philippians 4:8 ~ Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.
Matthew 5:14-16 ~ Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
~ Lisa Metzger
Websites with More Info
Books
Devotional/Sermon/Teaching Ideas
Ideas for Halloween Outreach (suggested only for teens, as the scary costumes can really frighten small children or "create appetites" for Halloween that are not biblical)
History of Halloween
Satanism & Halloween
Christians Celebrating Halloween
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Oct. 22, 2009
Virtual Homeschool Group!
Oct. 22, 2009
Homeschool Styles and Approaches! Which approach do YOU use?
Ever wonder what homeschool style would fit you best? Check this out and then share with the rest of us which appoach you use and why!
The Homeschool Mom
Homeschool.com
FamilyEducation.com
The Metzgers are eclectic homeschoolers! If you are eclectic, you "find yourself combining several of the homeschool methods you are probably an eclectic homeschooler. Eclectics tend to gather what works for them from multiple styles of homeschooling and leave what doesn't fit with their family."
Lisa Metzger
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Oct. 22, 2009
Obama strategy: Marginalize most powerful critics - Shut down those who oppose!
President’s aides: “A fundamental decision that we needed to be more aggressive in both protecting our position and in delineating our differences with those who were attacking us.”
This is the beginning of the end of our freedom of speech! Look at this article to learn more on how Obama wants his opposers to shut up.
Lisa Metzger
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Oct. 21, 2009
The Reformation and Sola Scriptura!
Sola scriptura (Latin ablative, "by scripture alone") is the doctrine that the Bible is the only infallible or inerrant authority for Christian faith, and that it contains all knowledge necessary for salvation and holiness.
During this season where we remember The Heroes of the Reformation, find out how ther term Sola Scriptura relates to Martin Luther in the period of Church Reformation! More HERE...
Lisa Metzger
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Oct. 20, 2009
Halloween - Pagan to the Core!
Read the article HERE!
"America, it is time to wake up. We cannot continue to disobey God and enjoy peace and freedom and prosperity. If we are true to obey God, God will be true to forgive our sins and to bless us before the world! Start reading your Bible! Learn what it is that your God wants you to know. The God who created you wants you to be their friends! Both the Father and the Son are God (John 1) and have invited us into their family!"
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Oct. 14, 2009
First video of Mackynzie Duggar - Josh and Anna Duggar's 1st baby and Duggar family's 1st grandchild!
Oct. 14, 2009
FREE Download of The League of Grateful Sons, by Vision Forum!
Oct. 12, 2009
Columbus Day Activities! Great for Homeschooling!
Oct. 10, 2009
A Pledge to Serve Obama?!? He is a PUBLIC SERVANT, as stated in the Constitution!
Oct. 9, 2009
Josh & Anna's baby, Mackynzie Duggar - 1st grandbaby of the Duggars - BORN on Ellie's Birthday!!!
Oct. 7, 2009
Charlotte Area HOMESCHOOL DAD'S GROUP!!!
My husband, Mark Metzger, has been leading a homeschool DAD'S group from the last few years in Matthews. Below is the info he sent for me to send out. Please encourage your husband's to at least give the group a try! I really think they'll enjoy it as much as my husband and other fathers have. Feel free to pass this around to other homeschool dads, too!
The Church needs men with a desire to see Christ honored in their families! Our homeschool dad's group meets weekly to give counsel to each other, support each other through prayer and accountability and encourage each other to be the spiritual leaders of our homes, disciple our wives and children and ultimately to see Jesus honored.
Our group is getting ready to start a series by Voddie Baucham called “The Ever-Loving Truth,” and we'd love for more husbands and fathers to join us! We meet Thursday mornings at 6:30- 7:30am at Jonathan’s restaurant (next to Target in Matthews). Please e-mail me for more information.
Lisa Metzger
Helpmeet to Mark, Keeper of Our Home, 2nd Generation Homeschool Mommy to 8 Blessings (5 biological and 3 adopted) and 6 babies in Heaven!
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Oct. 4, 2009
Save Money on Food and Toiletries at Big Lots THIS WEEK! Big Lots Buzz Club Coupon!
All Big Lots Buzz Club Members REMEMBER...stock up and save with the 20% off coupon 10/5-10/10!! We stock up on toothpaste, toothbrushes, floss, gel, shampoo, conditioner, hair accessories, cereal, other food items, SOCKS (can never have enough of these for kids), etc. This saves SO MUCH $$ if you're willing to look through all the junk! Join the Buzz Club here!
Enjoy!
Lisa Metzger
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Oct. 4, 2009
Free Menu Planning Book!
Oct. 4, 2009
GREAT FREE Curriculum Guides!
Oct. 3, 2009
Listen to Dispatch Channels!
Oct. 3, 2009
Homeschoolers Just Homeschool Out of Fear - What Does the Bible Say About Homeschooling?
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Comment: It seems to me that homeschoolers are homeschooling out of FEAR of what they may be indoctrinated with more so than out of "this is what the Lord has called us to".
Response: First of all, I do not believe that homeschoolers (at least not ones who follow the verses below) homeschool "out of FEAR." If following the warnings in the Bible is viewed as fear, then I guess we should reject all wisdom and knowledge found in Scripture and live as our hearts tell us is right; as everyone else does; as what is acceptable in the Church, RATHER than what is SCRIPTURAL.
I, for one, believe that the Bible is full of commandments, warnings, blessings and insight into every area of our lives. The Bible speaks clearly and is applicable for every season under the sun! I want to know what the Bible says on every matter, so that I can stand before Jesus and say that I held true Job 23:11-12 "My feet have closely followed his steps; I have kept to his way without turning aside. I have not departed from the commands of his lips; I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my daily bread." THAT is my utmost goal, and homeschooling is merely obeying the command, heeding the warnings and seeking growth THROUGH obeying God's Word.
If fear reigns in our decision to homeschool, it is a righteous fear of not obeying God and heading the Biblical warnings. It is a fear of suffering "harm" from being a "companion of fools" [Proverbs 13:20]. It is a fear that I will miss a blessing because allowed my children to "walk in the counsel of the wicked " and "stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers." [Psalm 1:1]. It is a fear that my children might stray from the path of righteousness (and become one of the 70-88% of those who reject the faith) becoming "fully trained like his teacher" [Luke 6:39, 40]. It is a fear of not obeying Deuteronomy 6:6-9, "These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up." That Scripture was given to PARENTS to carry out and I cannot follow that Scripture if I send my children to school for 8+ hours every day. RIGHT THERE is what EVERY CHRISTIAN PARENT was called to do. How can one say that they are not "called" to do that when Scripture speaks so clearly? And how can one do this unless they are homeschooling? I don't understand.
Secondly, I do not see where you are using Scripture to back the argument you are making that we SHOULD send our children out to be salt and light, and this concerns me. If you can show me where in Scripture we are to hand over the education of our children to a non-Christian, and place our children (no matter HOW godly they may be) under sinners, please do show me! The only command I have seen is TO PARENTS for the education of their children 24/7.
Lastly, I do not believe that the Bible is contradictory. I do not see why Christians hold on to what has been permitted/promoted for the last century or so in Christian circles, yet deny what the Bible so clearly presents regarding the education of our children. Again, I must ask this...Why can't both Matthew 5:13-16 AND Deuteronomy 6:6-9 be used in conjunction with each other, instead of in conflict? Can we not minister as a family to those who are unchurched or unsaved - still being salt and light - while teaching them the Lord's commands while we sit down, stand up, walk along the way, etc.? Why is there a need to let children go out on their own, with the tendency to be foolish or to "lose their flavor", when there are wonderful and Scriptural alternatives to sending them out not fully spiritually mature? I have been warned in SCRIPTURE of the risks I will take by placing myself or my children under the teaching of one who mocks God, and I do not want to risk that outcome with my "not fully trained" seedlings (children).
God's Word is clear that all Scripture pertains to life. Let us all, from this point forward, keep all human opinions and such aside and focus on what GOD has said in His Word in regards to homeschooling. That is the only thing we can base our decisions on, no matter how unpopular they might be in someone's eyes. Be like the Bareans (in Acts) and hold every action against God's Word. Search and find the truth and present it to the rest of the believers in love.
Let's refocus and make these discussions about homeschooling fruitful discussions among Believers and get BACK to Scripture, and Scripture alone!
Lisa Metzger
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Sep. 30, 2009
Response to a commenter: Homeschoolers live in bubbles and are NOT salt and light
Someone recently commented on my blog about my post about the article in the HSLDA magazine by Gregg Harris about his thoughts on the “greenhouse model,” raising kids willing to do hard things, and then learning to let them go and following is my response.
Comment: I've never heard such nonsense in my life....making light of God's commandment to GO OUT into the world and tell others about His saving grace...even a child who has accepted Christ as his Saviour can be used by God. God definatly has purpose in God- fearing children in public school. What a sad society it would be if all Christians stayed at home in their little bubble....children CAN be saved as children, saved children CAN share the gospel in the public school, and other children CAN be saved by that sharing! We are living in a volitile time.....a time to be bold and courageous in our faith - not a time to shelter and coddle the only future this nation has . What a sad, legalistic view of the security and faithfulness of a loving God. ~Jennifer
Repsonse: Thank you, Jennifer, for your comment, however I have to respectfully disagree with you on a few points. I would also encourage you to look into this matter further.
1. YES, kids can share Jesus and do so very effectively, but can they not do so while ALSO under their parents guidance, leadership and direction? I did so when I was homeschooled, as do my own children, with much success.
2. Contrary to a formerly popular, but now diminishing opinion, homeschoolers do NOT live in bubbles. Instead they've been found by secular researchers to actually live more so in the "real" world than do their public/private schooled counterparts. The difference in our family and Greg Harris' family (the author of the article) that you see and oppose has to do with this allegorical "GREENHOUSE". Our children live under their parents watchful eyes, so as to not become indoctrinated by the world, which is becoming more and more essential as time progresses. They are, then, slowly moved out from under our guidance as they mature in the life and the faith.
3. Studies have found that between 70-88% of Christian teens are leaving their parent's faith by the time they are in their second year of college! They've also found that the vast majority of Christian teens do not hold a Biblical world view. YES, there are the other 12-30% of those who DO make it through school with their faith and beliefs intact, but many Christians parents do not want to take that HUGE risk! Here is more data that I blogged about here And here's an article on how some studies who that 3 out of 4 children/teens are leaving their parents faith after being in the public school systems. I encourage you to research these staggering facts further.
4. It seems that today that these so-called legalists are labeled so because someone feels judged or doesn't like what they have to say. It must be noted that TRUE legalism is trying to improve your standing before God. It is the motive, not the deed itself. In other words, true legalism is a type of work-based salvation. Obedience is a heart, seeking to obey Jesus and become more like Him in order to bring joy to the Savior! "Obeying God's laws is an act of praise, not a bribe. Obeying God's commands is an act of gratitude, not a payment. " Dr. Robert G. Spinney I can assure you that I do not homeschool in order to receive praise from others or to make me "holier" in God's eyes, which is what the Pharisees did. Instead our family honestly seeks to obey Deuteronomy 6:6-9 "These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates." We cannot obey this commandment if we send our children out to school, because then we wouldn't be with them but for a fractional part of a day. Please read more about the CORRECT definition of legalism in my post here...it is full of Scriptures which extol obedience to Jesus and His Word.
5. Let's look a little closer at the Scripture about "salt and light". Matthew 5:13-16 "You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men. You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven."
This passage is taken from the Sermon on the Mount, which was actually preached to the Pharisees and those who thought they were nearly perfect in their obedience of the Scriptures. It was to show them how quickly they can "lose their saltiness" and not recover it and how important it is for them to be examples of God's Light in the world. In this particular part of the Sermon on the Mount, he discusses the salt of the earth and shows that if they lose their saltiness, how can they be made salty again. They will be thrown out (transliterated: "violently thrown out") and trampled on (transliterated: "rejected with disdain"). The section where it says, "loses its saltiness" actually is transliterated from the Greek as "being foolish" or "to act foolishly." Then, after they lose that saltiness, he rhetorically asks how they can be made salty again? They will have lost their reputation for being salty.
So, if Proverbs speaks so frequently about children being naturally foolish (because the control of their sin nature is not yet conquered), why would we send our half-grown children out to be the salt and light without our consistent direction and instruction, which IS spoken highly of in that same book of the Bible? When they are able to BE mature, stand their ground unceasingly, while eloquently and decisively defend their faith as in 1 Peter 3:15 - ("Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have."), THEN they are mature enough to be out on their own, consistently free of their childish folly spoken about so often in Proverbs.
See, what there is much that is not understood because those who criticize these beliefs don't know our family (or Gregg Harris - the author of the Greenhouse article and father of some of the most well-respected children/young adults in Christendom). Our children ARE salt and light! The only difference is that at their different stages in the "greenhouse", they minister along side us in various ways! We can actually observe our children living out their faith while we are guiding them in the world. After that greenhouse period of initial training, we can watch them slowly head out into the world. THAT is when they can be salt and light ON THEIR OWN. But for now, under our training and instruction is where they belong.
My questions to you are, Why can't both Matthew 5:13-16 AND Deuteronomy 6:6-9 be used in conjunction with each other, instead of in conflict? Can we not minister as a family to those who are unchurched or unsaved - still being salt and light - while teaching them the Lord's commands while we sit down, stand up, walk along the way, etc. ? Why is there a need to let children go out on their own, with the tendency to be foolish or to "lose their flavor", when there are wonderful and Scriptural alternatives to sending them out not fully spiritually mature?
6. As for letting others instruct and influence your children, consider these verses (and some quotes).
Luke 6:39, 40 "Jesus said: "Can a blind man lead a blind man? Will they not both fall into a pit? A student is not above his teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like his teacher." Do I want my child to sit under a "spiritually blind" person for 8 hours a day? Do I want him to emulate that teacher? Maybe he will come out of it as the 12-30% who are STRONG and STAND FIRM to the faith, but do I want to take the risk that he will not, especially after considering what Jesus is saying here? I take this warning very seriously. Yes, I can SUPPLEMENT that teaching, but school takes up too much of that valuable time that I have been given charge, according to Deuteronomy 6:6-9.
Proverbs 22:15 "Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child; The rod of discipline will remove it far from him." Some children are very responsible and sensitive to the Holy Spirit. These children might do well being salt and light at young ages. However, this clearly states that children are foolish and that they give into foolish things, albeit less and less as they mature. I do not want my children, as sweet and godly as they are, to give in to their foolish ways, lose their saltiness and maybe even determine that their faith is not "for them" at some point in their future.
Jeremiah 10:2 "Learn not the way of the heathen."
Proverbs 13:20 "He who walks with the wise grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm."
Psalm 1:1 "Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers."
"I am much afraid that schools will prove to be the gates of hell unless they diligently labor in explaining the Holy Scriptures, engraving them in the hearts of youth. I advise no one to place their child where the Scriptures do not reign paramount. Every institution in which men are not increasingly occupied with the Word of God must become corrupt." Martin Luther, A.D. 1537
"In not mentioning God, my public school teachers preached a thundering message daily. By implication they taught that God is not relevant to most areas of life..with every lesson, in every class period, all day every day for 12 years I was being taught to think like an atheist in the academic realm and didn't even know that I was being indoctrinated." ---Chris Schlect, Scriptural Worldview Thinking
I hope that you will not take any of this as offensive, but will look up the statistics and studies and read what the Bible says. For more information check out: "Homeschooling from a Biblical Worldview" by Israel Wayne. I have yet to hear a biblical argument against any Scriptural principle in that book . Another good resource is Voddie Baucham and his ministry.
Blessings to you,
Lisa Metzger
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Sep. 28, 2009
Obedience Versus Legalism - EXCELLENT!
by Simon Schrock
Don was an elder in his evangelical-type church. He saw much
looseness about holiness in his congregation. He loved God and
experienced His grace. His conscience called him to a more careful
obedience to God and to His Word. Don visited a congregation that
practiced some of the New Testament teachings that were missing in
his church. This church took a scriptural, careful position on
remarriage after divorce, the wearing of jewelry, washing one
another's feet and the wearing of the headship veiling by their
sisters.
Don saw the obedience to scriptural teaching, so he raised these
issues with his pastor and asked why they are not obeying these
scriptures. The pastor's response was, "That's legalism! Where is the
grace of God in that?"
Incidents like this could be told hundreds of times over. But is it
legalism? Scriptural commands are wiped out under the label of
legalism or pharisaism.
"It's pretending to be holy without really being holy"
Expressions and words develop certain meanings at given times in
history.
"The religious right" is an expression used today in a derogatory
manner against certain people. During the reformation period,
derogatory terms were hurled at our Anabaptist forefathers. Luther
called the Anabaptists ketzer which means "the perfect ones" or "you
little perfect ones." This was said in a belittling way, making light
of their obedience to scripture. The term legalism is used in a
similar way today. When a believer follows the Word of God, often
those who do not measure up, or are lacking, come up
with some belittling expression like, "Oh, she's legalistic" or "He's
pharisaic." Is obedience to scripture legalism?
Consider Joe (or it could be Sarah). He may be Baptist,
Mennonite, Amish or Catholic. He may be of some old orthodox order.
He grew up going to church, sat through many morning services and
knew he wasn't right with God. He knew there was a heaven and a hell.
His own sinfulness haunted him, especially when he read another
friend's obituary in the newspaper.
So Joe joined a church. He said the right words at baptism. He
attended church and kept most of the rules. He gave to the offering,
didn't steal or commit adultery, and never killed anyone (literally,
that is).
He was an all around good mainstream citizen. When his conscience
doesn't let him rest with peace and assurance . . . he
gives a little more to the offering . . . or attends the evening
service . . . or stiffens his modest dress code . . . or some other
noble disciplinary act!
He has "done" his duty toward God, and he expects God to admit
him to heaven when he dies. . . on the basis of his good works! Is
Joe legalistic?
Legalism: What Does It Mean? Strict, often too strict, and
literal adherence to law. Theology: The doctrine of salvation by good
works.[1] "A keeping of the law, particularly in a formal sense, and
a regarding of obedience as meritorious, having merit, deserving
merit, praise."[2] From these definitions, legalism can be good.
Good Christians ought to be legalistic enough to obey laws. Legalism
can be eternally bad. It is a major cause of missing salvation.
Pharisaic legalism is spiritual poison. However, Webster's
definition, "The doctrine of salvation by good works" fits its most
common usage in religious circles today. What then is obedience? "A
willingness to obey, submission."[3] "Doing that which is commanded
according to scripture, obedience will eventually follow from true
faith."[4]
Was Don a pharisaic legalist for carefully obeying scripture?
Were the Anabaptist ketzer acting like they were the perfect ones,
even
though they said, "the very best you can possibly be-you still need
the grace of God."[5] Was Joe a legalist?
Jesus has the answer: And he spake this parable unto certain
which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and
despised others. Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a
Pharisee, and the other a publican. The Pharisee stood and prayed
thus with himself God, I thank thee that I am not as other men are,
extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. I fast
twice in a week, I give tithes of all I possess (Luke 18:9-12).
Here is a legalist. The Luke 18 Pharisee and Joe were legalists!
It's the person who puts confidence in his own self-righteousness. It
could be trusting your ability to keep the right rules or the
church's standard of conduct. It could be comparing yourself with
someone less righteous than you. It could be the scale system telling
yourself, "I'm 51% good and 49% bad. I'll make it to heaven."
Saul of Tarsus was on his way to Damascus to exterminate Christians.
The risen Lord met him on the way. Suddenly, at midday, a light from
heaven shone around him. Saul lay prostrate on the ground as he heard
the Lord say, "Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?" Saul
replied, "Who art thou, Lord?" And the Lord said, "I am Jesus whom
thou persecutest."
Saul, trembling and astonished, said, "Lord, what wilt thou have
me to do?" God later used this man to instruct the church with
epistles on how to live between Pentecost and Christ's return. He
wrote commands from God that taught: Do not take your brother to law.
Do not be conformed to this world. Owe no man anything but to love
one another. Be modest in your apparel. Was Saul (now called Paul) a
legalist for saying, "Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?" And then
conforming to God's will? Was he a legalist for allowing himself to
be used to write scripture with commands to guide the church through
the centuries until Jesus comes again? Is someone a legalist today by
giving a careful heeding to Paul's writings? Was Don's careful
obedience to scripture displeasing to God?
Did God say, "just trust My grace and don't get too serious about
Paul's writings with commands"? Don't worry about modesty-just blend
into the culture of jewelry and fashion . . .? Does God's Word say
that? No! Walter Beachy contends, "Careful obedience to scripture
that issues out of a regenerate heart is not legalism."[6] Now, back
to legalistic Joe and the Pharisee! Joe is invited to a businessmen's
prayer breakfast. After all, he is a good church man and he must keep
a good front, so-he goes along. At the meeting, he hears this
testimony:
"I went to church regularly I would sit there and plan my work
for the week. I gave to the offering. I sang in the choir-but I was
lost! I was like the Pharisee in Luke 18. I needed Christ. I became
the publican. I yielded my life to Jesus Christ and received His
forgiveness. I now have peace.
This troubled legalistic Joe all week. The next Sunday a visiting
minister preached, "You Must Be Born Again." Joe, like the publican
who said, "God, be merciful to me a sinner," was converted to Christ.
He found peace with God. He experienced God's mercy.
Now he wanted to thank God for His mercy. He wanted to honor God and
show appreciation for his salvation. How can he do it?
He reads the scriptures. From the words of Jesus he learns that, "Ye
are my friends if you do whatsoever I command you" (John 15:14)
and "If you Love me, keep my commandments" (John 14:15).
He reads further, "He that bath my commandments and keepeth them,
he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my
Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him" (John 14:21).
Continued study of the scriptures reveals that obedience is the way
to know God: And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his
commandments. He that saith, 'I know him,' and keepeth not his
commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoso
keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby
know we that we are in him (1 John 2:3-5).
Joe also takes serious note of 2 Thessalonians 1:7, 8: And to
you who are troubled, rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be
revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, in flaming fire taking
vengeance on them that know not God and that obey
not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Ah! To show God I love Him, I obey Him! To find out what pleases
God, I read the scriptures. Does Joe still go to church? Yes, so
much the more as he sees the day of Christ approaching. Does he still
give to the offering? Yes, even more than before, and with joy and
rejoicing. Does he still obey authority? Yes, with a new depth of
appreciation. He is more careful in obedience than ever. Is he
legalistic? No! It's his expression of love for God. It's his
affirmation that his faith is for real. It's not a dead faith. "But
wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? You see
then how that by works a man is justified and not by faith only"
(James 2:21, 24).
Doesn't Jesus condemn legalism and pharisaic religion? Yes, he
surely does. But is that the same as Luther's ketze; or Don's
pastor's charge of legalism?
From two scriptures we can see a number of legalistic hypocrisies
that Jesus condemned: And as he spake, a certain Pharisee besought
him to dine with him: and he went in, and sat down to meat. And when
the Pharisee saw it, he marvelled that he had not first washed before
dinner. And the Lord said unto him, "Now do ye Pharisees make clean
the outside of the cup and the platter; but your inward part is full
of ravening and wickedness.
Ye fools, did not he that made that which is without make that
which is within also? But rather give alms of such things as ye
have; and, behold, all things are clean unto you. But woe unto you,
Pharisees! for ye tithe mint and rue and all manner of herbs, and
pass over judgment and the love of God: these ought ye to have done,
and not to leave the other undone. Woe unto you, Pharisees!
for ye love the uppermost seats in the synagogues, and greetings in
the markets. Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye
are as graves which appear not, and the men that walk over them are
not aware of them" (Luke 11:37-44).
Then spake Jesus to the multitude, and to his disciples,
saying, 'The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat: All
therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do: but
do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not. For they bind
heavy
burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men's shoulders;
but they themselves will not move them with one of their
fingers. But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make
broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments,
and love the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief seats in the
synagogues, and greetings in the markets, and to be called of men,
Rabbi, Rabbi' (Matt. 23:1-7).
Jesus Condemned Selective Obedience "But woe to you, Pharisees!
For you pay tithe of mint and rue and every kind of garden herb, and
yet disregard justice and the love of God: but these are the things
you should have done without neglecting the others" (Luke 11:42,
NAS). "Woe! You pay tithes but omit justice and the love of God. You
obey in part, not in full." He didn't condemn the good they did. It
was what they didn't do.
Selective obedience and pharisaic religion abound in the church
today. Most believers literally observe 1 Corinthians 11:16-34, but
ignore the first half of the chapter. Why? Jesus Condemned Deceptive
Obedience "All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that
observe and do, but do not ye after their works: for they say and do
not" (Matt. 23:3).
The scribes and Pharisees brought a woman to Jesus that was
caught in the act of adultery. Then they asked if the law of Moses
didn't command her to be stoned to death. Jesus stooped down and
wrote in the ground with His finger. He also said to them, "He that
is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her" (John
8:7). Whatever He wrote must have convicted their conscience about
their own immorality. They were ready to bring condemnation on this
woman while they were guilty themselves.
Jesus condemned this deceptive obedience. Jesus Condemned Outside-
Only Obedience "Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for
ye make clean the outside of the cup and platter, but within they are
full of extortion and excess. Thou blind Pharisee,
cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the
outside of them may be clean also" (Matt. 23:25, 26).
Jesus condemns appearing outwardly as a non-worldly Christian,
but inwardly having a heart of selfishness and immorality Jesus
condemns an outward show without the joy of the Lord within. I have
noticed that many people who have divorced their partners and married
another become more vocal with their "testimony" for the Lord and are
very involved in the "Lord's work." That's how one woman described
her husband and father of their three children: "He divorced me,
married another woman. Now he goes to church. I'm confused. Living in
adultery and doing good works." Could this be outside-only obedience?
Jesus condemned selective obedience, deceptive obedience and outside-
only obedience.
FALSE WAYS TO OVERCOME LEGALISM
Disregarding Discipline Joe was a legalist! He followed the rules
of the church--but he didn't have spiritual life. Often when
legalists find the news of God's grace, they think their freedom is
in throwing away the rules. That's reaction, not a love
action. "Without conversion, discipline is legalism. Without
discipline, conversion is counterfeit."[7] For the legalistic Joes
that find Christ and His grace, here is a word from Jesus: "These
ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone" (Matt.
23:23). Throwing off
discipline is not the answer to legalism.
Lighthearted Holiness A nonchalant, lack-of-concern attitude is
not Christ's answer to pharisaic legalism. The casually
indifferent, nothing-matters-to-God attitude is not the answer. Many
professing Christians live as though obedience doesn't matter and
that God's grace will cover. That does not overcome legalism. It
comes closer to the sin of indifference. Oswald Chambers gives this
reminder: 'You cannot do anything for your salvation, but you must
do something to manifest it. . . you must work out what God has
worked in. If you are still the same miserable crosspatch, set on
your own way, then it is a lie to say that God has saved and
sanctified you."[8] Indifference Toward Authority Bro. Sid may be
approached by a leader in the Church about a matter in his life. He
may reply like this, "I get my orders from God. I'm not bound to a
legalistic authority structure." He reacts, referring to Jesus'
condemnation of the acts of the Pharisees. Sid suggests that his
church leaders are like the Pharisees and that Jesus wrote them off.
Actually, Jesus had a different word for Sids with such
attitudes: "The scribes and Pharisees sit in Moses' seat: All
therefore whatsoever they bid you to observe, that observe and do"
(Matt. 23:1, 2). Indifference toward authority does not overcome
legalism.
OVERCOMING LEGALISM AND ITS APPEARANCE
Be Certain the Spirit Lives in the Form Legalism is an outside
form without the Spirit of God living inside. If you have an outside
form of godliness, but inside the heart is "full of hypocrisy" and
iniquity that denies the Spirit the power to overcome sin, then
repent. Invite the Spirit into the form and stand with the publican
and pray, "God be merciful to me a sinner" (Luke 18:13).
Affirm and Testify of Your Hope One reason for being accused of
legalism is being too silent on where your hope really is. Affirm and
testify that you are trusting Jesus Christ who shed His blood, died,
and rose again for your salvation. I'm reminded of Ed Davis, an egg
customer I served years ago. After my knock on the door. Ed opened it
and exclaimed to his wife, "Mamma, there's a saved sinner at the
door."
Don't be bashful to let others know you are a "saved sinner."
Offer a Sacrifice of Praise "The joy of the Lord is your strength"
(Neh. 8:10). People who practice disciplined obedience will be
observed. May you demonstrate a joyful walk with the Lord. Those who
practice a more careful obedience are often called conservative. An
acquaintance once observed, "I didn't know you could be spiritual and
conservative." For him, it was either/or, but it should be both. A
spiritual joyful conservative was unknown to him. "Rejoice in the
Lord alway and, again, I say, 'Rejoice'" (Phil. 4:4).
Practice Obedience as an Act of Love. Obedience is your
opportunity to express your love and commitment to God. It is not a
burden to endure. When God sees loving obedience, He is pleased and
worshiped. That is not legalism. Obedient Joe's life is now a
constant worship of God as he walks through a sinful world. This poem
says it well: I would not work my soul to save For that my Lord has
done But I would work like any slave For love of God's dear Son.[9]
Be Assured--Obedience Is the Key to Knowing Jesus
Jesus said, "If any man will do his will, he shall know of the
doctrine" (John 7:17). Insight into the true teachings of Jesus comes
by obedience. "Spiritual darkness comes from something I do not
intend to obey." Faithfulness and obedience in little things is what
makes strong Christians in bigger things.[10] Careful loving
obedience from a born-again heart is not legalism. It's an honor to
God.
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