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UnMasking Halloween
1 Th 5:22-24 (KJV) - Abstain from all appearance of evil.
{23} And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and
soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
{24} Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.
Halloween, also known as the witches’ new year, originated among the ancient Druid priests from
Britain and France. It commemorated the end of summer and the beginning of the Celtic year.
The celebration was considered the highest festival of the year called Samhain (sah-ween).
It was named after Saman, the god of the dead.
The Druids not only believed that the dead came back to mingle among the living on this night, but
that demons, witches and hobgoblins were also released in droves to harass and oppress the living.
The Celts also believed that the sinful souls of those who had died during the year had been
transferred to the bodies of animals. Through gifts and sacrifices their sins were atoned
for and their souls were set free. Samon judged the souls and decreed whether they would
continue as a human or an animal. Bonfires, animal and human sacrifices and ritualistic
offerings to the dead were common during this Feast of Samhain. It was believed that human
blood opened up the gates of the dead and released the spirits for the night. To protect
themselves, many Druids would dress up as devils, witches and ghouls and would even involve
themselves in demonic activities to ward off an attack.
In a bold evangelistic move designed to demonstrate that only the power of Jesus Christ could
protect men and women from the fiery darts of Satan, the early church moved a festive celebration
of their own called "All Saints Day" from the month of May to November 1st. They renamed
it "All Hallows’ Eve", from which we get the name Halloween. The evening before November 1
(October 31) was set aside as a HOLY EVENING in remembrance of those who had suffered martyrdom
for their belief and faithfulness to Jesus Christ. Unfortunately, this Holy Evening has
become anything but holy. There has been little or no effort on the part of the "church"
(us) to renew the original purpose for which this day was intended. On the contrary, many
churches and Christians today are compromising their faith on Halloween just so their children
don’t feel left out of the festivities. I believe we have allowed things in our homes and
churches that are an abomination to God.
TRICK OR TREAT - This modern custom of going door to
door begging for candy while masked and dressed in costumes goes back to the pagan New Year’s
Feast. It was thought as long as the living set out bowls of fruit and other treats for
the demons, witches and ghosts to partake of, then they might leave that home untouched.
When your child goes door to door yelling "trick or treat" he is re-enacting that ancient
superstition.
JACK-O-LANTERN - in America it’s a pumpkin but in
Europe it was usually a turnip that had the fact of a demonic spirit carved in it. The
smiling face was symbolic of the mocking spirit that laughed at the fate of it’s victims.
Candle-lit Jack-O-Lantern or skull’s heads also symbolized that the occupants of that house
were sympathetic to the evil spirits and would hope to receive mercy and favor.
We can ill-afford to sit around any longer and remain ignorant about Halloween. Our
children need to be taught that there is nothing cute in pretending to be a friend of the
enemy for a few hours. It only took one apple for Adam and Eve to be deceived.
Who are we to think that going to strangers houses or a haunted house or a school Halloween
party is any less appealing to a young mind. If I had a child in grade school, you
can bet they’d miss school the last day of October. Why! Ask any school administrator
which holiday receives the most money, time, energy and bulletin boards and I guarantee it
won’t be Christmas, Easter or Martin Luther King Day. Halloween wins hands down.
For those who think that’s a coincidence, think again. Hitler wasn’t the only one who
knew that those who have the youth have the future.
At this point many will argue, "Come on. It’s just Halloween, I’m not worshipping
anyone. It’s just harmless fun." Is it? Our children are already growing
up in such a contradictory society, do we have to add to it? Can’t we at least give
them the stability of worshipping the one true God, only?
The popular teen magazine "Sassy", printed an article several years ago entitled "Witchcraft
is a Religion", subtitled "And a very cool one at that" (March 1992). The author praised
witchcraft for it’s environmentalist and self-esteem building features. She explained
why Halloween was important to witches and some of the meaning of the evening. The
magazine article concluded by quoting a witch named Laurie: "Witchcraft is a
connectedness to everything, so you can center yourself and feel as if you can control some
of your environment a little more. I think teenagers today need their own power."
I also agree that teenagers today need more power, but it sure isn’t the power she’s talking
about. It’s the power of the Holy Spirit that enables a young person to stand up and
boldly and unashamedly proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ. That starts when parents
care enough to not just let anyone deceive or give candy to their babies.
Bible-believing Christians cringe and shudder at the thought of Satan worship and occult
rites. But, how many of these same people will dress their children as witches, ghosts,
skeletons or devils and send them out to "trick-or-treat"? How many smile approvingly
at the church or Sunday School and youth organizations that have Halloween parties and sponsor
"haunted house" activities?
Can any Christian give any scriptural - or even logical- reason for participating in, or
approving of, that which is unmistakably associated with paganism, devil-worship and witchcraft?
Deuteronomy 18: 10-13 (KJV) - explicitly forbids Christians to
have anything to do with witchcraft, spiritism or the demonic.
1 Thess. 5:22 (KJV) - tells us to abstain from all appearance of evil.
Deuteronomy 18:9-13 (KJV) - When thou art come into the land
which the LORD thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not learn to do after the abominations of
those nations. {10} There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son
or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times,
or an enchanter, or a witch, {11} Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits,
or a wizard, or a necromancer {Heb=attempting to contact the dead}. {12} For all that
do these things are an abomination unto the LORD: and because of these
abominations the LORD thy God doth drive them out from before thee. {13} Thou shalt
be perfect with the LORD thy God.
1 Th 5:21-23 (KJV) - Prove all things; hold
fast that which is good. {22} Abstain from all appearance of evil. {23} And the
very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul
and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
You may say, "I don’t let my child dress as demonic characters, only Biblical ones. Our
church has a ‘Harvest Party’ and my kids go to it instead of going out to ‘Trick or Treat’.
So, we’re not taking part in the demonic Halloween stuff." Well, this may be true.
But, we are told in God’s Word that we are not to love the things of this world.
1 John 2:15-17 (KJV) - Love not the world, neither the
things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not
in him. {16} For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of
the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. {17} And
the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God
abideth for ever.
James 4:4 (KJV) - Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know
ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will
be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.
Though we are in it, we are not to be part of it. How is it that different to have a
"Harvest Party" with costume or to have a "Halloween Party" with costume. This is still
copying after the world.
I have seen small children, even babies, dressed for Halloween. You can’t say that the
children are the ones who want this. They don’t even know what it is. It is the
parents who are teaching them about these things.
Deuteronomy 6 tells us what we are to teach our children, and it has nothing to do with
demonism or demonic "Holy days."
Deuteronomy 6:1-2 (KJV) - Now these are the commandments, the
statutes, and the judgments, which the LORD your God commanded to teach you, that ye might
do them in the land whither ye go to possess it: {2} That thou mightest fear
the LORD thy God, to keep all his statutes and his commandments, which I command thee,
thou, and thy son, and thy son's son, all the days of thy life; and that thy
days may be prolonged.
Deuteronomy 6:4-7 (KJV) - Hear, O Israel: The LORD
our God is one LORD: {5} And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart,
and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. {6} And these words, which I command
thee this day, shall be in thine heart: {7} And thou shalt teach them diligently unto
thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest
by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.
Finally, this is not a time to simply curse the darkness. It’s also a time to turn on
the "Light". Teach your children that Satan isn’t some character running around in red
tights with horns and a pitchfork. They need to know that he is very real and his goal
is to steal, kill and destroy. Reassure them, however, that "you are of God, little
children, and have overcome them (evil spirits) because He who is in you is greater
than he who is in the world." (1 John 4:4)
1 John 4:2-4 (KJV) - Hereby know ye the Spirit of God:
Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:
{3} And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh
is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that
it should come; and even now already is it in the world. {4} Ye are of God,
little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you,
than he that is in the world.
1 Corinthians 10:31 (KJV) - Whatsoever ye do,
do all to the glory of God.
Ephesians 5:11 KJV - Have NO fellowship with the
unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove (expose) them.
John 3:19-21 (KJV) - And this is the condemnation,
that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their
deeds were evil. {20} For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh
to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. {21} But he that doeth truth cometh
to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.
Rom 13:12-14 (KJV) - The night is far spent, the
day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put
on the armour of light. {13} Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting
and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying. {14} But
put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts
thereof.
1 Thessalonians 5:21-22 (KJV) - Prove all things;
hold fast that which is good. Abstain from all appearance of evil.
Acts 19:17-20 (KJV) - And this was known to all
the Jews and Greeks also dwelling at Ephesus; and fear fell on them all, and the name
of the Lord Jesus was magnified. {18} And many that believed came, and confessed, and
showed their deeds. {19} Many of them also which used curious arts (Grk=magic, occult
pracitces) brought their books together, and burned them before all men: and
they counted the price of them, and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver. {20} So
mightily grew the word of God and prevailed.
1 John 2:15-17 (KJV) - Love not the world, neither
the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is
not in him. {16} For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of
the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. {17} And
the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God
abideth for ever
Deu 6:13-16a (KJV) - Thou shalt fear the LORD thy
God, and serve him, and shalt swear by his name. {14} Ye shall not go after other gods,
of the gods of the people which are round about you; {15} (For the LORD thy God is a
jealous God among you) lest the anger of the LORD thy God be kindled against thee, and destroy
thee from off the face of the earth. {16} Ye shall not tempt the LORD your God...
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