It's a question that arises often in the Christian circles. Is it ok to celebrate Halloween? Some say it is, some say it isn't. So, here's the question. What's it all about, anyway?
History
Halloween has it's roots in the ancient Druid celebrations. The Druids were a sect of pagan priests and sorcerers. They were Christianity's most direct opponents in the Celtic world, in fact. Historical writings tell of their occultic practices, divinations, and human sacrifices.
The holiday was originally the Celtic New Year festival. It was the beginning of the "Dark Half" of the year; a time that the Druids believed the veil between the spirit world was drawn aside and the dead could walk the earth causing mischief and harm to any humans they encountered.
Some of the traditions of this holiday included séances, fortune-telling, and sacrifices-animal and human-to honor the dead. Trick-or-treating began with the people leaving offerings out to pacify the evil spirits so they wouldn't be cursed. In a nutshell, the Druid priests attempted to appease evil by giving in to the spirits' evil demands. In later years, as the Romans (ie, the Roman Church) conquered the Celts, they didn't eradicate the old holiday. Rather, they added a "holy" twist on to the occult practices by celebrating All Saints Day the next morning, calling the holiday "All Hallows Eve."
Today
Basically every part of Halloween is a fascination with anything demonic, occultic, deathly, and fearsome. It can be summed up by its own admitted fascination with dead things. Many of our traditions today still have direct ties with the old Druid practices, as well as other evil symbols that have been added since that time...all having much to do with Satanism, occultism, paganism, etc.
Common sights during Halloween include:
Witches - "Wiccans", the worshippers of the goddess earth.
Ghosts - Dead people coming back to haunt the living.
Jack-o-lanterns - Named after a man "Jack" who was so wicked that neither God or the devil would take him, so he wandered the earth causing trouble.
Dracula - A man who lived off the blood of other humans
Bonfires - Original "bone-fires" because they were fueled by...bones...human bones.
Demons - Evil minions of Satan
Zombies - corpses animated by mysticism and witchcraft
...and many more...
On a social level, I spoke with a local police officer who told me that the holiday is one of the most crime-ridden days of the year. Common crimes police deal with are arson, vandalism, animal killings, suicide, and murders...all of which dramatically increase on Halloween night. In my source's own words, "Law enforcement, nationwide, allocates resources expecting more acts of vandalism and intimidation on Halloween night, than other times."
What does the Bible says about this subject?
Exodus 22:18 "You shall not allow a witch to live."
Deuteronomy 18:10-12, 14 "There shall not be found among you anyone who makes his son or his daughter pass through the fire [human sacrifice], or one who practices witchcraft, or a soothsayer [fortune-teller], or one who interprets omens, or a sorcerer, or one who conjures spells, or a medium, or a spiritist, or one who calls up the dead. For all who do these things are an abomination to the LORD, and because of these abominations the LORD your God drives them out from before you...For those nations, which you will dispossess, listen to those who practice witchcraft and to diviners, but as for you, the Lord your God has not allowed you to do so."
NOTE: God drives out those who practice witchcraft, divination and the like. They are dispossessed from His promises and He does not allow His people to engage in these practices.
Revelation 22:14-15 "Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city [Heaven]. But outside are dogs and sorcerers and sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and whoever loves and practices a lie."
NOTE: Not just those who do but also those who love the deception. Do we walk in deception regarding our involvement in evil traditions and refuse the truth because the lie is more appealing or more culturally acceptable?
2 Chronicles 33:6 "Also he caused his sons to pass through the fire in the Valley of the Son of Hinnom; he practiced soothsaying, used witchcraft and sorcery, and consulted mediums and spiritists. He did much evil in the sight of the Lord, to provoke Him to anger." *Also 2 Kings 17:17
NOTE: Imagine being a person who provokes God to anger. A dangerous place!
Acts 19:19 " Some believers, too, came forward to admit how they had used spells and a number of them who had practiced magic collected their books and made a bonfire of them in public."
NOTE: They burned their books. They left no way of returning to the old lifestyle because they realized magic and sorcery had no place in the new life of a Christian.
It all comes down to this...
No matter how you break things down, there are only two sides, two powers, two kingdoms. There is God's side (the way of life, light, and righteousness) and Satan's side (darkness, death, and evil). The two sides are contradictions of each other and will never mix.
Halloween thrives on fear. God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and a sound mind. (2 Tim. 2:17)
Halloween glorifies death. God came to bring us life. (John 10:10)
Halloween promotes evil things. God commands us to overcome evil with good. (Rom 12:21)
Halloween is all about darkness. We are called to walk as children of light. (Eph 5:8)
In short, Halloween remains a holiday bent on the glorification of everything that is opposed to God's kingdom. As those called to overcome evil, we cannot afford to dabble in the ways of our enemy. It is ultimately treachery to God.
What should we do?
As role-models, parents, and guardians of the hearts of our children we have a great responsibility to train and protect the next generation. Will we let them continue in traditions based so completely in demonic practices? Or will we be willing to be different from everyone else in order to make sure we are not blurring the lines between good and evil in our children's minds and hearts?
Remember. The spiritual world is VERY real. What we allow into our homes can and will affect our lives and the lives of our families. It's not a game, it's not cute, it's not a joke. This is a weightier matter than cool costumes and free candy. Satan still walks about as a roaring lion seeking who he can devour. Being wise of this, I would prefer to lock the door firmly against him.
4 comments:
Excellent article Lisa! The scriptures are great, it's simple and to the point, and there's not too many scary details. You should send this in to a Christian magazine!
Amazing article! Keep it up!
So what about 'Harvest Parties?' Aren't they just a more 'culturally acceptable, watered down version' of Halloween parties? I'd like to hear your take on this. I personally don't involve myself even in them.
Donna, I have never personally had a problem with harvest parties as, in my experience, they have been groups of friends and family gathering to thank God for a fruitful year. There have never been any evil traditions associated with them, nor have I found anything in the Bible that condemns them. In fact God established the feast of Ingathering of Harvest in Leviticus.
But, I do recommend you search out the Bible on that topic yourself, though, especially if you feel it could be a problem. :) It is the glory of kings to search a matter out (Prov. 25:2).
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