WHAT
DOES THE BIBLE SAY ABOUT....
THE TRADITION OF HALLOWEEN?
"Take us the foxes, the little foxes,
that spoil the vines: for our vines have tender grapes." Song of Solomon 2:15
Foxes sometime in search of food would enter into the
grape orchards and devour the grapes and spoil the crop. However, the little foxes were
too small to reach the grape bunches so they would chew on the vines and it would kill the
whole vine. Instead of the farmer just losing his crop, he would lose his vine which was
more disastrous. Spiritually some things we do or allow, that we might think is little or
insignificant, can also be disastrous for us.
Some may consider celebrating Halloween as only a little
compromise. However, it is the "little foxes" that spoil the vines and this
little compromise can open the door to other evils. Many Christians do not realize that
certain traditions that are celebrated in the world have evil origins. Just because our
society partakes in certain activities does not make them acceptable for Christians. We
must look to Christ and His Word to see if the traditions of this world are good or evil.
Mark 7:13: "Making the word of God of none
effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do
ye."
One very evil tradition is the celebration of Halloween.
No Christian should partake in the activities of this holiday, nor should they allow their
children to do so. We can discern the evil of this day by taking a look at the festivities
that are associated with its celebration. Children are dressed as witches, goblins,
ghosts, little devils and fortune tellers. All these are representatives of Satan's
kingdom. Games played at carnivals promote fear in children as they are ushered through
spook houses and horror rooms. Skeletons, black cats and bats represent death and
darkness. No carnival is complete without the gypsy who tells fortunes. Satan has gained
man's approval to celebrate his day by simply making it a tradition that seems like a fun
day. The opposite is true, however, as more damage and harm are done on this day each year
than any other holiday. Children are taught to go door to door chanting "trick or
treat." It is unchristian to demand a gift under threat of playing some trick. Police
are on the alert for juvenile vandalism and caution parents to be watchful.
Because so many of us have grown up celebrating
Halloween, and seemingly did not experience any negative effects, some feel that not
celebrating Halloween at all is an extreme measure. However, we would encourage you
to pray about this. Is any holiday that glorifies death and darkness (even in fun) a
proper thing for a Christian to do since we have been called out of darkness into His
marvelous light?
1 Peter 2:9: "But ye are a chosen
generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show
forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous
light."
Whether we feel that we have been really hurt by
celebrating Halloween or not, is only part of the issue. How does God feel to see
His people making light of demons and witchcraft? Shouldn't we be thinking about how
to honor Him and show our love to Him? Where do our loyalties lie?
Most Satanists celebrate this as their high holy day and
even offer human sacrifices to the devil. Until recently, most Christians have not
questioned this traditional celebration, but rather have gone along with it by even
bringing Halloween parties into the church. The earliest Halloween celebrations were not
held by the early church, but the Druids in honor of Samhain, the "lord of the
dead", and his demons, whose festival fell on November 1. Halloween actually means
"holy or hallowed evening."
According to the Roman calendar in which days began at
midnight, the evening of October 31 was the eve before the hallowed day; hence Halloween
or All Soul's Eve was kept throughout the ancient pagan world. All Hallows Eve, because it
is the day before All Hallows' or All Saints' day, was a holy day in the Roman Catholic
Church, Episcopal Church, the Church of England and the Greek Orthodox Church. This
festival honors all martyrs, known and unknown, who have died for the church. During the
time of Constantine, these two holidays were merged in an attempt to Christianize the
heathen. The church could not prevent these heathen practices, so they thought
"taming'" them would be the answer. They were, of course, not to worship their
gods on the church's "All Saint's day." However, as it is with all compromises,
soon the evil overrode the good, and hence we still honor these heathen practices by
celebrating Halloween.
Parents have a responsibility not to allow their
children to be exposed to these evil celebrations. What might seem to some as innocent
children's games is a "little fox" that can open the door to satanic influence
and even demon possession in some cases. Children can be tormented with a spirit of fear
that can come through this involvement that stays with them throughout their lives. It
also introduces children to witchcraft, making it easier for them to become involved in
cults and occultic activities. When children are taught it is alright to play with the
things of darkness, it does not give them the repulsion and resistance that they need to
stand against greater Satanic involvement. When the things of Satan are taken lightly, as
games and fun, it sets our children up to accept evil rather than to resist it. This
"little fox" is not only spreading evil to children but has been a curse for the
church and our nation as well. As Christians, we should spread the word to others about
the evil tradition of Halloween.
Ephesians 5:6-12: "Let no man deceive you
with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of
disobedience. 7 Be not ye therefore partakers with them. 8 For ye were sometimes darkness,
but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light: 9 (For the fruit of the
Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;)10 Proving what is acceptable unto
the Lord. 11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather
reprove them. 12 For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in
secret."
Excerpt
from the book Exposing Satan's Devices; Click here for more information and how
to order
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