What’s wrong with Halloween?
(Eph 5:11-17 & Deut 18:9-12)
Introduction
Right up front - this message comes from a friend of mine, Pastor Jimmy Dillon, and is used with his permission. I first heard this message about 7 years ago and really felt that it is important enough to share it today.
Over time I have found that many Christians ask of October 31st is, "What’s wrong with Halloween?" This morning I hope that we can examine this question and if anything – give you something additional to think about as you seek to strengthen your relationship with the Lord.
It is not my hope to encourage or discourage anything or to press my personal beliefs on any family -- but merely to provide some facts for you to consider and ponder and research on your own. I encourage you VERY strongly to seek out the Spirit of the Lord on this, and do as He leads.
Go with me to Ephesians 5:11-17
Pray
I. HISTORY
In order to examine Halloween fully, we must understand the origins of this holiday. The practices and rituals that surround Halloween are traced back to the “Druid Festival of the Dead” originating sometime around 100 A.D.
It was commonly referred to as the “Samhain Festival” which was a Celtic celebration that focused on death. The Celts in Western Europe believed that ghosts and other spirit-beings visited on Samhain Eve – aka October 31st.
The also believed that the barrier between the physical world and spirit world was at its weakest on this date and so the ancient Druids, who were a priestly class of Celts, believed that Samhain "the Lord of Death" gathered souls of the evil dead who had been condemned to enter the bodies of animals and good people’s souls were reincarnated as humans.
The Druids would then offer sacrifices, prayers, and gifts to Samhain, attempting to lighten the punishment of the evil dead. The Druids would even pray for and to the dead in Roman temples trying to contact them through the spirit world. This is where we get séances from – and we also have religious organizations such as the Catholic church teaching about a place called Purgatory (where souls are said to go and wait for something …) which is not found anywhere in the Bible. God’s Word says “To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord” ~ 2 Cor 5:8
This thought process that people can be talked to or communicated with after death is complete nonsense.
Remember the story of the Rich Man and Lazarus in Luke 16:22 … Verse 26 talks about a great chasm that souls cannot pass, this is the separation for the coming day of Judgment in Rev 20 at the Great White Throne. There is no holding place that people can be prayed too or for, and even the book of Hebrews emphasizes this in Ch 9 v 27 which says, “Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment”
Halloween came to America in the 1800’s and I assure you that the pilgrims did not go around and say “trick or treat”. A group of immigrants brought the celebration and practice of Halloween to America in the 1800s, and it was not until the 1950s that American’s began dressing up in costumes and giving candy to one another. This act was based on the Celtic offering of gifts to evil spirits (discussed earlier), and when an offering was not made (treat) there would be an undesirable outcome (trick).
So, I think the next logical step would be to look at the symbols of Halloween and what they mean to the celebration in this nation.
II. THE SYMBOLS OF HALLOWEEN
Many take great pride in dressing up as scary creatures on Halloween and this originated from this same Celtic celebration where they hid themselves in ghoulish costumes or disguises so that wandering spirits would mistake them for one of their own and not harm them. So, let’s look at some of the most obvious symbols of this holiday.
These are but a few of the symbols associated with this holiday – and there are many more but for time sake I will keep it brief.
Black cats were considered reincarnated evil souls that had the ability to divine or "see into" the future.
Jack-O-Lanterns (or pumpkins) were carved out and a candle put in them to try and frighten away evil spirits from the home or they were showing sympathy and submission to the evil spirits.
Bonfires came from the practice of "bone fires" which was a large fire containing bones of those that were being sacrificed to the God of Death - Samhain
Skeletons, Skulls, corpses were all part of celebrating the ritual of the dead
Bats and owls were said to have power to communicate with the dead since they were
reincarnated evil spirits -- Are you seeing a pattern here?
Ghosts, demons, and goblins were thought of by the Celtics to have special freedom to travel among the living and frighten them into submission to their will. (Emphasis on frighten to force others into submission -- Jesus did not scare anyone into the Kingdom!)
Witches … do I need to say anymore?
With all this in mind let’s examine the occult practices of Halloween.
III. THE OCCULT PRACTICES OF HALLOWEEN
One of the main attractions of Halloween is the wearing of ghoulish costumes that represent death and fear. One of the most celebrated days for the practice of witchcraft is October 31st and is a day to be considered by most practicing witches a day of communion with the dead.
Many of you have participated in the unscriptural practice of summoning the dead through things like Ouija board games and séances – right?
Many occult practices intentionally have human sacrifice ceremonies or drink the blood of sacrificed animals all done in the name of Satan. As a side note, Satanists practice that Lucifer is to be celebrated as a rebel, as one who stood against conformity … and for this he is to be glorified! Do you see the warped logic of those who do not have the Spirit of God?
Necromancy (divination through communication with ghosts or corpses) is forbidden according to Deut 18:10-12 (GO THERE). All of these practices of Witchcraft, Voodoo, séances, human sacrifices, etc. are part of the occult and forbidden by God’s children!
Well, that brings us to the question, "What should be the Christian’s View of Halloween?
IV. THE CHRISTIANS VIEW OF HALLOWEEN
First we have to understand this one thing in Ephesians 6:12 "For our struggle is not against
flesh and blood but against the rulers, against authorities, against the powers of darkness of this world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms."
Halloween seems so harmless and yet we don’t fully understand that there is a spiritual war that is taking place and men, women, and children’s souls are what is at stake. As Christians we should not be partakers of something that derives from and represents darkness!
Eph 5:11 tells us to have nothing to do with the deeds of darkness … Rom 13:12 says, "Let us therefore cast off the works of darkness and let us put on the armor of 1ight"
Each day we are at battle, and last Wednesday we talked about putting on the FULL armor of God – When we partake of forbidden things, we are grieving the Spirit of God (Eph 4:30).
Eph 5:11-12 says, "Have not fellowship with unfruitful works of darkness but rather expose them. For it is shameful to even speak of those things which are done by them in secret."
Again in Deut 18, the bible forbids us to participate in or support any activity with
occult overtones and it even says in verse 12, "Anyone who does these things is
detestable to the Lord" and detestable means to abhor something.
Some may say "we do this for fun" but I tell you that anything that represents Satan and his domain cannot be handled or designated as "fun"!!
Even cloaking it with cheerful customes -- it is still participating.
Use example of special brownies …
Doing so places you in forbidden and enemy territory and that is VERY dangerous ground.
Conclusion
The bible says in Phil 4:8 "Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right,
whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable or praiseworthy...think on these things"
Can you honestly tell me that scaring people senseless is very pure? Does it represent what God’s Word says about acting holy and with love and compassion for all? Does celebrating a holiday that brings glory to the dead worthy?
Rom 14:19 says, "Let us therefore follow after things which make for peace and things wherewith one may edify one another." (Edify is to lift up.)
Satan knows your children are vulnerable and this is his greatest opportunity to rob them right out from under your nose – and Mom’s, Dad’s, Grandparents, Aunts, Uncles – the responsibility of protecting and guiding children that God has given you rests with YOU! The Word says that children are a gift from the Lord (Psa 127:3 “Sons are a heritage from the LORD, children a reward from him.”) -- And we ought to act like it!
Ask yourself, what would Jesus do in this situation? Would He participate in a holiday that is set aside to honor Satan? Or would He want us to flee from all appearances of evil.
Invite Singers
Let me leave you today with one word of encouragement … Don’t leave here thinking that you cannot celebrate Halloween because Bro TJ said so – search it out for yourself and seek the Lord’s face and ask Him -- This is up to you totally!
When I was struggling with this very issue I had to turn to the Word and find comfort and guidance for myself. And the Lord led me to Joshua 24:14-15, "Now fear the Lord and serve Him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your forefathers worshipped...and serve the Lord. But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose you this day whom you
will serve...but as for me and my household; we will serve the Lord."
Who will YOU serve?
Pray
