The Day Of Death Series

Ordinarily I read a Scripture before each sermon because anything the Bible says is more important than what I have to say. But today I'm not going to do that. The text will still be there in the body of the sermon, but I'm not reading first because I don't want to spoil the surprise.

Halloween has become a major unofficial holiday in America. Researchers at Hallmark Cards report that 65 percent of Americans decorate their homes and offices for this annual event. Halloween IS 2nd only to Christmas in retail spending at about $5 billion, AND it is the third biggest party day of the year in the U.S. (The Pastor’s Weekly Briefing 10/29/09)

Americans purchase nearly 600 million pounds of candy a year for Halloween. That’s about 3 times as much candy as is bought on Easter & Valentine’s Day - combined. Thus, Halloween is a season of candy and fun and dressing up…

But it’s also a season that’s identified with death.

According to one source, the ancient Celts believed that around October 31st the veil separating the living from the dead was at its thinnest, and because of that, evil spirits and souls of the dead could pass through the barrier and enter the world of the living. Departed family members (they thought) could revisit their earthly homes. And these spirits and dead souls tormented the living. Crops destroyed, babies stolen, and farm animals killed. (Ken Klaus)

Halloween has some very disturbing aspects to it, which was the reason we never allowed our kids to go “trick or treating”, but I sincerely doubt there are many people these days who - like the Celts of 100s of years ago - fear that this season was when the “veil” was thin and dead souls could come visit us. However, in spite of that, Halloween is still a time that focuses on death. Death literally shows up in the decorations you’ll see in many people’s yards. (We showed 3 pictures of various homes with yard decorations filled with skeletons and ghosts).

So Halloween is a time that focuses on death. But there’s another holiday around this time that’s even more about death – it’s called “The Day of the Dead.” The “Day of the Dead” is a celebration (mostly down in Mexico - but moving up north to our community) where people decorate graves, put out food for the dead… and even pray to the dead. “The Day Of The Dead” is quite literally ALL about death.

ILLUS: According to one observer: During the Day of the Dead. Some people—even churchgoers—pray to dead relatives (which is condemned in Scripture) and leave food offerings, fearing what will happen if they don’t. (Heidi Carlsonhttps://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2021/october-web-only/day-of-dead-christians-participate-dia-de-los-muertos.html)

ILLUS: On October 31, All Hallows Eve, the children make a children’s altar to invite the angelitos (spirits of dead children) to come back for a visit (also condemned by God). (https://www.courageouschristianfather.com/day-of-the-dead-dia-de-muertos/)

In addition, there is the Saint of Death (Santa Muerte) and she is one of the most prominent figures in this celebration. Many believe she is a patroness saint… and that she has great powers. She is said to be dangerous if the solicitors of her favors do not follow through with their vows, which are usually the making of a permanent shrine to her in their homes or at least wearing her image on their necklaces. (https://answersingenesis.org/holidays/dia-de-los-muertos/)

For obvious reasons, most serious Hispanic Christians oppose the Day of the Dead and won’t have anything to do with it.

My point in this sermon though, is not to dwell on the negative aspects of Halloween and the Day of Dead as much as it is to help you understand that this season seems to focus on death a lot. Skeletons and ghosts and spirits of the dead are literally all over the place.

(PAUSE) Years ago, I heard about a preacher in a nearby city who decided not to baptize a young girl on a particular Sunday, because that particular Sunday was October 31st - Halloween. He was concerned because this is a season where there are ghosts and goblins and the walking dead. It’s a season of death. And he didn’t want her confusing her baptism with this season of death. Now I can understand where he was coming from. Halloween IS a day that focuses on death. But I think that preacher got a couple things wrong.

Aside from the fact that he didn’t have to baptize this girl on Sunday (he could have done it on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, etc.) … but aside from that, the first thing he got wrong was that baptism is ALL ABOUT death. Romans 6:3-4 says: “... don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his DEATH? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into DEATH in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.”