During the celebration of Halloween houses, schools, and businesses are decorated with images of ghosts, skeletons, witches, black cats, and jack-o-lanterns with monstrous faces carved in them. Haunted houses and horror films are a popular attraction at this time. Children go trick-or-treating through neighbourhoods often in costumes designed to depict death, horror, witches, or even Satan himself. Adults dressed in costumes also participate in Halloween parties. Why are images of death and the occult so prevalent in connection with this day?
The following quotation taken from Encyclopedia Brittanica regarding the origin of Halloween gives us some insight:
“It (Halloween) long antedates Christianity. The two chief characteristics of ancient Hallowe’en were the lighting of bonfires and the belief that this is the one night in the year during which ghosts and witches are most likely to wander abroad. History shows that the main celebrations of Hallowe’en were purely Druidical, and this is further proved by the fact that in parts of Ireland Oct. 31 is still known as Oidhche Shamhna, ‘Vigil of Saman.’ This is directly connected with the Druidic belief in the calling together of certain wicked souls on Hallowe’en by Saman, lord of death.”
In addition, we cite this quotation taken from The World Book Encyclopedia:
“The Druids, an order of priests in ancient Gaul and Britain, believed that on Halloween, ghosts, spirits, fairies, witches, and elves came out to harm people. They thought the cat was sacred and believed that cats had once been human beings but were changed as a punishment for evil deeds. From these Druidic beliefs comes the present-day use of witches, ghosts, and cats in Halloween festivities.”
It was believed that wearing costumes and masks of harmful spirits was a way to prevent them from inflicting harm. It was also believed that to free oneself from these evil spirits it was necessary to give them a treat. Otherwise, the spirit would cast a spell, a trick. This is the origin of trick or treat. Also on this night animal bones were burned in large fires called bonfires (bone fires) in order to ward off evil spirits. I have also read that there is reason to believe that in ancient times human sacrifices were made in these bonfires.
For practitioners of witchcraft and worshippers of Satan, 31 October is a high and holy day even to this present time. There are documented accounts of animal and human sacrifices offered on this day. Although many people view this as a time of fun and games, it is taken quite seriously by those who are in league with the powers of darkness.
God Almighty also takes the practices of the occult very seriously and gives stern warnings against it. The following passage speaks clearly:
Deuteronomy 18:9 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 (might this have been a bonfire?), 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.
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.
14 For these nations, which thou shalt possess, hearkened unto observers of times, and unto diviners: but as for thee, the LORD thy God hath not suffered thee so to do.
The world of the occult is very real. There are evil spirits who seek to do us harm and we must have no fellowship with them.
Ephesians 6:11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
1 Corinthians 10:20 But I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils.
21 Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord's table, and of the table of devils.
Satan would like nothing more than for us not to take his world seriously. He would have us think of witches and incantations as play things rather than harsh and destructive realities. Rather than celebrating the world of the occult in fun and games, the Christian should rather resist and reprove such things.
Ephesians 5:11 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.
And as for all the images of death so prevalent at this time, recall that Satan has the power of death. In that sense he is Saman, the lord of the dead. But our Lord Jesus Christ came to deliver us from the fear of death by destroying Satan.
Hebrews 2:14 Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;
15 And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.
Shall we then celebrate the fear of death as is done at Halloween? Ought we not rather to celebrate our Lord’s triumph over Satan and the destruction of his power of death?
From the foregoing it should be obvious that Christians have no business participating in Halloween celebrations. On Halloween night we turn off the porch light to discourage any trick-or-treaters from coming to our door. Do not let your children trick-or-treat or attend Halloween parties. If you have adults living in your home who do not share your convictions and want to attend Halloween parties, do not let them don their costumes in your home. That is your house and you have the responsibility to ban from your home anything that makes light of the kingdom of darkness. I close with this exhortation:
1 Corinthians 16:13 Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong.
No comments:
Post a Comment