HOLLOW WEEN, HALLOWEEN!

In a few weeks most of the nations will celebrate Halloween.

Halloween stands for ‘All Hallows’ Eve’.  This used to originally be the evening of preparation for the Christian celebration of ‘All Saints’ Day’. This celebration was a day of remembrance of all the Christian martyrs who were either slain or had died.

This is what I learnt of Celtic culture during my time in Wales.

David Bissett in his article “Culture’s Dangerous Infatuation with Halloween” mentions

“…that November 1 was the Druid New Year and October 31 was then their New Years’ Eve. He explains that for both Celtic pagans and Druids, it was the significant night that brought the world of the dead into closer contact with the world of the living. It is also known as Samhain.”

According to Irish mythology, Samhain (like Bealtaine) was a time when the ‘doorways’ to the ‘otherworld’ opened, allowing supernatural beings and the souls of the dead to come into our world; while ‘Bealtaine’ was a summer festival for the living, Samhain “was essentially a festival for the dead”.

So first let us see what the Bible says.

Deuteronomy 18:10-12

10 There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, 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.

God considers detestable in his eyes for everyone who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, casts spells, or consults the dead.

So many people may think that they are celebrating a Christian holiday, but it is actually a mix of the pagan Samhain and All Saints’ Day caused by them taking place on the same date.

This has nothing to do with the church celebration of  ‘All Saints’ Day’.

Most of the practices presently associated with Halloween came from pagan rituals and beliefs.

Also, according to Bissett, the tradition of carving a pumpkin, and placing candles in them, has no basis in any Christian tradition but has its roots in an old pagan Irish legend of a man named Jack who fooled the devil.

Apparently, pagan appeals have triumphed over the All Saints’ Day holiday.

Another problem is with decorating houses and dressing up in evil outfits that glorify darkness and death.

I think that as the children of God, we have to behave accordingly. By pretending and dressing up in evil, scary outfits, people are behaving like the children of darkness, which is not what the Bible teaches us to do.

We should not imitate evil with our actions, as the Bible states:

Romans 13:12-13

12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.

13 Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying.

For Ancient Celts, dressing up as demons was a defence mechanism, so if they encountered a real demon roaming the Earth, he would think they were one of them. One of them! How foolish is this understanding for us as true Christians who believe in the Bible and who know what we are in Christ, and what Christ has accomplished for us on the cross of Calvary.

I know one thing for sure.

Nowhere in the Bible we are told to fiddle with anything that is pagan and because the Bible is our Book of authority, any ritual, any tradition, any stuff that violates and nullifies the Word of God is truly anathema!

Beloved, there is an objective reality from which you cannot escape. Many tell me… “We are unaware, so it cannot harm us!” Hey! being unaware of all this will not change the demonic dimensions and its effect on our lives.

As Christians, we are called to check out, and research and see all things in the light of the Scripture that says, “Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. Abstain from all appearance of evil” (1 Thessalonians 5:21-22).

I sincerely believe that as the children of God, we should not take part in celebrating something that is directly connected to paganism, which is also detestable to God, and something that glorifies darkness. Dressing up in scary clothes, emulating witches and carving out pumpkins is really spiritually dangerous, and does not influence us in any good way.

Please hear me. Culture is good. Tradition is good. But when culture and traditions violate the principles and the revelation of God’s Word to us in the generation we live in…then this becomes dangerous and can open up dark portals of demons and evil spirits around us.

If your church sponsors this stuff, by the authority of the Word I can fully and honestly say, “Get out of that church!”.

We don’t frighten people into the Kingdom of God…we bring His Kingdom to come over people by obedience and love, and all that Jesus teaches us in the Holy Scriptures.

Willie Soans