Halloween-Good or Evil?

I have to admit, this is one holiday that hasn't settled right in my spirit. There really isn't anything one can say to me that will counteract what the Lord is revealing. You know, isn't THAT where we find ourselves? As a Christian, we're accountable to God, not man. So when something isn't settled in our hearts, it's time to search out the truth that God has for us.

I have to admit, paganism wasn't really part of my vocabulary, until I met a pagan. He challenged me with statements that made me consider ALL of the practices that have been a part of my life. From Christmas to Easter to Halloween, I've had to rethink my beliefs. I've had to ask myself, whom do I serve? Why do we participate in THIS?

Often I hear that familiar voice in my head, as if I'm standing in the Garden of Eden, considering the lushest fruit of all. Then the voice says to me, "Did God REALLY say . . . (fill in the blanks)...? Did He really say you can't even take one bite? Were His Words a denial of something really good? Or were they a protection against an enemy who wants to deceive me into believing and following him?

The Bible clearly states that the devil is a liar. John 8:44 says he is the Father of lies, a murderer, one who does NOT stand in the truth. I Peter 5:8 tells us that the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour!

God, however is faithful and true. John 14:6 Jesus tells us; "I am the way, the truth and the life." A lifetime following Him, confirms that He is always faithful to me. He has never let me down. He has NEVER deceived me. But in love, He pursues me and speaks His truth into my heart.

Back to Halloween. Yesterday we learned of its pagan roots. Now let's see what the Bible has to say about the truth for us, as Christians. Deuteronomy 18:9-14 speaks about practices that are an abomination to the LORD. Read these words below.

"When you come into the land which the LORD your God gives you, you shall not learn to follow the abominable practices of those nations. There shall not be found among you any one who burns his son or his daughter as an offering, and one who practices divination, a soothsayer, or an augur, or a sorcerer, or a charmer, or a medium, or a wizard, or a necromancer.

For whoever does these things is an abomination to the LORD; and because of these abominable practices the LORD your God is driving them out before you. You shall be blameless before the LORD your God. For these nations, which you are about to dispossess, give heed to soothsayers and to diviners; but as for you, the LORD your God has not allowed you so to do." RSV

Church, the Word says, AS FOR YOU, the LORD your God HAS NOT ALLOWED YOU SO TO DO.

Yes, that is Old Testament. And yes, we are living in the Grace period. But should we be so careless with our beliefs as to give the pagan ammunition against our Christian faith?

In the New Testament we see Paul, as he admonishes the Ephesians in Ephesians 5:11-15.

"Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. For it is shame even to speak of the things that they do in secret; but when anything is exposed by the light it becomes visible, for anything that becomes visible is light, Therefore it is said, 'Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give you light.' Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, the days are evil." RSV (emphasis mine)

Paul continues his message to the Ephesians. (Ephesians 5:18-20,)

"Now the works of the flesh are plain; immorality, impurity, licentiousness, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy anger, selfishness, dissension, party spirit, envy, drunkenness, carousing, and the like." RSV (emphasis mine)

Paul calls out impurity and sorcery, both of which are part of Halloween.

In I Corinthians 10:20-21, Paul is more firm in his words to God's people.

"No, I imply that what pagans sacrifice they offer to demons and not to God. I do not want you to be partners with demons. You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons. You cannot partake of the table of the Lord and the table of demons."

Strong words to the believer. As I consider Halloween, I realize that God is calling me to take a stand. I'll have candy for my cute little neighbor boys, Gavin and Devon, and my grandkids should they stop by in their costumes on that day. You won't see witches, ghosts and goblins in my yard.

Instead, I'll pray against the demonic spirits that try to infiltrate our neighborhood, cities, state and country. I'll close the door (via faith in the Almighty God) to the enemy in my realm of influence. For Jesus said in Matthew 16:19, "And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven."

And finally, I'll pray for the deceived in the Church, and the world. For in Revelation 21:8, we learn the destiny of those who practice such deception.

"But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the polluted, as for murderers, fornicators, sorcerer's, idolaters, and all liars, their lot shall be in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death." RSV

My friend, this is serious business. The enemy of our souls has set his sights on each one of us. May I encourage you to spend some time with Jesus and let Him lead you. He absolutely wants to spend time with you and sort out these things which give us cause to pause. I pray that you will hear His voice and follow His lead. I pray that together we can be strong in His ways.

Dear Lord, we repent of our part in celebrating this holiday that promotes darkness, evil, witchcraft and the occult. This once sparked my interest, too. I'm sorry for that. It is the counterfeit to your glory. It blinds us until You bring us into the Light. Forgive us, we pray.

Help your Church to take a stand against the evil of today. Give us the keys to your kingdom truths so that we can be about the good work that you have for us. Thank you for your Words. As the Psalmist put it in Psalms 119:105, Thy Word is a lamp unto me feet and a light unto my path." May it be so. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.