October 31st

Here I go with another controversial post. This is something that I have not written about on my blog, and really don't get on too much of a soapbox about, until this time of year. Then, the goulish decor comes out and everyone is constantly asking my kids what they are going to "be for Halloween." Every year it is more and more overdone and scarier and scarier. I don't even want to go to department stores the entire month of October.

When my kids were younger we dressed them up in cute little costumes, like angels and cowboys and took them "trick or treating." I guess we did it because everyone else did or because we had done it when we were little. About eight years ago, we asked ourselves exactly what it was we were celebrating?

The answer?

Evil.

The celebration of Halloween originated in Ireland with the Celtic religion. A polytheistic religion, these people had all sorts of ideas of how to contact the "other" world. The pagan rituals and sacrifices were to appease and support the more than 300 gods that they worshipped and feared. During the potato blight in the late 1840s, America was flooded with Irish immigrants, some of whom brought with them their pagan religion. The main theme of Halloween is witches. We would do well to remember that witches are not green and riding on broomsticks, they are members of a religion that is real and thriving - we know it as "wicca." This particular night of the year marks the "end and the beginning of the witches year," they believe all the power of the underworld is unleashed on this night.

In his book The Screwtape Letters one of the things that CS Lewis talks about is the fact that one of satan's greatest tools is to convince us that he isn't real. The shear number of Christians that participate in this pagan holiday is proof that satan's tactics are working perfectly. If we truly believed that our greatest enemy is alive and well, seeking whom he may devour, would we actually dress our little children up and parade them around town - as if taunting him?

You do not have to tell me that Jesus Christ is greater and more powerful than satan, I agree with that wholeheartedly. However, we are instructed in scripture to "... have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them." Ephesians 5:11 Again we are reminded "For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? What harmony is there between Christ and Belial?" 2 Corinthians 6:14, 15

Halloween glorifies satan. I don't think that anyone can argue that the day is focused on things that scripture clearly warns us to stay away from. Witchcraft, divination, ghosts. It is a serious holiday for satanists and witches and I believe we are remiss to pretend that it is fun and games.

I know many believers who argue that they are redeeming the day by handing out tracts with their candy or dressing up in "fun" costumes and having a good time as a family. We should be spreading the light of Jesus Christ every day of the year and having fun with family is good any night of the week. However, to justify evil simply because everyone else does is just not an acceptable excuse. Kind of like your mom used to ask you, "If everyone else jumps off the cliff, are you jumping too?"

God was clear in the Old Testament that practices exactly like these are what defiled the nation of Israel. May it not be said of us that we were participants in spreading the powers of darkness.

"Let no one be found among you who sacrifices his son or daughter in the fire, who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead. Anyone who does these things is detestable to the LORD, and because of these detestable practices the LORD your God will drive out those nations before you. You must be blameless before the LORD your God. The nations you will dispossess listen to those who practice sorcery or divination. But as for you, the LORD your God has not permitted you to do so." Deuteronomy 18:10-14

Before you write this post off as just one more kooky thing that I have an opinion about, commit it to prayer. Look around you the next time you go shopping. Look closely at the costumes and decorations. Ask God if celebrating a satanic holiday is acceptable in His sight. And don't forget that we do have an enemy. One who is bent on your destruction and the destruction of your family. He will not win the war, but there is a battle over the souls of the lost on earth, and darkness is already rampant. Our job is to spread the light of the gospel.

"Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour." 1 Peter 5:8

Just my $.02 worth - feel free to take it or leave it! :)