Posted on 10/25/2008 7:00:34 AM PDT by DouglasKC
It all looks like so much fun and seems so harmless: jack-o'-lanterns, grotesque grinning masks, long black witch attire with pointed black hats, costumes painted like skeletons, outfits that represent demons and goblins, and children going door to door, soliciting treats from compliant neighbors.
But when Halloween comes around, do you find yourself yearning for the hours to pass until the whole trick-or-treat farce is over? If you don't, you should!
Since when is it acceptable for little children to threaten to commit vandalism?
What happens if the homeowner doesn't come to the door or doesn't have the treats the kids might expect? Is it permissible for children to then soap his windows, toilet paper his trees, chalk mark his sidewalk or turn over plants as they leave? When is it okay for children to commit vandalism while on another person's property?
Isn't it about time for all well-meaning citizens to just say NO to Halloween?
The clergy, in general, hasn't stood against it. Some churches even have Halloween parties. Some citizens do speak up against it, as the letters to the editor in your newspaper occasionally show.
Is Halloween simply good, clean fun, or is it something else entirely? You need to know!
God is giving a wake-up call to professing Christians. As it was with those the prophet Elijah addressed in his day, so it is with us: "'How long will you falter between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him.' But the people answered him not a word" (1 Kings 18:21). What will it take for Christians to accept and stand for God's truth rather than harmful traditions that originated in paganism?
Just where did Halloween come from, and why is it so widely celebrated?
The Encyclopedia of Religion explains: "Halloween is the name for the eve of Samhain, a celebration marking the beginning of winter as well as the first day of the New Year within the ancient Celtic culture of the British Isles. The time of Samhain consisted of the eve of the feast and the day itself (31 October and 1 November).
"On this occasion, it was believed that a gathering of supernatural forces occurred as during no other period of the year. The eve and day of Samhain were characterized as a time when the barriers between the human and supernatural worlds were broken. Otherworldly entities, such as the souls of the dead, were able to visit earthly inhabitants, and humans could take the opportunity to penetrate the domains of the gods and supernatural creatures.
"Fiery tributes and sacrifices of animals, crops, and possibly human beings were made to appease supernatural powers who controlled the fertility of the land . . . Samhain acknowledged the entire spectrum of nonhuman forces that roamed the earth during the period" (1987, pp. 176-177, "Halloween").
On this holiday "huge bonfires were set on hilltops to frighten away evil spirits . . . The souls of the dead were supposed to revisit their homes on this day, and the autumnal festival acquired sinister significance, with ghosts, witches, hobgoblins, black cats, fairies, and demons of all kinds said to be roaming about. It was the time to placate the supernatural powers controlling the processes of nature" (The Encyclopaedia Britannica, 15th edition, Micropaedia, Vol. 4, p. 862, "Halloween").
It was, bluntly put, a day devoted to appeasing demonic spirits and the dark side of the spirit world—something no Christian should have any part in (Ephesians 5:11).
So how did this dark celebration continue into modern times? Sadly, Halloween came down to us from the Roman Catholic Church, which assigned a day of each year to each of their saints. When it reached the point that they had more than 365, they then combined them together on Nov. 1 and called it "All Saints Day" or "All Hallows Day"—the night before being "All Hallows Eve" or "Hallow Even" (holy evening), contracted to the name Hallowe'en or Halloween.
Why did they choose this particular day? Again The Encyclopedia of Religion explains: "Samhain remained a popular festival among the Celtic people throughout the christianization of Great Britain . The British church attempted to divert this interest in pagan customs by adding a Christian celebration to the calendar on the same date as Samhain. The Christian festival, the Feast of All Saints, commemorates the known and unknown saints of the Christian religion just as Samhain had acknowledged and paid tribute to the Celtic deities" (p. 177).
Thus a pagan celebration was relabeled as Christian.
You cannot find any support for Halloween in your Bible, because God is adamantly opposed to it and the pagan, occult practices it revels in. He warns His people to have nothing to do with these (Leviticus 19:31; Deuteronomy 18:10-12). They blind us from the truth of God.
God does not take Halloween lightly. As He says, "Learn not the way of the heathen" (Jeremiah 10:2, King James Version). And, "Take heed to yourself that you are not ensnared to follow them, after they are destroyed from before you, and that you do not inquire after their gods, saying, 'How did these nations serve their gods? I also will do likewise'" (Deuteronomy 12:30).
God will not always remain tirelessly patient with those who insist on celebrating harmful and superstitious customs such as Halloween. "The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance . . . What kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God" (2 Peter 3:9-12, New International Version).
The author of sin and death, Satan the devil, is also the behind-the-scenes author of pagan customs like Halloween. Jesus said that Satan is a liar and the father of all lies (John 8:44). God is the God of the living, not the dead (Matthew 22:31-32). He is the God of not only true Christians alive today but, because of the certainty of the coming resurrection of the dead (1 Corinthians 15), of those who will yet live when raised from death. So certain is this resurrection that to God it is looked on as an accomplished fact (see Romans 4:17).
Conversely, Satan is the "lord of the dead." Hebrews 2:14 says of Jesus Christ that "only by dying could he break the power of the Devil, who had the power of death" (New Living Translation).
Satan is the lord of the dead in that he leads people by his lies and influence into the way of death and, as the next verse shows, puts them in bondage to the fear of death.
He has foisted Halloween on ignorant people and even well-meaning Christians in a subtle and deceitful way, perpetuating it through the Catholic Church with a "Christian" mask that hides its demonic origins.
When it comes to Halloween—or any other holiday for that matter—you should ask yourself, "Did God make man in His image, or did God intend man to remake God in man's image?" Now that's a sobering thought.
The religious excuse for perpetuating Halloween might be that, as we've seen, church leaders long ago called it a "holy evening" for all the Catholic saints who had no day assigned to them. But face it: People who celebrate this evening today couldn't care less about such religious notions. All they think about is instant gratification, to follow the pack with everyone else and to have some fun.
The Encyclopedia of Religion goes on to say: "Modern Halloween activities have centered on mischief making and masquerading in costumes, often resembling otherworldly characters. Folk customs, now treated as games [such as bobbing for apples], have continued from the various divination practices of the ancient celebrants of this occasion. Supernatural figures [such as the ghost, the witch, the vampire, the devil] play a key role in supplying an aura of the mysterious to the evening, whether or not they originally had an association with the festival.
"Children are particularly susceptible to the imagery of Halloween, as can be seen in their fascination with the demonic likeness of a carved and illuminated pumpkin, known as the jack-o'-lantern. In recent times, children have taken up the practice of dressing in Halloween costumes and visiting homes in search of edible and monetary treats, lightly threatening to play a trick on the owner if a treat is not produced" (p. 177).
Halloween is one of many human traditions that cloud biblical teachings and keep people in the dark from God's truth that can set us free (John 8:32). It is not a harmless holiday for you or for your children. God warns us to avoid it and to follow His ways, because He hates for us to dabble in the spirit world of Satan and his demons! Instead, as God tells us in Isaiah 66:2, "On this one will I look: on him who is poor and of a contrite spirit, and who trembles at My word." GN
Holidays or Holy Days: Does it Matter Which Days We Celebrate?
It's ironic that so many of today's popular holidays—including major religious celebrations like Christmas and Easter—originated in ancient pagan festivals and customs, while God's Holy Days revealed in the Bible are almost universally ignored. Which should you celebrate and why?
God's Holy Day Plan: The Promise of Hope for All Mankind
Is it possible to know what the future holds for us? The Creator of mankind does have a plan for us, and He reveals it to us through an annual cycle of festivals described in the Scriptures. It is an astounding plan offering an incredible future to every man, woman, and child who has ever lived.
Halloween's Dark Roots
In recent years eye-opening materials have been published about the questionable background of Halloween
Ghouls, Ghosts and Goblins
It seems like such harmless fun—children dressed as witches, skeletons or Darth Vader ringing the doorbell, enthusiastically announcing, "Trick or treat!" But is this preoccupation with the dead, witches and demons really harmless? And do you realize that Halloween was originally an important religious holiday—and still is in many parts of the world?
Can Halloween Be Christianized?
What should you do in deciding how you will approach this hotly debated issue?
In the context of “spiritual circumcision” I don't think God cares what language you call his name in, or what day you wish to set aside as his day, or even if you want to decorate a Christmas tree; so long as you do it in the right spirit, and ask for forgiveness in his name.
I believe the majority of Christian theologians agree with me on this point. They railed against injustices committed in the name of our lord, and the fallen nature of our world, most could give a fig for what day the Sabbath was observed on; and they certainly knew the Sabbath wasn't on Sunday.
That may be a common understanding today, but it's not really supported by scripture. It's not really what Paul was talking about when he spoke of "circumcision of the heart.".
Rom 2:27 And shall not uncircumcision which is by nature, if it fulfill the law, judge thee, who by the letter and circumcision dost transgress the law?
Rom 2:28 For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh:
Rom 2:29 But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.
Paul was referring specifically to assertions by Jews (by Christian Jews and non-Christians) that one had to be circumcised physically in order to share in the new covenant. Of course this was not correct since God had granted his holy spirit to non-circumcised gentiles.
Paul's point was that outward observation means nothing without an inward obedience to the holy spirit:
Rom 2:21 you, therefore, who teach another, do you not teach yourself? You who preach that one shall not steal, do you steal?
Rom 2:22 You who say that one should not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples?
Rom 2:23 You who boast in the Law, through your breaking the Law, do you dishonor God?
In other words, the lesson Paul was teaching about circumcision of the heart is that we shouldn't be hypocritical. Our outward actions should match the inward expression of the spirit of the Lord.
I believe the majority of Christian theologians agree with me on this point. They railed against injustices committed in the name of our lord, and the fallen nature of our world, most could give a fig for what day the Sabbath was observed on; and they certainly knew the Sabbath wasn't on Sunday.
I don't doubt that many modern theologians would agree. This is mostly due to time and tradition though. In the case of the sabbath, Jesus Christ created the sabbath holy. He observed it while in the flesh because not to so would have been a sin, a violation of his, Gods' laws. He still wishes to observe it while his spirit resides in us. He still does not want to sin. If we don't exert our will and follow his will, we will keep the sabbath because it his desire, not ours.
Keeping the Sabbath is the important part, doing it on Sunday instead of Saturday contradicts the letter of the law, but not the spirit of the law.
So what theologian, modern or otherwise, can you name that thought worship on a Sunday was anathema to God?
What he was saying was that the Jews were careful in conforming to the letter, the physical, part of the law, but they were woefully remiss about the spiritual part of the law. Here's another example from scripture:
Luk 11:42 But woe unto you, Pharisees! for ye tithe mint and rue and all manner of herbs, and pass over judgment and the love of God: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.
Jesus didn't CONDEMN keeping God's laws (in this case tithing), he said it ought to be done, but he took exception to them not doing the spiritual part of tithing, which is based upon justice and love of God.
If you keep the spirit of God's laws, you DO keep the letter.
Keeping the Sabbath is the important part, doing it on Sunday instead of Saturday contradicts the letter of the law, but not the spirit of the law.
Let's try another commandment. Can a married man physically have sex with another woman but spiritually be keeping the adultery law? Of course not. Your actions follow your heart. You do what your heart says:
Mat 5:27 Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery:
Mat 5:28 But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.
Christ fulfilled the law. He made law keeping not just a physical act, but a spiritual, mental and physical act. His spirit under the new covenant allows us to keep his righteous requirements.
So what theologian, modern or otherwise, can you name that thought worship on a Sunday was anathema to God?
Off the top of my head DR. SAMUELE BACCHIOCCHI. There are others, but I don't spend a lot of time studying theologians opinions.
The spirit of the law is more important than the letter of the law.
If you base your faith on faithful observance, replicating the means and practices or language of observance in the time of Jesus rather than concentrating on turning your heart towards Jesus, you have put form over function and have built your faith upon a foundation of sand rather than stone.
Christians worship on Sunday, they eat pork, many are or have historically been uncircumcised, they celebrate Christmas with the remnants of Yule celebration and celebrate Easter with remnants of a fertility festival. This is our European heritage, and I don't believe for a second that God has a problem with it, otherwise the Holy Spirit would not have found such fertile soil among our cultures pagan fore-bearers.
Function over form. The spirit not the letter.
But go ahead and tell people to not get Christmas Trees, to not paint eggs for Easter; for me that time would be better spent telling them about the love of Jesus the Christ.
read the story in Acts 10. peter going into the house of cornelius, about going into places that are “unclean.”
what’s your opinion of that?
Okay then let's take your example and apply it to the sabbath. If you're breaking the sabbath in your heart than it doesn't matter if you're keeping the sabbath physically. If you're not committing adultery in your heart, then you're sure not going to be committing it physically. And if you're keeping the sabbath in the heart, you're sure not going to be breaking it physically.
Form follows function.
If you base your faith on faithful observance, replicating the means and practices or language of observance in the time of Jesus rather than concentrating on turning your heart towards Jesus, you have put form over function and have built your faith upon a foundation of sand rather than stone.
The phrase "turning your heart toward Jesus" is meaningless without an objective definition. For example, the objective definition of love for neighbor is:
Rom 13:8 Owe nothing to anyone except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law.
Rom 13:9 For this, "YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT ADULTERY, YOU SHALL NOT MURDER, YOU SHALL NOT STEAL, YOU SHALL NOT COVET," and if there is any other commandment, it is summed up in this saying, "YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF."
Rom 13:10 Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.
Comprehend what Paul is saying. If you truly, really, do love your neighbor wit Godly love, then you WILL physically and spiritually appear to be keeping the ten commandments. Your outward actions can be nothing else because LOVE is causing the outward appearance. Yes, it's possible to be hypocritical and appear to "love your neighbor" but inside you can despise and hate your neighbor.
John makes the same point in a different way:
1Jn 2:1 My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous;
1Jn 2:2 and He Himself is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world.
1Jn 2:3 By this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments.
If the spirit of God is in us, we will appear to be keeping his commandments. We can do nothing else. It IS the spirit of Christ, and he will not sin, he will not break his own commandments, if we let him actually live through us.
1Jn 2:4 The one who says, "I have come to know Him," and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him;
1Jn 2:5 but whoever keeps His word, in him the love of God has truly been perfected. By this we know that we are in Him:
1Jn 2:6 the one who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked.
If someone appears to be keeping God's commandments, there are two things that can be said: Either he really does have the love or God or he's pretending to. But if someone is not physically keeping God's commandments than we can be sure of one thing: He's lying, according to John, if he says he's doing God's will...doing something pleasing in God's sight.
Christians worship on Sunday, they eat pork, many are or have historically been uncircumcised, they celebrate Christmas with the remnants of Yule celebration and celebrate Easter with remnants of a fertility festival. This is our European heritage, and I don't believe for a second that God has a problem with it, otherwise the Holy Spirit would not have found such fertile soil among our cultures pagan fore-bearers.
This is culture and tradition overriding scripture and God's spirit.
But go ahead and tell people to not get Christmas Trees, to not paint eggs for Easter; for me that time would be better spent telling them about the love of Jesus the Christ.
Those who have the love of Christ and let Christ live through them have ceased to do their own will and do the will of our father in heaven. His will, his love, won't lead us into sin by breaking his laws because sin is harmful to us.
There is/was no scriptural prohibition about gentiles being "unclean". Scripture taught just the opposite:
Lev 19:33 'When a stranger resides with you in your land, you shall not do him wrong.
Lev 19:34 'The stranger who resides with you shall be to you as the native among you, and you shall love him as yourself, for you were aliens in the land of Egypt; I am the LORD your God.
There was to be no "separation" of strangers, non-Israelites, gentiles, from Israelites. Yet by the time of Christ Judasim had taken on a myriad of man made rules, regulations and traditions that had led to an artificial wall of separation between Jews and gentiles. The purpose of this vision was to show once and for that this separation was artificial and that God was giving his holy spirit to gentiles.
Act 10:28 And he said to them, "You yourselves know how unlawful it is for a man who is a Jew to associate with a foreigner or to visit him; and yet God has shown me that I should not call any man unholy or unclean.
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