Is Halloween really worth it?
Ok. It's time. I was reading my cousin's blog, where she wrote a very insightful article about child labor and the chocolate industry. I started following links, uncovering the dark side of the largest American chocolatiers and learning more about the situation, when a burden came upon me that this was the day to confront Halloween... again. After all, halloween is chocolate's big season.
I know that some people think I'm a little strange to spend so much space fighting against a holiday that the National Retail Federation says 7 out of 10 Americans will participate in this year. I'm sure even most people who fall into the 3 out of 10 think I'm going overboard. Well, grab your life vest, because here we go...
Remember, halloween is a 'holiday' (holy day). It is a religious event. It is a day of worship gods who are not YHWH. [Ephessians 6:12]
Children are ritually sacrificed (today!) as part of some satanic rituals connected to halloween. Traditionally this is done by fire, and is the origin of our word 'bonfire' (bone fire). [Deuteronomy 18:10]
Even those who are not murdered are abused and scared for life. [Luke 18:16]
More frequently, animals are tortured and sacrificed. Who exactly do we think they are sacrificed to? [Deuteronomy 32:16-18]
You can look back over my other halloween posts to learn more about the history and origins of halloween.
Obviously, we don't do halloween. We don't do alternatives to halloween either, wanting no association with that darkness, and not feeling compelled to covet our neighbor's holiday. That may sound strange, but it is exactly how Israel failed when they entered the Promised Land!
Joshua and Judges tell the story. In Joshua, we see general success, despite fearful leadership, because YHWH was with them. Jesus went before the people "with his sword drawn" [Joshua 5:13-14] and drove out their enemies before them. [Exodus 23:28-30] However, the people very soon began to compromise with the inhabitants of the land, which was exactly what the lord told them not to do. [Exodus 23:32-33] Why? Because God knew Israel would begin to serve their gods. [1 Corinthians 10:19-21] So, what happened? God stopped going before them. They stopped being victorious and began to spiral into complete chaos. [Judges 2:1-3] They failed.
We are in danger of the same failure. In fact, as a country, we have probably already failed.
And, the church? Well, I believe we have been failing as well.
We have some friends who never celebrated halloween with their children until last year, at church. Their church, in the name of providing an "alternative" began hosting a Fall Festival. They promote it on their website, distribute pamphlets, and have a big carnival on October 31st, with games prizes, treats, etc. How is it that, in the name of outreach, a believing family has been led to accept a practice the Lord had previous;y convicted them was evil? Now, we love this church. We were visiting there for several months before Micah was born. (She's great, btw.) They have been a huge blessing to our family throughout this journey. Of the choices in our community, this is the place we feel we should be part of. But, until they repent of this compromise, we could never be members there. Why? Because we take membership in a local body of believers very seriously, and there are some things we have a particular burden to protect our family from.
The question I have is, "Why do we need an 'alternative'?" The history of the church is filled with such good intentions. Most of our holidays and celebrations are established by compromise with the world. For example, rather than celebrate hoe Jesus fulfills [Matthew 5:17] the biblical holidays of Passover (literally "cover over") and Pentecost, the church celebrates Easter. Why? Because of the pagan spring fertility festival for Ishtar (Diana). Rather than worship on Saturday (aka "The Lord's Day [Revelation 1:10]), we worship on Sunday. Why? We are told it is because of the resurrection, but it was actually mandated by Constantine, the famous first Christian Emperor of Rome (who was most probably a Sun worshipper more than a Son worshiper at the time). Again, compromise, with irrevocable results.
But, what does scripture say?
"And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:18-20
We often use this text as a reason for doing outreach and evangelism, as justification for being more like the world than we probably should be. [1 John 2:15-16] We use it to build gymnasiums, form baseball leagues, create social interest clubs, and try to look appealing by the world's standard. We're use it to say we are doing 'lifestyle evangelism'. However, that isn't the command is it? (Notice, it is not a suggestion!) No. The command is to "make disciples", to teach people how to be like Jesus, to show people how to carry a cross, to create a holy community unique among the communities of the world. The command is to create light, not to appeal to the darkness. Surely, we should be doing evangelism. But biblical evangelism is the loving confrontation of sin, not the friendship with the world that comes from moral and spiritual compromise.
You do not have to be someones friend to tell them about Jesus! But, if you will tell them, then you are more loving than any worldly friend they have. You do not have to be like the world to reach the world. In fact, the world needs to hear an outside voice, a prophetic voice, a voice with a different perspective. Thus, as we "make disciples" the world sees, and if they see we are different that they are, they will have a real choice to make.
And, what else does scripture say?
"Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect." Romans 12:1-2
Therefore, I urge you to think again about halloween; to reconsider in your mind, whether compromise is really the way to go. What will you be doing with your body on October 31st. Will you covet your neighbor's holiday? [Exodus 20:17] Will you be a partaker in the meal of demons? [1 Corinthians 10:20-22] Or, will you abstain? Will you go without, and allow your children to go without, in order to preserve the spiritual integrity of your family before the Lord?
Do some research. Stop pretending you will look into it later. Find out more about halloween, past and present. Pray. Talk to others you believe may have doubts about it. Chase down the scriptures in this blog. And then, make a choice. Is halloween really worth it?
[Joshua 24:14-15]
I know that some people think I'm a little strange to spend so much space fighting against a holiday that the National Retail Federation says 7 out of 10 Americans will participate in this year. I'm sure even most people who fall into the 3 out of 10 think I'm going overboard. Well, grab your life vest, because here we go...
Remember, halloween is a 'holiday' (holy day). It is a religious event. It is a day of worship gods who are not YHWH. [Ephessians 6:12]
Children are ritually sacrificed (today!) as part of some satanic rituals connected to halloween. Traditionally this is done by fire, and is the origin of our word 'bonfire' (bone fire). [Deuteronomy 18:10]
Even those who are not murdered are abused and scared for life. [Luke 18:16]
More frequently, animals are tortured and sacrificed. Who exactly do we think they are sacrificed to? [Deuteronomy 32:16-18]
You can look back over my other halloween posts to learn more about the history and origins of halloween.
Obviously, we don't do halloween. We don't do alternatives to halloween either, wanting no association with that darkness, and not feeling compelled to covet our neighbor's holiday. That may sound strange, but it is exactly how Israel failed when they entered the Promised Land!
Joshua and Judges tell the story. In Joshua, we see general success, despite fearful leadership, because YHWH was with them. Jesus went before the people "with his sword drawn" [Joshua 5:13-14] and drove out their enemies before them. [Exodus 23:28-30] However, the people very soon began to compromise with the inhabitants of the land, which was exactly what the lord told them not to do. [Exodus 23:32-33] Why? Because God knew Israel would begin to serve their gods. [1 Corinthians 10:19-21] So, what happened? God stopped going before them. They stopped being victorious and began to spiral into complete chaos. [Judges 2:1-3] They failed.
We are in danger of the same failure. In fact, as a country, we have probably already failed.
And, the church? Well, I believe we have been failing as well.
We have some friends who never celebrated halloween with their children until last year, at church. Their church, in the name of providing an "alternative" began hosting a Fall Festival. They promote it on their website, distribute pamphlets, and have a big carnival on October 31st, with games prizes, treats, etc. How is it that, in the name of outreach, a believing family has been led to accept a practice the Lord had previous;y convicted them was evil? Now, we love this church. We were visiting there for several months before Micah was born. (She's great, btw.) They have been a huge blessing to our family throughout this journey. Of the choices in our community, this is the place we feel we should be part of. But, until they repent of this compromise, we could never be members there. Why? Because we take membership in a local body of believers very seriously, and there are some things we have a particular burden to protect our family from.
The question I have is, "Why do we need an 'alternative'?" The history of the church is filled with such good intentions. Most of our holidays and celebrations are established by compromise with the world. For example, rather than celebrate hoe Jesus fulfills [Matthew 5:17] the biblical holidays of Passover (literally "cover over") and Pentecost, the church celebrates Easter. Why? Because of the pagan spring fertility festival for Ishtar (Diana). Rather than worship on Saturday (aka "The Lord's Day [Revelation 1:10]), we worship on Sunday. Why? We are told it is because of the resurrection, but it was actually mandated by Constantine, the famous first Christian Emperor of Rome (who was most probably a Sun worshipper more than a Son worshiper at the time). Again, compromise, with irrevocable results.
But, what does scripture say?
"And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:18-20
We often use this text as a reason for doing outreach and evangelism, as justification for being more like the world than we probably should be. [1 John 2:15-16] We use it to build gymnasiums, form baseball leagues, create social interest clubs, and try to look appealing by the world's standard. We're use it to say we are doing 'lifestyle evangelism'. However, that isn't the command is it? (Notice, it is not a suggestion!) No. The command is to "make disciples", to teach people how to be like Jesus, to show people how to carry a cross, to create a holy community unique among the communities of the world. The command is to create light, not to appeal to the darkness. Surely, we should be doing evangelism. But biblical evangelism is the loving confrontation of sin, not the friendship with the world that comes from moral and spiritual compromise.
You do not have to be someones friend to tell them about Jesus! But, if you will tell them, then you are more loving than any worldly friend they have. You do not have to be like the world to reach the world. In fact, the world needs to hear an outside voice, a prophetic voice, a voice with a different perspective. Thus, as we "make disciples" the world sees, and if they see we are different that they are, they will have a real choice to make.
And, what else does scripture say?
"Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect." Romans 12:1-2
Therefore, I urge you to think again about halloween; to reconsider in your mind, whether compromise is really the way to go. What will you be doing with your body on October 31st. Will you covet your neighbor's holiday? [Exodus 20:17] Will you be a partaker in the meal of demons? [1 Corinthians 10:20-22] Or, will you abstain? Will you go without, and allow your children to go without, in order to preserve the spiritual integrity of your family before the Lord?
Do some research. Stop pretending you will look into it later. Find out more about halloween, past and present. Pray. Talk to others you believe may have doubts about it. Chase down the scriptures in this blog. And then, make a choice. Is halloween really worth it?
[Joshua 24:14-15]
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