Halloween and Christians!! by Ev. JW Stansell

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CHRISTIANS AND HALLOWEEN
By: Evangelist J.W. Stansell

Copyright © 2009
STANSELL CHRISTIAN MEDIA
All Rights Reserved

An old proverb says, “When you sup with the Devil, use a long spoon.” Presumably, no genuine Christian would want to sup with the Devil at all, and yet many may be doing so in ignorance. I am astonished how many Christian parents let their children celebrate Halloween. Of course, many Christian adults love to dress up and celebrate Halloween too.

Should Christians celebrate Halloween? There was once a time when that question would not have needed to be asked. I still remember when most churches took a strong stand against Halloween, and preachers thundered against it from the pulpit, condemning it as the “Devil’s birthday.” Tracts and books were written against it. But now most churches celebrate Halloween, and most preachers are silent on the issue. Some churches even sponsor haunted houses and spook trails. Most Christian bookstores no longer carry any books or tracts that expose Halloween as being evil. What has happened?

The answer can be found in the Bible: “Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron” (1 Timothy 4:1-2). “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables” (2 Timothy 4:3-4). We are now living in that time of the great falling away from the Truth. Most “church members” no longer want to hear the pure Word of God, but prefer to hear soft things that will scratch their itching ears.

Most religious people today do not want to hear sound doctrine. But as a faithful evangelist, I must sound the Trumpet of Truth, “in season and out of season.” Therefore, I must answer the question, should Christians celebrate Halloween? The answer, according to the inspired Word of God, is “NO!”

I. HALLOWEEN IS A FESTIVAL OF FORBIDDEN PRACTICES

“When thou art come into the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not learn to do after the abominations of those nations. 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, Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer. 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.” (Deuteronomy 18:9-12)

History traces the Halloween Celebration back to the ancient religion of the Druids; a religion so evil that even pagan Rome forbade its practice. Christians are forbidden to adopt pagan practices, yet, Halloween is a time when many Christians try to fit such borrowed customs and superstitions into their lifestyle. Such is displeasing to God, yeah, it is an abomination.

In Deuteronomy 18:9-12, God lists nine forbidden things that such pagan religions practiced. Christians should never have anything to do with any of those pagan practices. A careful look at those nine forbidden practices will prove that Halloween celebrates all that God condemned as an abomination.

1. MAKING CHILDREN PASS THROUGH THE FIRE

This ancient pagan practice involved human sacrifice. Parents would actually offer up their babies as sacrifices to the pagan god called Molech. This practice continues in modern terms, and is called abortion. (Lev. 18:21, 2 Kings 16:3, 17:17, 21:6, 23:10. 2 Chronicles 33:6, Jeremiah 32:35). No one is ever to kill another human being. A baby not born yet is just as alive as you and me because God also created and formed this life.

But what does this practice have to do with Halloween? The answer is twofold: first, wickedness walks abroad on this night. We all know true accounts of cruelty to children involving razor blades and straight pins in treats. Horror movies on the theme of Halloween abound. Since the activities of satanists, witches, and other occult groups are more intense during this season, police departments, churches, and others have more problems to cope with. According to one occult researcher, it is estimated that there are thousands of occult murders every year. No one really knows how many take place as a direct result of Halloween. Second, many parents who would never think of sacrificing their children physically are sacrificing them SPIRITUALLY with satanism and spiritism as found in Harry Potter books, and in the evil customs of Halloween.

2. DIVINATION

Divination is the practice or art of discovering hidden knowledge and foretelling future events by occult supernatural means. Fortune-tellers and psychics practice divination, and this practice is forbidden throughout the Bible (2 Kings 17:17; Jeremiah 27:8-9; Acts 16:16-24). Christians should NEVER consult with a psychic or a fortune-teller for any reason. God is the Creator of the universe and He alone only knows your future. Christians should beware of: psychics, fortune tellers, Ouiji board, crystal ball, tarot cards, tea leaf reading, etc. [all of which are practiced and are very popular during Halloween].

3. OBSERVER OF TIMES

This is another form of divination, and would include astrology, stargazing, horoscopes, etc. It is a person who looks to the stars for guidance. (Isaiah 47:12-15; Jeremiah 10:2; Dan.1:20; 5:7,11,15). We should beware of horoscopes or anything else that takes the place of God’s direction. God is our guidance, not His creation. Horoscopes may appear to be harmless, but they become addictive. Reading horoscopes are another form of accepting and honoring occult practices that God has clearly condemned. They are written by people who believe in astrology and are disobeying God. Such practices become very popular during Halloween. It is also an abomination for Christians to dress up like Gypsies and fortune-tellers, and to pretend to consult the stars for telling the future.

4. ENCHANTER

Noah Webster defines an enchanter as, “One who enchants; a sorcerer or magician; one who has spirits or demons at his command; one who practices enchantment, or pretends to perform surprising things by the agency of demons.” Such practice is forbidden in the Bible (2 Kings 17:17; Jeremiah 27:9). Halloween is filled with demonic practices. Many refer to it as an enchanted night. Christians should have no part of such demonic activity.

5. WITCH

A witch is a person that practices witchcraft. Witchcraft is a pagan religion that can be traced back to the ancient mystery school religions that came from the Tower of Babel. It is a type of ancient sun worship, and involves magick, spell casting, the use of magick potions, and divination. The practice of witchcraft is strictly forbidden in the Bible (Leviticus 19:26, 31; 20:6; 2 Kings 17:17; 21:6; 23:24; Micah 5:12; Malachi 3:5; Acts 19:19; Galatians 5:20; Revelation 21:8; 22:15). Witchcraft and Wicca are synonymous terms. There is no such thing as white magick and black magick, or good witches and bad witches. In the eyes of God, all witches and witchcraft practices are evil, and all are condemned by the Word of God.

Halloween is a very special time for witches. But it is also a time when kids and adults, who normally would have nothing to do with witchcraft, like to dress up as witches, and pretend for the evening that they are indeed a witch. I warn you on the authority of God’s Holy Word that such a practice is not harmless fun in the eyes of our Creator, but is rather an abomination! The black cats, bats, cauldrons, broomsticks and such, are all a part of honoring witchcraft. Of course many parents today, including Christian parents, are encouraging their children to practice witchcraft throughout the year by allowing them to read the Harry Potter books, and to watch the Harry Potter movies. The Devil is using Harry Potter to indoctrinate our children into witchcraft. Christians should have nothing to do with Halloween, Harry Potter, or any form of witchcraft.

6. CHARMER

A charmer is a person who puts a spell upon someone, or tries to change things by the use of magick. Charmers use the chanting of a magical verse or formula (Isaiah 19:3), and use an object or piece of jewelry for magical purposes. Christians should beware of occult symbols, talisman, amulets, crystals, New Age positive thinking and confession, etc. Many Halloween costumes include such occult symbols and jewelry.

7. CONSULTER WITH FAMILIAR SPIRITS

A consulter with familiar spirits is a person who seeks knowledge from demonic spirits (2 Kings 21:6; 2 Chronicles 33:6; Isaiah 19:3). Such persons are often referred to as mediums. They usually believe they are contacting the dead, but in reality what they are really contacting is an evil spirit that is pretending to be the dead. Christians should beware of channeling, spiritism, mediums, space brothers, ascended masters, invisible spirit friends, Ouija boards, automatic writing, séances, etc; all of which are especially popular during Halloween.

8. WIZARD

A wizard is a person who knows many things about the occult and is in touch with demonic spirits. A male witch, a sorcerer, or magician, conjurer; one who uses magick to have control over another person; also someone who uses magick to change nature (2 Kings 17:17, 21:6; 2 Chronicles 33:6; Isaiah 19:3). Halloween is a very special night for wizards and those that practice black magick. Christians should not celebrate a pagan holiday that is dedicated to the practice of black magick. Christians should definitely not wear costumes that make them pretend to be wizards.

9. NECROMANCER

A necromancer is person who claims they have spoken with those who have died already. Contact is usually made for magical and fortune telling purposes (1 Samuel 1-25; Isaiah 8:19; 1 Chronicles 10:13-14). Again it is not the dead that they are contacting but evil demonic spirits who are pretending to be the deceased.
Halloween is still called Samhain by most witches and other pagans. Samhain means “lord of the dead,“ and refers to Satan. Every Halloween Satan is given special homage and worship by Satanists and other people who practice the occult. This is where the emphasis on death comes from on October 31st (i.e. coffins, tombstones, skeletons, ghosts, graveyards, etc). Those who dress up like ghosts and vampires, or decorate their homes and yards with bones, skeletons, tombstones, coffins, etc., are actually guilty of the forbidden practice of necromancy. Halloween is not innocent fun; it is the celebration of forbidden occult practices.

II. HALLOWEEN IS A FESTIVAL OF FEAR

Did you know that fear is actually an evil spirit? That is what the Bible teaches: “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind” (2 Timothy 1:7). Notice that the Bible clearly calls fear a “spirit” and that it also clearly says that this “spirit” does not come from God; therefore, fear is an evil spirit. Satan uses this evil spirit to torment millions of minds. God is love (1 John 4:7,8) and gives peace (John 14:27; Philippians 4:7). Fear has no love and brings turmoil instead of peace (1 John 4:18); therefore, fear is an enemy of God and His followers. Since Halloween promotes the spirit of fear, with all of its haunted houses, ghost stories, horror movies and scary costumes; that would make Halloween an enemy of God. Christians should not celebrate any festival that is at odds with God. [For more information, see my study entitled, “Halloween And The Spirit Of Fear.”]

III. HALLOWEEN IS A FESTIVAL OF DEATH

Christianity is a celebration of life, not of death (John 5:24; 10:10). Our God is the God of the living, not a god of the dead (Matthew 22:32). We worship and serve a risen Saviour! In stark contrast, Halloween is a celebration of death, and of the dead. As this study has already mentioned, the Druids, from whom most of our Halloween customs originated from, celebrated this night in honor of Samhain, lord of the dead. Just look at the Halloween costumes and decorations that honor death: vampires, zombies, ghosts, skeletons, the Grim Reaper, graveyards, coffins, skulls and the bones of the dead, etc. It is a time when ghost stories are told and people are dared to walk around in cemeteries. Halloween is also the season when Ouija Boards and séances become more popular, as people try to contact the spirits of their departed friends and family members- a practice which is strictly forbidden by the Bible (Deuteronomy 18:9-12) .

IV. HALLOWEEN IS A FESTIVAL OF DARKNESS

Halloween has filled the void of a holiday appealing to the darker side of human nature. Have you noticed how costumes and masks are getting generally bloodier, gorier, and more depraved each year? Unfortunately, the gruesome and grotesque and the occult are increasingly glorified in American society, not only on Halloween, but throughout the year in horror movies and in television programs.

Halloween is indeed a festival of darkness. This should clearly tell Christians to stay away from it, for Christians are the children of Light. We are warned in the Bible not to have anything to do with the powers of darkness:

“To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.” (Acts 26:18)

“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.” (Romans 13:12)

“But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus’ sake. For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.” (2 Corinthians 4:3-6)

“Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?” (2 Corinthians 6:14)

“For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light” (Ephesians 5:8)

“And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.” (Ephesians 5:11)

“For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” (Ephesians 6:12)

“But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.” (1 Thessalonians 5:4-6)

“This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.” (1 John 1:5-7)

As believers, we are to abhor that which is evil (Romans 12:9) and to abstain from the very appearance of evil (1 Thessalonians 5:22). We are warned not to give the Devil any place in our lives (Ephesians 4:27), but rather to resist him (James 4:7). We are to walk in the light (1 John 1:7).

IN CONCLUSION

Should Christians participate in Halloween? Occult practices of all kinds are forbidden in the Bible (Deuteronomy 18:9-14), and we have seen that Halloween is filled with these forbidden practices. We are told that witchcraft and sorcery will keep people from entering the Kingdom of God (Galatians 5:19-21, Revelation 21:8; 22:4-15). Those that were involved in such practices, and came to Christ in the early Church, gave up their spell casting and burned their magick books (Acts 19:18-20). Halloween celebrates all that the Bible forbids us to participate in. Should Christians take part in the celebration of Halloween? Absolutely not! To the contrary, Christians are warned to resist the Devil (James 4:7; 1 Peter 5:8-9), not to give place to the Devil (Ephesians 4:27), and to avoid all appearance of evil (1 Thessalonians 5:22). The answer is crystal clear to any honest heart- Christians should not have anything to do with Halloween.

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