Lets real talk about Halloween and participating in unfruitful works of darkness.
As a child my family participated in Halloween, and we did everything that you could think of that could invoke a spirit of fear on a child. As I got older, before coming to Christ I participated in Occult activities like seances and Ouija board. I saw firsthand that the demonic realm is real, and you do not want to open the door to these dark spirits. I believe many people have unknowingly opened the door to these dark spirits as I once did.
Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. For it is shameful 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 (Ephesians 5:11-13).
➡️ What do you believe this scripture means?
➡️ What do you believe are unfruitful works of darkness? In scripture, darkness often symbolizes sin, evil, and ignorance.
➡️ As children of the light, do you believe we should have nothing to do with darkness?
For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? And what accord has Christ with Belial (2 Corinthians 6:14-15).
Some history on Halloween…
The custom of Halloween, derived from pagan origins to appease evil spirits, is a time of darkness. Halloween began as a festival of Samhain about 2,000 years ago. It was created as a way for the Celts to scare away ghosts and spirits. According to Celtic mythology, the veil between the otherworld and our world thins during Samhain, making it easier for spirits and the souls of the dead to return.
Wiccans look at Samhain as the passing of the year and incorporate common Wiccan traditions into the celebration. In the Druid tradition, Samhain celebrates the dead with a festival on October 31 which usually features a bonfire and communion with the dead. American pagans often hold music and dance celebrations called Witches Balls in proximity to Samhain.
Christians attempted to reframe Samhain as a Christian celebration. The first attempt was by Pope Boniface in the 5th century. He moved it to May 13 as a day celebrating saints and martyrs. In the 9th century, Pope Gregory moved back the time of the fire festivals but declared it All Saint’s Day on November 1.
Neither new holiday did away with the pagan aspects of the celebration. October 31 became known as All Hallows Eve, or Halloween., and contained much of the traditional pagan practices before being adopted in 19th century America through Irish immigrants bringing their traditions across the ocean.
Trick-or-treating is said to have been derived from ancient Irish and Scottish practices in the nights leading up to Samhain. In Ireland, mumming was the practice of putting on costumes, going door-to-door, and singing songs to the dead. The cake was given as payment.
A broad revival of Samhain resembling its traditional pagan form began in the 1980s with the growing popularity of Wicca.
Although the Bible does not especially mention Halloween it does mention synonyms associated with Halloween- witchcraft, fortunetelling, sorcery, magic, spells, and divination.
➡️ Reflect:
Abstain from all appearances of evil (1 Thessalonians 5:22).
➡️ What does the scripture mean to you?
Halloween is dark!
Its focus is on death.
Its focus is on promoting fear.
Its focus is on witchcraft, sorcery, and the occult.
Your children may not tell you that going to a haunted house or seeing a cemetery in their neighbor's yard scares them, but I could almost bet that it does! I was that child. I wanted to fit in, and did not want to be a “scaredy cat.” I was terrified of the haunted houses I went to with my family and the neighbor's yards that were decorated so grimly. The only thing I liked about Halloween as a child, was all that candy. I bet most children feel the same. They just want the candy, not all the gory celebrations and displays of horror.
➡️ See my YouTube video on Come Out and Be Separate from Among Them.
✅ Subscribe to my YouTube Channel
Comments