THE BIBLE and HALLOWEEN

[godsgurlie_077]

"Test all things; hold fast to what is good. Abstain from every form of evil."
1 Thessalonians 5:21 ? 22


A Celebration of Evil

Halloween is a religious day, but it is not Christian. Tom Sanguinet, a former high priest in Wicca has said: "The modern holiday that we call Halloween has its origins in the full moon closest to November 1, the witches' new year. It is a time when the spirits (demons) are supposed to be at their peak power and revisiting planet earth? Halloween is purely and absolutely evil, and there is nothing we ever have, or will do, that would make it acceptable to the Lord Jesus."


Day of Death

Halloween has strong roots in paganism and witchcraft. It began as the Druid festival of Samhain. The Celts considered November 1st the day of death, because, in the Northern hemisphere, this was the beginning of winter, the leaves were falling, it was getting darker earlier, and temperatures were dropping. They believed that their sun god was losing strength and Samhain, the lord of death, was overpowering the sun god. The druids also taught that on 31 October, on the eve of the feast, Samhain assembled the spirits of all who had died during the previous year to return to their former home to visit the living.

Human and Animal Sacrifices

On Halloween, for thousands of years, druid priests have conducted diabolical worship ceremonies in which cats, horses, sheep, oxen, human beings and other offerings were rounded up, stuffed into wicca cages and burned to death. These human and animal sacrifices were apparently required to appease Samhain and keep the spirits from harming them.

Trick or Treat

To obtain these sacrifices, druid priests would go from house to house asking for fatted calves, black sheep and human beings. Those who gave were promised prosperity, and those who refused to give were threatened and cursed. This is the origin of "trick or treat."

Jack-O-Lantern

The Jack-O-Lantern has its origin in the candle-lit pumpkin or skull, which served as a signal to mark those farms and homes that supported the druids' religion, and thus were seeking the "treat" when the terror of Halloween began. The World Book Encyclopedia says: "The apparently harmless lighted pumpkin face of the Jack-O-Lantern is an ancient symbol of a damned soul."

Dance of Death

While people and animals were screaming in agony, being burnt to death, the druids and their followers would dress in costumes made of animal skins and heads. They would dance, chant and jump through the flames in the hope of warding off evil spirits.

House of Horrors

One of the popular heroes of Halloween, Count Dracula, was also a real person. Dracula lived from 1431 to 1476. During his six year reign, Count Dracula massacred over 100,000 men, women and children in the most hideous ways. He devised a plan to rid his country of the burden of beggars, the handicapped, the sick and the aged by inviting them to a feast at one of his palaces. He fed them well and got them drunk. Then he asked them: "Do you want to be without cares, lacking nothing in the world?" When his guests yelled: "Yes!" Dracula ordered the palace boarded up and set on fire. No one escaped this original "house of horror."

The Word of God

"When you come into the land, which the Lord your God is giving you, you shall not learn to follow the abominations of those nations. There shall not be found among you anyone who makes his son or his daughter pass through the fire, or one who practices witchcraft, or a soothsayer, or one who interprets omens, or a sorcerer, or one who conjures spells, or a medium, or a spiritist, or one who calls up the dead. For all who do these things are an abomination to the Lord, and because of these abominations the Lord your God drives them out from before you. You shall be blameless before the Lord your God, for these nations which you will dispossess, listened to soothsayers and diviners; but as for you the Lord your God has not appointed such for you." Deuteronomy 18:9 ? 14

"? teach my people the difference between the holy and the unholy, and cause them to discern between the unclean and the clean." Ezekiel 34:23

"My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I will also reject you from being priests for Me; because you have forgotten the Law of your God, I will also forget your children." Hosea 4:6

"Train up a child in the way he should go, then when he is old he will not depart from it." Proverbs 22:6

"That whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it would be better for him if a millstone was hung around his neck, and he were drowned in the depths of the sea. Woe to the world because of offenses! For offenses must come, but woe to that man by whom the offense comes!" Matthew 18: 6 ? 7

"Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good." Romans 12:9

"Therefore, let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the Armour of Light." Romans 13:12

"You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons; you cannot partake of the Lord's Table and of the table of demons." 1 Corinthians 10:21

"Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? What communion has light with darkness? And what accord has Christ with Belial? For what part has a believer with an unbeliever? And what agreement has the temple of God with idols?? Therefore, come out from among them and be separate says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean and I will receive you." 2 Corinthians 6:14 ? 17

"And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness but rather expose them." Ephesians 5:11

"Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy ? meditate on these things." Philippians 4:8

"Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the Faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, speaking lies and hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron." 1 Timothy 4:1 ? 2

"Therefore, submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you." James 4:7

"Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world." James 1:27

"Beloved, do not imitate what is evil, but what is good. He who does good is of God, but he who does evil has not seen God." 3 John 11

Participating in Paganism

Instead of participating in paganism, walking with Wicca, being in harmony with Halloween, having our children celebrate cruelty, and dabbling in a day of death, we should focus our family and congregation on celebrating Reformation Day this 31 October.

Reformation Day Vs Halloween

It was on 31 October 1517, that Dr. Martin Luther nailed the 95 Theses on the door of the Slosskirche (castle church) in Wittenberg, Germany. His bold challenge against the unBiblical practices of the medieval Roman papacy inspired the Protestant Reformation. All Bible believing churches should celebrate the greatest revival of Faith and freedom ever. The Reformation was one the most important turning points in world history. The energies that were released by the rediscovery of the Bible in the common tongue led to the most extraordinary spiritual Revival in history. The Reformation freed the Christians of Northern Europe from the decadence of Renaissance paganism and led to the greatest freedoms and scientific discoveries in history.

Every Bible believing Christian should celebrate the Reformation. No Christian should have part in celebrating the occultic Halloween.

We are in a spiritual world war. Cruelty to animals, vandalism and even murders occur with far greater frequency during Halloween. Every Halloween many thousands of animals, and even people, are sacrificed in satanic rituals worldwide, while millions of other people, including well meaning Christians, participate in Halloween celebrations. Halloween is a prime recruiting time for witches and Satanists. Many people have testified that they were introduced to the occult at a Halloween party. Halloween is very religious, but it is not Christian.

"Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good." Romans 12:21

Choose Life

Next 31 October, take a stand against Halloween by mobilising your family and congregation to celebrate the Reformation, and to engage in spiritual warfare, earnest prayer, praying the Psalms, and sharing the Gospel with our friends and neighbours, particularly those who may be unthinkingly participating in this occultic celebration of divination, necromancy, human sacrifice and cruelty to animals.

"Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole Armour of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore, take up the whole Armour of God, that you may be able to stand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the Breastplate of Righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the Gospel of Peace. Above all, taking the Shield of Faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the Helmet of Salvation, and the Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints." Ephesians 6:10 ? 18
http://www.christianaction.org.za/articles/thebibleandhalloween.htm

I didn't believe in Halloween before I read this but it gave me a better understanding.

[deafnva77]

It's that time again, isn't it

[IM4given]

its a romanish holiday... from the catholic digest:

Halloween and Its Christian Roots

When you think of Halloween, what comes to mind? For a lot of people, Halloween has become synonymous with candy, costumes, scary stuff, witches, ghosts and pumpkins. But do you know the Christian connection to the holiday?

The true origins of Halloween lie with the ancient Celtic tribes who lived in Ireland, Scotland, Wales and Brittany. For the Celts, November 1 marked the beginning of a new year and the coming of winter. The night before the new year, they celebrated the festival of Samhain, Lord of the Dead. During this festival, Celts believed the souls of the dead?including ghosts, goblins and witches?returned to mingle with the living. In order to scare away the evil spirits, people would wear masks and light bonfires.

When the Romans conquered the Celts, they added their own touches to the Samhain festival, such as making centerpieces out of apples and nuts for Pomona, the Roman goddess of the orchards. The Romans also bobbed for apples and drank cider?traditions which may sound familiar to you. But where does the Christian aspect of the holiday come into play? In 835, Pope Gregory IV moved the celebration for all the martyrs (later all saints) from May 13 to November 1. The night before became known as All Hallow?s Even or ?holy evening.? Eventually the name was shortened to the current Halloween. On November 2, the Church celebrates All Souls Day.

The purpose of these feasts is to remember those who have died, whether they are officially recognized by the Church as saints or not. It is a celebration of the ?communion of saints,? which reminds us that the Church is not bound by space or time.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church says that through the communion of saints ?a perennial link of charity exists between the faithful who have already reached their heavenly home, those who are expiating their sins in purgatory and those who are still pilgrims on earth. Between them there is, too, an abundant exchange of all good things? (#1475).

Carving the Turnip?

Many of the customs we now associate with Halloween are also derived from ancient celebrations.

For example, the current custom of going door-to-door to collect treats actually started in Ireland hundreds of years ago. Groups of farmers would go door-to-door collecting food and materials for a village feast and bonfire. Those who gave were promised prosperity; those who did not received threats of bad luck. When an influx of Irish Catholic immigrants came to the United States in the 1800s, the custom of trick-or-treating came with them.

Does your family carve a pumpkin to place on your porch for Halloween? If so, then you can once again thank the Irish for the tradition. Actually, the custom began with a turnip. People would hollow out the turnips and place lighted candles inside to scare off the evil spirits. When the Irish came to America, they discovered the pumpkin as a larger substitute for the turnip. And so, we now carve pumpkins instead of turnips for Halloween.

The Tale of the Jack-o'-lantern

So now you know why we carve pumpkins instead of turnips, but why do we call them jack-o?-lanterns? The name actually comes from the legend of an Irishman named Jack who was forced to roam the earth with only a burning coal inside a pumpkin to light his way because he had never performed a single selfless act throughout his life. Read the whole story behind the custom.

Even though Halloween may seem like a very secular holiday, and in many ways it has become so, there are distinctly Christian aspects to the holiday that you and your family can celebrate. Happy Halloween

[HappyChristian]

Just for clarification - Jack actually carried a carved turnip - pumpkins didn't grow in Ireland.

[kevinmiller]

It's kind of hard to know if any of that stuff is true. I wonder if the person who wrote it did any honest research at all or if it's just a lot of religious superstition and assumptions. I mean, I don't see any facts presented for any of that. And Count Dracula was a real person?? What is that? lol

A few articles:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pumpkin_carving
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Count_Drac ... to_history
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trick_or_treat

[Anon]

Why am I not surprised that Kevin came in to defend Halloween.... :wink

[Salyan]

Why am I not surprised that Kevin came in to defend Halloween....

No, it's good to know that the stories you use to defend separating from a thing are indeed factual. 'Count Dracula' certainly never existed. Vlad III... may or may not have done that particular deed. We should not repeat tales that cannot reasonably be proven to be true, no matter how good our intention.

[kevinmiller]

Exactly right. I'm not defending Halloween. I've never celebrated it and I don't intend to. The focus now is obviously on ghosts, witches and things that are not at all positive for a Christian. However, we can not celebrate Halloween out of conviction because of it's dark focus but making up stuff to argue against it is totally wrong. If someone is going to present an argument, it should at least have factual basis. Sorry, it's the teacher in me. :wink

[HappyChristian]

Well, the facts are that Halloween originated in Ireland. And Jack O'Lanterns get their name from the hapless Jack that used a turnip lantern as he wandered Ireland. Many people claim that the druids were actually nice people who would never sacrifice people - and that there have not been any bodies found, after all, in Ireland, except for a couple that the bogs have given up.

I think it's really interesting and telling that pagans celebrate Halloween - and are some of the ones who promote the idea of its history.

[bzmomo7]

Exactly right. I'm not defending Halloween. I've never celebrated it and I don't intend to. The focus now is obviously on ghosts' date=' witches and things that are not at all positive for a Christian. However, we can not celebrate Halloween out of conviction because of it's dark focus but making up stuff to argue against it is totally wrong. If someone is going to present an argument, it should at least have factual basis. Sorry, it's the teacher in me.

Maybe you could go to the druids, and ask them? :Green I totally despise Halloween, and the biggest problem I have with it right now is that I can't go into ANY business (especially grocery shopping or to one of the popular building supply stores) without having the stuff thrust right in my face, and that of my children. Much of it is grotesque and my 13 year old son even commented to me a week or so ago that it is the strangest "holiday" because it is the only time of the year a person can literally put a fake gorey, dead body on display and not get in trouble for it....I LOVE Nov. 1st!!

[kevinmiller]

Maybe you could go to the druids, and ask them? :Green

lol. Nah, I'll just have to rely on recorded history. :wink

[bzmomo7]

Oh, and Godsgurlie, thanks for posting this reminder about Halloween.......I think everyone who comes on OB should know where the majority of us stand, and why. :thumb

[bzmomo7]

lol. Nah, I'll just have to rely on recorded history.

Well, I tend to think that much of what was stated about Halloween is likely true. Not everyone who practices such evil is as proud and forthright as Hitler was when he made movies of his carnage.....and to think, there are people out there who still question whether the Holocaust really happened?!

[kevinmiller]

But all we have to do is look at the facts. I can say that bars originated from satanic meeting houses but does that make it true? Sure, we don't like bars and we think they're wrong but does it make it right to make an unfounded statement about it? Of course not, it just makes me look foolish and Christians make themselves look foolish when they propagate unfounded conspiracy theories. I mean, come on, they're saying Dracula was a real person. :bonK:

[Guest Guest]

"Test all things; hold fast to what is good. Abstain from every form of evil."
1 Thessalonians 5:21 ? 22


A Celebration of Evil

Halloween is a religious day, but it is not Christian. Tom Sanguinet, a former high priest in Wicca has said: "The modern holiday that we call Halloween has its origins in the full moon closest to November 1, the witches' new year. It is a time when the spirits (demons) are supposed to be at their peak power and revisiting planet earth? Halloween is purely and absolutely evil, and there is nothing we ever have, or will do, that would make it acceptable to the Lord Jesus."


Day of Death

Halloween has strong roots in paganism and witchcraft. It began as the Druid festival of Samhain. The Celts considered November 1st the day of death, because, in the Northern hemisphere, this was the beginning of winter, the leaves were falling, it was getting darker earlier, and temperatures were dropping. They believed that their sun god was losing strength and Samhain, the lord of death, was overpowering the sun god. The druids also taught that on 31 October, on the eve of the feast, Samhain assembled the spirits of all who had died during the previous year to return to their former home to visit the living.

Human and Animal Sacrifices

On Halloween, for thousands of years, druid priests have conducted diabolical worship ceremonies in which cats, horses, sheep, oxen, human beings and other offerings were rounded up, stuffed into wicca cages and burned to death. These human and animal sacrifices were apparently required to appease Samhain and keep the spirits from harming them.

Trick or Treat

To obtain these sacrifices, druid priests would go from house to house asking for fatted calves, black sheep and human beings. Those who gave were promised prosperity, and those who refused to give were threatened and cursed. This is the origin of "trick or treat."

Jack-O-Lantern

The Jack-O-Lantern has its origin in the candle-lit pumpkin or skull, which served as a signal to mark those farms and homes that supported the druids' religion, and thus were seeking the "treat" when the terror of Halloween began. The World Book Encyclopedia says: "The apparently harmless lighted pumpkin face of the Jack-O-Lantern is an ancient symbol of a damned soul."

Dance of Death

While people and animals were screaming in agony, being burnt to death, the druids and their followers would dress in costumes made of animal skins and heads. They would dance, chant and jump through the flames in the hope of warding off evil spirits.

House of Horrors

One of the popular heroes of Halloween, Count Dracula, was also a real person. Dracula lived from 1431 to 1476. During his six year reign, Count Dracula massacred over 100,000 men, women and children in the most hideous ways. He devised a plan to rid his country of the burden of beggars, the handicapped, the sick and the aged by inviting them to a feast at one of his palaces. He fed them well and got them drunk. Then he asked them: "Do you want to be without cares, lacking nothing in the world?" When his guests yelled: "Yes!" Dracula ordered the palace boarded up and set on fire. No one escaped this original "house of horror."

The Word of God

"When you come into the land, which the Lord your God is giving you, you shall not learn to follow the abominations of those nations. There shall not be found among you anyone who makes his son or his daughter pass through the fire, or one who practices witchcraft, or a soothsayer, or one who interprets omens, or a sorcerer, or one who conjures spells, or a medium, or a spiritist, or one who calls up the dead. For all who do these things are an abomination to the Lord, and because of these abominations the Lord your God drives them out from before you. You shall be blameless before the Lord your God, for these nations which you will dispossess, listened to soothsayers and diviners; but as for you the Lord your God has not appointed such for you." Deuteronomy 18:9 ? 14

"? teach my people the difference between the holy and the unholy, and cause them to discern between the unclean and the clean." Ezekiel 34:23

"My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I will also reject you from being priests for Me; because you have forgotten the Law of your God, I will also forget your children." Hosea 4:6

"Train up a child in the way he should go, then when he is old he will not depart from it." Proverbs 22:6

"That whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it would be better for him if a millstone was hung around his neck, and he were drowned in the depths of the sea. Woe to the world because of offenses! For offenses must come, but woe to that man by whom the offense comes!" Matthew 18: 6 ? 7

"Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good." Romans 12:9

"Therefore, let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the Armour of Light." Romans 13:12

"You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons; you cannot partake of the Lord's Table and of the table of demons." 1 Corinthians 10:21

"Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? What communion has light with darkness? And what accord has Christ with Belial? For what part has a believer with an unbeliever? And what agreement has the temple of God with idols?? Therefore, come out from among them and be separate says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean and I will receive you." 2 Corinthians 6:14 ? 17

"And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness but rather expose them." Ephesians 5:11

"Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy ? meditate on these things." Philippians 4:8

"Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the Faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, speaking lies and hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron." 1 Timothy 4:1 ? 2

"Therefore, submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you." James 4:7

"Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world." James 1:27

"Beloved, do not imitate what is evil, but what is good. He who does good is of God, but he who does evil has not seen God." 3 John 11

Participating in Paganism

Instead of participating in paganism, walking with Wicca, being in harmony with Halloween, having our children celebrate cruelty, and dabbling in a day of death, we should focus our family and congregation on celebrating Reformation Day this 31 October.

Reformation Day Vs Halloween

It was on 31 October 1517, that Dr. Martin Luther nailed the 95 Theses on the door of the Slosskirche (castle church) in Wittenberg, Germany. His bold challenge against the unBiblical practices of the medieval Roman papacy inspired the Protestant Reformation. All Bible believing churches should celebrate the greatest revival of Faith and freedom ever. The Reformation was one the most important turning points in world history. The energies that were released by the rediscovery of the Bible in the common tongue led to the most extraordinary spiritual Revival in history. The Reformation freed the Christians of Northern Europe from the decadence of Renaissance paganism and led to the greatest freedoms and scientific discoveries in history.

Every Bible believing Christian should celebrate the Reformation. No Christian should have part in celebrating the occultic Halloween.

We are in a spiritual world war. Cruelty to animals, vandalism and even murders occur with far greater frequency during Halloween. Every Halloween many thousands of animals, and even people, are sacrificed in satanic rituals worldwide, while millions of other people, including well meaning Christians, participate in Halloween celebrations. Halloween is a prime recruiting time for witches and Satanists. Many people have testified that they were introduced to the occult at a Halloween party. Halloween is very religious, but it is not Christian.

"Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good." Romans 12:21

Choose Life

Next 31 October, take a stand against Halloween by mobilising your family and congregation to celebrate the Reformation, and to engage in spiritual warfare, earnest prayer, praying the Psalms, and sharing the Gospel with our friends and neighbours, particularly those who may be unthinkingly participating in this occultic celebration of divination, necromancy, human sacrifice and cruelty to animals.

"Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole Armour of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore, take up the whole Armour of God, that you may be able to stand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the Breastplate of Righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the Gospel of Peace. Above all, taking the Shield of Faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the Helmet of Salvation, and the Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints." Ephesians 6:10 ? 18
http://www.christianaction.org.za/articles/thebibleandhalloween.htm

I didn't believe in Halloween before I read this but it gave me a better understanding.

Thanks, godsgurlie. I knew some of this information. I just wish that it would have been written out clearly like this when I began my spiritual walk with Christ. :smile

This is important for the saved as well as the unsaved. It says a lot about a holiday that is puzzling to many people. God bless.