Monday, October 31, 2011

My Heart About Halloween

So many people get excited about October 31st. Both Christians and Non-Christians look forward to the Halloween holiday. God has put it on my heart to share with you how He’s convicted me about this celebration. Many people try to justify Halloween by saying “It’s just a fun day to dress up and eat lots of candy.” The problem is... that’s not at all what it is. This pagan holiday was also known as “The Festival of the Dead”. Halloween is derived from nothing but pure darkness. If you’ve never researched the holiday, I encourage you to! Read about how everything from dressing up, to trick-or-treating, to carving pumpkins all got started. This day is represented by things like witches, ghosts, spirits, etc. None of these things are of the Lord. No matter how people try to justify it, it is what it is. Why do Christians desire to be part of such an ungodly celebration? Witchcraft practitioners declare October 31st as the most conductive time to practice their arts. Witchcraft is an abomination to God. It really doesn’t take much to look around and see that everything Halloween is about is completely separated from God and what He’s all about. Halloween cannot be justified or redeemed. Satan loves this day and he loves to see Christians participate. Let’s not give that to him!

Here are a few origins of halloween customs: 
Costumes: Celts wore masks when they left their homes after dark to avoid being recognized by ghosts who might mistake them for fellow spirits.  “Guisers” dressed to impersonate the returning dead, singing and dancing to keep evil spirits away.
Trick-or-treating: Prior to the Protestant Reformation, women and girls went “souling”, visiting houses and begging for “soul cakes” (each cake eaten would represent a soul being freed). Seventeenth-century Irish peasants went door to door asking for donations for a feast to honor the Lord of the Dead.
Jack-o’-lanterns: In Britain, people hollowed out turnips and pumpkins and placed candles inside them to make food offerings to the dead. They were then posted outside homes to keep away evil spirits.
Black cats: (Black cats are a popular Halloween decoration.) Celts believed that bad spirits would take the form of cats and other animals on the night of Oct. 31st.
Halloween has absolutely NOTHING to do with Jesus Christ. And He wants nothing to do with it. Shouldn’t us, Christians, want NOTHING to do with it? When Christians go to Halloween parties, dress up, etc. and see it as something harmless, they are letting the enemy deceive them. This holiday cannot be made into something innocent. Those who say, “We just do this for fun...it’s not like we practice witchcraft or anything...” That which represents Satan cannot be handled “for fun”. The Bible instructs us to have nothing to do with the deeds of darkness. When that’s exactly what Halloween is, why would we want anything to do with it? God unmasks Halloween and sees it for exactly what it is, so we shouldn’t try to white-wash it and declare it something good. Although people celebrate the holiday as if it’s nothing but innocent fun... its traditions, customs, and practices are rooted in a far darker and far more demonic place than they realize.
Deuteronomy 18:10-11 says, “Let no one be found among you who sacrifices their son or daughter in the fire, who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead.” If you research the origin of Halloween, you’ll see that all of these things are what make Halloween what it is.
Every year, I absolutely dread October 31st. I hate the feeling I have all day just knowing what the day is all about and all the evil that goes on during this day. I’m always ready for the day to end. But this year I want to use the day to pray, to be a witness, and to be a light during such a dark time. I truly believe this holiday is in no way honoring to God. Let’s turn our eyes away from what this world has to offer and fix our eyes on Jesus! Let’s not choose to participate in anything that’s not of Him! Anyway....that’s my heart about Halloween.

13 comments:

  1. Wonderful note, Ashley. Thank you! Continue standing strong in the Lord, allowing Scripture to be the guiding point in Your life. It alone has authoritative weight. Look into Reformation Day - it's encouraging to be able to rejoice in the Lord bringing about the spreading of the Gospel and growing of His true church on this day. Love you!

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  2. Very interesting! I didn't know what the traditions behind the holiday were until I read this! Also, you should do more posts about your faith, it's inspiring to read :)

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  3. I love that your heart on this Ashley... thank you for sharing!

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  4. Dear Ashley, Thank you for standing up for your faith, and how we should live our lives according to God's word. I appreciate the information on what Halloween is really about. Traditions are not always good. I feel the same about Christmas. It's not about Santa Claus, presents and Christmas trees..it's about Jesus Christ Birth. The World has changed our minds about alot of things and not in a good way. We need to keep our minds focused on what our conduct should be according to God's Word.
    Thank you for sharing.

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  5. Thank you so much, everyone, for your encouraging words!!

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  6. Thank you Ashley for sharing! To be honest though, I went trick-or treating with friends, not knowing the things behind it. No longer will I be doing this. I am a strong Christian myself, and I should have made the decision not to. This has changed my heart about this evil holiday. Reformation day was today which I knew, and I talk about God every single day of my life. But never again will I take part in this holiday. Thanks again!

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  7. Thank you for this Ashley! I went to a Christian high school and we learned about the things you talked about. Hope you don't mind me linking this on facebook!

    Thank you (& Brandon) for taking a stand! You're the best!

    Love,
    Kensy from Twitter

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  12. I encourage you to read Colossians 2, especially verses 16-23. Since we are free in Christ, we are no longer slaves to darkness nor do we need to fear it. We don't have to keep to a list of laws anymore or live by human regulations.You quote Deut 18 but what about Paul's journeys to lightless cities/places? As Jesus triumphed over darkness and we don't have to be afraid, maybe we should be out on Halloween, showing light in dark places. Isn't that what Jesus would do?

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  13. Okay so i read this blog again, to brush up on some reasons of why i shouldn't celebrate Halloween (cause i always had a strange feeling about it in my stomach), and i think i understand it a little more each time i read it. I have had people give me dirty looks when i repeat what I heard about Halloween, and these people who claim to be Christians, and loving God. People who claim to say "dressing up as a witch or even the devil is not a sinful act. it is just fun." I don't understand how dressing up as demonic or wiccan character chould not be considered sinful. So, i am glad to know i am not the only one who feels this way. I have to give out candy at work (i work in retail, and we give kids candy, i think it is so we can try to get rid of the stuff we don't sell and have overstock honestly. Lol) but i don't think i will ever take this holiday to a liking. I like the candy part (I have a huge sweet tooth), but the reasons behind it....chilling.
    Thanks for your thoughts. Many blessings to you.

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