Lord’s Day, Vol. 2 No. 44
What is Halloween?
It is in essence a festival of witchcraft and evil spirits, a Satanist festival with pagan origin. It is dishonourable to God. It is enticement to occultism. It’s no laughing matter in the guise of “innocent” fun. Moses warned that delving with the occult is abomination to God – Deuteronomy 18:10-12 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, 11 Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer. 12 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.
Manasseh, the son of king Hezekiah in Judah did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD when he participated in the abomination of the heathen and the anger of God was kindled against him – 2 Chronicles 33:6 And he caused his children to pass through the fire in the valley of the son of Hinnom: also he observed times, and used enchantments, and used witchcraft, andwith a familiar spirit, and with wizards: he wrought much evil in the sight of the LORD, to provoke him to anger.
The Apostle Paul urged the Corinthian Christians to be careful not to return to the filth of idolatry which is “fellowship with devils” – 1 Corinthians 10:19-21 What say I then? that the idol is any thing, or that which is offered in sacrifice to idols is any thing? 20 But I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils. 21 Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord’s table, and of the table of devils.
He warned of the serious consequences of those who indulged in witchcraft like many other sins of the flesh – they shall not inherit the kingdom of God – Galatians 5:19-21 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, 20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, 21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
To our children, Proverbs 1:10 warns “My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not.”
Supermarkets and most department stores have prominent sections in their stores promoting Halloween. Brightly lit with devilish masks and wizard’s wands, costumes of witches and card games. Non-Christian friends in schools may unknowingly introduce the festival to our children. Why should parents become uptight with children exchanging candies for fun, some may ask. It is not as “harmless” as it seems. There are occult influences to it. Trick-or-treating is a customary activity for children on Halloween. Children go in costumes from house to house, asking for treats such as candies or sometimes money, with the question, “Trick or treat?” The word “trick” refers to “threat” to perform mischief on the homeowners or their property if no treat is given.1
Halloween is celebrated on the evening of October 31. It is widely believed that Halloween’s history dates back to the ancient pagan religion of the Celtic tribes (500 B.C.) of European origin. The Celts worshipped nature and delved with the spirits. Two festivals were celebrated revolving around the sun: Beltane, to mark the beginning of summer and Samhain to mark the start of winter. The Celts believed that at the end of summer, Samhain, the lord of death became powerful and assembled all the evil spirits who had died the previous year, allowing them to return to visit the living, much like the Chinese 7th month Hungry Ghost Festival.
Villagers would try to appease the evil spirits with offerings of food and nuts. They would leave little treats that the household had to offer. If the spirit was satisfied with the treat, it was believed it would not trick the person or cast an evil spell. Therein lies the origin of the present day “trick or treat”. Legend has it that people would also wear masks or other disguises and blacken their faces to pass unnoticed by the spirits. This stemmed from the belief that spirits could not see their own reflection. Hence, if a spirit saw another creature looking suitably horrible, they would run away in terror.2
In 600 A.D. Pope Boniface IV created “All Saints’ Day” to remember the death of martyrs on October 31. Pope Gregory III later moved this holiday to November 1. The eve of “All Saints’ Day” was called “All Hallows Even”. This name “Hallow–ev’n” came to be called Halloween.
Knowing the history of Halloween, we should refrain from participating in it. As Christians, we are called out as a peculiar people, set aside for the Lord’s service. May the Lord help us to be discerning and to abstain from all appearance of evil. (1 Thessalonians 5:22)
Yours lovingly in Christ,
Pr. Lek Aik Wee
1[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halloween]
2[http://www.pitara.com/non-fiction-for-kids/festivals-for-kids/why-is-halloween-celebrated/]