Where should a Christian stand on Halloween? Is it a
night of harmless fun for children? A look at the history of Halloween and its
meaning can perhaps give you a better perspective before you celebrate this
holiday with your children.
The origin of Halloween is the Celtic festival of Samhain.
The Celtics lived in what is now Great Britain, Ireland, and northern
France. Their new year began on November 1st, and the festival
that began the previous evening honored Samhain, the Celtic lord of death. It
marked the beginning of winter, a time of coldness and death. They built a
bonfire and burned animals, crops, and even human sacrifices to honor their god
of death.
During the 1800’s large numbers of immigrants from this
area of the world brought with them this evil practice. In America it was
renamed Halloween. The practice of trick or treating (a Celtic custom)
became the most noted custom of Halloween. Many people in the United States do
not know its history, but perceive it as a harmless, fun time for children to
dress in costumes and collect candy.
Have you ever wondered how trick or treating ever
came about with the Celts? Part of this Celtic ritual was a belief that dead
souls would return to their original homes. The people were terrified of these
evil spirits and they would place sweet goodies on their doorstep to appease
them. Their belief was if the evil spirits liked your treat they would leave
you alone, but if they didn’t they would “trick you by casting evils spells on
you.” A little like the spells that were cast in the Harry Potter film last
year. Our trick or treating traditions evolved from this tradition.
Halloween was not party time for the Celtic people. They
feared the evil spirits roaming the earth on October 31st, so they
stayed home. If someone were forced to leave the house, he would disguise
himself as a demon to fool the evil spirits.
Other Halloween traditions, such as the fear of a black
cat, are also not without a root of evil. The Celtics believed that humans
were punished for their evil deeds by changing them into blacks cats.
Therefore it was quite proper to sacrifice a black cat in a ritualistic bonfire
on October 31st.
Even something that seems as innocent as a Jack-o-lantern
had a dark beginning. This tradition comes from a legend about a man named
Jack who was turned away from heaven because of his wickedness. He was also
turned away from hell because he had played tricks on the devil. Therefore he
was sentenced to spend the rest of his days roaming the earth as a demonic
spirit, haunting anyone who crossed his path. The legend says he carved a face
in a turnip and put a candle in it to guide him at night to his next victim.
We have now substituted a pumpkin for a Jack-o-lantern at Halloween.
(Reference: Andrew Wommack)
Most holidays celebrated in America are rooted in something
good or significant. Christmas is the birth of a Savior. Lincoln’s birthday
is the celebration of a great President who liberated the slaves in our
country. Memorial Day honors those who made America free through their
sacrifice on the battlefield. But not Halloween; it is a celebration of evil,
and we should never take any action of evil lightly, no matter how innocent it
seems (Ephesians 6: 10-17). Some say Halloween is all done
in fun and can’t hurt. But tell that to the victims of evil who suffer from
its full measure (Deuteronomy 18:9-13). Tell that to those who
died at the hand of evil on September 11th, or the ten who were
gunned down by two snipers in Maryland.
Teachable Moment
I have always encouraged parents to counter this Halloween
holiday with a celebration of their own; one that honors all the good things God
gives us when we trust him. I have even encouraged other churches to dress
their children up like biblical characters and give treats for good deeds done,
or verses memorized. But this year, I believe, more than ever before, we
should gather our children together this Halloween and pray for the lost. The
lost will be well represented along your streets on October 31st. Many
children will come to your door dressed in costumes of evil. Give them the
candy they seek, but as they leave pray for them. Have your children join you
in these prayers. Pray that each child will be transformed in Christ, and the
evil they so casually portray will never have a permanent hold on them. Pray
that one day their appearance will be dominated by the clothes of righteousness
they will be able to wear when they receive Christ as Lord. This is what I
would do this Halloween.
Word of God
Ephesians 6: 10-17 17
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. 11
Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the
schemes of the devil. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but
against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this
darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly
places. 13 Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be
able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.
14Stand firm therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on
the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and having shod your feet with the
preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 in addition to all, taking up
the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming
arrows of the evil one. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the
sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 18 With all
prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be
on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints.
Deut. 18: 9-13 9
“When you enter the land which the Lord
your God gives you, you shall not learn to imitate the detestable things of
those nations. 10 “There shall not be found among you anyone who makes his son
or his daughter pass through the fire, one who uses divination, one who
practices witchcraft, or one who interprets omens, or a sorcerer, 11
or one who casts a spell, or a medium, or a spiritualist, or one who calls up the
dead. 12 “For whoever does these things is detestable to the
Lord; and because of these detestable things the
Lord your God will drive them out
before you. 13 “You shall be blameless before the
Lord your God.
