HALLOWEEN!
by Bob Thompson
THIS MESSAGE is given you to Biblically explain why some Christians in this area are not entering, nor permitting their children to enter, into the festivities and practices of Halloween. Because of the revelry and physical damage associated with this holiday, as well as its POPISH-PAGAN ORIGIN, and because of the disastrous results that can follow the tyranny of "trick or treat", some of us believe it is impossible for any. Christian to "adorn the doctrine of Christ" and still encourage and promote the spirit of Halloween.
Its Origin
ENCYCLOPEDIA BRITTANICA: "In its strictly religious aspect, this occasion is known as the vigil of Hallowmas or All Saint's Day, Nov. 1, observed by the Roman Catholic and Anglican churches. Pope Gregory III (731-741) assigned this date for celebrating the feast when he consecrated a chapel in St. Peter's basilica to all the saints. Gregory the IV extended the feast to the entire church in 834 A.D.
"There is little doubt that the Christian [Roman Catholic] church sought to eliminate or supplant THE DRUID FESTIVAL OF THE DEAD by introducing the ALTERNATIVE observance of All Saint's Day on Nov. 1.
"After the Reformation, Protestants rejected this feast along with other important ones such as Christmas and Easter."
COLLIER'S ENCYCLOPEDIA: "Associated through its name with Allhallows Eve. Popular secular observances of Halloween, falling on the night of Oct. 31st, is derived from the rites of the Druids celebrating the day of Saman, when the Lord of Death called together the souls of the wicked who had died during the past year. The theme of harvest, which runs through modern Halloween celebrations, comes from both the old Druidic celebrations and the old Roman festivals in honor of Pomona, GODDESS OF FRUIT, brought to Britain during the Roman occupation."
God says: "Thou shalt not follow a multitude to do evil."—Exod. 23:2. "LEARN NOT THE WAY OF THE HEATHEN."—Jeremiah- 10:2.
Paganism, Israel, and the Christian
God told Israel, "There shall not be found among you . . . an enchanter, or a witch, or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer. 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."—Deut. 18:9-12.
Modern festivities, practices and costumes of Halloween make a caricature of these ancient heathen practices. Does such revelry and sport befit the name and testimony of Jesus Christ? What Christian, dressed in foolish and sometimes grotesque and repulsive masks, would feel at liberty to testify for Christ? Should there ever be a moment when we who belong to Christ should not be willing and ready to speak for Him Who voluntarily "died for our sins" (was made a repulsive spectacle to men and angels) at Calvary over 1900 years ago, and rose for the "justification" of all who truly believe on His dear Name? See Isa. 52:14; 53:4-8; Psa. 22:6-7; Romans 4:24-25.
God's Commands Versus Traditional Demands
Oh, the fatal desire for conformity! When Israel demanded a king "LIKE ALL THE NATIONS," she was unwittingly preparing herself for more trials, hardships and suffering than she ever dreamed of. See 1 Sam. 8:5; Jer. 32:23; 1 Sam. 17:17-18. And Christians who desire to be CONFORMED to this world, contrary to God's expressed command (Romans 12:2) furnish themselves to become slaves to holiday customs and traditions which every year make more and more demands on time, money, energy and TOLERANCE FOR EVIL!
Here are some commands to every Christian:
"Be NOT conformed to this world."—Romans 12:2
"Have NO fellowship with the UNFRUITFUL WORKS of darkness but rather REPROVE THEM." —Eph. 5:11.
"Love NOT the world . .. ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that friendship with the world is enmity with God?-1 John 2:15; James 4:4.
"Wherefore, come out from among them and be ye separate, saith the Lord, AND TOUCH NOT THE UNCLEAN THING."-2 Cor. 6:17. See also 2 Cor. 7:1.
(These references may be equally applied to the Popish-Pagan holidays called "Christmas" and "Easter.")
Child Training!
["Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it."—Prov. 22:6]
Is it good training to dress your child in costume and trot him or her about the neighborhood from house to house to cry "trick or treat" at total strangers? Is it ONLY "innocent fun"? Let's apply the basic principle of "trick or treat" (which means, treat me or I'll make you wish you had!) to several illustrations.:
YOUNG TEENAGER to harrassed parents: "Sign for me to marry this girl (this boy) or we'll run away and get married!"
OVERSIZED STUDENT to principal who is about to punish him for reprehensible behavior in classroom: "Don't you touch me or I'll bash your brains in!"
LABOR LEADERS to management: "Give us more money for less work or we'll strike until you're broke!"
N. Y. "PROTECTION" RACKETEERS to merchant: "Now be a nice boy and play it smart. Give us a measly 20% of your gross income every month and we'll see that your lousy joint isn't blown up!"
BANDIT–standing by cash register in super market: "This is a stick up. Hand over the cash. Quick or you're dead!"
KHRUSCHEV to U.S.: "Disarm and surrender to communism or we'll bury you!"
Every honest reader must conclude that the same spirit promotes one and all, the spirit of threat, of coercion, of defiance. Is this the pattern you wish your child to follow?
Multiplied thousands of thoughtless parents across this country take their offspring out on Halloween for "trick or treat", failing to realize that IN THEIR CHILDREN'S MOST FORMATIVE AND IMPRESSIONABLE YEARS they are fostering in them a calloused attitude towards society. We plead with Christian parents to reconsider the wisdom of allowing their youngsters to participate in this so-called "innocent recreation."
If you are not saved, it is of little consequence to God whether you abstain from heathen holidays or not, for trimming "a corrupt tree" will not make it "good". (See Matthew 7:16-18) But you can be saved - by total surrender to God, acknowledging your sin and need of a saviour, and trusting in the finished work of Christ for your salvation. God has provided no other plan for saving sinners. (See 1 Cor 15:1-5; Rom 1:16; 5:24; Eph 2:8-9) You have no more pressing need in this life than to settle the question of "What shall I do with Jesus Christ?" "Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation." 2 Cor 6:2.
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WE ARE NOT SO-CALLED "JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES" (We Believe in The Trinity) (We Believe Christ Was God in Flesh!)
Nor do we belong to anything man can join religiously, for we are joyously satisfied to be one with Christ and with all of God's people everywhere.