Sunday Service

October 22, 2017

Evil in Disguise

Isaiah 5:20 – “Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter.” NKJV

Origin of Halloween:

The Celts, inhabitants of Britain and Ireland, observed a festival called Samhain (sow-in) that marked the eve of the Celtic New Year beginning on November 1. Samhain (sow-in) was a pagan festival celebrating the honor of the dead and involved the offering of large sacrifices of crops and animals. The Celts and their priests, the Druids, believed that on October 31 the veil (Matthew 27:51-53) separating the living from the dead was at its thinnest, allowing evil spirits and the souls of the dead to pass through the barrier and enter the world of the living. The Celts believed these spirits and dead souls could torment the living. The Devil was ordinarily feared, but during Samhain, his power could be called on to “foretell the future.” (“Hallowed or Harmful,” Christian Broadcast Network, 1990).*

Huge Samhain (sow-in) bonfires were lit to guide the way of the spirits. In many pagan cultures around the world, it is believed the Celts left out food for the spirits, hoping that a “treat” would prevent an evil “trick.” Descendents of the Celts dressed as evil spirits and roamed from house to house, demanding food in exchange for the “spirits” leaving the home unharmed. They carved demon faces in hollowed-out turnips and lit them with candles (“Hallowed or Harmful,” Christian Broadcast Network, 1990).

In the 700’s, the Church decided to combat this festival by establishing a celebration to recognize the saints-or hallowed ones- who had lived godly lives. November 1 came to be called All Saints’ Day, also called All Hallows’ Day. The evening before (October 31) was called All Hallows’ Evening, this name was shortened to “All Hallow’s Eve” or “All Hallow’s Even” and from that came the name of Halloween. Despite the establishing of All Saints’ Day, pagan customs continued and these traditions became the basis for Halloween. (“Hallowed or Harmful,” Christian Broadcast Network, 1990).

As Christianity spread through Europe in the third and fourth centuries, pagan temples were torn down. But pagan worship continued to exist. The festival of Samhain (sow-in) remained a primary pagan festival. Belief in spirits may have lessened, but many of the old Samhain (sow-in) traditions continued to be practiced especially by the children. Primarily in Ireland, children dressed as spirits and went from house to house demanding a treat. If they didn’t receive a treat, they performed an unwelcomed trick. They were playacting the part of evil spirits that had to be satisfied; just as in the old Samhain (sow-in) festival the people believe they really did have to satisfy spirits. (“Hallowed or Harmful,” Christian Broadcast Network, 1990).

In the mid-1800’s, Irish immigrants brought to America the Halloween customs we’re familiar with – costumes, trick-or-treat, and carved Jack-o-lanterns. The custom of children going “trick-or-treating” has become an established American tradition although the practice of performing a trick if not given a treat has faded. (“Hallowed or Harmful,” Christian Broadcast Network, 1990).

While children and adults innocently imitate ancient Celtic customs, darker practices persists. Witches and Satanists still consider Halloween to be one of the strongest times during the year to cast a spell. On Halloween,

most witchcraft practitioners participate in a ritual called “drawing down the moon.” In this practice, the chief witch of the coven (group of witches) becomes, they believe, a channel for the moon goddess. (“Hallowed or Harmful,” Christian Broadcast Network, 1990).*

Evil in Disguise:

Witches and Satanists are a small minority. People who celebrate Halloween are not thinking about the darkness or evil behind the creation of most Halloween practices.

Businesses and merchants also look forward to October 31. The sale of candy, costumes, decorations, and party goods make Halloween one of the major retail seasons of the year. According to USA Today, Halloween spending will hit a record $9.1 billion, according to the National Retail Federation, which surveyed shoppers with research firm Prosper Insights & Analytics. This will surpass by 8.3% the previous all-time high of $8.4 billion spent on Halloween in 2016.

When you see a little girl dressed as a witch or a little boy dressed as a vampire with their trick-or-treat bags held tightly in their hand, they’re not thinking of death or the spirits of departed relatives. These children are thinking of candy and fun. Their excited about their special costume and looking forward to going house-to-house to get “treats” and not “play tricks.”

Though it may seem innocent, it is not something to be taken lightly (Isaiah 5:20). Christians have questioned if they should celebrate Halloween? Some Christians reflect on the Apostle Paul’s statement in I Corinthians 10, while other Christians believe it is okay as long as their behavior still reflects a redeemed life as defined in Philippians 1:27. Scripture gives us some principles on which we can make a decision. The decision is ultimately ours to make, but those decisions should be based on what we know.

THREE REASONS TO EXAMINE HOW YOU CELEBRATE HALLOWEEN

  1. Permissible but not Beneficial?

I Corinthians 10:23

  1. Many today could argue Paul probably would say that Christians are not prohibited from dressing in costumes and going trick-or-treating or attending Halloween parties. (I Corinthians 8:4) ______

______.

  1. ______. Paul explained that by doing what the believer was free in the Lord to do; the believer may be distressing another believer who doesn't realize he has this freedom. (I Corinthians 8:9)
  1. (:10-13).Who are the weak ones during Halloween? ______. On TV, in movies, in school, and with their playmates, many children today are exposed to occult (____

______) influences. We may be opening our children to these influences if we approve of these things in Halloween fun. Adults may fully understand they are only imitating witches and ghosts, but the youth may not be so sure. (I Corinthians 10:24)

  1. Some permissible things may hinder your Christian growth.

(Hebrews 12:1-2)God calls Christians to lay aside every weight (______

______) and the sin which so easily ensnares it.On Halloween, most eyes are not fixed on Jesus. The Christian's "race of faith" is continuous and leads him to eternal life, to a joy full of light that has no shadow of darkness. Should Christians really participate in activities involving the devil, witches and other dark beings, even for one night?

  1. God says, "Don't imitate evil!"

(Deuteronomy 18:9-13)

If we dress our children as witches and zombies, if we hang cardboard ghosts in our windows, if we entertain with tales of ghosts and haunted houses what are we doing but imitating that which is evil? ______

______.

(I Thessalonians 5:22)

(Leviticus 19:31) The word familiar is from the Latin familiaris, meaning a "household servant," and is intended to express the idea that sorcerers had spirits as their servants ready to obey their commands. ______

______. These are familiar spirits. (20:6, 27)
The Bible forbids being involved with “mediums and familiar spirits” as they are an abomination to the Lord. A medium ______

______. In reality mediums are contacting demons who convince the mediums that they are “familiar” and can be trusted and believed. The practices associated with mediums and familiar spirits were banned in Israel, and the punishment for practicing such things was death. (Exodus 22:18)

What the Bible Says about Involvement in the Occult:

  1. The increase in following after subversive doctrines inspired by demons is one of the predicted signs of the last days. (I Timothy 4:1)
  1. When people become Christians like those at Ephesus, they reject everything to do with black magic and its related practices. (Acts 19:19-20)
  1. Fortune-tellers may be demon possessed, like the girl in Philippi whom Paul cast out an unclean spirit in the name of Jesus. (Acts 16:16-18)
  1. To seek to communicate with spirits or with the dead is to become defiled. (Leviticus 19:31)
  1. God cuts off from among His people all who turn to mediums for help. (Leviticus 20:6)

“Diabolical forces are formidable. These forces are eternal, and they exist today. The fairy tale is true. The devil exists. God exists. And for us, as people; our very destiny hinges upon which one we elect to follow.” – Ed Warren

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