Something that has lain heavily upon my heart lately has been certain
holidays and their true meanings, particularly the one with all of the
costumes, carved pumpkins and candy. You know exactly which one I’m
referring to—Halloween, of course!
Every holiday season, I ask myself, “What exactly is the history behind such and such tradition,” or “why do we celebrate such and such holiday”. I’ve personally never been able to answer such questions when it comes to Halloween.
It’s the same every year— I see houses with fake grave yards and
ghosts; and youngsters (sometimes adults too) dressed up as ghastly
characters (think vampires, witches, zombies, devils, grim-reapers; you
get the idea). I’ve even known people, who call themselves Christians,
participating in these “festivities”. Well, you might ask me, “Why does
this bother you? Just get over it.” As a Christian and follower of The
Way, the Truth and the Life, I must look at these questions through
Biblical ‘lenses’. And the reason I’m bothered by this holiday— I
remember passages in the Bible that say things like, “The devil was a
murderer from the beginning, and has nothing to do with the truth,
because there is no truth in him.” (John 8:44) and “The thief comes only
to steal and kill and destroy.” (John 10:10)
Why are Christians ‘celebrating’ death and things pertaining to death, when our Savior (Jesus) came to abolish death (2 Timothy 1:10)? He died so we might live, and focus on things pertaining to eternal life. Those who participate in Halloween festivities are really reflecting the character of the Devil, who was a murderer and has come only to steal, kill and destroy (John 8:44; 10:10). They are living as the world lives, are being in the world and of it (John 15:18-19; 17:3-16), are being conformed to the world, not transformed from it (Romans 12:2), and are not remaining unspotted from the world (James 1:27).
So, fellow believers, what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world but loses his own soul (Matthew 16:26; Mark 8:36; Luke 9:26)? We have died to sin and are freed from sin; let us not live in sin any longer (Romans 6:2-7, 11-23). “Let us throw off everything that hinders us, and the sin that so easily entangles us. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith.” (Hebrews 12:1,2a)
Every holiday season, I ask myself, “What exactly is the history behind such and such tradition,” or “why do we celebrate such and such holiday”. I’ve personally never been able to answer such questions when it comes to Halloween.
Why are Christians ‘celebrating’ death and things pertaining to death, when our Savior (Jesus) came to abolish death (2 Timothy 1:10)? He died so we might live, and focus on things pertaining to eternal life. Those who participate in Halloween festivities are really reflecting the character of the Devil, who was a murderer and has come only to steal, kill and destroy (John 8:44; 10:10). They are living as the world lives, are being in the world and of it (John 15:18-19; 17:3-16), are being conformed to the world, not transformed from it (Romans 12:2), and are not remaining unspotted from the world (James 1:27).
So, fellow believers, what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world but loses his own soul (Matthew 16:26; Mark 8:36; Luke 9:26)? We have died to sin and are freed from sin; let us not live in sin any longer (Romans 6:2-7, 11-23). “Let us throw off everything that hinders us, and the sin that so easily entangles us. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith.” (Hebrews 12:1,2a)
“Also, many of those who had practiced magic brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all.” (Acts 19:19a)
