Y’know, God made some things really clear so that even those of us that are thick-sculled (like me) could understand them. That’s what the ten commandments were all about, they didn’t list every individual sin that we could perpetrate against God, just the really ‘big’ ones. All the rest fall somewhere under those ten . In fact, the one Jesus told us is the greatest commandment, You will love the Lord (your God) with all your heart and mind [Matthew 22:37-39] – covers it all. God stated this commandment in order to help us keep our relationship with Him, as sin will come between us. It also separates the sheep from the goats, the wheat from the tares. All Christians wrestle with sin in their lives, but there are things that are the ‘big easys’, and He listed them for us. You know: have no other gods before Him, don’t commit murder, don’t commit adultery, etc.
Here’s where we get into offending people, but that’s OK, Yah’shua (commonly called “Jesus”) was prophesied to be a ‘stone of stumbling and a rock of offense’ and said of Himself that He came not to bring peace, but to set brother against brother, etc. Since we are to emulate Him, here I go:
We are told to test ourselves, to know if we are of the faith. When God said sinners will not enter the Kingdom of God the context is one of continuing in sin without repentance. We may struggle with some sins, but we repent. It is in continuing in sin that we exclude ourselves from relationship with God.
Remember the parables of the tares, the sower of seed, and the prodigal son: no relationship = no salvation. Period. So, can someone who murders and continues to murder be saved? Of course not. The same applies with adultery, homosexuality , and, maybe especially, idolatry [1 Corinthians 6:8-10]. First commandment. God made this plain so even the simple-minded could understand it. Just read the Bible and pray for understanding. Do you do that? IF WE LOVE GOD WE WILL SEEK HIM IN PRAYER AND IN HIS WORD [Matthew 6:32-34]. First commandment. You do that and some things will slap you in the face: Idolatry is not loving or seeking after God. Witchcraft is idolatry. Halloween makes light of and celebrates witchcraft. Yah’shua said fear not, for He is always with us. Halloween celebrates and makes light of fear. God told us to have nothing to do with necromancy. Halloween celebrates communication with the dead and makes light of it. Yah’shua said to have nothing to do with the fellowship of darkness (evil) [2 Corinthians 6:14, 1 John 1:6], but to be children of light. Halloween celebrates evil and makes light of it. Don’t be fooled – God is not mocked. Do you mock God and spit in His face by celebrating or even giving the the smallest assent to it? We must ask ourselves: are we really a Christian, or just pretending?
Galatians 5:19-21 (New International Version)
The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.Deuteronomy 18:9-11 (New International Version)
When you enter the land the LORD your God is giving you, do not learn to imitate the detestable ways of the nations there. Let no one be found among you who sacrifices his son or daughter in the fire, who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead.
No, I can’t judge someone as to whether or not they have a saving relationship with God – only He can see the heart. But He told us that we will know the tree by its fruit, so we can have a pretty good idea whether or not someone who claims Christianity (a follower of Christ) is actively following Christ – or if they are just making the claim, but without substance. If some one claims Christ and continues to murder you might guess they are not sincere in their claimed faith, yes? The same is true of someone who celebrates Halloween in any way. Yah’shua said He did not come to abolish the Law, but instead to write it in our hearts. His mercy is to bring us to repentance, not to make us spoiled rich children who can do what ever we want because we know Daddy will always forgive us. Read your Bible! If you are stubbornly clinging to Halloween because you liked it as a child and/or don’t want to “deprive” your children of some fun, then you may be a tare (a false Christian) or in need of repentance. We see this all the time with homosexuals who claim to be Christians, denying that homosexuality is a sin and refusing to repent [1 Corinthians 6:17-19].
God gave us celebrations for ourselves and our children, celebrations that ALWAYS point us to God. These celebrations are not only for the Jews, they are ours, too. And, yes, ‘Christmas’ is also pagan at its roots, but much of that has been hidden and ‘Christianized’ (whatever that is…). Halloween, on the other hand, is evil, pure and simple and obvious. If you are a Christian I exhort you to go to God and His Word and repent if you have been continuing to do anything on Satan’s high ‘holy’ day other than being together in prayer for all those who are fooled and are participating in this evil. Having a “harvest” celebration for the kids so they won’t be ‘left out’ is giving them the wrong message! Halloween is a day that Satan has reserved for himself and his rebellion against God and his hatred for Christians. There is nothing to be celebrated while this is going on. Halloween is the rape of the children of this world, will you go and have your ‘harvest celebration’ while this is going on? Would you be out partying while you knew someone you love is being raped, dismembered? Same thing here! Love your neighbor as yourself. Do you think God is fooled by calling it by a different name?
We are here to be a peculiar people, to shine the light of God, to show the Way, to be salt and light. Instead are you blending in with the enemy (denying Christ) so you won’t be uncomfortable? If so, then you are most likely a false Christian, and the light of God is not in you.
There is, of course, a simple answer: repent. Trust God for joy, not the world for some fleeting happiness. Bring up your children in the fear and admonition of the Lord, so that they will rise up and call you blessed when they stand with God in the last day and not curse you from the pit of hell for obfuscating the truth from them. God is the perfect Daddy, and He doesn’t lie to us, He tells us as it is. You might want to consider that next time you open your mouth to your children about the Ishtar Bunny, Santa Claus, or the Tooth Fairy. Same goes for Halloween, witchcraft, seeking the dead, etc. Our perfect Father told us the truth while we were yet children so we could love Him in Spirit and in Truth. Go ye therefore and do likewise!
2 Corinthians 6:15-17 (New International Version)
15 What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? What does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? 16 What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people.”
17 “Therefore come out from them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you.”
MORE:
Philippians 4:8
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable, if anything is excellent or praiseworthy, think about such things.1 Thessalonians 5:15
Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always try to be kind to each other and to everyone else.3 John 1:11 (New American Standard Bible)
Beloved, do not imitate what is evil, but what is good The one who does good is of God; the one who does evil has not seen God.1 Thessalonians 5:22 (King James Version)
Abstain from all appearance of evil.1 Corinthians 10:21 (New American Standard Bible)
You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons; you cannot partake of the table of the Lord and the table of demons.
Other sites for info:
http://logosresourcepages.org/HalloweenBook/occult.htm
http://www.christianinformation.org/article.asp?artID=33
http://www.jeremiahproject.com/culture/halloween.html
http://www.demonbuster.com/halloween.html
http://www.cog7day.org/about/index.asp?pgID=5
From the other side:
http://www.witchology.com/contents/october/halloween/wiccanhalloween.php
http://hubpages.com/hub/Halloween-A-Witchs-Perspective
Note: Many Wiccans and Pagans are upset with Christians for equating them with Satanists, as Wiccans and Pagans generally don’t believe in Satan. What they do not understand is the fact that true Christians believe that what does not come from, and honors, Christ comes from the enemy, Satan. We believe, therefore, that the Wiccans and Pagans have been fooled into worshiping false gods/goddesses by Satan himself in order to keep them from the truth and salvation of Christ. True Christ followers do not hate these people, but instead love them and pray they may come to the One who is Truth.
Careful, now.
I was raised in a “christian” home and wasn’t allowed to participate in halloween. I’m still in therapy.
My kids love halloween, and it’s good clean fun, dressing up as a fun character and trick or treating. I probably go overboard since my parents wouldn’t allow it.
And, yes, I’m a christian today…by God’s grace, not by anything my parents did!
Reply to Christian Mom from Admin:
It is not time to be “careful”, it is time to tell the Truth with straight talk. It is time to follow God instead of what is “fun”. Halloween is NOT “good clean fun” – it is idolatry, disobedience to God, and evil. You may want to re-read the post, as it seems to me you are ignoring the facts. “Trick or treat” is both extortion and returning evil for evil, things that God abhors. Allowing your children to do this is teaching them to ignore God and that these things are acceptable. It teaches them that it is OK for them to dabble in the things that God hates, such as witchcraft and Satanism. God has declared that He will hold us accountable for these things – we cannot be lukewarm and enter the kingdom of God.
Don’t change a thing for me.
You should not assume to know other’s heart unless God has shown it to you.
I left the Church of our Lady of Perpetual Guilt years ago. You cannot out sin God’s grace.
Having said that… I tend to agree that Halloween is dangerous all the way around. Satan, through dogmatic statements as above or the careless celebration of Halloween snares many and creates a win-win for himself.
The author would do well to read Martin Luther’s writings concerning God’s grace, the epicenter of his shaken faith.
As with every activity from giving to charity (the pharisee vs. the widow’s mite) to attending a Halloween event, it is the intent of the participants heart.
And… while you cannot out sin God’s grace, I believe you can grow so cold that you could possible use the same power God gave you to become redeemed to give that redemption up… the power to choose.
Be wise as serpents and as careful as doves.
Hi, Ken! I agree that only God see’s the heart, but we are instructed to judge actions within the Body of Christ. We are also responsible to obey God’s word, and that includes all of God’s moral Law. This is not to receive or assure salvation, but because the Law is God’s character, and it is what He wishes for us to follow in order to be like Him – it is His will for us. God’s grace applies to those who are faithful to Him and to His Word, not to those who think that a sinner’s prayer has forever secured their place in heaven (so they can sin with impunity). We tend to overlook all the verses in scripture that say “if” we remain in Him he will remain in us, and “if” we endure to the end we will be saved, and “if” we love Him we will keep His commandments. (see http://www.remote-world.com/2007/05/17/can-a-christian-lose-their-salvation/).
As Christ-followers and servants of the Most High, we are called to warn the sinful about judgement, and our brothers and sisters in the faith about sin and idolatry. Not to do so will bring about God’s judgement upon us.
If we are called to purity, then we should not disregard God when He warns us to have nothing to do with satanic things. We are called to take such things seriously. Yes, we have the power to choose, and must do so daily, but we can choose to rebel, as did the prodigal son. What if he never repented and returned? We cannot expect to be sons of the Living God if we disobey His Word and then insist He give us grace. Paul wrote about these very things – “What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase?” (Romans 6:1). Also, see James 2 =- “For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.” Attending a blatantly satanic event (e.g – halloween) is compromise and disobedience, unless you are there to loudly preach against it. God insists on purity of faith (holiness) – He will not ignore compromise (Revelation 3:16). So, sinners will NOT inherit the kingdom of God (Matthew 7:22-24). So, as you have said, you can not “out sin” God’s grace, but you can reject it by being friends with the world.