Halloween: Adapt it for Christian purposes or abstain?

Going by God’s Word, there is no doubt that Halloween is worldly and celebrates the Satanic and demonic, as well as spiritual darkness, sin, evil and death without hope. It's patently anti-Christian. That’s all part of its appeal, especially to many adults, and its celebration alone by the world has already wrought a considerable amount of spiritual damage. 

"Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!" (Isaiah 5:20)

There is no saying, then, that Halloween can simply be accepted and celebrated by Christians as the world accepts and celebrates it without denying a great deal of God's Word.

So then the central question is, is it a better Christian witness and better for doing our part to destroy the works of the devil (1 John 3:8) to abstain from Halloween altogether, or to participate in it by using it as an occasion to turn people's attention to Christ, expose the darkness at its heart and offer a godly, spiritually satisfying alternative vision of the day? And too, what should children be taught about Halloween, and should they be allowed to participate in it?

After many years of considering these questions, I do believe that Christians following the Lord's leading for themselves might arrive at either conclusion.

Bible thumpers: “Grace be with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity.” (Ephesians 6:24)

Godly Ingratitude

“And Jesus took the loaves; and when he had given thanks, he distributed to the disciples, and the disciples to them that were set down; and likewise of the fishes as much as they would.” John 6:11

“In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” 1 Thessalonians 5:18

“Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.” 2 Corinthian 9:15

Thankfulness towards God is naturally in the heart of those who sincerely love the Lord. Everything good, and good for us, comes from Him, and we’re most especially thankful for giving His Son for us, so that we may be forgiven by Him for our sins and enter into eternal life.

We are similarly taught to be thankful towards those who have helped us and for the things that have helped us along our way in life. Some of them will have even directly led us to Christ in one way or another. The people and things we acknowledge as having helped us in some way might be Christian, or they might even be of the world. Either way, thankfulness for them and sometimes to them seems entirely right and justified by God’s Word.

Yet, at a certain point, when not properly directed, thankfulness can also be a trap laid by Satan himself, and the people or things that helped us can become idols.

First, we might believe that at low points in one’s life, it was using or abusing drugs  or alcohol, or an ungodly relationship, or other sinful behavior, that “got us through.”

Second, we can begin our lives so spiritually distant from God that we can feel indebted to whatever and whomever He uses to point us in His direction on the very long journey towards Him, even if that person or thing is in actuality only disguised as an “angel of light,” or a light that is actually worldly darkness.

God in His great mercy allows there to exist the image of something good even in what isn’t actually good spiritual food, for the sake of drawing to Himself His children, but if we’re not careful, those things can become strongholds for the devil and beloved idols of the flesh. At some point, we need to see all ungodly, worldly things that God permitted us to partly survive upon for what they are truly are spiritually, even while remembering, in humility, our former state and our need for His mercy. So, for instance, a Christian who no longer drinks but believes that abusing alcohol kept him alive for years after a difficult childhood needs to not have contempt for people at that point in their lives, or see them as beyond hope of salvation and damned if they don’t repent and turn to Christ when he believes they should.  

But when God has indeed brought us to the truth about an idol, His Word teaches us to love Him first and keep our own selves from idols. If a sense of indebtedness to an idol seems to trap us, then we can remember how God delivered the Israelites out of Egypt. The devil would have them believe that Egypt was an idol to love, or at least be indebted to for “taking care of them.” Yet the Lord’s lesson was to plunder the devil, without a sense of obligation. If Satan masquerading as an angel of light does a good deed and comes to your rescue, you needn’t be bound to him in gratitude.

 “And I will give this people favour in the sight of the Egyptians: and it shall come to pass, that, when ye go, ye shall not go empty: But every woman shall borrow of her neighbour, and of her that sojourneth in her house, jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and raiment: and ye shall put them upon your sons, and upon your daughters; and ye shall spoil the Egyptians.” Exodus 3:21-22

 

 

"Come out of her, My people..."

 "And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues. For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities..."

The laws of the United States are now positively anti-Bible.

The U.S. joins the other "advanced" wealthy nations in being anti-Biblical and anti-Christian.

Even with the slowing effects in some ways of the Trump presidency, the nation's laws still, in so many ways, require Christians to compromise on if not simply abandon God's Word, or else face economic and even criminal penalty. And at this point, nothing but a Biblical disaster of greatest proportions is likely to change that.

So, I wonder, are there believers who have considered joining fellowships that are more separate, such as conservative Mennonites, or the Amish, or doing something like Christian homesteading as a community?

Overall, much of the church here, which is heavily influenced by the powerful, wealthy megachurches, seems to be content to compromise and retreat, becoming more and more like the world, and actually becoming separated from the Body of Christ of all times and places.

Just recently, a Christian bookseller in China was sentenced to 7 years in prison.

Many Christians in Nigeria have been killed too just in recent weeks for their faith.

Much of the church here pretends that this more faithful, "not loving their lives to the death" church, the church which grew knowledge of the Gospel in the world through its members bearing their cross, even to death, even exists.

The Laodicean church here doesn't seem to want to see or recognize much about how things truly are, or to resist Satan, but instead, to pursue peace with him for a more comfortable ride in this life.

But when you try to save your life here in this world, as Jesus warned against, out of fear of missing out on what this world offers (or seems to offer), you instead miss out on all that the Lord has for you.

So are other believers thinking about "coming out of her"?

From Revelation 18:

1 And after these things I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened with his glory. 2 And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird. 3 For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies.

4 And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues. 5 For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities. 6 Reward her even as she rewarded you, and double unto her double according to her works: in the cup which she hath filled fill to her double. 7 How much she hath glorified herself, and lived deliciously, so much torment and sorrow give her: for she saith in her heart, I sit a queen, and am no widow, and shall see no sorrow. 8 Therefore shall her plagues come in one day, death, and mourning, and famine; and she shall be utterly burned with fire: for strong is the Lord God who judgeth her.

Lament over Babylon

9 And the kings of the earth, who have committed fornication and lived deliciously with her, shall bewail her, and lament for her, when they shall see the smoke of her burning, 10 Standing afar off for the fear of her torment, saying, Alas, alas, that great city Babylon, that mighty city! for in one hour is thy judgment come.

11 And the merchants of the earth shall weep and mourn over her; for no man buyeth their merchandise any more: 12 The merchandise of gold, and silver, and precious stones, and of pearls, and fine linen, and purple, and silk, and scarlet, and all thyine wood, and all manner vessels of ivory, and all manner vessels of most precious wood, and of brass, and iron, and marble, 13 And cinnamon, and odours, and ointments, and frankincense, and wine, and oil, and fine flour, and wheat, and beasts, and sheep, and horses, and chariots, and slaves, and souls of men. 14 And the fruits that thy soul lusted after are departed from thee, and all things which were dainty and goodly are departed from thee, and thou shalt find them no more at all. 15 The merchants of these things, which were made rich by her, shall stand afar off for the fear of her torment, weeping and wailing, 16 And saying, Alas, alas, that great city, that was clothed in fine linen, and purple, and scarlet, and decked with gold, and precious stones, and pearls! 17 For in one hour so great riches is come to nought. And every shipmaster, and all the company in ships, and sailors, and as many as trade by sea, stood afar off, 18 And cried when they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, What city is like unto this great city! 19 And they cast dust on their heads, and cried, weeping and wailing, saying, Alas, alas, that great city, wherein were made rich all that had ships in the sea by reason of her costliness! for in one hour is she made desolate.

The Saints Rejoice

20 Rejoice over her, thou heaven, and ye holy apostles and prophets; for God hath avenged you on her.

21 And a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone, and cast it into the sea, saying, Thus with violence shall that great city Babylon be thrown down, and shall be found no more at all. 22 And the voice of harpers, and musicians, and of pipers, and trumpeters, shall be heard no more at all in thee; and no craftsman, of whatsoever craft he be, shall be found any more in thee; and the sound of a millstone shall be heard no more at all in thee; 23 And the light of a candle shall shine no more at all in thee; and the voice of the bridegroom and of the bride shall be heard no more at all in thee: for thy merchants were the great men of the earth; for by thy sorceries were all nations deceived. 24 And in her was found the blood of prophets, and of saints, and of all that were slain upon the earth.