I started to write this article exactly one year ago to the day. I don’t know why I never finished it, but today, on its anniversary, I have finally completed it and am now posting it. I pray you can find something edifying within its paragraphs.
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Fall. It’s not official for a few more days, but the leaves are showing it. The crops are starting to yellow. Something in the air heralds the coming of fall. Harvest season. When the leaves change their dress and fly over the fields to play with the wind. The songbirds become scarce and the chirping crickets multiply. Everything changes this time of year; sights and smells. For most of us feelings of nostalgia emerge, for our country’s past or pleasant memories of Thanksgivings gone by; a time of giving thanks to God, for whatever our hearts may recall or, if nothing else, for this wonderful, blessed time of year. Though, we are not the only ones who give thanks to a “higher power.”
Fall is also a time when the spiders emerge to weave their intricate webs, the moths come out in their numbers, the crows roost in the dying trees at night in their murders, and, according to some, the veil between the living and the dead becomes thin.
Of course, such images as spiders and crows may bring thoughts of witches and cauldrons, moths may make one think of musty old libraries filled with sorcerer’s grimories and alchemical equipment. And all this may make you think of that favorite holiday of candy-loving boys and girls everywhere: Halloween.
Many Christians think it quite the thing to do when Halloween rolls ‘round to simply sit in their homes and avoid the evils of the day (and night). Others may think the holiday to be nothing more than innocent fun and embrace it. I am now here to say that, in light of our duties as vessels of Christ, I do not believe that either is the appropriate course of action.
To start off, I want to show you the origins of Halloween, and illustrate why embracing this holiday as harmless would not please Christ, then talk to you about why I believe the second most popular stand on the day, which is to ignore it, might not be most pleasing to Him either.
What follows is an excerpt from an article by minister, CEO, and author, Thomas R. Horn on the origins of Halloween:
“…offerings were made to Hecate because she was thought to govern haunted places where evil or murderous activity occured. Such areas where violence or lechery had a history were believed to be magnets of malevolent spirits, something like ‘haunted houses,’ and if one wanted to get along with the resident apparitions they needed to make oblations to the ruler of the darkness--Hecate. Hecate's familiar (the night owl) announced the acceptance of the oblations, and those who gathered on the eve of the full moon perceived the spooky sound of the creature as a good omen. Statues of the goddess bearing the triple-face of a dog, a snake, and a horse, overshadowed the dark rituals when they were performed at the crossing of three roads. At midnight, Hecate's devotees left food offerings at the intersection for the goddess ('Hecate's Supper'), and, once deposited, quickly exited without turning around or looking back. Sometimes the offerings consisted of honey cakes and chicken hearts, and at other time's puppies, honey, and female black lambs were slaughtered for the goddess and her strigae…
“…The connection between ancient paganism and the modern customs and costumes of Halloween is easy to trace. The Hecatian myths adopted by Celtic occultists continue in pop culture, in symbolism and tradition in the following ways:
* People visiting neighborhood homes on Halloween night represent the dead in search of food (the treat).
* Masks of devils and hobgoblins represent evil spirits seeking mischief (the trick).
* Those who pass out candy represent the homes visited by the dead, or may also represent worried individuals seeking to appease Hecate and other nighttime terrors.
* The Jack-O-Lantern (will-o-the-wisp, fox fire, fairy fire, etc.) is, according to some histories, a wandering soul stuck between heaven and hell. Others claim the Druids left Jack-O-Lanterns on doorsteps to ward off evil spirits. Another legend about a drunk named Jack who made a deal with the devil claims to be the true origin of the Jack-O-Lantern myth. [I would add that Celtic peoples carved faces into vegetables to trick evil spirits – Joe.]
“The list goes on but I'm afraid the bottom line is this: Whatever you make of such history, most children who wear masks and pursue sweets on Halloween night do not understand, or care about, the symbolism."
Not very pleasant origins, are they? The Roman Catholic Church, when coming to a new land and converting its peoples, has had a history of adopting paganism to appease the people around them. Big mistake. In Deuteronomy 18 we read “When thou art come into the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not learn to do after the abominations of those nations (v. 9).” Many think of this verse and others like it and conclude that we should stay away from anything that has to do with Halloween. A good point, but the manner in which some go about doing this may be such that they pass up opportunities to serve Christ on this most evil of days.
Some take the stance of avoiding absolutely everything about it. They turn down invitations to Halloween parties, and most of all turn out their porch light and lock the doors. But think of this: how many children, teenagers, and their parents show up on a Christian’s door step asking for something—almost anything—in droves? Not many; probably almost none, and probably almost never. But Christ has told us to go unto all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. Our back yards are indeed part of “all the world.”
Think instead what it would be like if zealous Christians left their porch lights on for a change, opened their doors, and gave out tracts and the like to the dozens of unsaved fathers, mothers, teens and children walking to their doorsteps! The Disciples and Apostles dealt with real magicians and real devil worshipers, and were surrounded by real paganism and real satanic temples. Did they hide inside and turn out the lights, or did they go and preach the good news of Jesus?
So, this Halloween, are you going to let Satan run rampant and steal souls by the dozens, or are you going to pass out a little bit of candy and a whole lot of Jesus this fall?
[Check out the vintage 1901 postcard at the beginning of this post. Click to enlarge.]
God bless!
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