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On This Page
The Origins
The Transition
Halloween and Witchcraft
Can Halloween Be an Entirely Innocent Practice?
A Probe Mom Looks at Halloween
What About Christmas and Easter?
The Origins
While there are many variations of the origins and old customs of Halloween, some remain consistent by all accounts.
The Celts, who lived 2,000 years ago in the area that is now Ireland, the United Kingdom, and northern France, celebrated their new year on November 1. This day marked the end of summer and the harvest and the beginning of the dark, cold winter, a time of year that was often associated with human death. Celts believed that on the night before the new year, the boundary between the worlds of the living and the dead became blurred. On the night of October 31, they celebrated Samhain, when it was believed that the ghosts of the dead returned to earth. In addition to causing trouble and damaging crops, Celts thought that the presence of the otherworldly spirits made it easier for the Druids, or Celtic priests, to make predictions about the future. For a people entirely dependent on the volatile natural world, these prophecies were an important source of comfort and direction during the long, dark winter.
To commemorate the event, Druids built huge sacred bonfires, where the people gathered to burn crops and animals as sacrifices to the Celtic deities.
During the celebration, the Celts wore costumes, typically consisting of animal heads and skins, and attempted to tell each other's fortunes. When the celebration was over, they re-lit their hearth fires, which they had extinguished earlier that evening, from the sacred bonfire to help protect them during the coming winter. [www.history.com/minisites/halloween/viewPage?pageId=713]
In another account
“Halloween had its beginnings in an ancient, pre-Christian Celtic festival of the dead. The Celtic peoples, who were once found all over Europe, divided the year by four major holidays. According to their calendar, the year began on a day corresponding to November 1st on our present calendar. The date marked the beginning of winter. Since they were pastoral people, it was a time when cattle and sheep had to be moved to closer pastures and all livestock had to be secured for the winter months. Crops were harvested and stored. The date marked both an ending and a beginning in an eternal cycle.
The festival observed at this time was called Samhain (pronounced Sah-ween). It was the biggest and most significant holiday of the Celtic year. The Celts believed that at the time of Samhain, more so than any other time of the year, the ghosts of the dead were able to mingle with the living, because at Samhain the souls of those who had died during the year traveled into the otherworld. People gathered to sacrifice animals, fruits, and vegetables. They also lit bonfires in honor of the dead, to aid them on their journey, and to keep them away from the living. On that day all manner of beings were abroad: ghosts, fairies, and demons--all part of the dark and dread”. [Jack Santino The Fantasy and Folklore of All Hallows]
Note: Some believed that the spirits of the dead wandered around looking for bodies to inhabit.
Trick or Treat
Since the Celts considered not all spirits to be friendly, gifts and treats were left out to pacify the evil and ensure next years crops would be plentiful. This custom could have evolved into trick-or-treating.
On the other hand, as often happens, over the years two separate traditions could have merged into one...
“The custom of trick-or-treating is thought to have originated not with the Irish Celts, but with a ninth-century European custom called souling. On 2nd November, All Souls Day, early Christians would walk from village to village begging for "soul cakes," made out of square pieces of bread with currants. The more soul cakes the beggars would receive, the more prayers they would promise to say on behalf of the dead relatives of the donors. At the time, it was believed that the dead remained in limbo for a time after death, and that prayer, even by strangers, could expedite a soul's passage to heaven”. [www.anniversaryideas.co.uk/Halloween.asp]
Ritual begging on Halloween does not seem to have appeared in North America until the 20th century,
and may have developed independently
The Transition
“When Roman Catholicism became a world political and religious power the pagan customs were still widely celebrated. In 800 A.D. the Roman Catholic church moved "All Saints' Day" from May to November 1st. All of the "saints" who did not have a special day in their honor on the Catholic calendar were to be honored on All Saints' Day. It was also a time to pay respect to the dead by visiting their graves. The "new day" that was to replace the pagan vigil of the dead was called "All Hallow's Day". (hallowed means sanctified or holy) It soon became the custom to call the evening before "All Hallow's Eve, which was soon shortened to Halloween. The important fact to note is that the intended "Christianization" of the pagan day miserably failed. The Catholic Encyclopedia even admits it. It says: "The night of October 31st and the vigil of the feast of All Saints, Halloween derives its name from an older English term, All Hallow's Eve, although its traditions derive from pagan worship. An important source of the customs of Halloween was the Druidic religion of pre-Christian Gaul and Britain." [Halloween Specifics by Pastor David L. Brown]
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Halloween and Witchcraft
Author: Russ Wise
Date: 6/10/2003 10:32:23 PM
Most people think of Halloween as a holiday, ushering in the fall and providing children with a legitimate reason for collecting large caches of candy or playing a trick on someone.
However, Halloween is a serious event in the lives of those who practice witchcraft. When asked about the origin of Halloween, many in the church would say something about All Saints' Day, but they could not offer an explanation for the traditions associated with the October 31st date.
Halloween has long been known as "The Festival of the Dead" among the adherents of witchcraft. October 31st had a great deal of significance among the ancient Celts and their priests, the Druids. This festival marked the change from life to death - a changing of the guard from the warmth of the sun in the spring and summer to the cold of the moon in the fall and winter.
Arnold and Patricia Crowther, modern day witches, state in their book, The Secrets of Ancient Witchcraft
"Halloween was the end of the year, the time when the Goddess returned to the underworld; when Mother Nature took her winter sleep beneath her blanket of snow. There she rested until the vegetation began to grow again. On this night the Horned God began his reign."
The Druids celebrated several holy days, but the "Feast of Samhain" was of particular importance. This was the observance of Samana, the Lord of Death, a dark Aryan god who was known as the Grim Reaper.
Morwyn, another witch, tells us in his book, Secrets of a Witch's Coven, that
"Samhain is a solemn rite for the dead; the reaffirmation of life at the end of the ceremony is a most important aspect of this ritual."
The "reaffirmation of life" can be an actual act or it can be symbolic. To affirm life, some covens ritually eat an apple; in others, the act of sexual intercourse consummates the ceremony. The Crowthers add that, "After the craft had become a mixed cult, this feast would have been the time when any sexual intercourse took place. . ."
It was believed that at this time the veil between life and death was thin and that one could learn secrets of life and wisdom beyond death by lying on a grave and listening for messages from the departed. It was also believed that these spirits or ghosts left the grave at this time and sought the warmth of a familiar place – usually the home in which they resided while they were yet among the living.
The villagers were greatly concerned that these spirits not remain in their immediate area, so they would dress in an appropriate costume to scare the spirits on their way. It was likewise believed that if these spirits were not appeased by the offering of food and treats then they might bring destruction upon the village by destroying crops, homes, or animals.
Hallomas or Halloween, this most unholy night, became a time for gaining knowledge through divination. In addition to lying on a grave seeking a message from beyond, men employed Ouija boards, crystal ball gazing and a host of other practices to divine information. Within witchcraft, Halloween is an established time for communing with the dead. Halloween has become the great day of abomination.
The "Lord of the Dead" is known by a number of names. Witches acknowledge that their "Horned God" is the "Lord of the Dead." The true identity of this "Lord of Death" is the devil himself according to Hebrews 2:14:
The horned god Pan, with cloven hoofs, was often represented by a goat. The personification of Pan was the head of a goat or a bull. From Matthew 25:33, 41 we glean the significance of the symbolism of the goat.
"And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left." v. 33
"Then He will also say to those on the left hand, 'Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels . . ." vs. 41
Festivals and Sabbats
Practitioners of Witchcraft celebrate four ceremonies to honor the "Green Goddess," who brings life, and the "Horned God," who brings death. In witchcraft the spiritual year begins with Halloween on October 31st as described previously.
On February 2nd, Candlemas is celebrated to honor the "God of Death" and to give thanks to him for keeping the people from harm and sickness and wish him well on his journey back to the underworld.
May Eve, April 30, brings Beltane. This celebration welcomes new life and the ritual of fertility is the main emphasis.
Lammas is the time for giving thanks to the Great Mother for causing the crops to grow and is dedicated to grain and the harvest. The celebration is observed on August 1 and, according to Morwyn (Secrets of a Witch's Coven), it is a time to feast and "emphasize the fertility aspect of the union of the god and goddess."
The two solstices and equinoxes are also celebrated in witchcraft and represent lesser festivals. My intention is to acquaint the reader with the festivals of greater importance.
Halloween and Human Sacrifice
When the world was Pagan, "great bonfires were lighted to signify summer's end and to symbolize the death of god." Morwyn, in Secrets of a Witch's Coven, goes on to say,
"All frustrations and failures of the year were burned symbolically so that life could begin anew on the Winter Solstice. It was not unknown to incinerate a man alive in the blaze as a symbol of the death of the god."
Modern day witches declare that they no longer offer animal or human sacrifices, and in fact find sacrifices distasteful. However, Satanism is a different matter altogether.
Satanists see the "Festival of the Dead" as honoring the "horned god" - the "sabbatical goat." Whereas the witch may symbolically sacrifice a human, the Satanist looks at the sacrifice in the literal sense.
It should be noted that Satanists vary greatly regarding this issue. Those Satanists who follow mainline traditions would abhor human sacrifice.
However, it is important to note that self-styled Satanists like Richard Ramirez, among others, would employ such activity. Self-styled Satanists tend to do their own thing without compliance to any moral standard. Their allegiance is to themselves, not to any one world view – whether it be Satanic or another.
It is necessary for Christians to realize that Halloween is not the innocent holiday that many, even Christians, believe it to be . . . This author's admonition is that we, as Christians, must properly discern the spirit of Halloween and respond in a way that would honor our God - the God of the Bible.
Satan's goal is to blind our minds, that we cannot adequately recognize his strategy, and to deceive us, that we might worship him (Satan) rather than our creator. (Matthew 4:9, 2 Corinthians 4:4, Revelations 12:9)
Creative Alternatives for the Christian
In light of what has been said regarding Halloween, the Christian parent might understandably not desire their child to participate in this "Festival of the Dead." However, many parents feel the tension between allowing their child's participation, in this most unholy day, and causing the child some distress by restricting their involvement altogether.
There are a number of creative alternatives that can be drawn upon. Many churches have met the social need of young people by holding fall carnivals and having the children come in biblical costume.
Church youth groups sponsor bowling or skating parties and other fun activities to offer alternatives for older youth. The planned program, varied as it may be, should honor God and make an intentional effort not to honor Satan.
As Christian parents and workers with children's ministries we must make knowledgeable decisions regarding the activities we plan for children. Satan and his workers are subtle in their strategy to destroy the minds and spirits of young people. Halloween is one such opportunity.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Recommended Christian Reading:
Dickason, C. Fred, Angels Elect and Evil, Chicago, Il., Moody Press, 1975.
Michaelsen, Johanna, Like Lambs to the Slaughter, Eugene, Or., Harvest House Publishers, 1989.
Pagan Resources:
Crowther, Arnold and Patricia, The Secrets of Ancient Witchcraft, Secaucus, NJ, Citadel Press, 1974.
Farrar, Stewart, What Witches Do, Custer, Wa., Phoenix Publishing Company, 1983.
Morwyn, Secrets of A Witch's Coven, West Chester, Pa., Whitford Press, 1988.
(These three pagan books were used in research for this article and are not recommended by the author or CIM)
Author's Comments:
Halloween has historically been considered to be a primary observation of Wiccans. However, in the Christian West it has been seen as being more benign. The reality is that Halloween is, without doubt, a pagan holy day that calls for discernment by the Christian.
Can Halloween Be an Entirely Innocent Practice?
by Dr. John Ankerberg and Dr. John Weldon
Part One
In the following material, we will present a brief case for abstinence from participation in Halloween. This is not to say that Christians who choose to participate in Halloween are necessarily sinning; however, they need to decide whether, by their participation, they bring honor to the Lord. We hope Christians will take a closer look at involvement based on the following discussion.
Not everything in life is clear-cut and not everything has easy answers. All things considered, however, we think the most prudent and wise decision for Halloween is abstinence. Why? In our The Facts on Halloween 1 we showed that Halloween symbolism and activities today, although technically removed from their ancient practices, nevertheless retain the underlying associations for which they were intended. In other words, the very act of dressing or costuming oneself heralds back to the original purpose for which this was done.
As you evaluate this issue, here are some questions and comments to consider.
1) Can we truly align ourselves innocently with something traditionally and currently involved with the occult and be certain we will never be affected in any possible manner? In other words, in merely participating in Halloween, are we ignorantly skirting the territory of the devil? Historically, isn’t this day the very day that the evil powers have chosen for themselves as special above all others—from the ancient Druids to the modern Druids, witches, and Satanists? Unfortunately, isn’t it also true that most Christians don’t even know this? But if the purpose of the Christian life is to glorify God, is it really possible to glorify God by imitating what occultists do on their special day, however innocently? Should Christians be out on the occultist’s favorite day imitating the things that historically and today are traced to something evil or occult, including even costuming, trick or treating, and setting out displays of fruit? The purpose of setting out fruits and other food was to appease the spirits: "This appeasement of the spirits was celebrated in various ways according to locale and custom, with minor differences. One way to appease the dead was to set out bowls of fruit and other treats so they could partake of them and, once satisfied, they would leave in peace. Your child, when he goes door to door in the ritual of ‘trick or treat,’ is reenacting the ancient superstition." 2
Costuming, etc., in good taste, are certainly neutral practices on any other day, e.g., costume parties. So it is not the practice per se but their association to this particular day and their original purpose on this day that raises the issue of involvement. Does this mean it is wrong for a mother to take her child out dressed as a carrot top to a few friends’ houses in the neighborhood for some candy? Again, we cannot say this is a sin, but only that it is probably not the best choice. Even some well-respected Christian scholars who oppose Halloween altogether aren’t sure whether something like this falls under the individual conscience prescriptions in 1 Corinthians 10:23-29 and Romans 14. But even in cases like this, however innocent, one is still participating in Halloween. And 1 Corinthians 10:23, 24—based on everything we know of Halloween—would seem to suggest that abstinence is the better of two choices: " ‘Everything is permissible’—but not everything is beneficial. ‘Everything is permissible’—but not everything is constructive. Nobody should seek his own good, but the good of others" (1 Corinthians 10:23,24, NIV).
2) Most people think that imitating these things on Halloween is innocent enough since we are not engaging in the original practices or intent. Nevertheless, as we will see, the Scripture repeatedly tells us not to imitate the evil practices of the pagan nations. For example, when it says in 3 John 11, "Do not imitate that which is evil," it means do not copy it, imitate it or act it out. A. T. Robertson’s Word Pictures of the Greek New Testament points out that the Greek word translated "do not imitate" is derived from a word that means "an actor or mimic". So Scripture would seem to teach that we are not even to mimic, act out or copy that which the ancient occultists did on Halloween. Wouldn’t this logically seem to apply to the current activities of Halloween? Isn’t participation a form of imitation?
3) In partaking of Halloween, do we help, even indirectly, to publicize what may be the single most important day in the world of the occult? By our participation, do we give at least some credence to the occult simply because we participate in a day that originates in the world of the occult and is so special within it?
4) Can we, even indirectly, be setting up our own children to become familiar with the "flavor" or practices of the occult? Isn’t it true that even when we send out our children dressed as something other than occult characters that it is impossible for them not to be intermingling with other kids who are dressed up as witches, sorcerers, the devil and demons, ghosts, and other occult themes? In fact, it is impossible for our children to avoid this. But could this exposure help pique at least some children’s interest in such things? When our kids ask us why they and other kids dress up in costumes and why they trick or treat—i.e., where such practices came from—can we as their parents give them any answer that is not tied back to evil, pagan, occult practice?
5) Isn’t it also true that many kids enjoy Halloween merely for the "trick" aspect of it? And in this sense, aren’t they "imitating" the ancient evil spirits that Samhain released on Halloween eve? And, in a day of burgeoning juvenile crime, do we want our youngsters out on this particular night when so many kids are planning mischief or property destruction? Isn’t it also true that many other children are secretly fascinated by the scary and evil side to Halloween—witches, ghosts, demons, goblins and forbidden things? And is all this in harmony with what we read in Philippians 4:8 and other scriptures: "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." When the Apostle Paul tells us that we are to be imitators of God, and of him as he is the imitator of Jesus, can we be imitators of God and godliness when we imitate the things of the devil on Halloween night?
In essence, can we pretend that we are not part of something when we cannot really avoid it? If it is impossible to participate in Halloween innocently because of the very nature of Halloween day and its implications, how can we logically think we aren’t at least in some sense part of what it represents?
Now, let’s look at some Scriptures to see if they have a bearing upon Halloween.
"... Follow my example as I follow the example of Christ" (1 Corinthians 11:1).
"Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality; or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people" (Ephesians 5:1-3).
"When you enter the land the Lord God is giving you, do not learn to imitate the detestable ways of the nations there" (Deuteronomy 18:9).
"Hear what the Lord says to you... do not learn the ways of the nations... For the customs of the peoples are worthless..." (Jeremiah 10:1-3).
"Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? What does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? 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 l will be their God, and they will be my people. Therefore come out from them and be separate,’ says the Lord. ‘Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you. I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters,’ says the Lord Almighty" (2 Corinthians 6:14-18).
"Abhor what is evil; cling to what is good" (Romans 12:9).
"Abstain from every form of evil" (1 Thessalonians 5:22).
"Beloved, do not imitate what is evil" (3 John 11).
"Be imitators of God…. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord. Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them" (Ephesians 5:1, 8-11).
Do you think these Scriptures relate to the issue of Christian participation in Halloween? Is it possible to abstain from every form (or appearance) of evil and also send your child out dressed as a devil? Is it possible to not imitate or learn evil while imitating or "learning" modern symbolism of ancient evil practices? Is it possible to have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness—and still participate in Halloween? "This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth" (1 John 1:5, 6). Can Halloween be considered, at least in some sense, "walking in the darkness"?
When Scripture tells us we are not to learn the ways of the pagan nations, but that we are to learn that which is good (Deuteronomy 18:9; Hebrews 13:7; 3 John 11), the term "learn" involves the following definition as given by A. T. Robertson in his Word Pictures of the New Testament: the "directing of one’s mind to something and producing an external effect, learn; 1) as learning through instruction, be taught, learn from someone (John 7:15); 2) as learning through inquiry, ascertain, discover, find out (Acts 23:27); 3) as learning through practice or experience, come to know, come to realize (Philippians 4:11; Hebrews 5:8); 4) as achieving comprehension, understand, learn (Revelation 14:3)." This is the sense in which we should understand Deuteronomy 5:1, "And Moses summoned all Israel, and said to them, ‘Hear, O Israel, the statutes and the ordinances which I speak in your hearing this day, and you shall learn them and be careful to do them.’" The issue then, is whether our kids are imitating and learning something they shouldn’t on Halloween.
Notes:
1 John Ankerberg and John Weldon, The Facts on Halloween (Eugene, OR: Harvest House Publishers, 1996), passim.
2 Albert James Dager, "Halloween: Should Christians Be Apart?", Media Spotlight, 1986, P. O. Box 1288, Costa Mesa, CA 92628-1288.)
Part Two
How does God, as He looks down on Halloween night, in full awareness of the events that have happened on this night historically and today, view little children, especially Christian children, dressed up as ghosts, devils, witches, and goblins? Or even dressed up as innocent characters but going out on that very night so dedicated by occultists to their own activities?
How does God view Christian parents, His own spiritual children, participating in an event that, on that very day, is so honored by occultists and the devil—the day on which so much evil has been committed historically, and is actually being committed on that very night?
The larger question this raises—that of Christians innocently participating in Halloween—is whether it involves a deliberate mockery of God on the part of the devil; i.e., to have God’s own children participate symbolically in celebrations that are tributes to Satan, pagan gods, and all kinds of evil?
Is it possible that we can see Satan deliberately mocking God by having children, and especially Christian children, actively participating in the symbolic activities on the very day which he, Satan, is most honored? Satan, of course, knows the meanings of these symbols—and so does God. If we think of who Satan is, what he does, and how he views Halloween, then how must God view little children being out on Halloween, Satan’s special day—even being sent out by Christian parents? Perhaps then it doesn’t look quite so innocent anymore.
The history of the occult makes it clear that Satan hates children and we know he hates Christians. Jesus Himself loved the children and said of them that the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these. What do you think Jesus thinks of Halloween? If Jesus were sitting in your living room on October 31, would He encourage your children to go out trick-or-treating? Remember Halloween has sparked the interest of untold numbers of kids in the world of the occult. In light of this, Jesus also said, "Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to stumble, it is better for him that a heavy millstone be hung around his neck and he be drowned in the depths of the sea" (Matthew 18:6).
Albert James Dager presents the following argument against any participation in Halloween. Although we do not necessarily agree with everything stated, we think he makes some good points:
To engage in revelry associated with such an anti-Christ festivity as Halloween is a slap in our Lord’s face…. As pastors and teachers have the responsibility of educating parents, the responsibility of educating children in the commandments of God weighs heavily upon the shoulders of parents. But no more so in this age or society than in ages past. The difference is that today children rule many homes, Christian and non-Christian alike. For that reason, compromise is the easy way out for parents who, thinking they are showing love by acquiescence, are really destroying their children’s spiritual life.
No matter what the evil, parents are forever searching for alternatives in order that their children not feel deprived of the world’s fun. When it comes to Halloween, Christians decide to substitute their own parties for the worlds. Instead of calling their festivities "Halloween parties," they call them "Harvest Festivals" and dress them in biblical costumes. But that’s what Halloween is: a harvest festival. And many children wear biblical costumes for Halloween anyway, so what’s the difference except in the compromise of their minds? You can be sure that to most children it’s still Halloween that they’re celebrating….
It isn’t going to traumatize children if they aren’t allowed to join in some things just because "everyone else is doing it." It’s the responsibility of Christian parents to teach their children the truth from the beginning; not to wait until they’ve been sufficiently infected by the world that they must be deprogrammed at a later date. Children who are taught to love Jesus will understand that, because of that love, they shouldn’t have anything to do with the celebration that glorifies the power of God’s enemies. 1
Unfortunately, the Christian church never truly Christianized Halloween—the Roman church merely baptized it with its own unique, if unbiblical, beliefs concerning sin, the saints, and purgatory. 2 We think the solution is for the Christian church to follow the lead of the great Reformer, Martin Luther. Let’s make Halloween a universal day to joyfully celebrate and teach the Reformation and all it implies to us and our children, especially the doctrines of Scripture alone (Scripture, not the church, as the final authority), faith alone (justification by grace through faith alone), and glory to God alone—not glory to the church. And certainly not glory to the devil.
But, some parents will argue, "My kids do not care about the Reformation—they want to go out trick-or-treating. The last thing in the world they want to do is stay home and hear stories about Jesus or learn Bible doctrine." Of course, maybe that’s the problem. Have we been educating our children properly and Scripturally as God has commanded us to?
God commands that we are to teach our children doctrine. Consider Deuteronomy 4:5-10, especially in light of the testimony we give on Halloween, either one way or another. Moses writes,
See, I have taught you decrees and laws as the Lord my God commanded me, so that you may follow them in the land you are entering to take possession of it. Observe them carefully, for this will show your wisdom and understanding to the nations, who will hear about all these decrees and say, "Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people." What other nation is so great as to have their gods near them the way the Lord our God is near us whenever we pray to him? And what other nation is so great as to have such righteous decrees and laws as this body of laws I am setting before you today? Only be careful, and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them slip from your heart as long as you live. Teach them to your children and to their children after them. Remember the day you stood before the Lord your God at Horab, when he said to me, "Assemble the people before me to hear my words so that they may learn to revere me as long as they live in the land and may teach them to their children."
In other words, just as the ancient Israelites could offer a testimony of God before the surrounding nations by obeying and teaching the commandments and statutes of God—and by this glorify God before the nations—so Christians can do something similar on Halloween. By obeying and teaching the doctrines relating to the Reformation on the day of Halloween, Christians can become a testimony to their neighbors around them concerning the greatness and power of these teachings to change lives and glorify the one true God.
In fact, hardly any endeavor in life is more rewarding or exciting than learning Bible doctrine. We only wish we had the space to go into this. Of course, if parents have never learned the joy and adventure of studying theology; then obviously their kids never have. But, for those who know the rewards of learning doctrine for themselves and their children, not to mention its impact in society through the church, what better night to do this on?
In conclusion, here are some things to consider concerning whether or not your children should participate in Halloween:
1) It is the most sacred day of witchcraft and other occultism.
2) It was and is believed to be the only day of the year in which the devil’s help could especially be invoked for a variety of things; it remains a special day to Satanists.
3) Human sacrifice was and is offered (perhaps most commonly) on this day.
4) It has and will continue to encourage occult activity on the part of both children and adults.
5) It is a special day to call on spirits via the Ouija board and other forms of spiritism.
6) It is a day noted historically for divination.
7) It helps support pagan philosophies and practices such as reincarnation, animism, Shamanism and Druidism.
8) It is of help to the practices and beliefs of mediums and psychical researchers by encouraging people’s interest in things like ghosts and poltergeists.
9) Occultists use this day especially for proselytization concerning their professions and activities.
10) It can unequally yoke Christians and pagans.
11) Probably no Halloween activity or symbol can be found that does not go back to pagan occultism.
12) Christian participation in Halloween may, in fact, be a ploy of the devil to mock God.
13) "Whatever is not of faith is sin" (Romans 14:23).
Of course, when Halloween activities actually involve genuine occult practices, the Scripture is clear that these are to be avoided. Both the Old and New Testaments have many references condemning the practice of witchcraft, sorcery, spiritism, contacting the dead, divination, and so forth—all things potentially associated with Halloween.
Do not turn to mediums or seek out spiritists, for you will be defiled by them. I am the Lord your God (Leviticus 19:31).
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.... The nations you will dispossess listen to those who practice sorcery or divination. But as for you, the Lord your God has not permitted you to do so (Deuteronomy 18:10, 11, 14).
[King Manasseh of Judah] practiced sorcery, divination and witchcraft, and consulted mediums and spiritists. He did much evil in the eyes of the Lord, provoking him to anger (2 Chronicles 33:6).
Nowhere are we told such activities are acceptable before God. In light of these scriptures, no one can logically argue that the Bible is accepting of such practices. 3
Notes:
1 Albert James Dager, "Halloween: Should Christians Be Apart?", Media Spotlight, 1986, P. O. Box 1288, Costa Mesa, CA 92628-1288.)
2 See our The Facts on Halloween (Eugene, OR: Harvest House Publishers, 1996).
3 See our The Coming Darkness, Appendix A.
A Probe Mom Looks at Halloween
Sue Bohlin
A number of articles are available advising Christians to have nothing to do with Halloween. And I do agree that Christians have no business celebrating a holiday that glorifies something that delights the enemy of our souls. And potentially opens us up to demonic harrassment, to boot!
But if we've got kids, especially kids in public school or who hang around other kids in the neighborhood, it's entirely possible that parents can feel pressured to do something about Halloween. After all, it's pretty hard to hide under a rock for the whole month of October. A number of houses on our street are more decorated for Halloween than for Christmas!
It seems that the costume manufacturers have really cranked up production of all sorts of costumes to a degree we've never seen before. Gone are the days of burning a cork to blacken a face, put on some thrift-shop oversized clothes and dressing up as a hobo. (There's probably some politically-correct term for "hobo" these days anyway. . .)
Is there anything intrinsically wrong with dressing up in a costume and getting a bunch of candy from consenting adults? I don't think so; hey, the Bible tells us that God instructed the children of Israel to ask their neighbors for silver and gold their last night in Egypt in a VERY early version of "Trick or Treat" (Exodus 11:2). But we can cooperate with the forces of darkness, however unwittingly, by participating unwisely in Halloween festivities.
It is essential to exercise discernment in how we handle Halloween. If you can get away with ignoring it, wonderful! That would be the best solution. But you may find yourself in a place where you want to provide some way for your kids to have fun in a Halloween-immersed culture without compromising on our Christian values and beliefs. For instance, your child's school may invite all the students to dress up in a costume on October 31. I know a number of Christian schools that do this. May I make these suggestions:
Halloween Don'ts
God gave us some very strict guidelines for our own protection, commanding us to stay away from items and practices of witchcraft and divination in Deuteronomy 18. These "doorways to the occult" make us wide open to the influence of Satan and the demons. For more information on this, click here.
So stay away from anything that glorifies:
The occult. Witches, warlocks, sorcerers and sorcery, casting spells, mediums, magic, ouija boards, crystal balls, tarot cards, and astrology are doors to the kingdom of darkness. Satan/Beelzebub masks and costumes have no place on a Christian or in a Christian family--not even "adorable"(??) little baby devil costumes complete with horns and pitchfork.
Darkness. Satan and the demons are the rulers of darkness (Eph. 6:12). There's a reason so many people are afraid of the dark; it is a fearful thing both physically and spiritually.
Death. Satan has had the power of death over people (Heb. 2:14) ever since the Fall, and he uses it to control people through fear. Death is an enemy of God (1 Cor. 15:26), not something to flirt with. Vampires, ghosts, goblins and gargoyles (concepts rooted in the reality of demons) are all figures of death.
Fear. Fear is both a feeling and a reality where Satan dwells. It is one of his most effective means of spiritual warfare against us. When we use Halloween events, decorations and costumes to cause and build fear in other people, we are cooperating with the sworn enemy of God and of God's people. This would include anything spooky, such as cemeteries, haunted houses, and scary stories. You can now buy "The Scream" masks that are as disturbing as Edvard Munch's original painting; their purpose is to make people afraid, even if they don't know why. Anything gruesome falls in this category as well; you can buy special effects like fake slash wounds, hanging eyeballs, and stakes through the forehead. Blood and gore are neither funny nor godly. Needless to say, slasher movies and horror films that deliberately terrorize and stir up fear are a tool in Satan's hand. Scripture tells us that God does not give us a spirit of fear (2 Tim. 1:7), nor does He want us to be a slave again to fear (Rom. 8:15). That's Satan's arena. Note: there are a number of churches that use the legitimate fear of an eternity in hell, separated from God, as a platform for drawing people into a creative presentation of the gospel. Many young people have been saved as a result. This is a God-honoring use of fear, not glorifying fear for fear's sake.
Worldliness. Costumes that glorify some of the world's heroes and heroines can shape our values in ungodly, unchristian ways. Little girls dressing like female pop stars, exposing their midriffs and looking as sexy as possible, is completely against biblical values. God calls girls and women to dress and act modestly, decently and with propriety (1 Tim. 2:9). Costumes of movie and TV characters that represent anti-biblical values are inappropriate for believers (and believers' children).
Also See How Should Christian Women Dress? And Modesty Matters
Halloween Do's
If your church sponsors a Halloween alternative event such as a fall festival, that's a great idea to allow kids to have fun within pre-set boundaries. (Note: it's important to specify what kind of costumes are NOT welcome!)
Child Evangelism Fellowship has reported that Halloween has been the best time of year for children to trust Christ, simply because the spirit of fear that pervades our culture at this time makes them more open than usual to hearing a good news of the gospel. Halloween is a great time to sponsor Good News Clubs and invite kids in your neighborhood to hear stories that will comfort, rather than terrorize, them.
American Tract Society (www.atstracts.org) has some terrific kid-friendly tracts to include with the candy you give out. This year, ATS has introduced the most practical Halloween evangelism resource yet! The Halloween Rescue Kit includes candy, bags, stickers and tracts -- everything you need to reach 31 kids this Halloween. They suggest (and I think it's a great idea!) that if you expect kids to actually read the tracts once they get home from Trick-or-Treating (instead of tossing them out unread with the empty candy wrappers), that you tape them to popular candy bars that kids actually want. (Find out what kids in your area consider "cool" candy.) Or make your own tract kit by putting a tract plus quality candy inside sandwich bags. Either way, it forces kids to handle the tract in order to get to the candy. Sounds like following the Lord Jesus' command to be "shrewd as serpents, and innocent as doves" (Matt. 10:16) to me!
I know several families who have purchased tracts for the neighborhood ADULTS, and when their kids go trick-or-treating, when the adults give them candy the kids will hand them a tract (aimed at adults) and say, "Thank you for the candy. Here's a treat for you!" How often do people open their doors and make themselves open to this kind of opportunity?
Look for teachable moments to relate the things of Halloween to spiritual truth. Talk to your kids about the way fear is glorified at Halloween, and teach them what Jesus said about it: "Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful" (John 14:27), and "These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world" (John 16:33).
Talk to your kids about "God's no-no list" in Deuteronomy 18 and have them help you identify those things when they see them advertised or used as decorations. (You might keep a running total of all the witches you'll see just to quantify this concept.) This is probably the best way to prevent your children from getting desensitized to things of the occult. Help them identify all the Halloween items that strike fear in them, and encourage them to take a stand against their power by saying out loud, "God has not given me a spirit of fear!" Show them this verse in their Bibles (2 Timothy 1:7) so they know they are using the sword of the Spirit against one of the wiles of the enemy.
This story making its rounds on the internet is a good pumpkin-carving object lesson:
A lady had recently been baptized. One of her co-workers asked her what it was like to be a Christian. She was caught off guard and didn't know how to answer, but when she looked up she saw a jack-o-lantern on the desk and answered, "It's like being a pumpkin." The co-worker asked her to explain that one. "Well, God picks you from the patch and brings you in and washes off all the dirt on the outside that you got from being around all the other pumpkins. Then he cuts off the top and takes all the yucky stuff out from inside. He removes all those seeds of doubt, hate, greed, etc. Then he carves you a new smiling face and puts his light inside of you to shine for all to see. It is our choice to either stay outside and rot on the vine or come inside and be something new and bright."
Sue Bohlin
Probe Ministries Mom
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What About Christmas and Easter?
D.J. Quinn
Since both the origins of Christmas and Easter have some roots in pagan festivals Christians have often questioned whether we should partake in celebrations which was not specifically commanded, and which include non Christian customs including feasting and decorating. While there still remains the danger of the wholesale commercialization of Christmas and we should be wholly aware of what “The Easter Bunny/Easter Eggs” are symbolic of; we can also accept that both of these are days on which we honor God's gift of Christ's birth and resurrection.
While both Christmas and Easter have emerged from their pagan roots to become fully and wholly accepted Christian festivals, festivals like Halloween have maintained their ancient traditions. By allowing our children to masquerade as every imaginable creature and character, not only are we giving tacit approval to the mind set that ugly and evil creatures are okay but we are also consenting to our children’s and (in many cases) our participation in primeval pagan rituals that celebrate the all that is evil. The real issue is not that of comparison between Christmas/Easter and Halloween, it is whether we are willing to participate in a festival that condones communication with the dead, celebrates the rising of evil creatures onto the earth and has us making “peace offerings” to these beings out of fear that they may play tricks on us?
And so in returning to the original question, can we compare the celebration of Christmas or Easter with the blatant satanic celebrations of Halloween? Make no mistake, the differences between them are not merely cosmetic they run much deeper and while Christmas and Easter may have ‘borrowed’ way too much from pagan neighbours, they are a far cry from Halloween which is (as it always was) a celebration of evil. There is really no comparison. [See Sections on Christmas and Easter on THIS Page]
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Index To Section 12A 
